Submitted by
Scott Wickes
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2002
Strengths: Nice stiff solid frame. I have taken some good hits on this bike, it has rolled halfway down Apex mtn. it took some nice blue paint off but otherwise I got back on and finished the ride.
Weaknesses: Front derailer, shifts aren't so smooth. not much weakness here.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, 3 years riding in Colorado and the thing just wants to take on more. It climbs like a banchee, super light frame, I'm now around 24.5 lbs with the new sid sl. I'm going to keep this bike until it breaks or I win the lottery then I'm gonna buy a Santa Cruz Blur. For the money you can't go wrong. I would highly recommend klein! 5 big red chilis.
Strengths: Lightweight, looks great ,fast climber,fasterDH,great feel all around ....
Weaknesses: seat really sucked ,paint chips (not too bad),some chain such (lubed it good and bought a lizard skin)
Bottom Line:
Wow if everyone was as satisfied as I am with this bike the shops would only sell replasement parts. When I bought it for 1k and change the first thing I did was change the shoch for something better suited for my 200+ lbs thus the air/oil 100cm travel fork then came the stem, raised it up a tad and bought it back just enough . after riding it about town I changed the seat . soap, water,air,lube, dirty up again .I now need brake shoes and tires and am hard pressed to deviate from the originals. This bike was put together by someone at the shop I suppose as I haven't seen one set up like this. If you get one, you won't be sorry ,just broke.
Bike Setup: Thompson elite seat post, bonnie fs2000 gel seat, lx hubs,crank, and front derailleur, xt quickshift avid sd2 vbrakes and levers, control tech stem ,marzochi flylight z3, flat bontrager bars and grips, as well as mustang wheels and revolt st2 tyres
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Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2001
Strengths: Extremely stiff. Good climber.
Weaknesses: Extremely stiff. Chain. Seat. Pedals.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. The chainsuck problem everyone is having I think is caused by the chain. First off, it's too long but that is a LBS buildup issue. The chainsuck got a litle better after I shortened it, but after changing over to a PC59 chain the chainsuck has magically disappeared.Yea! My next victim would have been the front derailleur(sp) since it kind of sucks too. I've been wainting for my frame to break so I can get a new one (my wife has a 2000 model and I'm jealous of the internal cable routing) but I guess I just don't ride hard enough.
Strengths: Very fast bike. Great paint. Internal cable routing. Solid componentry.
Weaknesses: Not the Klein, but the Manitou SX gave me a lot of problems.
Bottom Line:
This is my favorite bike I have ridden. I did break my original frame('99) where the deraileur hanger attaches. I weigh about 185 and ride pretty hard. Klein got me a new frame in less than a month. The service was great. The 2001 grey not as pretty as the blue 1999 but still a beauty. I finally replaced the Manitou with a duke SL. Could not be happier. I got a great deal, but Klein is usually a bit pricy. Buy it if you want the best. You wont be disappointed
Bike Setup: Duke SL, Full XT, Avid Arch 50, Thompson post, Sun-Ringle RPM.
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Submitted by
Patrick Doran
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001
Strengths: Extremely stiff frame, great components, insanely lightweight and very reliable.
Weaknesses: The Manitou fork obviously. Many disagree, but I feel the Englund Air shocks were a GREAT upgrade for them for me at 165 lbs. Also this is an ass pounding ride, very stiff with good handling as the prize for the pain.
Bottom Line:
Versatile, lightweight, tight handling, and durable. Take this bike anywhere, the frame is the best Alluminum hardtail you're gonna find period. I've taken this on some crazy fast DH and the worst damage I've ever had was bashing the chain completely horizontal on one section which was fixed with a few twists of the hand. If ass pain is a problem then get the Adept Pro. But if you're a hardtail enthusiast it's really hard to turn this bike down. It takes a lot of punishment considering its an XC racing bike I do freeriding with.
