Submitted by
dochawk2
a Weekend Warrior
from charlottesville, va, usa
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2010
Strengths: Strong frame, I think it would take a lot to break it. I am 6'2" 230lbs and it doesn't budge under stress in a abnormal or "uh ho, better be careful" way.
Weaknesses: Slightly odd center of gravity. Not bad, just not what I am use to. Maybe a new stem will do it for me? Fishing new cables thru the frame is a serious pain. the should have put in a guide tubes.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the price. Find a used one and you won't go wrong. I have found many under $500. For that price, it is a steal. Legendary hard tail trail bike.
Submitted by
Indiana Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Indianapolis
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2007
Strengths: F R A M E!! the welds, the design the attention to detail, heck even the paint is cool.
Weaknesses: ok so i for one am not totally impressed by the cable routing through the frame, the way the cables are clamped to the frame are just in an odd area that looks like it could scrape the inside of your leg on a fall but after all the dozens of falls ive taken these things have never touched me at all. just seems like they coulda routed the lines better like on my GT.
Bottom Line:
yes you are paying for the frame mostly but its worth it, you can tell there was passion put into this bike. i have the 2004 disk version that i didnt start riding until 05 and this baby will get up and sprint like nobodys business and stop on a dime if needed. i have thrashed this bike hard and it loves it. this bike is so nimble, i can carve trails so easily and climb too. its been through creeks, lots of mud, freeriding, and off small jumps 3ft or less. its very racy and you can def. feel it. mine came with Bontragger comp.s and they seem pretty good to me, although a bit heavy (the frame itsself is way LIGHT). i could take this bike to a race or just around town or light or heavy trail riding, u name it. this bike is wicked! dont write checks your ass cant cash with this one cause itll take you there. if u have the means, i highly recomend it. value based on components not just frame.
Similar Products Used: GT rebound, Specialized stumpy.
Bike Setup: new WTB seat soon to be a specialized seat. Azonic riser bars, Ritchey WCS stem, WTB tires, Crank Bros. mallet C pedals.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Lou
a Weekend Warrior
from Waretown, N.J. USA
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2007
Strengths: VERY FAST,VERY LIGHT, handles great,cables thru tubing,great climber
Weaknesses: Dents very easily, because of the coloring you can not see the bike lettring vey well, For the price the bike should include a shock for the Rock Shox Duke.
Bottom Line:
Inspite of the minor weaknesses (dents easy,no pump) they are very minor. This bike is like the advertisement says "HANDCRAFTED SCIENCE" This bike performs outstanding! When you hit the trail you WILL feel the difference. This bike is fast,climbs well, & handles tremendously. If you buy it you won't be dissapointed!!!
Submitted by
Stephen Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2006
Strengths: THE FRAME, THE FRAME, THE FRAME NEED I SAY MORE........
Weaknesses: DOOKEY STOCK COMPONENTS, SHOULD HAVE JUST BOUGHT THE FRAME....
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE IS FASSSSSST, AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.... I WENT TO MY LBS LOOKING AROUND FOR A NEW WHEELSET AND TRIED THE KLEIN DEMO, WALKED OUT WITH A NEW BIKE (AWESOME COLOR TOO) AND A WHEELSET. TOOK IT FOR A FEW TEST RIDES WITH THE STOCK COMPONENTS COOL... A WEEK LATER TOOK IT FOR ANOTHER RIDE WITH THE UPGRADES AWWWWWWWESOME!!!!!!!!!! SHAVED ABOUT 2LBS OFF THE BIKE, VERY RESPONSIVE, AGILE AND STIFF NO COMPLAINTS SO FAR EXCEPT FOR SEEING THE VISA BILL. OVERALL GREAT BIKE, SOLID FRAME, SO-SO STOCK COMPONENTS (IF YOU GOT THE FUNDS DEFINENTLY UPGRADE!), LATELY THE WIFE BEEN ASKING HOW COME I DON'T DRIVE ANYMORE, WELL WHAT CAN I SAY, GO KLEIN!
Similar Products Used: TREK 9.9, STUMPIES, GT LTS.....
Bike Setup: ROCK SHOX SID TEAM, CK HEADESET, BONTRAGER RACE XXX LITE STEM AND RACE X LITE ACC SEATPOST AND RACE LITE PRO SADDLE, STAN'S ZTR DISC WHEELSET W/CK MANGO HUBS (TO MATCH PAINT JOB) WITH SHIMANO XT CRANK, CASSETTE, FR/REAR DERAILLUERS WITH AVID BB7 DISC BRAKES (HYDRO'S SUCK).......
Strengths: Frame frame frame!!! Solid strong frame. Climbs amazingly and looks even better!!
Weaknesses: Components are dinky. When you buy a Klein, you are paying for the FRAME. They are now starting to put some better comps. on the newer ones, but you still may want to upgrade some things later.
Bottom Line:
Jim Turner couldn't have said it better:
Klein is one of the best frames ever made. The finish construction and performance are truley a work of art. There are no frames on the market that compare. Buy it if you have a desire to put your dream bike toegther - you can't go into a bike shop and get all the high end parts on a Klein anymore. Don't buy it if you care more about what everyone else is riding or what is the latest fad in Mountain Biking magazine.
Very nice Jim, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Similar Products Used: none, this was my first bike, and I am uber glad I went with it,(thanks again Mike). I will prolly always ride a Klein
Bike Setup: Klein 2002 Attitude Blue to fade, Thompson Seatpost, EA70 Monkeylite handlebars, Easton Riser, other components and I am upgrading currently, long and arduos process, but when you have the best frame on market, you should have nothing but the best components to go with it!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rough&Ready
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2005
Strengths: Um...the frame (obviously). The fork, crankset and wheel sets are realitively good.
