|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Phillip
a
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Finish is nice and the frame is sexy. I can go down-hill on it with more confidence than my S-Works thats all tho | | Weaknesses: | People praise its performance, I am not as happy as they are. WHen compared to my old S-works it has nothing on it. I think the head-tube is ovalized | | Similar Products Used: | S-Works | | Bike Setup: | XTR Chris King Manitou MArs Mavic 517's etc. XC build | | Bottom Line: | a nice bike but I will get another S-works. when I get the funds. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven
a Cross Country Rider
from Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Many | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Frame only on eBay | | Strengths: | Light, responsive, climbs like a mountain goat! | | Weaknesses: | Factory finish was nice, but easily scratched. Hayes rear disc mount is challenging, but not impossible, when trying to use other IS disc systems. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher, Trek, Specialized Stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | End to end XTR drivetrain, Chris King ISO hubs and threadless headset, Psylo XC forks (need to ditch these and upgrade!), Avid bearing disc brakes, Thomson stem and seatpost, Easton EC90 bar, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great hardtail frame, very responsive, great geometry for climbing/power transfer/control. My frame is a 2001 Attitude Race without the internal cable routing (thank goodness!) and I've had it powder coated a custom color so that I don't have to worry about scratching the finish. The 22 mm old-style Hayes rear disc mounts are a bit of a pain when trying to mount other disc systems (like the Avid), but there are adapters available that'll do the trick. I'd definitely shed more than a tear or two if it were ever stolen or destroyed. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Maryanne
a Cross Country Rider
from East Brunswick, NJ
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | lots! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Rather not advertise where I got it | | Strengths: | Fast, manuevers well, durable, durable and durable. I looove my bike! I have ridden it since 1998 and I have beaten it to death! I am bad with bike maintenance, but luckily it didn't really need it, as I JUST replaced cables and of course brakes throughout the life of it. Always cool paint jobs. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Avid brakes, XT everything, Rock Shox Judy, etc. etc. You get the idea. | | Bottom Line: | Klein used to be awesome!! They are going down hill, but this bike is GREAT! I wish I could sleep with it at night (but it steals my covers). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tekin
a Cross Country Rider
from Brooklyn,NY
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | ringwood,NJ | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1250.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | good handling , paint job and durability. | | Weaknesses: | frame has no weaknesses but parts that come on the bike do. | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 Turner XCE , 2003 Ellsworth Truth | | Bike Setup: | Manitou SX-R fork, avid low end v-brakes, lx reverse shifters w/ XTR r/der. Bontrager seat, post, stem,bar tires and wheels. LX cranks. | | Bottom Line: | This was my real 1st mountain bike not counting dept. store bikes that were good enough for transportation in town. It was a good deal back in March 2000 for a 1999 left-over. The seat post cracked within 6 months and replaced it with thomson elite. Manitou fork blew out 2nd year and upgraded to Marz. z2 atom race. This fork made this bike very plush for a hardtail.
This frame is very good but components that come with it are low end most of the time. I have enjoyed this bike for 3 years but decided to sell it and go full suspension and never looked back. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nikita
a Cross Country Rider
from Moscow, Russia
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | a lot of.... | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Sportex | | Strengths: | Very rigid, superb handling, accelerates like a bullet, painting, very comfortable geometry. | | Weaknesses: | None detected | | Similar Products Used: | Attitude Pro&Comp, Treks, Gary Fishers | | Bike Setup: | Attitude Race 2002 frame; XT/XTR componentry, Avid SD Ultimate v-brakes, Thomson stem&seatpost, Selle Italia Flite Gel Ti saddle, RS Duke Race fork. | | Bottom Line: | This frame is simply the best hardtail frame I've tried. Light, rigid, controllable, and really FAST! It accelerates so fast that sometimes it scares me - 70 kph is quite good speed for a bicycle :)