Similar Products Used: Trek 8000 SLR, Diamondback X2, Old Novara hardtail, rocky mountain, GT I-drive 4000. And every bike at the shop I worked at.
Bike Setup: Stock XT rear dr with Panaracer red XC tires front/back (great tires), englund air shocks in the crapola Manitou Sx shock. Kore stem, Titec hellbent handlebar with 1" rise - got both for total of 48 bucks at Cambriabike. The seat stays flat on XC terrain and a slight tilt back for DH makes the handling perfect.
Strengths: Stiff, great climber, one of the best accelerating bikes I have ever ridden!!!
Weaknesses: rear dropout breaking and paint. Some people would put $s here. But if you don't know what makes this bike worth it, then you don't deserve it!!
Bottom Line:
Don't get me worng, I loved this bike. I think that it is one of the best performing bikes on the market today. I really just wanted to give you my input about Klein as a company. I work at two diffent bike shops that deal Klein, so I have spoken to reps and on the phone with trek/klein. The team that I ride for has broken atleast 8 to 10 of these frames in the last year. Ok yeah, that is a big deal. But on the other had we all got new frames because of the life time warranty. I just dare you to compare Specialized's warranty policy with Kleins (I will save you some time, it says no racing, jumping, etc... Pretty much you should just buy road bikes from them becuase they aren't going to stand being there mountian bike for the reasons you would buy one, but I really haven't any break). Klein has been good to us, letting us upgrade frames, switch sizes and so on. So now I am riding an adpet pro, for almost nothing.
In general, the attitude has some of the best geometry on the market. So don't get all mad if your 99 has paint chipping or a broken rear drop out (if it isn't yet just wait another year), because you are going to get a brand new frame! Can I get a hell yeah for a life time warranty!.
Similar Products Used: fisher/trek/schwinn/vodoo/spec./gt/etc...
Bike Setup: Who cares?????
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Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2001
Strengths: Super rigid frame, great paint job.
Weaknesses: Chain, pedals, front derailleur?
Bottom Line:
This review is for the blue Attitude comp ('99 or '00?). This bike is great, it is realy rigid and climbs like a goat. I haven't had the frame crack on me like some others, but then I don't routinely jump anything huge. The chainsuck problem was too much though, at first I just thought the chain was a few links too long. Took out a couple of links, no help. Went to a Sachs chain and it is much improved, if it gets bad again I will go to an XT front derailleur. The stock tires were fine for me but I don't ride in slop too much. Overall I would highly recommend this bike, it'll pick the right lines for you, or maybe it just makes any line feel like the right one!!!!!
Favorite Trail: The one 10 minutes from my house!!
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Similar Products Used: GT Avalanche
Bike Setup: Bone stock with bar-ends and new chain.
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Submitted by
Flip
a Cross Country Rider
from Amsterdam, Holland
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2001
Strengths: Nice stiff frame, climbs as hell, weight, really fast bike, color. (Most of) the bike setup.
Weaknesses: The fork!!! When it's cold (it is at the moment) it works ok, but when its warmer, it really, really sucks. No problems with the paint... so far, no problems with breaking... so far. The wheels aren't the stiffest in the world, and the breaks aren't the best (especially after a few hours riding).
Bottom Line:
A really nice fast bike, but how could this guy 2 reviews below buy the 2001 model for $904??? If I could get it for that price I would immediately buy it (they are over $2000 in Holland!). But besides that I like the bike a lot, it's born for fast off the road riding and everytime I'm climbing I'm surprised (& pleased!) how easily it does the job. And the stiffness is great.... it's a great bike for a great ride. Four flames for the value (with a better fork and wheels it should be five), and four overall (there always must be something better out there you never know).
Similar Products Used: Trek 8000 (with a Pace evo II fork !!!!!!)
Bike Setup: Stock. Yet. Gonna replace the fork soon (with a Pace!) and the breaks. After that the wheels.
