Anyone hear of Kona's soon to be released 650b Explosif? From what I've heard from a US Retailer, it's going to be based off of the 2012 Kona Steely. A Google search turns up some UK retailers with an image of a 2013 Kona Honzo photoshopped with an Explosif logo. I hope it's based on the Steely like I heard instead of the Honzo. I prefer the burlier build and the clearance of the rear yoke/chainstay. Here's an image taken from one of the retailers...
OHmygosh!!! My dream hardtail is finally a reality!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:
I've been wanting a Honzo 650B for the longest time!
What a totally awesome way for Kona to break into 650B.
Excellent find! Do keep us up-to-date on this
Heard back from Kona finally about this bike and here is the info...
"The Explosif will be available to the US market. It is a late season arrival and we haven’t published all of the specs yet. It will be trail geometry though, with a moderately slack head angle and short-ish stays. It will also be available as a frame only."
Heard back from Kona finally about this bike and here is the info...
"The Explosif will be available to the US market. It is a late season arrival and we haven't published all of the specs yet. It will be trail geometry though, with a moderately slack head angle and short-ish stays. It will also be available as a frame only."
Emails I've exchanged with Kona said it will be more xc oriented:
"We are making a 650B explosive… it is quite a different beast from the Honzo, bit more XC. They are still finalizing some of the frame attrabutes as far as I know. "
"The Explosif will be available to the US market. It is a late season arrival and we haven't published all of the specs yet. It will be trail geometry though, with a moderately slack head angle and short-ish stays. It will also be available as a frame only."
"The frame will be raw steel with a phosphate dip and clearcoat over the top.
The specs will be similar to the Honzo. Rear wheel has sliders and is 135x10. 44mm headtube drawn around the external lower cup so you can run a tapered fork."
Sounds good but still would like to see some solid #'s
What do "specs" mean, components? carabao's post says "more XC" and yet the specs will be similar to the Honzo?
The piecemeal relase of info is excruciating! :cryin:
Awesome find Skidad:thumbsup: No geo numbers yet, but looks like the offspring of a Steely and Honzo. I want!!!
Looks like it has 2 bottle mounts, substantial HT length (presumably for front triangle stiffness), and a lighter tube set. I wish they went burlier and the Honzo gusset would've been nice.
I just put down a deposit on one of these frames at my local shop. I can confirm the $500 frame-only option. The only other bit of info that I got that I hadn't seen mentioned yet is that it has a 31.6 seat tube - same as the honzo. Delivery is expected in March.
Hopefully the bicycle gods will be smiling on me and my LBS will give me similar news when I contact them today. The big appeal here for me besides the steel frame is the 44mm headtube which means I can finally stop avoiding tapered forks.
I guess my Voodoo Bokor will be going on the auction block really soon....
I would go with the longer TT short stem combo. I'm 5'10" and my Steely has a 24" TT. I ride with a 60mm stem and wish my TT was longer so I could ride with a 50mm stem.
Yeah,size 18 must have been to close to 17 and 19 to make prod. The spreadsheet was also titled 650b unit/120fork so the unit when announced could be the same cut with the proper rigid fork
Do you have any information on rear tire clearance? I would hope Kona left room for a Hans Dampf on a Flow EX. What are you planning to run on your frame?
Would you mind weighing the frame before starting your build and post it ?
I'm very interested in this frame too.
Grams or lbs/ozs... no matter.:thumbsup:
I know this is off the subject, but what size seatpost are these going to use? I'm trying to round up some parts so I'll be ready when I the frames come out.
thanks
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