Spotted online: Kona Explosif 650b hardtail
Originally posted on December 17, 2012 at 12:50 pm
We had heard rumors that the Kona Explosif was going to make a resurection of sorts this year, and I was excited to see they were true when I received the Kona email newsletter today.
Reborn as an agressive 650b hardtail, the Explosive joins the Honzo in Kona’s steel hardtail lineup. From the description on the Kona website, it will be remarkably similar to its larger-wheeled brother, with a 68 degree headtube angle, low bottom bracket, and short chainstays. Even the sliding dropouts and raw, clear-coat finish remain.
What’s different then? Well the wheels, obviously, and unlike the Honzo, the Explosif is equipped to run a front derailleur. The rest of the parts spec is remarkably similar, though the front derailleur will set you back about $300 more than the Honzo. MSRP is listed online as $2,199.
Watch for more details when we see one of these in the flesh, and for our long-term review of the Honzo in Issue #168. Read our first impressions of the Honzo here.
Kona 2013 Explosif 27.5 from Kona Bikes on Vimeo.