Also, Klein's paint job is as great as always. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Strengths: | climbing capability, responsiveness | | Weaknesses: | none that i know of | | Similar Products Used: | pulse race, hard rock | | Bike Setup: | 2000 frame, xt/xtr, fox f80x terra logic, rolf wheelset, atac carbon, ti rail seat | | Bottom Line: | i am 22 and 155 lbs, i think everyone posting should list their age and weight as it affects the performance and durability of the bike. for me, this bike is outstanding, i race and climb and downhill and this bike takes it all with a big smile on its face. i would recommend this frame and component set to anyone. heavier riders, or riders with little experience that tend to be overly hard on their bikes, meaning, bashing into every rock on the trail, not maintaining their bike, shifting at poor times..etc, dont bad mouth klein, they are a premier frame producer and their bikes work incredibly if you have just a little finesse on the trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Hampton, NH USA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Tony's Cyclery | | Strengths: | Light, rigid frame. Very responsive. | | Weaknesses: | Tires, chain suck, over component integrity and most of all... PRODUCT SUPPORT! | | Similar Products Used: | Stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | All stock other than raptor tires & XT rear deraileur. | | Bottom Line: | First, I must mention that I'm not a very aggressive rider. In short, just about everything that could break on this bike did so within the first 50 hours of riding. I snapped three chains, stripped the seatpost, stripped the saddle adjustment axis, went through both deraileurs, busted the small ring and the shifting NEVER worked properly. By midsummer, I was walking my bike out of the woods every time I went riding. I wrote an email of my experience to the Klein company. They responded that I need to be easier on the bike and that "This isn't on us". Great customer support. I'd suggest the Klein if you're really into taking your $1100 bike for a walk. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakes, UK
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light, fast, comfortable; a very good ride. Nice paint job.... | | Weaknesses: | Internal cable routing; cables routed under bottom bracket; rear Hayes disk mount rather than IS, thus limiting choice of disk system used; poor clearance if you're running larger tyres; long headtube; bottom pull front mech required; seems to suffer quite badly from chainsuck (with a brand new XT chainset); possible longterm durability issues. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8000, Gary Fisher Supercaliber(s) | | Bike Setup: | Rigid forks, Hope headset & C2 disks, Hope XC hubs on 317 rims, XT drivetrain, Time pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I got this frame in late 2002 as a warranty replacement for a Trek & two Fishers I'd snapped. It's not a frame I would have bought with my own cash, certainly not at the £600-£700 asking price.
The Attitude rides very well indeed but it's not a great bike for the UK. I've had problems with water freezing around the gear cables where they run under the BB shell - c'mon, this kind of cable routing was passe a decade ago! The internal routing is just a pain when it comes to replacing cables.
Note that the headtube (at least on the XL frame I've got) is very long. The forks I'd been swapping around between other bikes for a few years, despite being run with 20mm of headset spacers, had a steerer that was too short for this frame (without any spacers). When you add in the fact that you'll probably also need to buy a new front mech, you may find yourself unable to simply swap over components from another bike. It could cost you.
This is compounded by the rear Hayes mount; I had to buy an adaptor and new caliper half to run my old C2. I had been running an old Magura rim brake, which I was quite happy with in terms of braking performance. Unfortunately, the tight clearance of the seatstays round the 2.1" tyres I run made getting the wheel in & out a performance.
Don't get me wrong, it's a great ride - fast & responsive, and a great climber. However, the design flaws mean it's not the best option for the UK. Over the last three years I've become somewhat cynical about lightweight aluminium frames (I've had three, all of which have broken within a year). When this one snaps sometime in the next twelve months, which I'm confident it will, I'll be asking for another hardtail from the Trek Co stable rather than an Attitude. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Racer
from Bear, DE
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Fairhill, MD | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR.com posting | | Strengths: | Geometry, light, paint job is cool but I didn't go for that. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found one yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose Pro NX 7.3, Trek, Redline | | Bike Setup: | XT drivetrain and brakes, Chris King headset, Rock Shox Sid Race, Rolf wheels, Azonic downhill riser bar etc.... | | Bottom Line: | After using it almost everyday of the season, this frame is incredible. Climbing is fantastic due to the short chainstays and it's a very light frame weighing at 3.2 lbs I believe. My set-up weighs in at a whopping 20 lbs. I can't wait till next season. I reccommend this frame to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Weekend Warrior
from New York
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky point | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs/friend | | Strengths: | looks amazing, strong, agile, clean | | Weaknesses: | nada | | Similar Products Used: | 97 klein | | Bike Setup: | set-up for urban assault | | Bottom Line: | yes urban assault, my 97 klein (i know its for xc) has taken quite a beating. gaps, drops, some rough stuff and has just kept comin back for more. i've been surprised. the frame is so light it and agile yet so strong. i'm by no means a light rider (215 lbs.) my 97 is still goin' strong and i cant wait to get my new 26" hookworms for my 2001 attitude. it could've come w/ some better parts, i've pretty much changed everything but the over all value is still good. as for those of you that are trek haters:
