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Submitted by
Jeffrey Juntilla
a Cross Country Rider
from Honolulu
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Peacock flats | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2750.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikefactory | | Strengths: | light weight
Great climber
Nice angles
Stable at speed | | Weaknesses: | Rear shocks damper adjustment can't notice much difference between settings.
Motor no good and weak at high altitude.
(Beer is bad fuel) | | Similar Products Used: | GT LTS, Yeti ARC
| | Bike Setup: | XT Crank, front der, XTR rear der, XT shifter Hayes disc.
Bontrager hubs 9spd XTR casset | | Bottom Line: | Great XC Bike very agile great climber and very able decender. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Ali
a Cross Country Rider
from London, Uk
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | epping forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$530.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | looks lovely, builds into a light bike, climbs great, descends great, no bob, zr9000, | | Weaknesses: | setting up front mech was a faff about, have to set up rear shock a little softer than klein reccomend, weird sizing, frame uses bushings rather than bearings, had to buy a bb with a long axle | | Similar Products Used: | Giant DS1, Klein Adept pro, Specialized bighit | | Bike Setup: | Chris king custom headset, on one stem, x lite carbon bars, azonic headlock, fox rlc forks, hope minis, 9sp lx shifters lx front mech, xtr rear mech, rollamajig, dura ace chain, ultegra cassette, chring king pink hubs on mavic 719 rims, nokian boazabeana/tioga blue dragon tyres, advance carbon seatpost, selle royal xc saddle, odi lock ons, azonic x tension pedals, Fsa platinum pro bb and truvativ stylo cranks. | | Bottom Line: | Ive built my dream fs xc/trail bike around this frame, i just love it, handles superbly, inspires me to go fast fast fast and it eats singletrack, flies up hills and then straight down em! You dont really feel the suspension moving about, its quite subtle but it works really well even on small bumps/roots. Frame weighs around 2.7kg with seatclamp/mech hanger/discmount whole bike weighs around 12kg. My 19" frame has a 23" toptube which I could normally just about manage, (im about 5'8"ish) but when i put the seat up to the correct height i was placed too far from the bars due to he dramatic angle of the seat tube, so i had to get a 80mm stem, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the shorter stem speeds up the steering quite nicely! ive read reviews stating the geometry gives a leisurely laid back ride my 80mm stem counteracts this to a degree but you could easily ride the bike all day, its not twitchy. I like the fact its a bit weird and obscure most people dont what the heck it is! Thanks Klein! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc
a Cross Country Rider
from Disco Bay CA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Diablo | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes 4 Life | | Strengths: | Great frame, paint job and construction. Absolutly no bob at all even with a big rider like me (230lbs). Suspension works very well, both climbing and decending. | | Weaknesses: | Klein sizing, I have a L frame that according to Klein should fit me but it is a little too small, if you are 6'2 or above get the XL no matter what Klein says. Component are not the best, but I did not spend much on the bike. I plan on replacing the Avid brakes they are crap. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Epic, Cannondale Jeckel, Trek Fuel | | Bike Setup: | Stock with the exception of Egg Beater pedals, Kore stem and extended Thompson seat post. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for overall riding, not really a big drop bike but Klein (Maveric) did not intend it to be. This bike is a bargan for new tecnology full suspension mt. bike. I looked at the Epic but I did not want to drop $3.5K for a Korean nock-off. Plus, the Palamino worked as good or better than the "brain" on the Epic. The suspension on the Palameno can not be beat. I can not get the suspension to bob at all, the bike just soaks up the bumps I mean I do not even have to think about my line anymore I just point the bike and go.
I was a hard core hard-tail rider (Yeti ARC), but I am sold on this bike. No problems at all even with the low grade components, and I ride almost every day. I am planning on upgrading to SCRAM X.O. rear and putting disks on it (not sure what brand yet). If you want a great cross country bike that can take some jumping than this is your bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jey Kin
a Weekend Warrior
from Taipei, Taiwan, Republic Of China
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | MTB Review | | Strengths: | Great light weight frameset and beautiful paint job. | | Weaknesses: | 03 edition cannot fit Shimano XTR rear rerailleur but matches well with a lower end XT or LX rear rerailleur
| | Bike Setup: | Fox F100x fork , Easton Monkey Lite DH, Thompson seat post + San Marco Triathlon Gel seat + Full Shimano XTR ( including wheelset ) but rear rerailleur...
| | Bottom Line: | I purchased the frameset from MTB Review and I am gald I did.
