Kona Explosif 1996 [Max OR tubing]

Could this be the build that makes me reconsider keeping my 2010 frame?

^ makes me reconsider moving from greenwich...

^^ if this build doesn't turn out to be good you can always try this one :)

Update:

Fork and wheels in. Still contemplating on keeping the forks.

Haven't heard from framebuilder Patrick Uijl yet :-/.

Try and get a better side on photo.

Delivering

edit: thinking about getting one of these. Opinions?

Put a spacer inbetween the fork and bottom headtube to mimick a headset which will give you a better idea of how it look when properly installed.

I had the Tortec version as I couldn't afford the H-bar, they were awesomely comfortable, but that's mainly my opinion.

keep the forks.
do you have a way of measuring the head tube angle with them in?

Stedlocks recently got some of those bars.

http://www.lfgss.com/post4113349-4273.html

Also :-)

whack an FSA pig headset on there to lessen the difference in sice between crown and headtube.

Ditch the forks. The bike will ride 'OK' with them - but at best you'll have a explosif with sloppy steering - at worst you'll crack a tube or ovalise the bottom of your headtube.

^ Good point. That's a lot more leverage on the front end than the frame was designed for.

*waits for internet engineers to correct me

Try and keep on top of the washing up, too.

Nice looking fork but not on that frame :(

Reckon a carbon cycles fork would look sweet :)

Ditch the forks. The bike will ride 'OK' with them - but at best you'll have a explosif with sloppy steering - at worst you'll crack a tube or ovalise the bottom of your headtube.

I'm only 70kg, but never had worries with the same frame in aluminium,
and a 125mm suspended forks.

Can't really see on your frame,
to run V brakes on mine,
I had to drill the cable guides to allow in the outercable threw.
The seat collar has an integrated cable guide.
You can have mine for free, if needed.

Still contemplating. Meanwhile some potatochopz

I'm a sucker for the fat carbon fork on skinny steel frame look. Never seen it applied to MTB before, but it works!

I'm a sucker for the fat carbon fork on skinny steel frame look. Never seen it applied to MTB before, but it works!

Cheers! Think so too.

Decided to take the risk and keep the forks. I doubt the 22mm difference in length will break the frame, so I'll take the risk. Thanks to Neil for pointing me to the FSA Pig headset. Ordered it yesterday from Rose bikes, along with a 113mm Shimano UN55 bb to go with the Middleburn Uno's. Gonna order those in black + the chainring in hardcoat ano. Don't they look delicious??

Meanwhile I'm looking for a reasonably priced 27.0x400mm seatpost. Kalloy Uno? Maybe a second hand Thomson? Ebay didn't offer a lot.

Hopefully something more exciting to share next time!

Doubt it'll break the frame, just make it handle differently to how it is.

Kalloy Uno's the cheapest and best solution.

Middleburns are great looking but the stiffness:cost ratio is whack.

Doesn't stop me having RS7s and an Uno on my Surly right enough!

I find the SQ middleburns to be plenty stiff !

They were stiffer than the RaceFace External cranks I replaced on my bike

I find the SQ middleburns to be plenty stiff !

They were stiffer than the RaceFace External cranks I replaced on my bike

Sure they're stiff, but they aint HT2 stiff and they cost a lot more.

Read a lot of good things about them. They'll be stiff enough :).

Gotta love Rose for their clean packaging and delivery speed! Pig headset fits the fork crown really well. Ordered the kalloy inline post from 'Murica and got a nice all black Fizik Tundra from Marktplaats.

Still need to order a stem (probably Thomson X4), rotor (160mm? no idea yet actually, never had discs before), shifter, and the crankset. Still haven't heard back from the framebuilder.. Gonna shoot him another mail soon. Don't wanna come off as too impatient though.

So due to lack of funds this build is going very slowly, but I thought I'd give another update. In search for some less expensive OS alt-bars I found the Soma Clarence bars:

660mm wide, 37mm rise, and 40 degree sweep. Multiple hand positions. Sounds comfy right?

Only parts left are the crankset, a stem, and a rotor which I'll probably order by the end of this month. Rear tab will come later cuz I'm poor and need to save up money for the summer. That will be it for today. Can't wait to start building this up!