Kona Explosif 27.5 – Gloss Green – 2018

Kona Explosif – 2018


Kona’s heritage in steel hardtails runs deep, and today’s Explosif is a direct descendant of our legendary originals. This year we’ve pulled out all the stops with SRAM Eagle 12-speed drivetrain and Guide brakes, new 120mm RockShox Revelation fork and Reverb dropper with 1x lever, and tubeless-ready Maxxis tires on WTB i29 TCS rims. The Explosif rides like only a Kona can, and we’re sure you’ll appreciate it for years to come.

REYNOLDS 520 CROMOLY
Reynolds 520 tubes are mandrel-butted for accurate profiles and available in a wide range of shapes. Weight savings from butting provides competitively priced, light framesets that are noticeably compliant on the road or the trail, and are guaranteed to last a lifetime.


INTERNAL HEADSET
Bearing cups are actually pressed into the frame and are easily removable. An internal headset also reduces stack height, so the height of the stem and bars are more adjustable, giving the rider the best fit possible.

TAPERED HEAD TUBE
More girth at the bottom of the head tube better distributes shock force, prolonging the bearing life of the headset itself and eliminating brake shudder, while providing confident steering performance. The inherent strength of its triangular design also means a stronger steering position and improved balance, giving the rider more control in rough terrain. A zero-stack, tapered head tube also puts strength where the load is going—into the lower headset cup—maximizing bearing durability where it’s needed.

TUBELESS COMPATIBLE RIMS
Tubeless rims allow for tires with more puncture resistance; the ability to run lower tire pressure, which provides better tire grip on the trail; lower rolling resistance; and weight savings over traditional tube and tire systems.

12x148mm AXLE
12x142mm, 12×148 and 12×157 rear axle standards provide two major advantages to the Kona rider: the 12mm diameter of the rear axle provides the rear hub and frame with a stiff interface, while the 142/148/157mm outer diameter of the hub allows the wheel to be quickly and properly positioned in the frame before the rear axle is inserted. For 2017, you’ll see the 12×148 Boost standard in the mix. Boost spacing provides more tire clearance at the chainstay yoke, while the rear wheel is stiffer and more durable relative to a 12×142 thru-axle.

27.5″ WHEELS
The benefits of the 27.5-inch wheel are simple: they roll over obstacles and track better than 26-inch wheels, but are more maneuverable and nimble than 29-inch ones.