Home | Reviews | Older Categories Bikes | Bike 1998 or Older

Klein Mantra Bike 1998 or Older


  • Average Rating: 4.29/5
  • MSRP: $ 1700.00
  • # of Reviews: 7

Product Description

1999 Klein Mantra


Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

Reviews 1 - 7 (7 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by jeff fielding a Racer from philadelphia pa

Date Reviewed: April 20, 2009

Strengths:    there is nothing week about this bike, it climbs hills with ease, very fast, handles like it was on rails. there is no other bike i want

Weaknesses:    i can not name one weakness with this bike other then they do not make them anymore, so if can get your hands grab it without a second thought.

Bottom Line:   
klein mantra ... is the hottest bike ever f****** made... if i could give this bike more than 5 flames i would

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   anywhere there is dirt

Duration Product Used:   More than 3 years

Price Paid:    $2000.00

Purchased At:   custom built piece b

Similar Products Used:   i have had many mtb bikes from cannondale trek and gary fisher...

Bike Setup:   to many parts to list the setup, but even when this bike was stock it was great


Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:3
Submitted by Tim a Cross Country Rider from Rhode Island

Date Reviewed: May 24, 2003

Strengths:    Elegant design that is strong, dependable, quiet, and low maintenance
Great climber (and great descender once you adapt)
Great sprinter


Weaknesses:    Rear suspension locks out when braking hard
Endoes easily downhill
Switchbacks are touchy with front brake usage
Ghost shifting
No rear disc tabs (not surprising as it was '98)


Bottom Line:   
Thou shalt not ride thy Mantra downhill whilst seated.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   More than 3 years

Price Paid:    $1350.00

Similar Products Used:   None (perhaps the Catamount might be similar)

Bike Setup:   Just about STX-RC quality components. It originally had a short travel (60mm) Manitou Spyder-R fork and crappy SPD pedals. I upgraded to Time ATACs after a few months. I upgraded to a Manitou Six Deluxe after 4 years. The stock fork eventually became inadaquate for rough trails and high speeds. The Mantra works so much better with a 80mm oil-dampened fork on it! This balances the rear suspension (~5") better and improves handling everywhere. It also allows more front brake to be used, gaining better speed control.


Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:4
Submitted by Mark a Weekend Warrior from DeLand, FL, USA

Date Reviewed: April 15, 2000

Strengths:    The suspension is about as plush as one could ask for. The Manitou SX soaks up most any imperfections. Very agile. Not too heavy, and looks great. URT design has the strangest suspension feel, but is very smooth. I get complements on how cool it looks wherever I go.

Weaknesses:    the stock tires are cheezy... there was a recall on the main pivot bearing... no other gripes

Bottom Line:   
The recall on the pivot was handled quickly by the Bike Shop in Ormond Beach, FL. The bike is about as plush and smooth of a ride possible. Short cockpit makes for quick turning radius. If you want a sweet looking, smooth riding xc dually, the $1500 is worth it.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   razorback park in Reddick, FL

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Similar Products Used:   mountain cycle moho cxs
trek vrx 300


Bike Setup:   avid and xt drivetrain, manitou sx, fox vanilla, xt/avid brakes


Overall Rating:5
Submitted by E.Rodriguez a Cross-Country Rider from Wash, DC

Date Reviewed: December 24, 1999

Strengths:    
1.Very comfortable.
2.Light
3.Tight wheelbase, great for climbing
4.Geometry centers rider for balanced ride


Weaknesses:    
Rear shock mounting bolts sometimes loosen, creating play.


