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Submitted by
Adam Driedzic
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton,Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | new old stock blow o | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: | -KHS softail, rocky mtn blizzard, rocky mtn hammer, mongoose iboc, oryx | | Bike Setup: | Rockshox Sid (3"/80mm), velocity aero rims with 1.75" knobbies, all Easton 30, new XT crank with shimano mix | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything on elden | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$219.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambriabike.com | | 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. | | 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. | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bobby
a Cross Country Rider
from New Braunfels TX
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Cayon lake trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | http://www.nrcycles.com | | 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! | | Weaknesses: | 4.1 lbs | | Similar Products Used: | Kona GT Tomac | | Bike Setup: | XTR BABBY | | Bottom Line: | A great deal! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | off a good bloke | | Strengths: | HANDLING!! Absolutely superb | | Weaknesses: | Welds look a little ugly but penetrate well, steel rusts, paint is not the best | | 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. | | 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! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Chambers
a Cross Country Rider
from Gorham, Maine, USA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | River Trail Portland | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$379.00 | | Purchased At: | Shop | | 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. | | 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. | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Lewisburg, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Point, LI, NY | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$189.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | 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. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Coz
a Racer
from Newcastle, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Sugarloaf | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$240.00 | | Purchased At: | Extreme Cycles Newcastle | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 970 '95 model | | Bike Setup: | Full LX groupset, matrix swami rims, hutchey python gold tyres, WTB ti Saddle, Ritchey post, Time alium pedals. | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hack-Man
a Cross Country Rider
from North San Diego County
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything rough and gnarly | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light weight CroMo, fairly stiff, strong. The team colors look cool! | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Z4, LX Components, Titec, etc. | | 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! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
boulder
a Racer
from toronto
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | light weight cro-mo | | Weaknesses: | alignment out by 5 mm
rear drive side dropout does not hold wheel in place | | Similar Products Used: | norco rampage 853
rock mtn thin air | | Bike Setup: | manitou, xt, avid, syncros, raceface | | 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
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luke
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
nice colour | | Weaknesses: |
weak frame | | Similar Products Used: |
Marin eldridge gride
Rocky Mountain Fusion | | Bike Setup: |
Stock Team Lx setup | | Bottom Line: | 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. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Yakima
Date Reviewed: December 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The Velodrome | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Light
Great handling
Awesome Warranty | | Weaknesses: |
A little small (my fault)
Drop outs drop out | | Similar Products Used: |
Misc KHS, Cdale, Rocky Mtn, Marin, etc... | | Bike Setup: |
It was a stock 96? Team model all stock | | 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! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Oz
a Racer
from Bristol,CT
Date Reviewed: November 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
New England | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | 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. | | 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. | | 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... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross-Country Rider
from Grass Valley Cal
Date Reviewed: November 16, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
price
appearance
geometry | | Weaknesses: |
decal and paint quality | | Similar Products Used: |
Stumpjumper
Giant DS-2
Mrazek Boh
Corex
FSR GC | | Bike Setup: |
z-2
XT/XTR | | 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. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BOULDER
a Cross-Country Rider
from TORONTO
Date Reviewed: October 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
HARDWOOD HILLS | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: |
ROCKY MOUNTAIN THIN AIR | | Bike Setup: |
MANITOU
XT
SYNCROS
RACEFACE
AVID | | 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. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jonnyboy
a Racer
from Ringwood, NJ
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
walkers ranch, boulder, CO. | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
very fast for downhills and very stiff for winding sinlgetrack | | Similar Products Used: |
