Strengths: Funky geometry (low top tube, stable setup), tough yet sexy blue paint, rack mounts, hardworking blue-collar durability. Nothing fancy about it, and the price reflects it.
Weaknesses: My frame was a little big for me, so it tended to be less responsive in tight singletrack than other things I've ridden. But the flip side of this was more stability on fast downhills and road.
Bottom Line:
It's a solid, well built frame. I rode my Kona for about 8 years, putting thousands of miles on it before I quit keeping track. After five years, I replaced the wheels and the drivetrain, but I couldn't come up with a reason to get a new frame.
I got hit by two cars, crashed into rigid objects regularly and for a couple months rode down two flights of stairs every day on my way to work. I'd crash ferociously, and everytime, the damned bike would just lay there, ready to get up and roll home. That thing was f'in invincible.
My Kona was stolen last week. I'm thinking about going out and getting the exact same bike.
Similar Products Used: mid-level Schwinn, Specialized, Giant
Bike Setup: 1994 Cinder Cone - midrange Shimano and avid, elastomer fork
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Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from State College, Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2002
Strengths: Great ride, bulletproof. I love everything about this frame.
Weaknesses: R.D. Hanger isn't replaceable. I've bent it many a time, but it does bend back pretty easily.
Bottom Line:
I wouldn't give it up for anything (except maybe an IF delux). Buy an old 853 frame for a good price online and build it up how you like. I sold my fsr xc frame so I could switch back to a classic steel frame and I haven't looked back. This outperforms the Specialized in every possible way.
Bike Setup: 98 Marzocchi Atom Bomb, other no nonsense parts
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Submitted by
Sindbad
a Cross Country Rider
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2001
Strengths: Stiffness KONA Geometry Columbus MAX
Weaknesses: Paintjob
Bottom Line:
A fast, stiff bike that'll last the better part of an atomic winter. The Columbus MAX italian tubing is just excellent - steel rules... Just a shame about the so-called "golden" paintjob; but then again: You can always paint it... Get a used frame like I did - it is hard to wear down.
Similar Products Used: GT Karakoram(several), Spec. Rockhopper
Bike Setup: A thrown-in mix of Syncros, RaceFace, XTR, Pace Evo Pro forks and Caramba Doublebarrel
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Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellingham
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2001
Strengths: Tough as nails, stiff climber, forgiving descender
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This has been a beautiful bike. I bought the frame in Florida and brought it back to Washington to build it up. It's been a great race bike, but an even better thrash session bike, lots of hours spent on this frame. The sloping top tube and resilient frame material have performed well on some pretty steep nutty stuff in Washington and some super fast stuff in Oregon and Utah. I would have built my new bike with a Kona steel frame if I could have found any for a reasonable price. Steel is a hot commodity.
Bike Setup: Kona Cinder Cone, X-Vert, XT-XTR gruppo, Ritchey stem seatpost headset, WTB saddle, Mavic rims, cheap knobbies
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Submitted by
steve
a Downhiller
from Nicholasville, KY
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2001
Strengths: Steel--Columbus MAX, not 853
Weaknesses: Dropout strength
Bottom Line:
If you like the KONA ride, then you love it. If you don't, than more than likely you hate it. I love it. I have been riding KONAs for about 6 years now. I worked in a shop for 6 years and rode all kinds of bikes. Also, I rode many friends KONAs before getting my first personal frame--a steel Cinder Cone. It was, of course, a budget frame, but it still had that sweet ride. After getting tired of all the flex, I decided to upgrade. I lucked out when I called KONA, they had some Team frames--FULL MAX, made in Europe, you-bet-yer-ass stiff. However, it still has that "steel ride." After wrapping my hanger into the rear wheel, I tried to get it repaired by a so-called frame builder, only to end up doing it myself. It now has Everrest dropouts, and has been running fine for 2 years. I know this is not 853, but there was nowhere else that was appropriate. If you can get one, get a Steel KONA.
Similar Products Used: You name it, I've tried it.
Bike Setup: Manitou SX-Ti, HUGI hubs laced with 217 Hard Ano, Suntour XC-Pro topmount shifters and der., World Class BB, King HS, Syncros post, Manitou stem
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Submitted by
Johnny
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2000
Strengths: Mine is a '98 Kona Hot. Got it from Dirty Harry's for half the initial MRSP because the FD made a funny noise and nobody bought it for a year or so. Handbuilt 853 here in North America. Hot paint job replete with flames. Handles nicely. Great on technical stuff going up or down. Supple in the rough and stiff on the climbs. Great slope to top tube.
Weaknesses: Stock saddle was rubbish. A cinch to replace.
Bottom Line:
Steel is a working class material. This one's a little more stylie with paint and fancy components, but it's a damn honest ride.
The new Explosif, the frame material is you-know-what and that's just sad.
Get a steel frame if you're committed to riding long rides. Might be a little heavy for hellbiking. This is a great bike for climbing, and dodging branches and roots along tricky lines. You can't get this bike in stores anymore and I'm not selling mine.
Similar Products Used: '95 Stumpjumper (steel, rigid)
Bike Setup: Full XT, Marzocchi,don't forget the framesaver
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Submitted by
Bruce A.
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2000
Strengths: Sweet Reynolds 853 steel. Keep your pop can aluminium. Don't need any unobtainium. The benchmark for a resilient, compliant frame is steel. It's admitedly got some retro appeal as well. Kona defined the Explosif with it's now classic geometry. Can't imagine a more responsive hardtail.
Weaknesses: Kona has dropped it's steel Explosif in favour of Scanndium. This is not the same bike boys. Too bad.
Bottom Line:
If I had the coin I'd try Kona's other classic, the titanium Hei Hei which has the same sweet sloping top tube geometry as the Explosif. However, steel has that air of simplicity, honesty that leaves everything to the feel of the ride. Steel is real boys and girls.
Similar Products Used: Kona Explosif circa '93, replaced in '98, purchased again in 99 due to theft.
Bike Setup: Cross country race set up with Bombers up front.
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Submitted by
Jim S
a Racer
from Corvallis , OR , USA
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2000
Strengths: Kona geometry, 853, cool color, handles awesome, very strong, solid ride, light for a steel bike.
Weaknesses: paint chips off easy
Bottom Line:
I really the quality of ride that the Explosif frame offers. It doesn't beat you to death on rough trails like some aluminum but yet it isn't too flexy and weak. It feels very solid and strong compared to my last steel frame which was pretty flexy and not quite stong enough. Good thing for crash replacement programs. The only downside I can find so far is the paint seems to chip off easily.
Similar Products Used: Kona Kiluea w/Columbus Cyber. Kona Muni Mula 7005 alum. Steel Iron Horse
Bike Setup: Kona Explosif frame, Rock Shox Indy SL, Race Face cranks, XT/Mavic 517 wheels, Control Tech stem, Thomson seat post, Grip Shift, XT Vee's, XT ft. and r. der. , Syncros BB,King headset, Welgo clipless pedals