volkswagons are decent cars, lexus's are nicer. volkswagon owns lamborgini. wouldn't you like to drive a lamborgini? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Noah
a
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Cripes, is this a great climber! Nimble as all hell, quick on it's feet, and real purty too. | | Weaknesses: | Paint chips easily...for me, feels a lot less stable with 100mm shocks up front...seems to be designed for 80mm, unless I am high on crack. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Moab 2 | | Bike Setup: | XTR/XT drivetrain, Marzhocchi Z.1 X-Fly, Mavic 517/XTR wheels, KAlloy Uno stem, Avid 10 v-brakes | | Bottom Line: | What a deal I got on this 2000 frame -- sold my Moab 2 for this puppy 'cause I needed a smaller frame. It really climbs like a champ, no lies. Always gets looks, very quick handling -- I'm going to convert my Z1 X-Fly's to 80mm, so the handling will be even more predictable I think. I agree with the posts about the pre-built bikes -- see if you can get the frame only, then build it up yourself. I love this frame, dammit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Racer
from Bear, DE
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Fair Hill, MD | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR.com | | Strengths: | Looks Sweeeet, extremely Light, The geometry is simply amazing. | | Weaknesses: | Paint chips easy. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Mongoose, Redline | | Bike Setup: | XT drive train, Rolf wheels, Sid Race fork... To much to list. | | Bottom Line: | Short chain stays makes climbing hills with this frame is sheer pleasure. I ride a small frame and I'm 5'9", this is the frame for me. I'll swear by this frame, it's very sweeeet!!!! See ya at the finish line. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt gersib
a Racer
from lincoln, ne
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | 001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | cycle works in lincoln, ne. | | Strengths: | -solid, responsive handling
-amazing build/paint quality
-sensitive to adjustments in setup
-did i mention the handling?
-climbs like a scared cheetah (when my legs are up to it)
-descends with confidence (when set up correctly)
-custom program produces one-of-a-kind paint finishes | | Weaknesses: | -thin top tube is somewhat easy to dent
-sensitive to setup - it can work poorly (for me) if set up sub-optimally
-almost too beautiful to get really muddy | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Race and Racelite, custom geometry/custom paint Klein Adroit ('00), Klein Adept ('01), Schwinn Homegrown Factory ('00), about 30 other mountain bikes over my lifetime... | | Bike Setup: | '00 attitude custom. extra large frame. '02 manitou black super air (no-boss) fork set at 100mm travel. xtr drivetrain except for xt crank/bb. shimano 959 spd pedals. avid cps front disc brake. king hubs/headset. tamer carbon fiber seatpost. bontrager saddle. titec flat tracker handlebar. titec 120mm x 0 deg rise stem (chromoly) | | Bottom Line: | like several people posting below, i broke a '99 attitude at the right rear dropout and this was my replacement frame. thanks to a friend at klein, they hooked me up with a pre-production 2000 frame with full custom paint. well, since they sent me this frame, i have acquired two other kleins, if that tells you anything about how much i enjoy riding their bikes. they're superb in virtually every way. over the course of the last two years, i've had three different forks on the bike, recently graduating to a manitou black super air set at 100mm, which has reinvigorated my excitement about this bike. it's very sensitive to setup, and late last year, after riding my klein adept with a 105mm manitou x-vert super on the front, i was very dissatisfied with the performance of the 80mm travel manitou sx-r i had on the front of the attitude. i think my riding style has adapted to longer travel forks, so 80mm feels awfully short. the big 30mm stanctions of the black also make the most of the klein's stiff top tube, which enhances handling noticably.
coming off of a bontrager racelite, i was initially worried that the attitude was going to be too harsh for me. i was pleasantly surprised, though the ride is decidedly firmer than the racelite. it's certainly not objectionable, but i also run a bontrager fs ti-railed saddle on this bike (instead of the flite on my adept) to help smooth things out as much as possible. i've run tamer suspension posts on the bike in the past, but don't like the top-heavy feel that suspension posts add to the bike.
overall, this is the best balanced hardtail i've ever ridden in its present state of build. take care setting it up and you'll be rewarded | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bo Wacker
a Weekend Warrior
from Roskilde
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | www.bikeattitude.dk | | Bottom Line: | I have earlier posted my complaint about a broken frame. I returned a broken frame to the USA through the Danish distributor and have now received a new frame. It is a new model and another colour. It took 2 months......
