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Submitted by
thewitchdr
a Cross Country Rider
from I've ridden this bike from coast to coast!
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2.00 | | Strengths: | I'm not sure, but I was told I have a 97 comp, due to several indicators, including Chameleon paint. I would echo everything you read about the strengths of this bike. I will add this: I try to ride as many different bikes, in as many different conditions, as I can; Both old and new, stock and mod, suspension or rigid, beach cruiser to BMX. 12 YEARS LATER (and I am rarely on top of my maintenance) this STOCK Mantra IS STILL BETTER THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER RIDDEN!!! Furthermore, most of the "weaknesses" are actually strengths, to me, even if only a wash from one situation to another.
| | Weaknesses: | If it has any, I honestly don't know of them (in the context of XC), after riding this thing in every sort of environment I could ride it in. I thought the bars were a little low, so I put a 2" riser on it. I also put a gel seat on it. Beyond that, I try different tires, but everything else is exactly as it rolled out of the show room, some 12 years ago. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing is similar to the mantra (though they try) | | Bike Setup: | OH! One other little trick is that I switched the front and back brakes to the other ends. lol. Not sure, why, but they were different components and the back brake just seemed to function better, so I moved it to the front and, incidentally, switched to right hand front braking. | | Bottom Line: | I can't say enough about this bike. If you are lucky enough to have one or find one, PLEASE contact me, so I can buy it!
And seriously, there are not nearly enough flaming hot chili peppers to rate the KLEIN MANTRA!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Mancinelli
a Downhiller
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Jim Thorp | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | 1,500.00 | | Strengths: | It has a good strong desighn and works well on some jumps with a stock suspention. | | Weaknesses: | Only the suspention on the big jumps, but I got Stratos front shocks and new Stratos back shock. | | Bottom Line: | Sweet bike awsome for jumping and all a round mountain biking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aleksander
a Cross Country Rider
from Oslo, Norway
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light and efficient. Good climber. | | Weaknesses: | The 98' SID is leaking air, my Fox Alps rear suspension broke. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Gary Fisher and Scott | | Bike Setup: | Full xtr, Cane creek wheels, SID, Fox Alps 5R, Race Face low riser handlebar. | | Bottom Line: | Very good for cross country-use and technical rides. I changed to a lightweight RaceFace low riser handlebar, which made the riding more stable, specially in high speed downhill. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hugh McCarthy
a Weekend Warrior
from Mexico City
Date Reviewed: November 3, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Pico de Orizaba to Xico Falls | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Self-righting (with speed); all around toughness; simplicity; good climber for full suspension rig. | | Weaknesses: |
Lacks absorption on large bumps while standing, it seems shock is best transmitted through seat post. Geometry is such that seat angle is fully tweaked to not pinch vital nerves. Tendency to fly over handlebars (likely a pilot issue) | | Similar Products Used: |
Mantra Comp; Santa Cruz heckler | | Bike Setup: |
Mantra with Manitou RST | | Bottom Line: | I love my bike. It has lasted through major abuse atop Mexico's tallest volcanos and mountains. It is a mean bike, and an excellent climber for a double suspension bike. A great jumping bike, too, though I would have liked a slightly longer geometry...
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thierry
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ascot, UK
Date Reviewed: August 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
uphill, XC | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
fast and efficient | | Weaknesses: |
the rear lifts up when braking, which may you have a nice taste of good old mother earth | | Bike Setup: |
original setup, except Mavis Crossmax wheels instead of Can Creek | | Bottom Line: | This is a very fast and efficient bike in almost every trail, except downhill where the behaviour is very scarry, as it lifts up when touching the front brake first for fast and efficient speed reduction. You are suppose to brake at rear first to have the rear shock abs blocked, but honesly, this bike is not very good at braking.
Anyway, as the main concern is being fast, there is no doubt that you will gain precious seconds on this bike when racing, and it is very efficient when climbing, especially on rocky ground, or hell climbs, if you remain seatted at the back.
