Submitted by
Dave Veasey
a Cross Country Rider
from Warwickshire Date Reviewed: June 2, 2001
Favorite Trail:
coed-y-brenin
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Strengths:
Really Great stiff frame. Worth buying for the frame alone.
Weaknesses:
Jett XC forks not upto the job. Raplaced mine after 28 months with Judy Race. Wheels heavy but reliable (have got a spare set of Mavics.
Bike Setup:
Stock but upgraded to Judy Race forks
Bottom Line:
Great bike worth buying for the frame alone if you are prepared to upgrade when things wear out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town Date Reviewed: May 31, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Frame
Weaknesses:
frame
Similar Products Used:
Trek, Giant, Specialized, Orange
Bottom Line:
3rd review now
Just to say the frame has now cracked at the rear dropout but before I could even start to get annoyed I had an immediate reply from Andy Hawley (at Trek) saying they would replace the frame for me. On top of this they were prepared to ship it out to SA through the Trek network (no Kleins out there) for me. This is the sort of service that keeps customers loyal for ever. So any wavering people out there should look at customer service as well as just the product. But in this case the Klein ride quality would sell itself anyway.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nina
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany Date Reviewed: May 2, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
The frame, but that's about it!
Weaknesses:
Almost all of the components. Pretty poorly for such an expensive bike! I think Klein's best days are over.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 8500 (not mine though!)
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi Bomber Z2, Rockshock seatpost, Bontrager saddle, syntace stem, race face high riser, shimano pedals, Race Face crank, Magura brakes, ...
Bottom Line:
I would definitely NOT buy it again since I had to make so many upgrades that it really got too expensive. Most of the original components are really crappy. Not adequate for a bike that price. Who wants to ride a KLEIN with cheap stuff on it?
Should have known better, should have bought something with less a name but more quality stuff on it. My own fault! Now that I spent all this money on it I like it though!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town Date Reviewed: January 5, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Tokai Forest / Grabouw / Signal Hill
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
london uk
Strengths:
Light, stiff, workmanship, climbing, singletrack
Weaknesses:
Original Jett fork, bontrager wheelset. Hectic rocky downhills
Bike Setup:
Pace EVO36 carbon forks, gradually becoming XT as things break / snap, Avid 25 brakes (HAS BECOME RACE SPEC I GUESS)
Bottom Line:
This is my second review now - was in Aberdeen. Now moved back to Cape Town and the trails here are very hard on bikes - singletrack mixed with boulder fields. The bike is still great on climbs and the Pace Fork still the best of all I have seen and ridden. Bontrager wheelset has taken a bit of flack and has had to be trued about 3 times in the last 10 months. Friends Rolf Propels seem much better and he is 100kg to my 67kg (and they are lighter). Downhill at high speed the bike is a handful and so when racing there is never a moment to let your attention slip. Had about 15 accidents so far (I'm not really that bad) and still the paintwork is brilliant save a few small nicks. Upgraded the pretty crappy brakes to AVID 1.9 levers and Avid 25 brakes and they are fantastic. Fast downhill braking just done with one finger now. SO THE BOTTOM LINE. Still a great bike but quite hard on the body after 3 hours of racing. If i continue racing I might buy Titanium .... maybe
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wee harry
a Weekend Warrior
from scotland Date Reviewed: December 28, 2000
Favorite Trail:
maraig
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
alpine cycles glasgow
Strengths:
sweet sweet frameset
Weaknesses:
suspension fork
Similar Products Used:
many
Bike Setup:
time attac pedals,icon fatty barends
Bottom Line:
a sublime frameset,the standard of finish begars belief at the price.I've used mine for 2 years now(including the odd crash) and the frame is unmarked.most of the bits are good enough,the XTR bits can come latter.Bontrager finishing kit is sweet, especially the jones tyres,excelent grip in british conditions.The shock is, well,shocking.I hope to fit a psylo when I've got cash.The frame is so stiff that long rides over rough terrain can leave you pretty sore,but its a price worth paying for the stunning handing.
A GREAT GREAT BIKE
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Reid
a Weekend Warrior
from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: April 18, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Cox Hill
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Very light. Climbs steep and technical terrain very well because of it's stiffness. Also very fast on technical downhills. Handles very well. Incredible paint job. After two years of riding, NO rock chips or scratches.
Weaknesses:
For me, the stiffness is also a weakness. On long technical downhills this bike will really beat you up. But I guess thats the price you pay for a stiff frame that climbs so good.
Bike Setup:
Judy XC, Full XT, Bontrager Ceramic rims.
Bottom Line:
This bike really helped my climbing. The downhills are scary fast. Be prepared however for a rough ride, there is no give to this frame. The paint will last longer than you will.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross-Country Rider
from Winchester Date Reviewed: November 24, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Petersfield XC circuit
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Precise, responsive and exhilerating handling.
Weaknesses:
I don't like the rear dropouts, which look like they might let the rear wheel fly-off at any moment (although it hasn't yet).
