Fleming Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 The first decent bike I ever got was a 1995 Kona Cinder Cone which I got when I was teenager. I absolutely loved that bike but sold it after a few years to upgrade. At the time it was the right thing to do but looking back I wish had never sold it. As such I have spent the last 5 years scouring gumtree and other sources looking for something similar. Then by chance I was at the LBS a few weeks ago and this caught my eye at the back of the rack outside the shop. I couldn't believe it, not a Cinder Cone but a Explosif of the same year. The LBS was selling it on behalf of the owner who wanted, in my opinion, too much. I made lowball offer and a few days later she was mine. Here are some pics on the day I brought her home: http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/IMG_20151119_170241_zpscapoq4rf.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/IMG_20151119_170250_zpsuejpaprg.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/IMG_20151119_170222_zpsbsxtg0f0.jpg P2 Fork from a earlier model. I think 1993.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/IMG_20151119_170230_zpsczvzre6s.jpg Answer Hyperlite bar. I cant beleive how light this is.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/IMG_20151119_170205_zpsz719lw75.jpg Sorry looking XT front Derailleurhttp://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/IMG_20151119_170212_zpsj7ydbbmm.jpg XTR M900 Rear Derailleurhttp://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/IMG_20151119_170216_zpsxbssvnma.jpg Sugino Crank and sorry looking drivetrain.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/IMG_20151119_170124_zpsvbofoosw.jpg nonky, Kalahari Vegmot and Danger Dassie 3
The Bike Brew Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 those were great bikes ... there is a Cinder Cone floating around PE ... Fleming 1
Fleming Posted November 30, 2015 Author Posted November 30, 2015 Initially I wasn't sure how to build the bike up. Most of the components have been changed over time, I think only the crank is original. I decided trying to get all the parts to rebuild her to original spec would be almost impossible. In the end I decided to fix her up a bit and replace some parts with better ones I had lying around. Some pictures after a proper scrubbing and some upgrades: http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/01_zpsr3ds8cnb.jpg 1997ish Marzocchi Bomber Z1,s. I striped the paint of a while ago with the intention of polishing them but never got round to it. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/02_zps2t9udppi.jpg Newish FSA bar and stem. The black goes with the seatpost quite nicely.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/03_zpsblkn24dk.jpg XT front Derailleur cleaned up quite nicely.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/08_zpsrdkobxwu.jpg XTR Rear Derailleur has seen some use but still works well.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/07_zpszfsphb1e.jpg I cant recal where I read about this but its a pretty good way of installing V Brakes on old Kona's. Just rotate the cable guide 90 degrees and fasten it with a old derailleur barrel adjuster.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/11_zpsogp1tren.jpg Black Bontrager Wheels from a 1999 Trek 7000.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/05_zpsqlgluaaq.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/06_zpskf4heknb.jpg nonky 1
the nerd Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 I hope you kept those bars and the fork.... Good looking bike!
Fleming Posted November 30, 2015 Author Posted November 30, 2015 Took the bike for a short ride on Sunday morning and wasn't disappointed. It made me feel like a teenager again. Here she is in her natural habitat. http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/12_zpstlyw0ine.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/stuartfleming/Kona%20Explosif/13_zpsxfhrribn.jpg Mongoose!, nonky and The Bike Brew 3
Fleming Posted November 30, 2015 Author Posted November 30, 2015 those were great bikes ... there is a Cinder Cone floating around PE ... Best bikes of the 90's. Do you know the owner of the Cinder Cone in PE? Do you know if they are interested in selling? I have a friend who has also been looking for something similar for a few years now.
Fleming Posted November 30, 2015 Author Posted November 30, 2015 I hope you kept those bars and the fork.... Good looking bike!Yup Kept the bars and fork. I may look into building her up completely rigid sometime in the future. As for the bars. I cant beleive how light they are. I am not sure if I trust them to hold my 85kg weight.
rock Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 I hope you kept those bars and the fork.... those were the best parts on the bike! the nerd 1
gummibear Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 those were great bikes ... there is a Cinder Cone floating around PE ... I had a Cinder Cone years back but got stolen out my garage. XT parts and a RS Judy fork.
gummibear Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Here she is in her natural habitat. Nice find Great to see guys restoring the older mtb's
Rocket-Boy Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Love the brake booster on the rear, those things worked like a bomb on flexy stays. gummibear 1
Fleming Posted November 30, 2015 Author Posted November 30, 2015 Love the brake booster on the rear, those things worked like a bomb on flexy stays. Actually planned to remove it but no amount of adjusting would could get the brakes to stop squealing. Put the booster back and problem solved. gummibear 1
openmind Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Cool, I had a Kona Cinder Cone in the 90's. My friends rode Explosifs. Great bikes. Here she is: Just don't ever use that Hyperlite bar - they used to break like sticks. Too light for their own good. nonky and pista 2
TheJ Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 I'm from PE. Owned a 1994 Hahanna. After folding the downtube behind the head tube, having it repaired by Jan Ellis and then folding it again, I tossed the frame. Still have most of the components though. P2 fork and stem High Command brake levers etc. "Upgraded" the fork to a Marzocchi Zokes back in the day. Best years of my life.
ATFM Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) I still have my 1996 gold Cinder Cone. Great bike! Sadly the original fork has been replaced. (pic taken off the net) Edited November 30, 2015 by ATFM The Bike Brew, nonky, IH8MUD and 2 others 5
.thumb.jpg.f7359a62a1f4f4199fdd069d76f07b79.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now