Submitted by
Adam Driedzic
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton,Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2009
Strengths: -disc tabs on a steel hardtail for cheap
-classic steel feel, great handling, power and comfort
-True Temper OX made in USA is super value
Weaknesses: -purely for XC hardpack
-low bottom bracket, narrow mud clearance, steep headtube
-modern full suspension is better at almost everything
Bottom Line:
Rode this frame long and hard for one summer of recreational XC. It hauls ass and I feel fresh at the end. I have had many steel hardtails to compare to. Bought frame new from storage off a former shop owner. other reviews say there have been a bad production lots. My bike is great. No problems with welding or alignment or dropouts. killer deal if its the good batch.
Bike Setup: Rockshox Sid (3"/80mm), velocity aero rims with 1.75" knobbies, all Easton 30, new XT crank with shimano mix
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Submitted by
Evan
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2003
Strengths: Cheap, Lightish (21.5in is about 4.5lbs), sweet geometry, sweet ride
Weaknesses: Weld quality, Not enough room for anything over 2.2in tires.
Bottom Line:
I'm like 6'4" and 195lbs, this bike is the perfect size and weight for my build. It eats up single track like none other. Compaired to my last hardtail (M2 stumpjumper) it has better traction on the climbs, better tracking on the downhills and technical sections, and is way more comfortable on long rides. The stumpjumper's rear wheel always came out of the dropout, but it hasn't happened to me with the KHS. Its way more efficent and lighter than any similarly equiped softie. Built up, the bike weighs anywhere from 24.5 to 25.5 lbs, depending on the tires and tubes. If your a big guy or girl and in the market for a sweet frame for not too much money see if cambria has any of these left, you'll be glad you did.
Similar Products Used: Giant ATX 970, M2 stumpjumper, GT LTS.
Bike Setup: Cane Creek WAM, SX-R, Avid 7.0, Solar Carbon bar, XT SRAM and LX all around, O2 ti.
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Submitted by
bobby
a Cross Country Rider
from New Braunfels TX
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003
Strengths: A good Frame for a custom bild the TRUE TEMPER Steel is a great platform to mount XT or XTR and for the price you can have a bike that will smoke doen the trail!
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2002
Strengths: HANDLING!! Absolutely superb
Weaknesses: Welds look a little ugly but penetrate well, steel rusts, paint is not the best
Bottom Line:
Great thing about this frame is its handling! You could say I've been a little short of really good equipment but this really is the first bike I've had that handles the way I like, since my days with BMX's as a kid. Handles just like a BMX, feels really low and balanced, stable but turns when you need it to. Quality could be a little better, the tubes are fine but the welding looks a little ugly. Saying that though, they look like they penetrate well so thats fine. Paint is a little thin in places. Rear brake arch seems to flex a little, but if you're braking that hard you're locking up which is ok then I guess...of trying some trials stuff.....this is an XC bike do remember. Isn't a really heavy frame but I'm no weight weeny, so who am I to say. Bottom line is, its a great well priced XC frame which feels absolutely great!
Similar Products Used: Giant ATX 840, mid 90's Giant Sedona, some shogun alum frame, 10kg steel made in China hunk o' junk.
Bike Setup: KHS 1999 Team frame, RockShox Judy XC 98, Deore XT deraileurs, LX shifters, Avid 1.0 levers+brakes, kool stops, Sun Ditch Witch rims on XT rear, Formula front, titec seatpost, Giant OCR saddle.
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Submitted by
Justin Chambers
a Cross Country Rider
from Gorham, Maine, USA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2002
Strengths: Great looks, steal is real, good ride. Very traditional design that just plain works
Weaknesses: Its a little heavy, but thats not even the issue because it is a piece of crap! I rode it for a long time without any problems, but had a minor crash and cracked the rear triagle. Come'on. This is steal! This shouldn't happen. And KHS won't cover the frame under warrenty because it's crash related, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A 25 year warrenty against "defects." Wouldn't those defects come out after a year or less on the bike. The warrenty is a hoax. Don't buy it soley on the belief that for the next 25 years you have nothing to worry about. KHS lost my business forever.
Bottom Line:
Great if you don't ever crash? I dunno, I won't buy another KHS steal bike. The Alite 4000 sounds good for a replacement, but if KHS won't replace my frame, i will never buy another bike from them. Period. If you don't crash, abuse, race, or just plain ride anything harder than a gravel road, Its awesome. I LOVED the bike before it broke, after about 2 years. Oh well, now I have an excuse to replace.
Similar Products Used: Trek 8500, Moab, Fuel, Rockhopper, KHS pro st, Rocket 88
Bike Setup: XT rear/LX Front, shifters, cranks, SRAM 7.0 brakes, cassette, and chain, Kore seatpost, stem, Titec Bars, Lock-on grips, Judy Race fork, Michilin Tires, plus lots of other great stuff...except for the frame.
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Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Lewisburg, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2000
Strengths: Dialed-in geometry makes for an agile bike. Steel has a nice feel out on the trail. Light. Great climber. I love the gold color. Of course, the price was right.
Weaknesses: Can rust if not cared for.
Bottom Line:
Great frame for the money and I'm sure just as good as more well-known better marketed names. I love it. This makes a terrific trail and cross-country bike and won't beat you up like a stiffer aluminum frame.
Bike Setup: Salsa stem and bar, Diacompe HS, Kalloy SP. XT shifters, FD, RD, cog. LX crank. Avid 1.0 brakes. Mavic Sunset rims, LX hubs, Michelin Wildgripper Lite S tires. R/S Judy Race fork.
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Submitted by
Coz
a Racer
from Newcastle, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2000
Strengths: Cheap,responsive handling,steel feel,reasonably light. OXII tubes in front(!!!) triangle(I thought it was full OXII!).
