Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Corner Brook, NF, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2003
Strengths: climbs better then a Nepalese sherpa in an arteryx harness. It moves itself uphill. If you take pride in being the first to the top then this bikes for you.
Weaknesses: how it handles on downhills which unfortunately comprise half of riding. If you like getting bucked all the time then this product is for you. As well the Klein headset is wacked. Press fit bearings just doesn't work. I had to shim mine with pieces of pop can because no one (not even the guys from Klein) could suggest how to fix my chronicly loose headset. Give me a standard Chris King set up any day!
Bottom Line:
Climbs better then anything around. Descends slower then a grandma with her brakes locked. Single track fast.
Also you have to baby this bike like you would a road bike. If you can afford to have a road bike, porcelin climbing bike, and a real mountain bike then I suggest you get this one. If not then pick yourself up a dirty rig so that when you crash you don't have to consider the cost of fixing your bike as you lick your wounds.
Strengths: awesome paint job, super stiff, extremely fast, race geometry, good components
Weaknesses: brakes squeel a bit without proper tuning
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks. Its amazing to look at and amazing to ride. I race hard on it and it never fails. It's as stiff as it gets, so you'll take a beating, but you'll hauls. I can't say enough about it. Great bike.
Similar Products Used: schwinn homegrown, cannondale jeckyl, gt i-drive, kona stinky, trek 9.8, schwinn rocket 88, fisher sugar
Bike Setup: xt/xtr, monkeylite riser bar, thudbuster seatpost, ceramic rims and pads, chris king hubs, bontrager race lite rims
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Submitted by
Curt
a Cross Country Rider
from Plano, TX
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2003
Strengths: Strong, stiff frame, light
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I have been riding for nearly 20 years now and I have always wanted a Klein. This is a GREAT bike and the absolute best so far. Very responsive on single track, climbs like goat, accelerates like a bat out of hell, descents are stable and overall easy manuverability.
I would recommend buying the frame alone and add your own components to avoid all the low end stuff that comes on bikes these days. I wound up with a 22 lb. machine that's a rocket when you need it to be and light and fun on climbs. Nice!
Bottom line is that this is a great bike. Strong, light & stiff frame suitable for whatever you want to throw at it. Quick and nimble on single track and sprints, light and accurate on climbs and descents. Seems durable after a few good spills as this bike inspires confidence so no dents as others have suggested. I say get one.
I give my Adroit Race 5 flamin' chilis and a "Z" snap!
Similar Products Used: 89 Fisher CR-7, 2 - Stumpjumpers, Schwinn High Sierra
Bike Setup: Bought frame and added XTR shifters/brake lever combo, Hershey Racing V-Brakes, Truvativ Team ISIS cranks, Thompson Elite seatpost, Monkeylite bar, Salsa grips, Manitou SX-R, Mavic 517's w/XTR hubs, old trusty Performance Ti saddle from my CR-7.
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Submitted by
Kathy
a Cross Country Rider
from Wood Dale, IL
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2002
Strengths: Everything, great pedals, super stiff, awesome climber, lock-out shock!!! Chris king hub (sounds cool) this bike is awesome
Weaknesses: too long of a stem, and paint scratchs too easily
Bottom Line:
good bike, especailly for a big rider, this bike has excelled everywere so far. I even rode it in my first triathlon, put some semi-slicks on it ans was smoking gals with $2500 triathlon bikes. I know they say it usually is the motor but i swear my motor and this machine can cook!!!
Strengths: The paint is awesome, especially after a coat or two of wax/polish.
It's quicker in turns and climbs than any bike I've ever seen.
Weaknesses: It's a little rough downhill, but if you adjust the seat and bar correctly, it's easily overcome.
I'm afraid to scratch the paint even after two years (yes I have scratched it a few times).
I didn't really enjoy the Icon crank. I mean, it worked really well, but after riding w/ an XTR crank, I'll never go back. XTR totally compliments the frame w/ its stiffness.