I admit that Klien makes a good bike. I would recomend buying this bike to anyone but don't try to get too much expection from the customer service. they never either send me any catalog ( requested twice ) or answers my question. Even the bike worth over 5 grand.
Why the 2003 model cannot fit XTR's front rerailleur ? and I simply want to upgrade to a 04 edition if possible but never get an answer from klein. The local dealer told me it fits well but non of my friends who rides Klien had it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russ Craber
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellevue
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Skookum Flats | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Pacific Bicycles | | Strengths: | Nice suspension. Held up well when reaching the top of a hill, only to find massive roots waiting at the summit. | | Bike Setup: | Hayes disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | I'm not in great mountain biking shape this season, but I rode 12 miles yesterday on a technical course and have no muscle soreness today. Descends great, ascends well, no complaints. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Micky
a Weekend Warrior
from Haifa, Israel
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Carmel | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Graet bike. It took me a long to let go off my hard tail, (Klein Attitude Race)The palomino has NO bobbing, descents excellent and climbs like a hard tail. Requires by far less effort to pick the line. Hold the handlebar straight and let the bike roll. | | Weaknesses: | Customer service. No point in contacting Klein's customer service. They don't answer. It seems that Gary Klein after being bought by Trek, left the premises. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Raven 800- nothing to compare. | | Bike Setup: | Factory setup | | Bottom Line: | Great bike. Lousy customer service. You would expect after spending more than 2K on a bike that swomeone in the factory will do the effort to answer an e-mail. Don't. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Frobisher
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, CA USA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | La Tuna | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Palace San Pedro | | Strengths: | Beautiful paintjob.
High quality components. | | Weaknesses: | Original Air/Oil strut sucked.
Front shifting very tempermental.
Disc Brakes made noise until rear stabilizer bar from Trek was installed by LBS. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bottom Line: | I was having nothing but problems with this bike as far as shifting and it had to do with pressures in the main strut unit. Also at my weight 190+ the spring should have been replaced and the shock should have been revalved.
I have since found out that the new 2004 bikes have a completely different shock and because it is air only no need for spring changes, also the new shock is physically different in shape I was able to also put on an XTR front derailluer (E-type).
The bike rides and shifts much better now.
Contact Klein to find out about this upgrade, they are offering a discount (I think) on the replacement strut, the new shifter is up to you I guess. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Meyer
a Weekend Warrior
from Wadsworth, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Vultures Knob | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1699.00 | | Purchased At: | Century Cycles | | Strengths: | Great climber! Handles well in the technical stuff. I like the stock Death Grip tires. They climb anything I can find and then some. | | Weaknesses: | Lower head tube bearings need to be cleaned out after every wet ride. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Deore disc brakes. Dumped the scrubby brakes after the first "wet" ride...... | | Bottom Line: | I'm a converting roadie. This is my first mountain bike in 10 years and so far I love it. I switched to road bikes when I couldn't find a mtn. bike that would take the abuse (without dropping 4 grand) so it's nice to be back in the dirt with a ride that works....great! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven
a Cross Country Rider
from Jay, ME
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Rim Cyclery, Moab UT | | Strengths: | Klein engineering and build quality. Maverick American licensed rear suspension design. | | Weaknesses: | Seatpost slips a bit. | | Similar Products Used: | Amp Research B2 (a flexible flyer...still ride it), Klein Adroit hardtail (awesome bike...will always have it), McMahon 325 Ti HT (sweet...why did I ever sell it?), plus bikes from Kona, Specialized, Caloi, Rotec, K2.....so far. | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock, sort of. I deep sixed all of the bontrager stuff on the bike and replaced with a carbon flat bar, EA70 stem, Selle Italia slr saddle, a sweet handbuilt wheelset with Specialized enduro s-works tires, Avid SD7 brake levers, Arch rival brakes and Flak Jacket cables all round. | | Bottom Line: | I was considering picking up a left over '02 Klein Adept when I had the opportunity to buy the Palomino at a price I couldn't pass up. After swapping out the original rear shock with the '04 Maverick air shock in order to get the proper sag in the rear, the bike has performed quite well. I haven't experienced any problems with shifting in the front, and the only problem I have encountered was with a slipping seatpost, that has since been corrected. The Palomino has proven a very capable trailbike, that I could see using for 24hr races and epic rides. The bike climbs, descends, and handles very well. But then again, all Kleins do. Overall I'm quite satisfied with my choice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Flory