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Submitted by
Alex Hill
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2001
Strengths: Great frame, the geometry really lets you carve through corners like on rails. I love the way you can exit curves and it's ability to climb. Other reviewers are right; the setup isn't too good on the road - but we don't buy MTBs for that reason any way! Frame quality is good - no breakages yet.
Weaknesses: Don't want to sound cheap by the componentry does suck. A frame not designed for people with weak backs or soft butts. Paint job looks impressive new but isn't bullet proof by any means - it should be enamel baked or something.... Maybe some touch-up paint could be supplied.
Bottom Line:
Great brand with a great product. This product has been designe dfor the kind of person who wants quality and isn't afraid to spend money on it. I would suggest that if you haven't ridden such a stiff frame you might be in for a rude shock but give it time and the frame makes it all worth while. Nothing else comes close - I'd give it 5 Flamers except for the fact that I know the Attitude Pro is out there.....
Similar Products Used: Trek 8000 - before that was stuck on road bikes.
Bike Setup: Stock except for XTR chain wheel, XT cranks and XTR rear derailleur. Oh, I also upgraded the seat.
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Submitted by
Michael Kauk
a Cross Country Rider
from Greenville, NC USA
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2001
Strengths: -very fast bike -paint job is beautiful (grey) -wheels are awesome -drivetrain is decent -stiff frame, climbs like theres no tommorow -it's a Klein!
Weaknesses: -too rigid? my back hurts after the ride, and my arse -the paint is almost too nice -since you have a Klein you have no choice but to represent on the trail
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks, by far the best bike I've ever ridden. This bike has grown on me, it's now a part of my family and I won't sell it next year (probably:) but it's fast as h-e-double hockeystix. Must be willing to take a beating from the stiff frame, but pays off with it's nimbleness and it's climbing ability. Throw some new tires on it and it's golden. Beautiful "approaching grey storm" paint job. Buy it!! Oh yeah, this is the 2001 model :) heh.
Similar Products Used: ??don't know if it's similar but my other bike was a Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS, tested the Trek 8000
Bike Setup: stock(xt/lx;not for long), with Time Atac Aliums, and Specialized BG Comp
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Submitted by
Kuba
a Downhiller
from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2000
Strengths: Paintjob WOW, different shades of blue depending on the light, great frame I found it handled really well, but not with the wheels it came with (Bontrage') Geometry is really good for cross country, although a little steep for some of the stuff I tried to do (ENDO). I found it very light and it would go where I pointed it, with a different fork. The stock fork that it comes with (Manitou SX E) just takes a lot of fun out of the bike, if you do get this frame change the fork. Again I really liked the frame....
Weaknesses: OK now here we go, the weaknesses.... My frame just broke on me, rear dropout. I think half the riders experienced this (I hope not though). I was really happy about this because my paint was coming off like they put it on top of some grease or something??? The paint is coming off everywhere, even underside of the top tube? So I was hoping it would go on the rear dropout, cause the paint warranty is only good for one year( I think they knew what was going to happen). The components are pretty bad for weight so if you are a gramm counter invest some $$$ in lighter components.
Bottom Line:
Overall I would not recommend this years model because of the rear dropout thing and of course the damn paint (if you want pictures of the frame and how it looks after a year email me, but it ain't pretty). The whole story takes a nice twist since the shop I bought it at went out of business the same week that it broke .... I'll keep you updated on how Klein handled this....