If that is service - I am not sure I will buy the product again. Or maybe it is just my local distributor who needs a kick in the a.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad Peterson
a Cross Country Rider
from San Anselmo, Ca, U.S
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Tam | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | strong, excellent handling, light | | Weaknesses: | it's a hard tail, Klein is owned by trek, the wal-mart of the bike industry | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale, bontrager privateer, psycle werks wild hare, | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Z2 80mm, hayes hydro disc, time atac pedals, | | Bottom Line: | This is an awesome frame, I reccomend buying it as a frame and building it up. As klein, or trek has a tendency to mix up the components between high and low end parts, I have taken off over a pound and a half buy switching cranks, pedals and front der. Buy this frame if you know how to cut your lines coming down, as the key to this bike is its handling and responsiveness it climbs fast, definatley the best climber I have ever encountered, its also a great decender, I am more the back country rider and choose the klein for its reliability and strength, now I use it as a race specific rig. it makes a key addition to my full susp. rig. If you understand that a full susp. rig isn't always ideal then the klein is a good choice. I have also taken 3 foot drops on this bike, ( I do not reccomend this bike for this purpose ) but it still holds strong. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bo Wacker
a Cross Country Rider
from Roskilde
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Very nice finnish, looks cool | | Weaknesses: | Broke after normal XC race | | Similar Products Used: | Principia MSL | | Bike Setup: | Complete SRAM 9.0 SL, RS SID XC, MAvic 517 with Hügi 240 hubs. | | Bottom Line: | The bike was wonderfull until it broke. It broke just next to the géar drop. I have now send it to the local Danish distributor and hope to get a better service than the the other reviewer....
5 chili´s before the brake........
Lets wait and wait for the Klein service | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from PA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: |
| | Bottom Line: | REVIEW IS FOR '99 ATTITUDE MEDIUM FRAME
Frame cracked at rear derailure after 5 months of riding.
Until then the bike performed wonderfully as other reviews have stated.
As I understand the '99 Attitude had a weak spot in the frame at the rear derailure. I had called Klein and they were quite helpfull and promised to send a replacement frame with in a few days. They gladly did not have to wait to see my broken frame before they sent the new one in order to expedite matters. Unfortunately it is now almost SEVEN WEEKS later and I am still without a bike. Without going into too much further detail, apparently Klein and possibly my LBS had 'dropped the ball.'
I've personally made numerous calls to Klein and to my LBS, but to no avail, for I am still with out my bike.
How do I rate this one?
When the bike worked it was a 5; when it didn't: O.
If Klein or my LBS offer some sort of condolences and this all finally works out I will repost.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Ames
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins CO
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Ol' Flowers road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Trek | | Strengths: | Stiff, responsive, climbs like a monkey. | | Weaknesses: | That pretty paint is fragile. | | Similar Products Used: | 97 attitude race | | Bike Setup: | Mostly XT, XTR (hubs brakes Fderail shifters), Sid XC, Thompson post and stem, | | Bottom Line: | I think I got a freak bike on close out from Trek. My Attitude race has external cables, disk mounts and a replaceable R.derailhanger. They said I was getting a 99' Attitude(thats why so cheap). The cables are all routed along the top tube. Allowing use of the sweeet XTR top pull I could not use on my old Attitude. The replaceable hanger is a very good thing also, ask me how I know. I think Klien has been tinkering with the tubing because this new frame dosent have as harsh a ride as my 97. Though more compliant, it tracks, climbs and accelerates better. For those looking for a good SS. Those great drop outs allow you to run single speed without a tensioner by tinkering with gearing. The tired old dented 97 Attitude is know a bad ass 17lb fixed gear. I've been waiting for the 97 to die but it has been hanging on. I bought the bike for xc racing but it was also my DH, UA, and commuter bike. A super light XC frame shouldent take non-XC abuse for four years but it has and is still goin. And the new frame is better! Lots-a-chillis | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Avalon at Patapsco State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | This bike is Amazing!! NOthing about any other frame even impresses me after riding this. Light fast responsive, and just feels like an extention of yourself. | | Weaknesses: | sometimes I fall over | | Similar Products Used: | cdale, trek | | Bike Setup: | Attitude, all xt, time carbon, | | Bottom Line: | I don't deserve this bike, it is so responsive and agile I can't keep up. I have to chase it up hills. Sometimes I'm going so fast downhill; I get scared and have to close my eyes. Somehow we always make it to the bottom. Power transfer is incredible! 90% inclines ..no problem! 5 chilies isn't enough to do this bike justice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sam
a Cross Country Rider
from seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | capital forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | mtbr | | Strengths: | stiff, paint, welds, responsive, head turns | | Weaknesses: | paint chips | | Similar Products Used: | s works, gt zaskar, stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | full xtr, hope disc, | | Bottom Line: | best frame ever, don't compromise with anything else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Altamonte Springs, FL