Bottom Line:
After 2 years, this ride still is top-o-da-line. It's best while climbin' a hill, huggin' a curve, or justifyin' a fire road's name. It's NOT for freeriders or huckers. At the start of a race, get a good look at the fork and headset 'cuz from then on all you'll see is the seat stays and rear tire throwin' dirt in your face.
Similar Products Used: It's a bike. I can't count how many I've ridden in my lifetime.
Bike Setup: Stock w/ Panaracer Fire XC Pro's, XTR crankset, red and black Ergo grips (instead of the gray and black), Bell X-Ray helment, Sidi Dominator 2 shoes, Fox gloves, and my Fat Kats team jersey. Go Fat Kats!
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Submitted by
Michael Greveling
a Cross Country Rider
from Winston-Salem, NC
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001
Strengths: Light, fast and sexy. Beautiful paint job and excellent, nearly unnoticeable welds. Great fork and wheel set. Keg head tube and internal cable routing and to the looks.
Weaknesses: Icon crank, stem and handlebar. The degree at which the handle comes toward you is to great and makes long rides uncomfortable. I upgraded to Easton CT2. Frame dents easily also.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line. I went from the back of the group to the front. I went from finishing in the middle of pack in races to the leader. This bike is fast. Buy this bike if you want to rule on tight single track.
Bike Setup: Manitou Mars C fork. XT brakes, shifters, BB, and front derailer. XTR rear derailer. Icon crank and stem. Easton CT2 handlebar. Thompsom Elite seatpost and SDG seat. Bontrager Race Modified wheelset.
Weaknesses: Overly expensive-it's just aluminum, guys!! Thin, easily dented tubing No fatigue memory - one day it just snaps Rigid ride, jarring on downhills
Bottom Line:
People who buy Klein ultrathin aluminum framesets are a monument to the concept that money does not buy intelligence. I forget how many people I've seen getting on their $2500 custom-painted Kleins for their ride of the day and come back shrieking like a girl because they crashed once and dented the tubes! Kleins are really bad in rocky areas, just a mild endo can result in dented tubes. Don't forget to make sure your handlebar ends clear the top tube as well, or again, DENT CITY!
If you just have to spend a lot of money, for the same money & weight you could get a really nice ti frame (much stronger), or for just a couple hundred more grams a well made chromoly hand-built frame with a nicer ride to boot. Sometimes it takes a really good crash to change minds....
Submitted by
Rick Dreibelbis
a Weekend Warrior
from Chapel Hill (Go Heels!)
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2001
Strengths: Where to begin...Gary Klein's innovative,beautiful,dynamic FRAME! Then, there's the HandPainting(paint: $1800/gallon), the lightest, the speed, the top-end components: Klein's AirHeadset, Shimano XTR, Rolf Propel Ceramic Wheels & Hubs, Avid Magnums, Bontrager everywhere, incl.Super-X tires,Manitou Mars Elite ...just awesome out of the crate!
Weaknesses: No place to put the wedding ring...i would marry this machine!!!
Bottom Line:
This is the ULTIMATE Hardtail bike! Gary Klein and Company have worked for 25 years, constantly and consistently improving the art of bicycle building, and this 2001 Klein Adroit Race is the result. It is absolutely beautiful to look at and an orgasmic pleasure to ride! I hang my Klein on my Living Room wall when I'm not riding it!!!
Purchased At: The Bicycle Shop, Fayetteville, NC Thanks, Martyn!!
Similar Products Used: Specialized this and that, TREK a little here and there...
Bike Setup: Just like Gary built it!!! Flawless, Fast, Responsive...see my entry under DREAM BIKES
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Submitted by
Nick Cranch
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2000
Strengths: I use it on the roads in London mainly and it handles as good as road bikes. Very responsive but still remains in complete control, even in the wet. Light, but still very stiff for Al and corners very well with a good set of semi-slicks. Absolutley head-turner! And great up hills, both on and off-road.
