We missed it when it first started appearing around the internet at the very end of last year, but it looks like the 650b Kona Explosif started shipping back in February. Even a bit late, it’s worth a post as Kona’s first offering of a 650b hardtail, and one in beautiful raw double butted Cromoly steel to boot. Seeing as how my first real bike was essentially an Explosif (a ’97 Lava Dome built with a parts kit similar to the Explosif by the guys at West Chester Cyclery), it’s cool to see basically the modern incarnation of my first bike – that is still going strong.
In addition to the modern wheel size, the Explosif features quite a few other modern touches like ISCG tabs, slider dropouts with 135 or 142×12 compatibility, a 44mm head tube, and dropper post compatibility. With a slack 68-degree headtube, low bottom bracket and short 420mm chainstays in combination with the bigger wheels – the Explosif looks like an awesome hard tail.
Check out a sweet video of the Explosif after the break.