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Strengths: | light, stiff, paint, welds, tubeset, micro-dropouts | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | fisher aluminum hardtail | | Bike Setup: | '00 Attitude, '01 Mars Elite, Hadley hubs on X517's, bebop pedals | | Bottom Line: | I have the '00 model and I have had no problems with it. It has very good power transfer compared even to other aluminum frames. Looking at the chainstays of the klein and then looking at those of another aluminum frame, you can tell the quality of the klein frame. Even with its $800 retail price tag, it is a good deal when compared with other high-priced hardtail frames which are of inferior quality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose CA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Quicksilver Single Tracks | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | This frame has everything...it climbs, corners, is light, stiff, and it looks sick with the paint and welding. | | Weaknesses: | paint chips | | Similar Products Used: | Voodoo Bokor, Gary Fisher Wahoo | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the best ive have ever used, and it looks cool. The thing is unbelievably fast and agile. My only problems are the people in front of me. THIS BIKE BLOWS AWAY THE COMPETITION. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gigarider
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester Hills, MI
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Grinder | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Wahu! | | Strengths: | Stiff, climbs well, and cool colors. Wacky rear droupouts. | | Weaknesses: | Rear dropout cracks on '99 frames. Wacky rear dropouts. | | Similar Products Used: | Nishiki Backroads, Nishiki FS-4, Trek Y | | Bike Setup: | Manitou SX-R forks, SRAM 9.0SL drivetrain, XT cranks, Avid AR brakes/levers, Time pedals, Crossride wheelset | | Bottom Line: | If you don't know what kind of frame you want, don't buy this frame. If you want a stiff frame that does what you tell it to do, buy the Klein Attitude frame. I had a '99 frame and the rear droupout cracked after 2 years as did a lot of frames, but I received a new frame from WA in 4 days! Try that on for customer service! On top of that later in the week I received some schwag in the mail. The only thing really different on this frame is the microdropouts. It's really a bear the first time you take off the rear wheel, but after a few times you figure out how to do it without getting you're fingers pinched. To sum it up, this frame delivers on everything advertised. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Abrey
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Roman Road | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | John's Bikes | | Strengths: | Looks, Stiffness, Weight, Replacable rear mech hanger, General Feel and Ride, Rearward facing rear wheel drop outs | | Weaknesses: | Paint chips | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR, Specialized Hardrock | | Bike Setup: | '99 Attitude Race Frame, SIDney Forks, Rolf Propel Wheels, Middleburn Cranks, XTR Brakes and Drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | I've been riding for over 10 years and now that I have had a Klein I will never ride anything else. At the moment I ride about 100miles a week and I've tried all sorts of bikes but nothing rides as well as this. It holds the trail and corners so well it just inspires confidence. It climbs like so well because its so stiff and light. As for descending it can take punishment with the best of them. Its light weight also makes it so easy to flick around the trail and over obsticals.
I have got a few chips from stones but I reckon that is par for the course with any frame. Initialy I had problems with cable slap on the top tube but a couple of plastic tubes sorted it.
The rearward facing wheel dropouts are so much easier to use than normal ones I think, I don't know why all bikes don't have them.
My most recent mishap was that I broke the rear mech hanger. (lucky it had one or else the frame may have suffered) I phoned Klein (well Trek) and they sent me a new one out arriving next day! Service with a smile. Fantastic! And that just about sums up the whole frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam Santiago
a Racer
from Flushing, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Strengths: | Paint job, light gradient tubing, smooth clean welds, super stiff, internal cable routing, detailing, micro dropouts. | | Weaknesses: | super stiff | | Similar Products Used: | '96 Trek 7000, '97 Klein Attitude Comp, '99 Klein Attitude Race | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Klein Attitude Race, Z-2 Bam, Mavic 217 XT wheels, XT components, U.S.E. SX shokpost, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This is my third Klein Attitude frame. What can I say, "I love Kleins". Their fast, light, and good lookin'. I have the Aztec gold color. The paint job for 2001 is a lot more durable than my black '99 Attitude frame. My '99 frame had many stone chips on the down tube. I've been riding my new frame now for 2 months and the paint job is immaculate. This frame is made for fast singletrack riding and long climbs. This frame is strong and can take the pounding you give it. It's a little too stiff but my suspension post takes the edge off. If you buy this frame be sure to have enough clearance between the top tube and your brake levers when the bar is turned to the extreme left or right. I dented my '97 frame's top tube because my bar was too low and the lever banged against the frame after a crash. I rode that frame for another 2 years with no problems. Buy this frame. It's the best aluminum hardtail out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from NY
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything steep | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | LIGHT,lightning acceleration, internal cables, corners telepathicly, climbs like a dream, makes each decent a thrill, what a paintjob | | Weaknesses: | ABSOLUTLY NOTHING | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing else is like it | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Klein Attitude Comp. LX front/ XT rear/ Bontrager SS wheels | | Bottom Line: | The fastest, most precise frame on the market. Makes you feel like you can get up/down or over anything. Acceleration that is unmatched. Great trail feedback. As rigid as they come. A drop dead paintjob. Anyone who doesn't love this bike is outta their mind. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from Montgomery Village, MD