Similar Products Used:
Trek Y-11
Bike Setup:
I found decending at speed with the Jett shocks to be a bit of a rough-ride, so I've upgraded to Judy 100s, which has made a massive improvement to the handling.I've also upgraded the bike to be XT throughout.
Bottom Line:
Amazing frame, but that has meant that cheap components have been fitted. Upgrade fork, deraileurs, brakes, chainset (basically everything) as and when you can afford it and you will end up with an amazing bike. As it comes from the factory - a lot of fun, but the fork can cause some hairy moments because of the lack of damping.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich
a Weekend Warrior
from Aberdeen Date Reviewed: October 11, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Flicky and climbs like a monkey on acid
Weaknesses:
Fork (not any more)
Bike Setup:
small frame risers
Bottom Line:
Upgraded the Jett XC fork to a pace Pro36 carbon which is excellent. Sits slightly higher but has more travel so steerer angle is much the same. New fork is excellent doesnt get deflected on bumps. Lowers the weight by a 1lb which is of no big difference anyway. Also replaced rear deralieur after snapped off LX rear by hitting rock at 40mph. Got XT on rear now , shifts well but too early to tell.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam smith
a Weekend Warrior
from nova scotia Date Reviewed: September 8, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
light strong fast
Bottom Line:
awsome frame for the price range, worthy of many upgrades
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rich C
a Cross-Country Rider
from London UK Date Reviewed: August 23, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Fast singletrack, nr Salisbury
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light flickable bike Used with slicks for 100 mile/week commute and offroad w/e with knobblies
Weaknesses:
After just 3 months my saddle is broken - not formed properly and rail is pushing through mold. Will get bike shop to replace
Similar Products Used:
Loved this one too much
Bike Setup:
Small frame but put on riser bar to fit me - Prefer smaller trickier frame.
Bottom Line:
I couldnt complain as the ride takes over any niggle about the seat. Might upgrade to lighter more responsive fork
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Will Carden
a Cross-Country Rider
from Eveter, U.K. Date Reviewed: May 8, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Woodbury Common, Dartmoor
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light, Strong, Responsive, Fast, All round brilliance
Weaknesses:
Slight sponginess on onbranded brakes (a small price to pay, and a simple upgrade.
Similar Products Used:
Lots (Last bike KHS Montana Comp (Good))
Bike Setup:
RS Jett XC Willupgrade to Judy 100 or X Vert E + front disc and riser bar soon for general all day trail blasting to give the ultimate Bike.
Bottom Line:
For anyone who wants a top line frame with fuly servicable equipment and has £800 to spend, DON'T EVEN CONSIDER BUYING ANYTHING ELSE, unless its another Klein
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a cross-country rider
from United Kingdom Date Reviewed: January 25, 1999
Bottom Line:
THE BEST BIKE EVER! In 9 years of mtbing I have never ridden a bike as fast or responsive as this. The frame is super-stiff and lightweight (2.9lbs). It has a small rear-triangle for powerful acceleration, and a long top-tube for steering stability. The rider is positioned back over the rear triangle for maximum power which makes both climbing and decending in the saddle easier. The joins are beautifully welded and smooth. Klein's gradient tubing puts this frame into the high-end of lightweight bikes (comparable to Cannondale's top hardtails). The gradient tubing is unique - the tubes are thinner in low-stress area's and thicker in high-stress areas which saves weight and increases strength. Finished with a classy red paintjob, it's an absolute bargain.The components are average because you're mainly paying for the frame (£600 alone). It comes with LX 9spd rear mech and an 8spd STX-RC cassette, chainset & RF shifters. I upgraded to full XT before it left the shop. The Bontrager wheels & hubs are lightweight and work nicely. The stem & bars look nice and ride well. The Rock Shox Jett XC forks work fine and are unnoticeable which means they're doing their job.The ride is surprisingly smooth for such a stiff frame which makes riding at speed on gravel, stone, bumpy roads very comfortable. The responsiveness of this frame is phenomenal. It just flys through twisty, technical singletrack with laser-accurate precision and goes exactly where you point it. The harder and faster you ride, the better & more responsively it performs! It lets the rider know exactly what it's doing. It's saved me a number of times from hurtling into a tree or bush with its lightening fast steering. It climbs hills like a rocket-fuelled mountain goat on steroids and will have you climbing impossibly steep hills in your saddle. Downhills are rock steady and this bike will stick to a straight line like it's on rails. It handles expertly in every condition through all terrain and picks up a lot of natural momentum on the slightest of gradients. Thick mud and sand are easily conquored. Grass, hardpack rooted singletrack, stone roads, marshland, rocks, sand roads are all put to shame. This bike just takes everything you throw it at and will have you searching out the harshest most unrideable terrain. A true mountain bike, it really lives up to its name.So if you're looking for an upgradeable bike with a high-quality frame, look no further. Whether you're a racer who wants incredible acceleration, or a technical trail rider looking for a high-performance machine - this is the way to bike heaven. For any 1st time buyers with £800 to spare, why not have a high-end frame. A performance machine with a flair. It's the F1 of bike frames. No other frames in this price range compare. You've tried the rest, now ride the best!
Overall Rating:
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