Worth having a try, and sure you'll be seduced, at least looked at, as this bike looks like no other one | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy Horton
a Weekend Warrior
from Franklin, LA
Date Reviewed: May 4, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
light, nimble, fast | | Weaknesses: |
alas, cost | | Similar Products Used: |
Ibis and Specialized | | Bike Setup: |
Klein Mantra Pro with RockShox Sid and Cane Creek AD-10 rear shock | | Bottom Line: | After one year of riding this bike over a variety of terrain, I continue to be extremely pleased. Climbing over root strewn trails is effortless. It seems to steer itself through tight singletrack. On pavement, its nearly as fast as my road bike. Note that the '98 Mantra Pro was initially spec'd with a Fox rear shock, but mine came from the factory with the Cane Creek AD-10 which performs very well(it does need to be pumped up every few weeks, though) Also, the SID in the front has performed flawlessly for me. Demo a Mantra Pro if you can...buy one if you can sweet talk your wife into it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Osiowy
a cross-country rider
from Regina, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
A while ago, I rode a '97 Mantra Race with a White Bros. SC90, Spinergy Rex-X-Roks, SRAM ESP. parts and a whole bunch of Syncros, Bontrager and other nice parts. The bike felt very comfortable (helped by the tall shock and riser bar), but still felt responsive, and to top it all off, it took the bumps like they weren't even there. In short, it made my Trek 6000 seem like a piece of crap. Oh well, for the $3000 price difference, I suppose there's a difference. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a cross-country rider
from austin, texas
Date Reviewed: October 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I purchased my 98 mantra pro in march..........the first month or
so i really enjoyed this bicycle......with the exception of the front
fork it had been spec'd with (rock shox sid)Do yourself a large favor,
sell your SID and replace with a Marazochi ( i can never spell it correct)
Atom Bomb and you will never have a need for any of your hardtails again.....
I was a died in wool hardtail owner for years.....but after riding this
bike.......it is really incredible....i can't imagine improving upon this..
I have serious concerns in regard to the SID fork......no damping....or
compression......it's light...but no adjustablity on the fly...it reminds
of the first Mag 20 and Mag 21 i owned.......you could probably be just
as light with a similar ride with a rigid fork!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a weekend warrior
from Farmington, UT
Date Reviewed: June 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I had a Santa Cruz Heckler prior to buying my Mantra Pro. There is absolutely no comparison. The Klein is multiple magnitudes better. I enjoyed the Heckler, but it handled like a boat in singletrack. The Mantra Pro eats up singletrack. Technical trails are scoffed at by the bike. I feel incredibly lucky to own one of the last hand-built Pro's from 1997. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a
from racer
Date Reviewed: May 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I'm not one to gush over a bike; however, this bike rocks! I've been riding hardtails for years. I presently have a Litespeed that weighs nothing with chi chi parts. That said, I say this, Let the hartail get dusty. This bike feels like a hardtail but more comfy. Make sense? It doesn't bob at all with the
Fox shock. I love this bike! Anyone want to sell their Mantra let me know. I need a large.Oh, yes, my buddy let me borrow his for a week. I thought it would be like those darn unified bikes--bob, bob, bob. I climbed stuff I could never climb on a hardtail. I may race his bike? If he will let me. However, my Litespeed would still rlue on most tracks due to the weight difference. If you are a convert to FS from HT this is the bike to have. Ride hard! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a cross-country rider
from NC
Date Reviewed: January 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
You owe it to yourselves to take one of THE Klein Mantras' out for a spin. In my opinion the Klein Mantra is the best climbing, best handling singletrack bike out there. I have ridden the other full suspension bikes (Trek, Cannondale, Gt, Specialized, Amp...) and I never cared for the ride until I purchased my Klein. They all seemed more like ofer squishy excuse to market a new product. Sure they feel great going straight down a hill but try to ride that 30+lb GT back up the hill...not so fun. Or watch the suspension change while you change gears on the Cannondale, from Bob to more Bob...Anyway, you owe it to yourself to test ride the Klein Mantra pro (comp or race too for that matter). It's hard to compare the ride to a Klein hardtail but where FULL SUSPENSION goes, Gary Klein surely out duped the competition by far.Once again, the rating is law at only five stars! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave G
a cross-country rider
from Anchorage, Alaska
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I rode my friends mantra and it is the best suspension design there is. I am currently saving for a pro to replace my Y(also a good bike but not as good as the mantra). If you want to understand how the high pivot mantra works go to kliens website. there is a discussion about the suspension. This bike deserves at least 10 stars | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a cross-country rider
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: November 27, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Best bike I have ever riden | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Kellogg
a cross-country rider
from Anchorage Alaska
Date Reviewed: April 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Just learned a lot about the new Mantra's and figured I would pass it on.First-
Their are three offerings in the Mantra line. The Comp, Race, and Pro.