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Gambrill Yellow | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Used on MTBR | | Strengths: | Stiff, agile, corners like it's on rails, climbs like a mountain goat on speed! Paint job is just beautiful! | | Weaknesses: | Um.... uh.... well, it's an aluminum hardatil, so if you're looking for log-bashing rock-crushing rides, maybe not the rig for you. Also not for you if you can't stand the thought of such a pretty frame getting dirty. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Avalanche, Zaskar, Trek 6000, Pro-Flex (brought me back to HT's) | | Bike Setup: | 98 Attitude Race, Manitou SX-R, Cane Creek C2, Y2K LX/XT Mega-9 drivetrain, Y2K XT brakes, CODA clipless pedals, DEAN seatpost, Selle Italia Max Trans Am saddle, No-name alloy bar/Performance Quadra stem, Panaracer Fire XC Pro front/ Conti Traction Pro rear, crusty old STX-RC/Mavic 238 wheels that will be leaving soon. | | Bottom Line: | After bobbing along the trail on a full-suspension frame thinking it would make me faster, all I can say is DAMN. What a ride. On top of that, I picked the frame up for $150 in the used marketplace! Combine that with $30 for the headset (Supergo), $70 for LX hollowtech cranks and BB (Performance), $20 for the Dean seatpost (direct from Dean... check them out! www.deanusa.com) $150 for the Manitou SX-R (Price Point), and the old XT components off my ProFlex, this is the cheapest build I've done by a long shot! The 98 Attitude Race is just a SCHWEET frame. Buy one used. You'll love it. It's beautiful, light, quick, and just rides like a dream. Power just goes right into the rear wheel. I weigh 220 and still can't get the rear end to flex on a climb. And the frame's 2 years old! I now know what a really great hardtail feels like, and I may never go FS again (but the Adept is coming soon...). This bike rocks! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jimmie Hawkes
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodbridge
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Quarry | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light, strong, one of the finest paint jobs on the market | | Weaknesses: | It's the first time I have ever been afraid to scratch my bike | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8900, Trek 8000, Fisher Kai Tai, CrackNfail M700 and F700.
| | Bike Setup: | Z.2 Atom, Cane Creek HS. XTR cranks/BB and brakes. ESP 9.0 SL shifters and der. White Ind, hubs and Sun rimes. Easton bar, Titec stem, Thomson post. | | Bottom Line: | The gnarliest climber out there. The super short chainstays combined with such a light and stiff rear triangle make this the best climber I have ever been on. Point the bike and your @$$ will follow. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Denise
a Cross Country Rider
from New Market, Md& New Hampshire
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bear Brook State Park, NH | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Handles like a dream. It goes where I think-and gets me out of a lot of trouble spots with style. | | Weaknesses: | I own three Kleins, and haven't found a weakness yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Fervor, Klein Pulse, Klein Kirsten, Kona Cinder Cone | | Bike Setup: | xt, xtr, judy xc, custom wheels | | Bottom Line: | All of my Kleins are Pre-Trek, and the beauty of the paint job and finish can't be beat. Each was bought as a frame and then I customized how I wanted to finish it. I find doing that way really gives you a love and appreciation of the finished product. I am only 5'2", so the customization truly gave me a great ride. I have had a Kona, Specialized, Wojeck and a trek, and none have been as responsive and fun as my kleins. I hop on, and the bike just rides. It is light and stiff and climbs like a mountain goat. I ride just for the sheer joy of riding, but it would defintely make a great racing bike. It's like the difference between a porsche and a ford. The original Kleins were a little pricey, but well worth the expense. I am disappointed in the finishing detail of the new bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Tallahassee,Florida U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | The aluminum metal(type and manipulation)by which Mr.Klein has chosen to distinguish and market his frames. | | Weaknesses: | Purchased a 1999(Blue to blue linear fade)frame only.Once opened I noticed that dirt,dust etc. was caught in between paint applications.This created some rather sharp edges in an otherwise well crafted frame. | | Similar Products Used: | After much research and to the exclusion of this web site(newly discovered)and next to no real product testing I admit to not having a solid reference point. Reputation,attention to detail,manufacturing process,skilled craftsmanship, and product literature helped.This is my maiden MTB frame(I was a road bicyclist prior). | | Bike Setup: | Nothing less than quality componentry will do.For example:1999 XL Klein frame,RockShox SID SL,Bontrager Race Lite wheelset. | | Bottom Line: | I haven`t finished the assembly process from scratch yet so a future correspondence is forthcoming. Building an MTB gives one a perspective I have yet to discover at www.mtbreview.com. Perhaps it is in the archives? Constructive feedback is welcomed and in fact neccessary. Do be concerned about the paint job and give your frame a complete look over.Proper frame preperation is analogous to your senses when viewing,touching,riding this product(Tapping,chasing,deburring,waxing,greasing,and cleaning etc...).I am concerned about the rear drop out on the drive side(My thanks to those of you who posted your reviews here).It is an asthetically pleasing frame.The Klein frame is expensive and well crafted.Enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
craigy
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | La Cumbra - Coroico, Bolivia | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Beautifully constructed; lovely paint job; light; stiff; strong; replaceable rear dropout | | Weaknesses: | Lovely paint job (bugger when it gets chipped) | | Bike Setup: | Pretty much as from the box | | Bottom Line: | 99 Klein Attitude Race (blue)
Sweet ride, much preffered it over the TREK 8000.