mongoose al., fisher carbon fiber, cannondale raven | | Bike Setup: |
white brothers, xtr, syncros, race face | | 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. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Boulder
a Racer
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: June 7, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Hardwood Hills | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
light weight cro-mo (4lbs)
very good geometry (19)
extremely stable
good climber
great in single track
lifetime warranty | | Weaknesses: |
no anti chain suck
strange cable routing
seat split at the back
seat stays are too narrow | | Similar Products Used: |
rocky mountain thin air (17.5) | | Bike Setup: |
manitou fork
raceface/syncros/xt/avid
stuff | | Bottom Line: | great quality for the price
very good all around handling
definitely recomended | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom
a Cross-Country Rider
from london
Date Reviewed: April 4, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Everything. It is very stiff, the dropout is so beefy that any crash that breaks it will probably total your chainstays as well. It's got plenty of standover, and it's very light. I think mine weighs like 3.4 pounds. No matter how you look at it, that's freakin light, and remember it's a steel frame. Damn. Another big strength is that the company owners kick huge ass. My original frame was developing a big crack in the downtube at the headtube. I took it into the bikeshop I bought it at, and showed them. They called KHS for me and were told that a batch of tubes used in making like 200 bikes had been drawn wrong, and they knew about the problem. What they did was nothing short of amaizing. I left my bike in the shop that day. It was disassembled and sent back to KHS the next day. Two days later a brand spankin new frame is sent to the shop by KHS, and I'm on it the day after that. As for all the shipping and service charges, I didn't pay them. The frame was returned at the expense of KHS, they paid to send the new one back, and they also paid the bike shop for the labour. 4 days after I took my bike into the shop I was riding It again, and it didn't cost be a bloody thing. by the way, It looks killer too. | | Weaknesses: |
Only if you buy one of the 200 messed up ones, but I'd bet they're all recalled by now, will you be temporairily unhappy. But it'll only last 4 days. | | Bottom Line: | BUY THE DAMN THING ALREADY, YOU WILL LOVE IT GUARANTEED. IT KICKS ASS FOR RACING AND JUST RIDING AROUND. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Tulloch
a cross-country rider
from Perth, WA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
The KHS Team is one of the exceptional products of the Nineties. Not only does it have the suberb ride of the KHS family, but its building takes advantage of all the merits of steel. Not only could you not get a better frame, you couldn't get one better at twice or three times the price. And I should know - I manage a bike shop. This is a five chilli bike - it's so hot you get the ring of fire just by looking at it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
michaelb
a weekend warrior
from bradley sc
Date Reviewed: February 5, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
i bought a 97 (i think) team hardtail about 4 monthes ago and have been extra happy with it although i did bend the rear derailleur hanger in a crash on the 2nd or 3rd ride, but it straightened right out(steel rules). The bike is plenty stiff and FAST. it replaced a cannondale killer v that i dearly loved but the khs is way better off-road. great bike for the money. once i put some crosslinks on it i'll be set. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erwin
a cross-country rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: October 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I'm a bike messenger on weekdays & also a xc racer. Have been riding the KHS of different models over the past 5 years. I'll say, this bike kicks ass. Currently I'm riding a TEAM & a COMP FZ & working hard to get that FXT DH. KHS bikes are superb handling with quick steering, light, strong, cheap & definitely not for the beginners in MTB. In fact, all the messengers in the company that I'm working for initially came in to waork riding other brands, but they eventually switched to KHS bikes after test riding it on a couple of runs. KHS RULES!!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
beef
a cross-country rider
from Michigan USA
Date Reviewed: September 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a long term followup review of my '98 Team frame after sadisticly beating it all summer(since April) with a rigid fork on trails and roads. As I said in my first review I am big well over 200 lbs. and 6 feet tall and so far the frame is holding up great! I wish I had recorded my mileage on my cyclocomputer when my Team was new but I can say that I've ridden my bike an average of 3 commutes per week 40-60 miles total(half trail half road) and an average of 70 additional miles off road per week. Plus, in late July and Early August I had a road riding fling that had me riding 22-45 miles every other day(in lieu of mtbing) on Panaracer 26 road tires. My local off road riding areas are rough, hilly, forested glacial morraine areas with lots of rocks (pebble to basketball size) on the trails along with a lot of tree roots and washboarded trail too, so the Team has taken a beating for sure riding rigid. In fact I overloaded and cracked my Fat Bottom Ti stem after a month of riding. So far the Team is unscathed (watch it crack tomorrow!) and still has the great resilient steel ride. The paint has held up well too, in general the frame is great: very nice ride, handling and durability. I'll repeat my comment from my first review: the more I ride it the more I like it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ric Banzon
