Submitted by
Greg
a Weekend Warrior
from Lexington, Ky USA
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2007
Strengths: Climbs like a Mountain Goat
Stiff as a Carbon Rod (Which it basically is)
Plush Ride over various terrain.
Klein's unrivaled Custom Paint & Fit process introduced in '00 means every Klein Looks Great and unique!
Weaknesses: Heavy rear Triangle offsets the Featherlight Carbon Boom.
A good shock and settings makes me think I could ride for several days while a bad shock makes me want to quite of several minutes
The unorthadox frame structure makes many universal wothwhile accesories incompatible.
Bottom Line:
This is my 4th Mantra as I have had 3 stolen in the past. That should give away my opinion right there. If this were stolen while writing this review, I'd buy another Mantra without hesitation, but I doubt I could ever find another like this one. This URT MTB XC performs as well or exceeds that of most of todays cutting edge frames at any price. The Mantra was introduced as a VERY Expensive exotic ride and it still performs that way. Too bad Klein's extreme manufacturing process was deemed ultimately impractical (and ultimately unprofitable) by profit oriented Trek.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale M1000. A classic HT
Gary Fisher A good quality bike at an affordable price
Bike Setup: XL Mantra Pro with XTR everthing. Custom Red Orange Fade Paint Job that changes color with angle (Really Cool). Apparently I lucked into a Mantra that Gary Klein specifically built and painted with custom Monogram for an important Client in 2001, but turned out to be too big for him. Lucky me that Gary apparently sent him an Adept Pro while letting him keep the Mantra as well
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Explorer_97
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002
Strengths: Light, Responsive, Climbs like a squirrel.
Weaknesses: Rims..
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great climber and very responsive in the technical stuff. I have ridden this bike on some really rocky downhill sections and I no issues what so ever.
The geometry definitely takes a little getting used too. Using the Psylo fork with the 120mm of front suspension makes this bike a blast to ride technical downhill sections.
I usually pump the rear shock up to 250 psi in order to get a more solid ride. I can not say enough about this bike. I never ride my hardtail. Any one interested in buying it?
Strengths: light, great climber, goes where you point it, top dollar drive train and accessories; has lock out for fork and rear suspension, my back doesn't ache after two hours of riding
Weaknesses: takes a while to get the suspension dialed in; bobs standing if you don't lock it out; paint crackled.
Bottom Line:
If you are going to try out a mantra give it some time and play with the set up. Once you get it set up and providing you have the legs it will climb anything. It really sticks to the ground and I find no loss of performance while riding on the saddle. It works for me and I'll stay with it. If you have the $$, get one while they are still available.
I don't do any hard core down hilling, but it works well on any of the rough (i.e. Rockazonia) trails I have bombed. It's all over my 22 lb ti hard tail which I never ride anymore.
My opinion on why they are changing to the adept is that trek's other lines are using the same design and want it standard for all. Purly a business decision to chase the new "hot" suspension.
Submitted by
yeah Baby
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, Ca
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2001
Strengths: Light, super fast, nice paint job, good factory components.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This is a awesome bike. If you like XC that is. I wouldn't buy this bike if you are a downhill killer. This bike was not designed for downhill. It can climb over anything, but you just have to learn how to ride to fit the bike. The quality of this exceptional, I don't understand why Klein want to stop the production of of this line of bikes.
Strengths: Light, um, good components, looks cool.
Weaknesses: Everything but the lightness and the components
Bottom Line:
What was Gary Klein thinking with this design. It is like an inchworm. I was constantly trying to figure out where I was supposed to be on the thing. The URT and High Pivot really makes the bike do some weird things when riding. It is quite fun trying to figure out what quirky thing would happen next. Unlike other suspension designs where I can just get on and ride while paying only minor attentoin to my pedalin. This thing keeps you guessing. Ie, I went down a tame little drop off and when I got to the bottom with speed, the bike compressed and nearly shot me up out of the saddle. It is like an inchworm too. The handling is affected by it, the wheel base extends noticably when the suspension is compressed. Also, when standing in pedals, you have no suspension at all, the only time you get it is in the seat. And when you're suspension is active, the distance from the Bottom Bracket to the seat is changing.
I think the mantra's mantra is to go away. I think there are a lot of die hards out there, but that suspension design is outdated and performs poorly.
Sorry Klein, I think your new suspension is killer though.
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Lauderdale
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2001
Strengths: Feather weight at 24lbs, simple full suspension action that is easy to maintain, plush ride, easy to dial in shocks, lock out front fork. Excellent cross country (East Coast) riding design.
Weaknesses: It can bob noticeably if not tuned to the riders sweet spot. Not designed for down hill.
Bottom Line:
I decided to write this in response to some “misleading” reviews I read about the Mantra. This bike has its strengths and weaknesses and that holds true for ALL full suspension bikes. It is called physics.
The Mantra has a relatively short wheel base and slightly higher center of gravity causing it to handle more poorly during steep descents. But that’s the trade off for a bike that was designed for the single track and cross country riding. It has crisp handling and quick steering allowing it to handle tricky terrain. And trust me, you don’t need a riser bar either.
If descending is big to you, you probably should not buy this bike. Look instead at bikes like the Sugar or Adept.
Riders who have claimed this bike bucks or dives at stops most likely never took a moment to dial in the preload in the front and rear shocks. It does take some patients and understanding of the dynamics of the bike to get it to suspend your weight without it being too saggy or too stiff. It sounds tricky but it really isn’t rocket science. Realize that you are literally riding on compressed air so it is important you have an precise gauge so you can quickly pump the right amount of air in the shocks before you ride.
