Kona Explosif (2017)

When all you want is dirt, rocks, and a trustworthy rig that likes to get into trouble, Explosif fits the bill. This updated Kona classic comes to you as a 27.5-inch wheel, trail-scorching machine, spec’d to tear it up on singletrack. The Reynolds steel frame features sliding thru-axle dropouts and a tapered headtube, so you get the ride quality and longevity steel is known for with the modern designs that let you do more. A Fox 34 fork devours whatever you throw it at, letting you blast through rocky stretches and swoop through rutted corners while the Maxxis Tomahawk tires bite earth like a pit bull. Wide WTB i29 rims shape that rubber up to work its best, and Shimano SLX brakes take full advantage of that dialed traction, letting you brake later with modulation and confidence-boosting power. Race Face and Shimano put together a 1x11 drivetrain pairing RaceFace’s narrow-wide chainring with XT shifter, derailleur, and cassette, delivering a tight system with the range and precision to keep the stoke factor high. And, Kona makes sure you have the control to handle all that go-fast hardware with their own purpose-built cockpit components. The result is a trail-blasting stick of dynamite and you’re the match.