After 16 mths of riding I had no cpmplaints. Rode the big technical stuff with ease, eats fire-roads for breakfast, downhill it is a bit of a beast to control (due to stiff rear - I have some monster scars because of that) Put Slick Tyres on and it travels on road extremely well. Coulnd't have bought a better bike. Top class, did over 2500 miles on the thing.
Then DISASTER.....dunh dunh duuuuunh.....friggin' frame snapped YES SNAPPED...my beautiful blue bike a wreck....I was gutted...the rear-drop out section (where it accepts the replaceable drop out) snapped in two!!!
Thankfully the nice people at my LBS helped me to get a replacement from Gary. I now have a 2000 Attitude frame. I am about to put all the bits on it. Will let you know how it rides......
ttfn
I give this one 5 chillis for value beacuse I bought it in the USA, buyingg it in the UK would only get a 4 chilli rating | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Frederick, MD
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | grave ridge backwards | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | stiff (this is good), light, assertive geometry, beautiful paint, internal guides (keeps cables clean!). | | Weaknesses: | you will spend the balance of your free time cleaning, polishing, and driving all over town in search of frame-saver tape. | | Similar Products Used: | Aegis Proaxe carbon, Cannondale alum., Trek Y | | Bike Setup: | fork: manitou sx carbon wheels: xtr/517 panaracer fires
and a suspension post for efficient climbing/ long rides. | | Bottom Line: | There really isn't much to ponder on this one. This frame allows your body to go in the direction it wants in the shortest amount of time after the originating synapse. It managages this in a very stylish way.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ezykyel
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | don't have one yet | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Large Tubes! Awesome chain stays. Light weight! | | Weaknesses: | Hurts to see the paint job getting scratched. | | Similar Products Used: | C'Dale, Specialized, Fisher. | | Bike Setup: | XTR's, RaceFace LP's, RaceFace XY seat post, Race Face BB, Zoochi's Z3 Light, Ringle Zooka and Sun RPM Lites. | | Bottom Line: | I love my bike! It climbs like a goat on roids and hammers down like a charger! The attention to detail is prevalent when Gary makes his bikes. Just a sweet ride. If you don't beleive go out and ride one! The price may hurt some peoples pocket but you do get what you pay for in the end. I gave it 5 flamers for quality and the entire shabang! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil McNamara
a Racer
from Ireland
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Super Stiff, balanced perfectly, killer downhiller. | | Weaknesses: | Can be harsh on bumby trails, and tends to chip | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale (6 cracks after 1 season) | | Bottom Line: | This is really a great bike. It has all a real racer needs, fast pickup, superlight, great handling. It has never creaked or made noises like a cannondale does, it is still going strong after countless races across europe and the USA, not to mention countless baggage handlers in many different airports.