I liked the biek until it started shedding and then broke
Submitted by
alex
a Cross Country Rider
from pennington NJ
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2000
Strengths: the frame is like no other in every aspect from the shape of the aluminum chain stays to the paint finish. Gary takes so much time and puts so much finess into his frames. it is aluminum, so it's a harsh ride because the frame is stiff like a rabi, but this helps develop technical skills very quickly because the bike will bite back if you make a tiny mistake. Parts mix is good (LX/XT) and i love the plush manitou fork. the great thing is that the frame will never be outdated or wear out, you can keep a klein frame and hand it down to your grandchildren, but you can upgrade other components without feeling guilty (the wheels suck). no other frame matches the quality of a klein
Weaknesses: the original wheels were always out of true, the original breaks squeel when wet, the pedals allow too much lateral movement when clipped in, yet not enough mud clearance. the beautiful paint job ships very easily, call me a ninny, but the sky blue paint scheme is gorgeous
Bottom Line:
i've had my bike for over a year now, i've taken it on epic rides on mt. snow, and many other places. and my it's held up very well. there's nothin' like a good aluminum hardtail, especially a klein. the main thing is the frame on this bike. klein made sure his frame was the best, and it is, u can go to the web page and read why kleins are superior, i think there are 12 reasons. Because gary made sure the frame would last an eternity and weigh in at 3.0 lbs (lighter than any other frame on the market) klein had to cut some corners in the parts mix. thats fine. the original components work very well, they're just heavy. i'd rather have the best frame with a crap parts group than a crap frame. i highly recommend any klein for that matter.
Strengths: Once this bike hits the dirt it kicks into overdrive. The best tracking and handling off road. It loves to climb. After about one month, the bike felt like an extension of my own body and it just keeps getting better. The bike feels invisible--it's much easier to ride it on a climb than it is to walk the climb. I feel like I'm sitting high when I'm on the road on this bike, but once I hit the dirt it feels like the center of gravity lowers and I take off!
Weaknesses: On the road, riding to the trail, the ride feels less controlled. I guess that's not a weakness really, since the bike is for off road. I read people complaining about the components, but give me a break--the bike is a great value just for the frame! Quit complaining and spend more if you want upgraded components. For the price it's a great value and you can always upgrade knowing you have a great frame. Despite the raves about the paint, I don't like my 2000 color. Red and yellow is a bit too, uh---red and yellow for me.
Bottom Line:
I don't want to buy a new frame every couple years so I wanted something with classic lines. Suspension bikes just look like there's too much going on for my tastes. I like things simple. Plus a good suspension seatpost lets me enjoy the cushy ride when I need it, yet retain the full transfer of my pedal stroke on climbs. Plus, with fewer moving parts, there's less maintenance worries for me. (I'm mechanically inclined but technically deficient). This bike fits the bill. Except for the color, it appeals to my aesthetic senses and challenges my skills. It's a great riding partner.
Bike Setup: I'm carefully upgrading all the components--eventually. I switched to an XTR front D---the LX was sloppy and rough. The XTR is great. Sometimes I can't hear any shifting of the gear change---it's that smooth---I can only feel it in my legs. I have the Thudbuster seatpost---great but ugly (the blue plugs are right for my weight, but wrong for the color of my bike!). Next upgrades---fork and dump the LX shifters. For a few hundred bucks I end up with top of the line everything. Still a great deal for the whole package.
Weaknesses: Frame break at rear dropout, wheels are just crap
Bottom Line:
The bike is OK, but dissapointing wheel quality, also stupid to put a bolt through the chainstay near the rear wheel dropout, causes stress and the frame will break. I am now waiting for my new frame, not 99 model.
Remember to check for tiny cracks if you have a 99-model.
Bike Setup: 99 attitude with new xtr-517 wheels and xt bb
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Submitted by
Brad
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2000
Strengths: The Frame
Weaknesses: Components
Bottom Line:
This bike flies -- A friend of mine bought a more expensive Cannondale at the same time I bought this bike and now can't keep up and is continually begging to ride my Klein instead. I read the reviews below and have not had any of the chainsuck or breakage problems even though my favorite ride has two 4-6 foot drops and many 2-3 foot drops. Maybe I am just lucky or the 2000 model has fixed these problems. I would recommend this bike to anyone but especially to those who have ridden a substantial amount before and want to feel just how fast they can go without spending huge money on a full blown race bike. For the price there is no better bike on the market.
