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Submitted by
Evan Ruzanski
a Racer
from Beautiful Boulder, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Walker Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | All over the place | | Strengths: | Stiff and light so it climbs like a rocketship with surgical handling, durable aerospace aluminum won't break, beautiful paint belongs in an art exhibit, light wheels. | | Weaknesses: | Internal cable routing makes for clean lines but cable replacement a hassle, integrated AirHeadSet headset was invented by an AirHead, lack of touch-up paint available to preserve the artistry, Manitou Mars fork belongs in a dumpster on Mars. | | Similar Products Used: | A bunch of other mountain bikes since around 1992. | | Bike Setup: | Klein Adroit Race frameset in Plum Crazy finish, 2005 Fox Forx F80 RLT, full Shimano XTR components, Rolf Propel wheels, Easton carbon bar and stem, Michelin Wildgripper Comp S tires, Flite saddle. | | Bottom Line: | In my opinion, from a rider's perspective, the Klein Adroit is the best hardtail MTB ever made. The 2001 model is the last incarnation of Klein's top-of-the-line hardtail (replaced by a redesigned Attitude). For this reason alone, Klein disciples should consider this a collector's item.
To really put it over the top, you need to ditch the stupid stock Manitou fork, buy the correct reducer kit for the headtube (2" bottom inner diameter, 1 5/16" top, MC3.1 generation), and hook yo'self up with a sweet fork like the Fox F80 RLT I put on mine. For this production year Klein, you'll need to order the kit straight from Trek ($29.99 dealer cost) or I recommend Leucadia Bikes in San Diego (the guys down there make them in-house for $69.99 retail). Once you hook up the fork, no other hardtail comes close to this masterpiece.
I wouldn't recommend it for the beginner as the ride is quite harsh. A Cane Creek Thudbuster might take the edge off in that department. I've also heard of people having problems with the Rolf wheels but I have only had praise for them.
My bike with pedals weighs 22lb. I chose to keep it full-XTR to keep a complete group on there but if you mix-and-match lighter parts (including a SID World Cup fork), you can get this ride down to around 20lb.
Bottom line: If you are an afficianado of a beautiful, solid, fast-as-hell hardtail that carves the trail and your competition to pieces, upgrade the fork and this is your bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
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