Remember, if you bob, try settling down to a smoother pedal stroke. If that doesn’t work, try adding more air. If the suspension has very little action, let some air out of the shocks. It really isn’t very difficult.
Since I don’t have mountains to throw myself down here in Florida, I feel this bike is unbeatable for the trails and urban environment I encounter. My only wish is that it came stock with a lock out for rear shock.
Let me reiterate, don't buy this bike if you are technically challenged.
Weaknesses: Poor suspension action, locks up on downhills Headset keeps coming loose
Bottom Line:
Sold mine after I rode a friend's Intense. The Mantra suspension doesn't really work for me, more of a East Coast type bike. Found out there's a reason you never see them in Nevada or Utah bombing the big stuff. I just saw that Klein is going to discontinue this design because it is obsolete. One of those development branches that turned out to be a dead end.
Bike Setup: 2000 Mantra pro with replacement riser bars & WTB saddle
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
KEITH
a Cross Country Rider
from TUCSON
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2001
Strengths: TOP QUALITY, LITE, FAST, GREAT XCOUNTRY BIKE. AS CLOSE TO A HARDTAIL AS YOU CAN GET IN A FULL SUSPENSION BIKE.GREAT CLIMBER, GREAT ON TECHNICAL STUFF, I FIND IT GOOD GOING DOWNHILL ALSO.
Weaknesses: ARCH OF FORK HIT HEAD TUBE ON BOTTOM OUT. HAD TO GRIND ARCH TO GET CLEARANCE.LIMITED FORK SELECTION DUE TO HEADSET DESIGN.
Bottom Line:
HAVE BEEN RIDING A MANTRA FOR 3 YEARS.I RIDE 5 DAYS A WEEK[90-100 MILES] HAVE ROAD TESTED OTHERS. NOTHING COMES CLOSE TO THIS BIKE FOR X-COUNTRY RIDING. ITS LIKE A FERRARI.LITE ,FAST, NIMBLE. TOTALLY ROCKS!!! THE ONLY LIMITS I HAVE FOUND ON THIS BIKE ARE MY OWN.HIGH PERFORMANCE ALL THE WAY.
Strengths: silky smooth suspension, light weight, above average handling for a dual suspension
Weaknesses: brake pads supplied with Avid brakes (I had to rreplace the Avid pads after only 2 rides with Shimano ceramic pads). And of course, it's fairly expensive.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks. It's the first dualie I've ridden which comes close to climbing prowess and downhill carving of a hardtail. It's not as crisp turning as my prior hardtail, but it's far better than any other dualie I ever took downhill. The components are all first rate, and I have not had any trouble with the Mars fork, as reported by other riders. While the light weight is admirable, this bike's real advantage over any other dualie is its handling. It's an expensive bike, but then everything on the bike is first quality and light.
Strengths: this is a real quarter horse!!! I not sure what they feed this beast (super korn???) but it will buck you farther than black beauty, and it won't give up. old yeller won't get near it.
Weaknesses: saddle is uncomfortable, it should come with a seat belt! when I try to stear it by the horns, it refuses to stay in line. Klein would make a million pesos if pro rodeo found out about this thing, it tries to buck you off like mule on peyote!!! like riding a trail with an endless whoop section.
Bottom Line:
best kept in the corral, unless you got your five gallon ready, and your spurs are nice and sharp, otherwise it will buck you off quicker than greased moose poop slides off a shovel. I give it one flamin chili cuz it already acts like it had 10.
Similar Products Used: bulls, horses, mules, your mom.
Bike Setup: a leash an tie-downs would be nice!
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Submitted by
Andy Kraft
a Cross Country Rider
from Bloomington, IL USA
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2000
Strengths: Ultra light weight, great workmanship.
Weaknesses: Defective parts used in assembly. MUST have a riser bar.
Bottom Line:
My first ride was at the 24hrs of Snowshoe Race in West Virgina. I am coming off a Klein hardtail, and had a hard time getting used to the rear end bobbing. The bike climbs and manuvers like nothing else. Steep downhills are another story, this thing is a death machine. Riser bars are a MUST. My bike came with the Manitou Mars CL and the Cane Creek AD10, both of which were defective from the factory. The Mars leaked oil, and the AD10 had a bad seal. Mike bike is 23 1/2 pounds built, and is the custom model signed by Gary Klein. Workmanship of the frame is unrivaled.I invested $4400, so I don't know how much of a value that is. This bike is suited to the Klein lover that has too much money and wants the best of everything. You could get the Specalized FSR/XC Pro for $2000 less, and probably be jsut as happy.
Similar Products Used: Specalized FSR/XC Pro, Klein Attitude Pro
Bike Setup: All XTR, Raceface Next LP crank, Rolf Propel wheels, Avid SD mag brakes.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
joseph dominguez
a Cross Country Rider
from ipswich ma
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2000
Strengths: light/stiff/fast/climbs anything you want!!!!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses: none yet
Bottom Line:
never ever thought i would every go full suspension!!!!!! wrong!!!! it took one ride and i will never go back to my hard tail.this bike will let you ride faster,harder and longer then you have ever ridden before..........the only thing you need to do,is take some time setting this work of art up. for example seat hight,riser bars a must and take some time finding the right shock psi and rebound. thwe cane creek is top notch and so is the mars cl you will never want to come home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