a racer
from CA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I purchase a KHS alite 4000, and build it with the parts I specifically pick. The overall performance of the bike is absolutely very best. It is best in switchback, fast on descent, very light on climbs, stiff and the handling is good and responsive. definetly a bike worth considering for a serious racer, cross country, and even weekened warriors! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Green Giant
a
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: July 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Recently picked up the 200 dollar budget KHS pro frameset. Would have posted a new page, but it wasn't working. For 200 bucks not bad, it's a cro-mo frameset, with True Temper OX2 tubing. My guess is only in the three main tubes. Overall the frameset it plenty stiff to my surprise. As you would expect on an inexpensive frameset, the frame needed some finishing, the BB and Htube needed to be faced and chased, and some paint needed to be sanded off the brake studs. Welds are decent and the paint is ok. Stickers under the clearcoat aren't always straight,and the paint isn't totally even. Dropouts could have been welded better and more completely. BUT the frameset is very decent for the price. Weight wise the 17 is probably in the 4 lb range. It is a SMALL frameset. I generally ride a 17-18.5, but this bad boy is small In hindsight given the generous standover I probably should have gone 19 to get the right top tube length. I've got the saddle back on the rails and am using a 135 stem instead of a 120 like I usually do. This leads to a real quick steerer. The stock KHS seatpost is a piece of junk, the seat tilts back pretty easily. It's a 30.0 making finding a replacement tough, but there are some old IRD's out there to be had. The frameset it a 1997 I believe. BTW the red is closer to a red orange than a true red. Given the price it's a four chili ride. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allen
a cross-country rider
from Maine
Date Reviewed: July 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I originally bought my Team HT because of an unpleasant experiece I had with a full suspension frame company(alls well that ends well, I was able to trade that frame for a nice road frame). I don't like aluminum, and I couldn't afford a ti frame or a really nice 853 frame. The price on the Team HT was very reasonable, and the TrueTemper OXIII gold tubing sounded nice. I really like the frame. Nice S bend seat stays, comliant ride, yet decently stiff. the 71/73 frame angles are just right(in my opinion) for the type of riding I do here in Maine. I highly recommend this frame to someone looking for a reasonably priced steel hardtail. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Baker
a racer
from Wankville
Date Reviewed: June 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This will be my second year with the team. Crashed, trashed, bashed and still holds up great. Recently had some problems with creaks in the BB but discovered it was the syncros BB not my Steely Danz or the frame. Best deal for the money hands down. The team replaced a Killer-V... couldn't be happier. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
EBS
a cross-country rider
from MD
Date Reviewed: June 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I own a 1988 KHS Montana Team. I have to say that this bike has taken some abuse over the years but has never failed. It is a solid, well built bike ( all original shimano XT parts). At 27 lbs. it was one of the lightest in it's time(The newer models are lighter and come with suspension forks). I have to say I've been pleased and would definately consider buying another KHS. Hope this helps any perspective buyers. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Indian Joe
a cross-country rider
from the Mountains of New Mexico
Date Reviewed: June 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I goofed!! The review below by T-Hump (a riding buddy) is actually mine. I just wanted to clear that up. Everything else still stands. This KHS Team bike is as good as it gets for $$100's(1000's) less than the competition. If you are on a tight budget, buy this bike. If you don't like paying more for some fancy name, buy this bike. You get the idea.......... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T-Hump
a cross-country rider
from Mountains of New Mexico
Date Reviewed: June 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the best deal in a hardtail frame out there! It is very similar in ride and feel to my riding buddies 'Bontrager Race'frameset. Both our bikes are set up with mostly XT components. My KHS seems to have a stiffer front triangle...otherwise they are very similar (both are GREAT bikes). Mine is a 21 frame and I am a big guy (6'5 and 220lbs). This bike has taken everything thrown at it and has not broke or bent (the paint could be a little more durable but this is no biggie). For the money (I got mine for $295 from Irvine Bike Source) it is hard to beat. If you are looking for a world class hardtail at a real world price look no further......Just buy it!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Beef
a cross-country rider
