Submitted by
dr_king
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2009
Strengths: Stiff relyable frame
Weaknesses: paint chips off easily
Bottom Line:
I purchased a 1997 KLEIN brand new in 1997 and rode it until I broke a component and replaced it with an upgraded one. By 1999 I had replaced the seat post with a Thompson, the drive train with xtr, the shifter/levers with xt, the wheel set with xtr hubs and Richey OCR rims, the seat with a lighter one, and the fork with a Judy xc. I rode it for another 5 years without many problems. In 2008 I replaced everything again. it now has a new xt drive train and shifters, Richey 4 axis stem, WTB Rocket V IRC seat, cain creek headset, lx hollowtech II crank and bb, Fox F100 RLC, Mavic 819 UST and xtr hubs. it is PRIMO these days. I absolutely love this bike. it climbs like a champion and is quick on downhills. This is the best hardtale I have ever ridden. It is the Trek built frame with the cable routing on the top tube instead of inside the tube. The paint is the only complaint. It is all chipped off and chips very easily. Some day I will powder coat the frame. But if you find one that you want to buy then by all means buy it you will not regret it. A side note. I put a 100mm fork on this bike instead of the stock 80mm and it rides even better.
Similar Products Used: yeti 575, specialized rock hopper, gary fisher
Bike Setup: xt drive train and shifters, Richey 4 axis stem, carben monky lite xc riser bars, WTB Rocket V IRC seat, cain creek headset, lx hollowtech II crank and bb, Fox F100 RLC, Mavic 819 UST and xtr hubs.
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Submitted by
Ras Benek
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2006
Strengths: Light frame, great components, gift of a price it seems!
Weaknesses: Yet to discover any
Bottom Line:
Would you buy this if you could get it for £75 GBP?
Similar Products Used: Shopped around all the manufacturers for new machines. Decided to buy used - better quality, better price.
Bike Setup: 18 inch 1995 Klein Pulse Mountain Bike Frame Rock Shox USA Psylo U-Turn XC Forks) Shimano Deore XT Front And Back Brakes Shimano Deore XT Crank/Chainset Shimano Deore XT Front And Back Derailleur/Mech Shimano Deore XT Brake Levers And Gear Changers Use XCR Alien Shockpost Hope Seat Clamp Selle Italia Flite Seat Mavic 217 SUP Wheels On Hope Tech Hubs Front And Back Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1 Tyres Qdod Handlebars
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Submitted by
alex
a Weekend Warrior
from witham essex uk
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2006
Strengths: again one of the beat in her class and for that money i dont think iv ever found anything that comes close stiff ride feel lovly finish a klein at normal prices, just go's to show old klines are still the rolls royce of mtb'ing
Submitted by
Thorbjørn Skamo
a Cross Country Rider
from Norway
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2005
Strengths: The Bike is very stiff and fast. The bike is excellent on the road both gravel and tarmac. It is very responsive and you get the feeling that the bike just wants to go faster and faster.
Weaknesses: The Bike is a bit heavy and it might be a bit stiff for riding in the terrain.
Bottom Line:
This bike is super good. If you can get the hold of one for a reasonable price don’t hesitate by it. I have had my bike for 7 years and a new bike that is this good cost about 1500 USD. My friends call my bike the magic bike. Because you always ride faster whit it.
Bike Setup: Rock shok duke XC 2003 fork and old STX shimano components.
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Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Danbury, CT USA
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2004
Strengths: Lightest frame Klein ever made
Weaknesses: Way easy to dent
Bottom Line:
This is the team racing frame that Rishi Greiwal rode. Lightest Klein frame (only) ever made. First frame Gary designed for f-suspension. Just before Trek bought them. All internal cable routing. With TI bolts and stuff, this bike is silly light! Climbs like its got a motor, handles singletrack like its got a brain. I cry every time I crash and it gets a dent. Every time I go for a ride and run into others, they just drool at it's weight. I hope I never kill it! And if I do, I hope Klein can bring it back to life. They just don't make em like this anymore! Can I give it 10 chilis?
Similar Products Used: Klein Rascal, Attitude, Pinacle, Specialized Stumpjumper
Bike Setup: RS MAG20's, Control Tech Stem & Seatpost, Scott AT2-LF Bars, Aheadset, XTR V-Brakes (Team), Ringle SuperBubba F-Hub, Sun Rhyno-lite hoop, Mavic Crossride rear, Salsa TI Flipoffs XT combo levers, Bontrager TI saddle, F&R Velociraptors Kevlar, Joy Stix, Ritchy TI Logic pedals.
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Submitted by
Peer
a Cross Country Rider
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2000
Strengths: Very light and still stiff frame. It is the old pulse from 95 with the brass emblem. It still performs perferkt after 6 years off hard driving. Impressive climbing capabilities and fast acceleration. The painting seems to last forever.