Weaknesses: Low quality and incomplete welds.Heavy rear end.Backwheel slips in dropout on drive side.
Bottom Line:
Loved it for the price (as does the wife)In the long run,ie 12 months, I wish I'd outlayed a bit more money and got something a bit more upmarket (ti perhaps). It's falling apart on me now and is cracked along right chainstay. It's frustrating to be looking for something else after just one season of club and State round xc racing.
Bike Setup: Full LX groupset, matrix swami rims, hutchey python gold tyres, WTB ti Saddle, Ritchey post, Time alium pedals.
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Submitted by
Hack-Man
a Cross Country Rider
from North San Diego County
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2000
Strengths: Light weight CroMo, fairly stiff, strong. The team colors look cool!
Weaknesses: None yet
Bottom Line:
This is a fantastic hardtail frame. It's fairly stiff, and the bike tracks well going through rough downhill stutter bumps. Has enough vertical flex that it doesn't beat you up when descending. Good climbing geometry. I'm going to try a brake booster in the rear though, since I can feel the seat stays flex slightly under heavy braking. I highly reccomend this frame!!! 5 flaming turds!
Weaknesses: alignment out by 5 mm rear drive side dropout does not hold wheel in place
Bottom Line:
for the love of god stay away from this frame! the wheel comes out every ride/race the alignment is off by a huge amount - 5mm just simply buy another frame i don't care what it is but it must be better than this one i suggest the latest huffy mtn cruiser - it would at least be better than this one
This frame is nice and stiff and rides really well. However the frame is not very strong and I managed to put a hudge dent in the top tube, causing me to have to spend $150 to get the top tube replaced.
Weaknesses: A little small (my fault) Drop outs drop out
Bottom Line:
KHS is always overlooked by anyone looking for a serious bike, hello here it is. I'm a fairly big guy at 200 lbs and the only thing I didn't like about it was that I fall in between sizes (my fault really) and I broke two frames at the rear der side of the chainstay, both frames were warrantied in a very fast manner. When you get right down to it though, I can probably brake any steel frame that light. I have recommended the KHS to numerous people and they have all been very satisfied with them. KHS makes some of the best bikes today, don't let that name or that stupid taiwan sticker deter you. Everything is made overseas anymore and the quality is just the same. Who has more experience, someone who welds 5 frames a day or 20? These bikes are swesome. I've ridden a lot of stuff and I'm probably going back to KHS for 2000. I'm ordering one of their tarack bikes today (12-13) and I'm stocked about it. Buy this frame/bike! I'd seriously give it ten stars if I could!
Strengths: Stiff for chro-moly, fairly light weight (4lbs/21 in. frame), and best of all, very affordable.
Weaknesses: Chain stays are a little narrow if you run a 2.1 tire in the back.
Bottom Line:
The terrain in the North East can get pretty gnarly. I am a larger rider (230 lbs./6'3) and have yet to experience a problem with either frameset I own. These frames are what hardtail's are all about. Light, fast, strong, stiff, with a classic cross country geometry. Throw in the added value that these frames are so affordable and you have got a great platform for a custom bike. Besides, there are too many Cannondales, Treks, Specialized, and GTs on the trail...
Similar Products Used: I also own an Alite 4000 frame built up for X-C racing.
Bike Setup: 99 Manitou SX-R fork. Race Face cranks, bars, and post. Shimano XT drivetrain and brakeset. Michelin tires.
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Submitted by
Rick
a Cross-Country Rider
from Grass Valley Cal
Date Reviewed: November 16, 1999
Strengths: price appearance geometry
Weaknesses: decal and paint quality
Bottom Line:
Sweet frame for the price. And unlike our brilliant collegue, Boulder, states it was perfectly aligned and a DRUNK from any ethnic back ground could have welded this frame. Anyone looking for a nice inexpensive cromo frame should try this out.
Similar Products Used: Stumpjumper Giant DS-2 Mrazek Boh Corex FSR GC
Bike Setup: z-2 XT/XTR
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Submitted by
BOULDER
a Cross-Country Rider
from TORONTO
Date Reviewed: October 21, 1999
Strengths: STANDARD GEOMETRY 71/73 DEGREES 23.5 TOPTUBE
Weaknesses: REAR DROPOUTS TOO HORIZONTAL (DOESN'T EVEN HOLD THE WHEEL IN PLACE) CABLE ROUTING AWKWARD SEAT TUBE SPLIT AT BACK NO ANTI CHAIN SUCK ALIGNMENT OUT BY 5MM
Bottom Line:
DO NOT BUY THIS FRAME UNLESS YOU WANT TO STOP EVERY RACE AND PUT THE REAR WHEEL BACK INTO PLACE AFTER THE CHAIN PULLS IT OUT OF THE DRIVE SIDE DROPOUT. THE ALIGNMENT IS OUT BY A WHOPPING 5MM. ONLY A DRUNKEN ASIAN COULD HAVE WELDED THIS FRAME (MADE IN TAIWAN SAYS IT ALL). I GAVE IT ONE STAR BECAUSE I COULD NOT GIVE IT ZERO.
Strengths: very fast for downhills and very stiff for winding sinlgetrack
Bottom Line:
The bike rocks on the downhill and is quite impressive in tight winding singletrack. I would highly reccoment this frame to anybody. Little after two years though It broke on the chainstay and i replaced it with their new softtail. It's also very nice but, the shock unit in the the back by power tools is a piece of shit. It fell apart twice out of 9 rides. Stay on their hardtail if anything.
Also, does anyone know what the seatpost diameter and FD clamp diameter is for this frame? The frame I am refering to is the '03 KHS Team frame(True Temper OXII chromoly tubing), n Read More »