a Cross Country Rider
from Livermore, CA
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Livermore Cyclery | | Strengths: | Great at both climbing and decending. Light weight, especially for a full supspension bike. | | Weaknesses: | I didn't like the stock shifers and brakes. Replaced both. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first (full or otherwise) suspension bike. Previous bike was a rigid. | | Bike Setup: | Upgraged to Shimano XT STI Shifters/Levers with XTR Disc Brakes. Replaced shifter cable housing with 5mm. Michelin UST Front S UST and XL in the rear with Stan's rimstrips. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. I have put over 3400 miles on this bike since I got it 9 months ago. This bike has been easy to upgrade as it came pretty much tubless and disc ready. Keeping the dearalers adjusted was weekly chore until I replaced the shifter cable housing to 5mm. A recent upgrade to the Shimano Deore XT STI integrated Shifters/Brake levers has made the shifting flawless now (we see how long it lasts, but it is the best it has everbeen). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lyle Langley
a Cross Country Rider
from Springfield
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Any in the Peak district UK, Hope, WIn Hill, Lady Bower etc | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | JE James Rotherham | | Strengths: | Got 600 quid off it, so off to a good start! Good Spec and lightish, Thomson Seat post, Rock Shock Duke SL. Climbs really well, very surprised. Great for big days out, less fatigue than hardtail. Oh and the paintwork, custom or what, its black then its green and then purple, its a trip man! Great all round XC bike, good enough to race. | | Weaknesses: | Odd sizing, manual says I should have a small but got a medium as small would be like a kids bike. Oh and tyres 2.3, like a motorbike, gonna wear em out then put some XC tyres on. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialised Epic (rip off, crap finishing kit and brain was more like brain dead), Giant NRS (good spec, but that paint job? like a makro bike) | | Bike Setup: | As standard except got rid of Avid toy brakes, couldn't stop when I tried it in shop so had Magura Julies fitted. Thomson seat post.
Changed bontrager select stem as it looked a bit girly and felt long (120mm), got Easton EA50 stem (110mm) which looks better and a bit lighter but yet to really test it. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, as Mel B would say, its "Fooookin brilliant". Had a GT years ago then a Merlin (preston not US)hardtail which is absolutely fantastic so dubious about how good a full susser would be, but very very impressed. Climbs better than hardtail, maybe geometry I guess, but less slip when out of saddle. Great on descents, plush front and rear and stops on the dot. Fast bike, great all round inspires confidence. Even ok for daily commute.
Great value if you get it cheap, do your research and you can save £££, be cheeky and ask for money off!!!
Get discs fitted if you like your front teeth as the Avid brakes would be better on a kids bike.
Great bike, get one but try it as sizing guidance in manual is useless. I am 5ft 7 and I ride a medium no probs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glenn
a Cross Country Rider
from Warner, NH USA
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Clough State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | S&W sports Concord NH | | Strengths: | Nimble, it is good in the tight stuff. It is a good climbing bike as long as you have the rear shock set at the right psi for your body weight. | | Weaknesses: | You can't tell it's a Klein because of the graphics. The rear shock needs a heavier spring for riders over 180lbs, as a result you have poor shifting and chain suck. Stock Klein tires had to go. | | Similar Products Used: | An old Proflex. | | Bottom Line: | The design changes for 2004 will do much to improve the bike. I like the bikes climbing and handling ability I just wish I could trust the shifting a little more. My bike and a friends Palamino both have big scares from chain suck due to sag in the rearend from the shock even at higher pressure. Other than that get on it and ride and it will respond well all day long. Those of you patient with bike set-up should be fine, those would don't like to tinker at all should stay away. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA USA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | tamarancho | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | avenue cyclery | | Strengths: | reduced pedal induced bob, excellent traction climbing on rough terrain, comfortable ride, smooth shifting front | | Weaknesses: | rear seatpost angle may make a good fit harder to find as cockpit length changes (a lot) as seat is raised. Took a special thompson seatpost bracket and a lot of tweaking to get it close to right for me (I'm still a bit back too far). | | Similar Products Used: | klein adept comp, gary fisher sugar | | Bike Setup: | miscellanous parts transferred | | Bottom Line: | Klein gave me this frame after I cracked the chainstay
on my Adept Comp after > 3,000 miles of fairly hard riding (that is about 2X the lifetime of the old sugar which cracked at the base of the seatpost tube). Kudos to Klein
and my LBS for supporting their product.