Buy it if: you want a real race frame that will take a beating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Palos Singletrak, anything at the Kettle | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light (2.73# frame), strong, great geometry, efficent, paint/welds - this thing is a work of art in how it is built, looks, rides.. | | Weaknesses: | Your Kidding, right? | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8000, GT Zaskar LE, Schwinn Factory Homegrown, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Hugi/517 wheels, Race Face bar/headset/BB/cranks, Kore Elite stem, White Bros SC70UL, XTR trans and brakes... | | Bottom Line: | Mine is a 98 frame (pre Trek, w/internal cables), as opposed to those things on the LBS floors now that shouldn't even have the Klein name on them. This bike is by far and above better than any other I have ever ridden. The bike is as efficient as it gets, zero flex, yet does not kick your ass. Geometry seams to be the perfect balance (aggresive yet comfortable), it goes where you point it with no complant, sprints like a good road bike, and can handle the beeting of a DH rig. Everything you could ever want in an XC race bike (wether you ride it - or - are a poser who just wants to look at it, and get oooohhhs, and aaaahhhhhssss). The only place you won't kick everyones butt on this bike is burning down a rocky downhill course (but then not to many DH rigs weigh 21 lbs.). Get your hands on one if you can...this is the end all XC bike, period... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Spry
a Racer
from Knoxville, TN
Date Reviewed: December 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Tsali in NC | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Stiff, Classic Klein race geometry, Paint Job!!, Climbing prowess | | Weaknesses: |
Stiff, and can hurt on the downhills | | Similar Products Used: |
Klein Fervor
Trek 990
AMP B3
Cannondale | | Bike Setup: |
97 Klein Attitude Team Edition, BEFORE Trek took over. RS XC (sux) full XTR, MC2 Stem/Headset, etc | | Bottom Line: | i have ridden many different bikes during my 10 years of competitive mountainbiking, and i still hold this bike as my favorite of them all. this bike flat out is designed for the people that enjoy being bent over the top tube, which is the best position for climbing...and that is exactly what this bike does...climbs like nothing i have ever ridden before. you can credit that to the 2.9lb Klein Gradient tubing, and the super short and stiff chainstays. handles and carves the turns of the trail with ease, and this bike cries for technical sections and singletrack. however, this bike is not an excellent downhiller. due to how stiff the rear end is, when pushed the rear tire will have a good tendancy to drift and bounce in the turns. but hey, cross country races are definately won on the climbs, and in that case....i wouldn't race on anything other than a klein | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Racer
from Kent
Date Reviewed: October 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
No dogs mess on | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Light, looks, ride. | | Weaknesses: |
Paint chips too easy.
Too nice to get dirty. | | Similar Products Used: |
Trek 8900sl | | Bike Setup: |
xrt,raceface,sid's. | | Bottom Line: | Get one, but dont chip it or you'll cry all night.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bo
a Cross-Country Rider
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: August 12, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Stiff, light and good value for your money. | | Weaknesses: |
Paint chips. | | Similar Products Used: |
Cannondale F900 (98')
GT Zaskar | | Bike Setup: |
XT, icon barends, Rockshox Judy SL , Stronglight Aheadset, 3T, Thomson seat post,
Sella italia XO saddel. | | Bottom Line: | This is the perfect bike, realy responsive in curves and downhill. Uphill you realy enjoy the lightness of the frame aswell as the stiffnes.
This is whitout doubt the best bike i've ever had.
And I only paied 1600 $ for it, all incl.
Five marks for this littel wonder | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Davis
a Racer
from Oklahoma City, OK
Date Reviewed: April 26, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Old Draper | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Excellent welds, classic race geometry, internal cable routing, very durable, WTB grease cert headset standard | | Weaknesses: |
rear derailuer slaps against chain stay under very fast, rough conditions | | Similar Products Used: |
Giant ATX 980, Barracuda | | Bike Setup: |
Full XTR, '98 SID fork, Mavic CrossMax wheels, Time ATAC pedals | | Bottom Line: | This is by far the best mountain bike I have ever owned (it's my 4th in 5 years). I like it so much I turned down sponsorship from another dealer this year. The bike has excellent handeling in single track as well as technical sections and is a great light weight climber too. The stiffness of the frame gives excellent accelleration out of corners and up short climbs. I have had no mechanical problems with this bike and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light weight, fast, agile cross-country racer that will last more than one race season if properly taken care of. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Herr
a Cross-Country Rider
from Phoenix AZ
Date Reviewed: April 21, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
The frame is superstiff and welding, paintjob, geometry perfect. It's the perfect CC frame in my opinion, that will last long with an acceptable weight. | | Weaknesses: |
the rear dropout is weird, seatpost diameter unusual | | Similar Products Used: |
Trek OCLV 9700, Specialized Stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: |
Marzocchi Z2, Ritchey 2x9 | | Bottom Line: | For me it's the perfect CC machine. The frame is reliable stiff and extremely goood to handle. good climbing, good agility in single track, and it will last. A friend of mine owns an attitude for years, and it won't fail | | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$