Weaknesses: Mine came with fault bearings on the Bonty's. Far too much lateral movement meant excessive brake wear when cornering hard. The nice Klein man gave me some Rolf Urraco's instead and now I can't stop grinning every time I get on it!
Bottom Line:
For a bike to perform off and on road with little adjustment you can't beat it for the price tag. Unbelievable smooth through the gears even with a month of London grime all over. Can still avoid most jay-walkers even in the wet with the superb response from the front-end. The Rolfs are the strongest set of wheels (sorry to all standard Bonty owners) I have ever used. Only the one straightening so far when a kid threw a house-brick through the back wheel whilst I was passing, v quickly. As with all hardtails used on roads the tyre choice is critical, Panaracer CTX150's means you don't hit the moron in the car who just changed lanes without looking.
Similar Products Used: Range of Specialized, Cannondale, Trek and custom built Ti-Red with XTR throughout. Beats them all.
Bike Setup: As bought, except for the new Rolfs. Mars locked for road use and uphill, great.
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Submitted by
Mtichell
a Cross Country Rider
from Sheboygan, WI
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2000
Strengths: Awesome climber. Great acceleration. Handles very well. The AirHeadset is awesome.
Weaknesses: Possibly the wheelset. I'm not sure though. Kind of rough downhill, probably due to the steep headtube angle.
Bottom Line:
Virtually the perfect XC machine. I upgraded my chain to an Ultegra though. I'm debating whether the wheelset deserves to be a part of this bike. I also wish Bontrager would have the RaceModified wheelset on their site. The saddle gets uncompfortable too, but... I also have to mention the frame, because that is what Gary Klein has worked so hard on. Great job Gary!
Submitted by
Eric Stroh
a Cross Country Rider
from Ft Bragg
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2000
Strengths: Light as a feather, Climbs like a champ, Handles like a dream, doesn't need upgrades!
Weaknesses: Front tire has to be deflated half way to come off, stock seat blows.
Bottom Line:
Its a KLEIN and you get what you pay for. I dropped 2500 and got a SWEET bike. The MARS shock makes taking the front tire off a pain which should have been corrected. I will say this, simply the fastest hardtail I have ever ridden. One hard crank as the crest or coming out of a tight corner and you can dump a gear or two and dust your pals. Bike handles like a dream and you can climb anything if you willing. I was curious about how the ICON Sterling cranks would hold up but the LBS (who I trust and ride with) said they would hang with XTR and they seem to be just fine. I went back to a hardtail after over a year on DBR V-Link and yes its a rougher ride but it is SOOO much faster. I looked into the softails and test road a STP but to get one set up with a nice mix of components was about 4000 when the SWEET Klein was 2500 with same setup. A STP at that price came with LOW end ICON and LX - WTF??? Anyway, if you are diehard hardtail it is money well spent!
Similar Products Used: Demo - GTs, Trek 8500, Supercaliber, M4, Kona Roost
Bike Setup: Stock - upgraded Body Geo Seat
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Submitted by
Michael Myers
a Cross Country Rider
from Albuquerque,New Mexico,USA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2000
Strengths: Overall handling, the best climbing bike I have ever ridden. Great in technical terrain as well, it has a steep head angle but, isn't twitchy on fast descents.
Weaknesses: I have heard of problems w/ the proprietary Airheadset headset but I have no problem w/ mine. It is as smooth as the Kings I have had in the past. Frame tubing is quite thin and could be prone to denting- no problems yet though- and similar weight aluminum from other manufactuers would have the same characteristic.
Bottom Line:
The best performing bike I have ever owned. I'm very suprised at how well the MARS fork works. Not as fast downhill as the Yeti I owned, but the Klein more than makes up for that in climbing and technical prowess. The Tubeless wheels didn't come w/ the bike but are the best possible thing you could buy for your ride, fast, comfortable, strong, and they hook up EVERYWHERE! And chicks dig them.