I am extremely happy with this frame - it is a noticeable improvement over my Adept even with most of the same components (new seatpost and front derailleur required in the transfer).
It rides smoother, more clearance to reduce "chain suck" and the front derailleur shifting is much more reliable than either of my two previous FS bikes. It really digs in on rough climbs and makes me look like a better rider than I am . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jaime Gallego
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami FL
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Oleta Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | City Bikes, Aventura FL | | Strengths: | Rides like a Hard Tail, but with the confort of a full suspention - its a great ride! It climes really nicely also. | | Weaknesses: | The frame is a bit oversized for a Medium, but this is not a flaw. Its a really awesome all-arround bike. A bit oversized tires, but this can be upgraded easily. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Epic, stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | Shimano-XTR (Breaks and gears), Bontrager Satle, handle and thomsom stem. Fox Maverik rear shock and Rock Shock SL front. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rules. It is confortable with a smooth ride, light and well built. Klein really pays attention to detail in the frame with great dealers. You really have to pick a good dealer for tune ups and postsale support. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dallas Scheet
a
from Fargo
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | Scheels all-sports | | Strengths: | No pedal bob, sweet paint, and light! | | Weaknesses: | Uses 73mm BB w/ E-type FD not a lot of bb opions! Stand over sucks! | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized epic & erdruo, Trek fuel ,Fisher suger, Mavarick ML7, Seven duo | | Bike Setup: | Fow vanilla rlc fork set at 125mm, XT shifters, cranks, bb, fd, rd, and hubs. Deore 555 disc brakes, Time atacs, King headset, Bontrager tubeless disc rims, DT spokes, Thompson post, Salsa bar, Bontrager stem! | | Bottom Line: | I wanted the black paint so I went with the base model and upgraded all the part but the seat post. I really like the bike on the trail it rides totally kickass. I thought about a Mavarick ML7 or a Seven Duo but thoght it was stupid to spend over $2500 on a frame when you could get a whole bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Andrews
a Cross Country Rider
from Toledo Wa.
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | TECHNICAL | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Byman's Bikes | | Strengths: | Great climber, stiff frame, corners well and handles the technical sections like a dream and overall good bike when it works. | | Weaknesses: | I have worn out three sets of pivot bushings in the last three months the last set started getting loose in just two good rides. Waiting for Trek to develop some sealed cartrige bearings for the suspension. It's also a tadd heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Mantra, and Klein Adept. Liked the Mantra but the Adept had alighnment problems. | | Bike Setup: | Bontrager crowbars, xt drive train, bont. race disc wheels and shimano deore disc brakes, rock shox psylo xc fork. | | Bottom Line: | I really like the bike as a whole but if you are wanting one of these bikes wait untill Trek figures out the bearing design for the swing pivot, then it will be flawless. It is kind of a pain taking my bike in every month to have new bushings installed. I am a pretty agressive xc rider and hit a couple of drops and jumps per ride which may cause some of my problems but the people I ride with, of whom ride Cannnondale Jekyll, Santa Cruise, and Specialized Enduro, do not share my problems. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike O
a Cross Country Rider
from Gunnison Co
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Tune up | | Strengths: | When it works it is very efficient and is great in technical terrain. Love the fork and big tires and no bob. | | Weaknesses: | The Suspension link has come loose three times. My rear triangle was not straight. The Shop is great and they are replacing both. But if you don't have a good shop don't buy it. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona manomano, mokomoko, proflex 857 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Better than all the other fs bikes for xc use. But Klien needs to use bearings and cnc link like maverick. It is a little chunky but is is real suspension that does not bob.