from Michigan U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: May 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have been riding this frame for over a month, about 30 rides now. I bought the frameset from a LBS. It came with good welds, good paint quality and overall workmanship. The seat post was a bit sticky in the seat tube when sliding past the welds for the seat stays, a touch of reaming took care of that. Other than that minor problem everything went together real well and the frame came straight and well aligned. My 19 weighs an oz. or two less than 5 lbs. (weighed on a inexpensive shipping scale).The ride is fantastic when compared to my old bike: a '95 Cannondale f-700. It's very twangy and springy, yet when hammering I can detect no bottom bracket flex at all. I am a large person too at 6' 220 lbs. It's much less fatigueing to ride (than the Cannondale) even considering I'm riding with a rigid fork. It's very quick handling, a lot like the Cannondale in the steering dept., a great tight woods bike but not in the least twitchy on 30 mph+ downhills. It goes through deep sand straight and more stable than the 'Dale (equipped with same tires and wheelset) and climbs really comfortably and really well. I just got back from a 32 mile ride with everything from supertight, hilly rocky singletrack to streets and everything in between and the frame was an absolute joy! The more I ride it the more I like it.Some random thoughts: the S-bend chainstays which are probably responsible for the great ride bulge out a bit and my cadence sensor for my Echo computer barely fits (there's <1mm. clearence) but it works. The only TrueTemper OX Gold tubes are the big triangular downtube & the top tube, the rest are 4130 chromoly (this is according to KHS from when I e-mailed them). I imagine this accounts for the slightly high weight but it's to be expected in a bike frame that retails for $359 and sells in the real world for a lot less. The rear brake area of the frame apparently flexes some, as the same brake as on the 'Dale doesn't stop as well on the KHS. I'll be buying a brake stiffener plate to improve this. The frame comes with a 25 year warranty which I hope not to use but my experience with KHS so far has been good. When I was looking for info. on the the frame I e-mailed them and they promptly e-mailed me back the info the next day.This is how my bike is set up: '95 LX cranks and rings, XT 68X107mm. bottom bracket, Xt top pull 1&1/8 front derailleur, XT long cage rear derailleur, '95 XT R.F. shifters & brake set, XT 1&1/8 threaded headset( headtube is 120 mm. long), Marin Rockstar 1&1/8 rigid fork, Avocet AirO2 Ti saddle, Titec PG 26.8mm. seatpost, Fat Bottom Ti quill stem 1&1/8 135mm., Ibis Ti handlebar, LX canti brakes w/red Ritchey pads set up per Bontrager website for increased leverage, Lx hubs w/ Specialized GX23 32h rims (Nashbar was blowin' em out for $4!)14 ga. spokes, Specialized Ground Control 2-S & Ground Master-S kevlar tires, Sachs sc55 chain, XT cassette, Shimano 535 pedals, Echowell J-12 computer and that's about it and it all works together well. I really like this frame especially the great ride and the price, I recommend it and give it 5 stars so far! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jay
a racer
from VA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Wonderful frameset. It's light for a steel, and you can't beat the price. It's a great East coast bike (or anywhere as far as I'm concerned) that corners well and has a funky fresh paint job to boot! I set mine up with a Judy SL, no complaints so far. STEEL IS REAL!! 8^) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Milan H.
a cross-country rider
from Prague, Czech Republic
Date Reviewed: May 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have 98 KHS Team CrMo frame for a 2 weeks. This frame is very light and comfortable. The rear triangle is perfectly strong. Frame geometry is good for climbing and even for light downhill. I use this frame with Marzocchi XC700 fork.
KHS Team CrMo is my best MTB frame. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh
a racer
from Windsor Canada
Date Reviewed: March 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just got the 98 KHS Team frame as my sponsorship . Its the best bike frame there is it has the coolest paint job, the best tubing,and an awesome light weight racing bike. If you are looking at getting a frame buy the KHS Team don't go buy some $2,000.00 titanium frame. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jamie Blumenfeld
a cross-country rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: November 20, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I worke dat a shop that sold KHS bikes, I was quite impressed with their midrange+ bikes ($1000+). The team has a very nice finish, excellent tubing and is manufactured by one of the largest frame companies in the world (second only to Raleigh and Trek). They produce Specialized and Kona frames. This is a slightly overbuilt frame, although it still has enough flex in the frame for a little comfort. It isn not superlite but durable which is important in these days of disposable $1000 aluminum frames. I would suggest a Vbrace for the rear if you are using decent brakes though, there is a lot of flex in the seatstays. A good deal overall although the looks are takem' or leavem'. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darin Hale
a racer
from Palo Alto, CA
Date Reviewed: April 1, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the KHS 97 Team frame and could not be any happier. Steel is my favorite frame material KHS makes one of the best. It may not have the flash factor of a Ritchey or Ibis but if you wamt an exceptional steel frame for a reasonable price the 97 KHS team frame is for you. LONG LIVE STEEL!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Broc
a racer
from CA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I just went and bought the new 97 KHS Team Hardtail frame
I think for a steel frame it is fairly light. It is a great
singletrack bike, and a good climber too. I think it also has one of
the coolest factory paint jobs out there. I think for someone who
is looking for a great chromoly bike,and can't afford a real expensive
one than this is the one to get. I think it is the best for the money. | | Overall Rating: |
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