Weaknesses: It didn't come with disc brakes. That will be an upgrade next year if I don't kill myself between now and then. The Duke XC fork didn't come with a pump - damn - another $40!
Bottom Line:
If you do any research you will find that Klein bikes are more expensive. However you will get a more solid frame. The question becomes, "Is it worth the extra $100 to $200 compared to a similarly spec'd bike?" It was clear to me since the frame is the most important followed by the fork. You need to make your own decision, but at least ride it first.
I rode one of these approx. 5 years ago and I never forgot it. (Instead of the bike, I bought an engagement ring - go ahead and laugh).
The RockShox Duke XC seems to have enough plushness without bottoming out. The shifters (Shimano Deore) and brakes (Avid Digit 3) work relatively well and I expect them to last a couple of seasons before I upgarde them. The Deore front derailleur and the XT rear work flawlessly.
This bike rides extremely well for a hard tail. I have never been one for enjoying a good long hard climb on a bike. This bike eats climbs for lunch. I am a happy man.
Similar Products Used: Trek 8000, 6700, GT Timberline.
Bike Setup: Stock.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Price
a Weekend Warrior
from Bridgewater, NS, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2005
Strengths: These are amazing, they arn't the lightest but the ride quality unbeatable. This bike sprint and climb like no other. The new models as of 2003 have IS disk tabs, My older frames had Hayes 22mm spacing.
Weaknesses: I dented the down tube when it fell on a rock, but hey, thats not the bikes fault. The newer frames as of 2003 have vertical drop out, I much rather prefered the horrizontal drops on the older frames.
Bottom Line:
I am on my 3rd frame, the first one was a 1999, but they had defective drop outs, and alot of them were breaking, the second one was a 2001 Aztek Gold model (best color ever, wish it never broke), I was running a 4" fork and the down tube cracked just underthe head tube. But I ride very hard, and used to race a ton. To give you an idea of what I put this bike through I seven wheel sets, beat three forks to the point of replacment, cracked a Easton EA60 stem, cracked off a xt bb and tore a pair of pedals out of a Race Face crank set.
Similar Products Used: Trek 930, Trek VRX 200, Klein Mantra, Trek 8000, Kona Kula, Cannondale Jykell, Bontrager (an origional), Norco Sasquatch, Rockey Mt Vapor, Gary Fisher Sugar 1, Norco Team XC.
Bike Setup: 2003 frame, 19.5", Manitou Mars elite, easton stem, monkey lite, hayes hydros, all sram 9.0, Tomson post, race face head set, and truvativ stylo cranks.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Razor Sharpe
a Cross Country Rider
from SF
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2004
Strengths: Paint job, stiff, responsive, rides as good as it looks.
Weaknesses: Nnnaaahhhhh
Bottom Line:
yeah, I got this bike on ebay already tricked out with Avid disc brakes and XT crankset and R derailleur, it was great buy. This bike rocks, the way it looks and responds. All round it's a great bike. Was thinking of getting an '05 Attitude XX but decided to get the same frame and upgrade the components myself. The Bontrager gear that comes the bike doesn't suit this monster. If you're looking into getting a new bike and have the opportunity to try one, go ahead it'll at the top of your list you choose from. Swweeeettttt
Bike Setup: Upgraded XTR Components, Mavic x717 with CK ISO hubs, easton EA70 Forged stem, EC90 Carbon bars
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gary
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Blanc, MI
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2004
Strengths: Amazing responsiveness, light weight material, beautifully painted, stands out from crowd
Weaknesses: Aforementioned beautiful paint is fragile--mild bumps on bike rack frame have produced scratches w/ peeling, iffy (at best) component specs
Bottom Line:
Coming from a carbon fiber GT FS, the handling is so much more acute it is incredible. Unhappy with low end front derailleur spec--thrown the chain twice and dug a rut in to my chain stay paint. Stripping XTR parts from other bike to put on the Attitude--can't wait to finish and ride. Also looking in to upgrading to discs over the winter. The caliber of ride is truly a joy--only fragility of finish and components keep it from a full complement of chilis. Would recommend to anyone looking for a top quality hard tail (especially those not satisfied w/ FS). Would also recommend looking at on-line classifieds or auctions where a better price can be found--this makes the expense of necessary upgrades much less troublesome.
Weaknesses: paint bleamishes easily, should've bought disc model, upgrading this month. takes a while to break in before cables stop stretching, so be ready to adjust frequently for the first few weeks
Bottom Line:
great city or trail bike. perfect for carrying up to a third floor apartment. after break in is done you cant beat this thing. maybe a few upgrades here and there but the bike is great for the money.
I wasn't in the market for a $1500+ hardtail (was planning to spend $1,000), but the LBS has 2005 Klein Attitude V's for 30% off (MSRP was $1599 I believe). Less than $1200 out th Read More »
Anyone know how I can figure out what this thing weighs with the stock set-up? It feels really light, but I'm not sure exactly what it weighs. I'm guessing less than 25 lbs. Any Read More »
Hello all,
I a in the market for a hardtail bike as I am trying to get back into it. I have been considering purchasing a new 05 klein attitude V from my LBS. I recently saw a Read More »
NOTE: posted this in the "what bike to buy" forum also, but I am looking for some quick feedback so I put it here for a bit more attention ... hope that is okay.
--------------- Read More »