Buy only from a good shop. I give it three because of the link. When they fix it, it will be a five. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Barnes
a Cross Country Rider
from Vernonia, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Many in Ashland Oregon | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Gallery, Beaverton Oregon | | Strengths: | XT components, sealed hubs. | | Similar Products Used: | Palalino | | Bike Setup: | XT and Bon Trager Race. Avid direct pull V brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Follow up review to a follow up review. I returned the bike and moved up to the Palamino Race. this bike has far superior components and is more like a Klein should be. Do not buy the Palamino base model if you are a serious rider. Disappointment will follow. SPend the 3 to 5 hundred more and get the Race or Race Disc. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Barnes
a Cross Country Rider
from Vernonia, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Many in Ashland Oregon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1899.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Gallery, Beaverton Oregon | | Strengths: | Climbs well and decends well. overall a strong performer. | | Weaknesses: | This is a follow up review, so here it is. The wheel bearings are not sealed nor is the bottom bracket. The biggest weakness is that when I was washing the bike after a ride the other day the paint on the rear wheel stays started flaking off, noticeably. I am going ot return the bike to the shop and see what they have to say about it. | | Bottom Line: | Still a good bike, just some minor flaws and cost savings use of parts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jack wallen
a Cross Country Rider
from louisville,ky 40206
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | wilderness trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | schellers | | Strengths: | absolute zero pedal induced bobbing
climbing
will hook up to ANYTHING on the trail
follows your lead without fail
| | Weaknesses: | a bit on the heavy side.
the avid brake levers SUCK
comes with cheap-o non-sealed bearing headset
LX cranks? on this frame? come on now ;-)
| | Similar Products Used: | litespeed Obed FS
Giant MCM Team
| | Bike Setup: | palomino fame
spinergy xyclone disk wheels
avid mechanical disk brakes
chris king headset
mantiou black comp fork
answer hyperlite bar
race face system stem
thompson elite seatpost
crank bros egg beater pedals
cane creek brake levers
| | Bottom Line: | i was only going to buy the frame alone but the shop sold me the entire
package for only 300 more so i figured what the heck. i knew i was going
to basically strip it down and put my components from my giant MCM on this
frame.
after i reassembled the bike i immediately hopped on and rode to my fav
trail. i can not believe how amazing this frame is. typically there is a
period of adjustment as you get used to a new ride....not with this one.
as soon as i hit the trail it was like i had been riding this bike for
years. the palomino is a work of engineering art - as well as aesthetic
art.
althought the frame is a bit on the heavy side it still climbs as well as
my 2.5 lb Giant frame climbed. it desends much better than my litespeed,
and hooks up to any part of the trail you can hit. this bike will enliven
your passion for mountain biking.
this baby gets 5 chillis all around! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoff
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | frame design, decent component set, efficiency, good looks, no bob suspension, center of gravity is very low, build quality (no filing of welds) | | Weaknesses: | Proprietary shock design (maybe) otherwise none yet - will post another review once things 'break in' | | Similar Products Used: | fisher sugar 3+ disc, specialized epic disc, giant nrs 1, trek fuel 90 disc, specialized P1, specialized hardrock, giant ac3 | | Bike Setup: | hope m4's, marzocchi dj2's | | Bottom Line: | I know the first few weeks is the novelty period, so thats why i will post again in 3 months and 6 months to give a running review.
But having said that the Palomino is an exceptional bike, with attention to detail paid to everything including the paint work it is ensured to take years of abuse. Even riding on the road the Palomino dares the rider to take it to its limits, and with such a suspension system you automatically say 'lets rock'.
The suspension system maybe the only weak point of the bike, in it being a proprietary shock. But the performance of the shock soon makes these cares drift away... it lets the rider know what the terrain is like without screaming it out to you, and it doesnt let things just 'disappear' under your wheels. I was a staunch hardtail man, but i was looking for something more and so i tried many full sussers.
I chose the palomino for many reasons, like the Epic takes those first few bumps to move and the shock would run out of IQ off dropoffs. the nrs and fuel dont handle drop offs and jumps well whilst the sugar is good, the shock locks up under haevy braking. But its not to say the affore mentioned bikes are bad machines, just not for my style of riding.
The Palomino will find traction in even the most difficult trails, you wont loose pedal power from the rear shock and you end even the most grueling rides with smile on your face.