Bottom Line:   
Not for everyone. I will probabely never sell mine. Mine is set up for a really light rider- 130lbs. The air front and rear helps a lot to balance the ride. the rear shock mount has developed a few millimeters of slop and this results in some lateral play. you can feel the play and hear it if you pick the bike up and drop it a few inches. this is easily fixed by retightening the bolts periodically with some lube or loctite. it handles great, its been about 3 years now and i still love it.I replaced everything on it except the thompson seatpost. the rest of the bike was sh-it when i bought it, so i replaced it with lighter and better stuff. the angle of the seatpost drives me nuts cuz the effective top tube length increases as you raise the seat. why couldn't they change the angle? overall, extremely satisfied.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
porcupine rim, moab utah

Duration Product Used:   
more than 3 years

Similar Products Used:   
a lot, i've worked at a bunch of shops.


Bike Setup:   
mantra frame with the blastberry chameleon paint job.
2000 SID Race, cane creek AD-10, rpmlite wheels, kooka stem-crank, real rings, esp9.0, thompson, 747,FSA ti BB+headset,ti bar+barends, oury,machine tech levers,kevlar cable housing, teflon cables, integra seat


Overall Rating:5
Submitted by John a Cross-Country Rider from Honolulu, Hi

Date Reviewed: November 15, 1999

Strengths:    
Great climber
Very responsive steering
Extremely stiff frame
Great for XC
Great rear suspension system
Klein's Gradient tubing


Weaknesses:    
Not so great for DH
Short frame..maybe a problem for tall riders


Bottom Line:   
This bike is great for XC. It flies over bumps large and small with out missing a beat. It climbs as good as a hardtail(if not better). If your an XC rider and looking to convert to FS, this is the bike for you. This bike gets really scary when your riding downhill. I've heard many others say the same thing. Although in my case I think the problem could be resolved by replacing the Judy XC with a Bomber. Some might say the $2500 price tag is too much but it's worth every penny.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
anything XC

Duration Product Used:   
1 Year

Similar Products Used:   
Havent' tried any other URT's


Bike Setup:   
Klein Mantra Race
Judy XC (front)
Fox Vanilla 4R (rear)


Overall Rating:2
Submitted by ian a Racer from denver

Date Reviewed: May 12, 1999

Strengths:    
it's a klein


Weaknesses:    
small company


Bottom Line:   
good

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
moab

Duration Product Used:   
1 Year

Similar Products Used:   
spesilized


Bike Setup:   
rock shox


Overall Rating:5
Submitted by Kristian Fraser a Cross-Country Rider from Regina, SK CANADA

Date Reviewed: April 5, 1999

Strengths:    
This thing was really light and responsive. It looks cool too. It makes my old trek feel like a tank.


Weaknesses:    
I dunno, I hear high speeds downhill, it's not a downhill bike though.


Bottom Line:   
This is a great bike and I can't wait to get mine. It's being shipped right now. I'll update the review soon.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   
wascana trails

Duration Product Used:   
tested or demo'ed only

Similar Products Used:   
Trek Y3, Rocky Mountain Element race


Bike Setup:   
stock, Manitou SX-E, for vannilla float, LX drivetrain, Bontranger stuff too.



Reviews 1 - 7 (7 Reviews Total)

Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

Klein Mantra pivot bushings question

Hey guys, Does anyone know if the pivot bushings were the same for the aluminum and carbon frames? Someone has a pair to sell but doesn't know which frame they are for :( -   Read More »

My new mantra!

I'm new to mountain biking, so I'm learning every ride! I've heard people say "light hands and heavy feet", but I've never thought about it much while riding until today. On the d   Read More »

2000 Mantra Comp

2000 Mantra Comp been stored inside for 8 years. Ridden hard for 2 years, everything is original and functioning. I have a 2001 Klein Attitude and love the thing, but I might buy t   Read More »

2000 Klein Mantra Comp

2000 Mantra Comp been stored inside for 8 years listed on craigslist. Ridden hard for 2 years, everything is original and functioning. I have a 2001 Klein Attitude and love the thi   Read More »

1997 Klein Mantra rear triangle cracking

Does anyone know the difference, other than color, between the yellow vs black rear triangle? The general belief is the matching color triangle had a tendency to crack more often.   Read More »

See All »



 

See All »





Time:



Crank Brothers:




See All »