Weaknesses: Easy to bulge since very oversized tubing. The anti-chainsuck do not work as ment to. The rare bottom bracket design.
Bottom Line:
This is the fastest bike i have ever raced. It just seems faster than anything else.
I have climbed hills with this bike that none of my friends could do.
Finally the bike looks awesome (Green metallic) and draws attention everywhere.
Bike Setup: XT, RockShox MAG21ti, Tioga crankset, Syncros
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Sammy Tan
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2000
Strengths: Great Paint Job, Stiff, Climbs like a bunny in heat, Turn on a dime, Strong frame, Classic Kelin wielding, did I mention Great Paint Job, as light as the Adroit Frame. If you can get your hands on the first generation Klein Pulse like mine....GRAD IT!...the later version/variation can't hold a candle to this one.
Weaknesses: Harder these days to replace its headset and front suspension due to its rare smaller headset size.
Bottom Line:
Bought it in early 1995 (with the brass Klein emblem) and it is still ticking in 2000 going on 2001!!!The paint job is holding its own very well (Teal Green) Everytime I ride it...it alway live up to its name. It may not have the fancy looks of a full downhill bike but its holds its holds its own extremely well as a classic super light, race-ready hardtail racer. It has a beauty and presense of it's own.We don't have mountains in Singapore, why some of the folks here own heavy downhill rigs is beyond me but I am willing to race them for the finish line any day on my Pulse!
Now if I could only change the frot shock to Marzocchi or a SID...it will really be perfect and ready for another 5 yrs of thrilling ride. Klein Rulez!
I bought this bike with upgrading in mind. The original set up is trail worthy. The frame is the heart of the bike and meets Kleins reputation for frames. This bike is now upgraded with new everything and what a ride! This thing screams through the woods and can turn on a dime. I added a Thud buster post and that has made the ride even better. I do believe I will shed a tear the day I trash this frame, though, as stiff as the frame is, I might be in the grave before it is. 5 hot challupas!
Similar Products Used: Specialized Stump Jumper, Treck 8000
Bike Setup: Full XT, R/S Judy XC 80 mm, Time ATAC, Profile Stiffey
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Submitted by
Ian
a Cross Country Rider
from Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000
Strengths: -Stiffer than nipples on a -30°C winter day (that's celcius folks!) -very nice paintjob -climbs better than king kong -sweeet deal at $850 canadian
Weaknesses: -rock shox indy crap -stock brakes and levers aren't too hot -gripshift -no clipless
Bottom Line:
This bike has been real good to me. Stiff as anything... but not uncomfortable. The finish is amazing, you will cry over chips in the paint, not for long though when you remember how awesome a ride it is. Gary Klein really knows his stuff.
It works great as a beginner bike and after many an upgrade it could be very, very raceworthy. I suggest taking the indy c fork and throwing it off of your nearest cliff. It's like riding a pogo stick. It may as well be a rigid fork in the winter, the elatomers freeze solid.
Also get clipless, to make you cruise up those hills even faster.
Bike Setup: 98 Klein Pulse, avid brakes/levers, rapidfire, LX/XT stuff, titec hellbentXC(very nice!), time pedals, rest is stock
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Submitted by
troy bodett
a Weekend Warrior
from gig harbor washington
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2000
Strengths: stiff, strong, great looking
Weaknesses: tubing is too big
Bottom Line:
this bike rules no doubt about it. i just upgraded it alot but the frame is still the best. I've had this frame for two years and gone through almost every part from abuse, but the frame kept on kickin. My only problem is that the paint chips real easily, and the tubing is huge so it's hard to find parts in it's size.i'd give the frame a five but the setup on a 98' pulse would have to be a 3
Submitted by
Gus
a Weekend Warrior
from Limerick, Ireland
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2000
Strengths: Looks beautiful Climbs beautiful Wonderfully stiff Light Manouverable nothing like it at the money
Weaknesses: Afraid I might break it, haven't managed that yet even though I try my best Too stiff on fast downhills, but that's what you get with a good hardtail
Bottom Line:
If you're looking for a bike and see one second-hand, in one piece and still the right shape, buy it!!!
Similar Products Used: A couple of Treks in the same price range when I was buying it
Bike Setup: '97 Pulse Comp, '99 XT groupset, Mavic Crosslinks, Thompson Elite seatpost, Selle Italia Flite saddle
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from chester VA
Date Reviewed: September 3, 1999
Strengths: fast eccel. very manurivable. sleek. strong. stiff.
Weaknesses: none so far. very happy.
Bottom Line:
had same problem as one of the reveiwees. the front chain ring, the grany gear, bent just when i needed it. But fixed the thing. just took a hammer and gave it a few taps and works perfect now. handles very nice. best bike i have ever had. you ride this and you would think you were riding a pro cross country bike. recomend it to every one, even a norba. oh well. ride almost every day doing drop offs, gap wheelies, and best of all eye balls from femals.
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