All three have a unified rear triangle design and are made with aluminum. The comp and the race
use a straight gauge tube set and weigh in about 8 ounces heavier than the Pro. The Pro uses a
butted tubeset(I believe it is called gradient but not sure). A huge difference in the Pro is the head
tube. It is Klein's monster head tube that has pressed in aircraft bearings. This is where some of
the weight savings come from over the comp and race. The comp and race are identical frames
except color. The comp is a screaming yellow, the race is race red(the same color as the Pro).As far as components go the Comp is primarly an STX bike while the Race is an XT/LX mix. The
Pro is available as a fuselage only(frame, fork(judy SL), seat post, one piece bar stem, and
bottom bracket.Prices:(approx)
Comp $1500(yes that is correct for a dual suspension KLEIN complete bike!! If you want one of
these you need to buy it as soon as it gets to your local dealer!!)
Race $2500-2600(will probably be the best selling race ready bike this year!! If they keep up
with the demand)
Pro $2500 for fuselage only(see above for what this includes)
I got to play with a Pro that was built up with mostly XT. A few things stood out immediatly
1. This is a true Klein. It is rock solid. The bottom bracket was just as stiff as my Rascal and
probably 3-4 times stiffer than any other full suspension bike I have EVER seen(this includes the
Ibis and C-dale)
2. The quality of workmanship is unmatched. As compared to other overseas manufactured
frames, ie proflex, and even domestic custom frames, ie rock lobster, merlin, lightspeed, AMP ...(
I think you get the point)
3. The overall feel of this bike was amazing. With 5 of rear wheel travel it is an amazing CC bike
and probably a suitable DH bike. The only negative to it as a DH bike is it is not a fully active
suspension. When you stand to climb or sprint the suspension gets stiffer.
4. These bikes will be extremely hard to get this year because of the price v quality.
Other points.
The Pro has a MAJOR draw back to it's frame!
The huge head tube along with the fork crown and steerer tube are not normal sizes. This LIMITS
SEVERLY the forks that can be installed ie only the RockShox Judy SL's that come with it will
work!! This means that unless Klein decides to adapt another fork you are stuck with the SL. This
year that is fine but in 3 or four years that will not be acceptable. I only buy a new bike every 5-7
years so this is a huge negative to me. The solution? Both the Race and Comp come with an
industry standard 1 1/8 head tube. For this reason alone I am going with the Race(since I
purchase new bicycles so infrequently price is not really a concern)The finish on these bike is classic Klein!! If have a 1989 Rascal that looks a lot better than many
of the one year olb bikes I see around. Nothing can compare to their painting process!! Check an
old one out if you don;t believe me!! Also, Klein's hold their value so resale(even after 5 years) is
no problem!!!A final note:
I truely believe that the Mantra line will be the bike's to posses over the next couple of years. True
it was a long wait but it is most definetly worth it!!
If you are in the market for a new suspension bike this year, front or full, you have got to test ride
one of these!!! Don't spend you hard earned dough till you do!!
Don't believe the five star rating, I really give it WAY OVER FIVE!! | | Overall Rating: |
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