To end this epic speel, I would have to say if you are an aggressive XC rider who does the infrequent drop off or jump then give the Palomino a serious look. But my final words will be that it should be illegal to make a bike this fast and enjoyable at the same time!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Vernonia, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Many in Ashland Oregon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1899.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Gallery, Beaverton Oregon | | Strengths: | Rear suspension that works for you not against you. Light weight. | | Weaknesses: | Rear brake cable routing. Rear derailure routing. Grips and bars. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn FS. Sugar 3+. C*dale fully. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. Bontrager and Deore, LX, XT blend. Changed the seat to a Terry Fly for comfort. | | Bottom Line: | I really like this bike. I resisted the fully for a long time due to the sloppy rear or gross weight, but i test rode this bike and bought it on the spot. the suspension is nice and supple yet strong. Very limited sway in the rear suspension, in fact i often forget it is a fully.
I like to ride wheelies and do some low end tricks and this is the first fully that i have been able to do this on. On my C*dale hard tail I would hop up stairs, this bike works so well i can pedal up them.
I have been faithful to C*dale for a long time but this bike convinced me i was wrong. This bike would be great for someone looking to transition from hard tails to fully or, dare i say it, middle aged riders who have the cash to buy a nice bike but don't want a bomber downhiller. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Mennell
a Cross Country Rider
from Beaver falls,Pa. u.s.a.
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | brady's run,Beaver Co. Pa. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | ambridge bike shop | | Strengths: | Excellent rear suspension design,reasonable weight,outstanding craftsmanship and finish. | | Weaknesses: | Proprietary shock design only allows for o.e.m. shock usage,cable routing poor. | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Mantra race. | | Bike Setup: | Rock shox judy xc,xt/xtr component mix,cane creek wheels and brakes,wtb headset,thompson seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | I think this should be considered one of the top three full suspension designs of the new generation,comparable to trek's fuel,santa cruz's blur specialized' epic,etc.All of the good and almost none of the bad in a full suspender.Minimal bob,no pedal kickback,active on big and small hits, and the combo of low pressure air and a spring w/ oil makes for a more progressive action than just air.Climbs wonderfully, and is a Much better high speed descender than my mantra was,due being to more active when standing and having longer front and rear triangles. Good for a guy like me,aggresive cross country and infrequent racer. Ride it last,then you won't have to come back to the dealer to buy! Two small gripes are rear brake and especially derailler cable routing, rubbed my legs(fixed w/ tie wraps)and shock being part of rear swingarm means a problem when it needs service(proprietary design). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from Lancaster, PA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | blue marsh lake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Line | | Strengths: | Rear suspension. It is very plush and remains active on climbs (works under load). I was a little worried about switching over from a hardtail, but this bike feels just as efficient; maybe more considering the much higher comfort on long rides and the energy saved from staying in the saddle more. Klein's paint is excellent and the overall quality is very high. While they saved some coin on the components, everthing works fine. | | Weaknesses: | No lockout on the Duke SL, although the Race model has a pricier Fox fork with lockout. I still haven't figured out how to adjust the front derailleur alignment, but it works o.k. as is. | | Similar Products Used: | Demo rode Fisher Sugar 3+ and 293, along with several other full suspension rigs over the years, going back to the Pro-Flex 853. | | Bike Setup: | Removed a stem spacer to lower the bars a little. Waiting for my WTB Stealth pedals (E-Bay = $70) to replace my old Onza jobbies. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent design and decent parts. I chose the base Palomino over the Race model largely because I could not resign myself to pay $2300 for a bike that I would be embarassed to have in a few years (neon orange). I suffered long enough with an ice rose (pink) early nineties Trek 8000. I would also like to upgrade parts at my own pace and can more easily justify scrapping the less expensive components on the base model (not that the parts are bad). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate Henry
a Cross Country Rider
from Ogden Utah
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | maples | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Strengths: | Really nice stiff sprinting and climbing qualities with lots of suspension. | | Weaknesses: | Big, heavy tires (2.32). Not very flashy looking. | | Similar Products Used: | Testing between Blur, Fuel 90, FSR. | | Bottom Line: | Coming from the hardtail world I am finally impressed by a FS bike. It has it all. It hardly flexes, didn't bob on the two hills I rode up. The parts left a little to be desired:Deore shiftpods and Avid 3.0 brakes. It is disc ready though so maybe I'll get discs in the summer. I put money down after riding this bike So what does that say? It is relatively inexpensive and 25.5 lbs with the big heavy tires. That's why I chose it over a SC Blur. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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