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Submitted by
Phil Boyer
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Wasatch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Guthrie's | | Strengths: | This bike climbs like a hard tail; in fact it climbs better than my old Cannondale F-600 hard tail, which is a good 3-4 lbs lighter. It stays true on the descents, eating up rocks, roots and moderate drops with ease (obviously it's not designed for big drops). I have not had the problem with ghost shifting others have had. The XT/LX setup has always done me right. | | Weaknesses: | I have had nothing but problems with the rear brake. Three shops have tried to solve these problems to no avail. I have tried different rotors, pads and had them burn off any possible contaminents from the rotors. Two of the shops told me that it was due to a design flaw with the bike itself. I don't recall having this much trouble initially, it just seemed to develop and get worse over time. It howls and vibrates big time. I guess it makes a great warning system to let people know 100 yards downhill that I'm coming. The vibration gets so bad I can feel it in my handle bar. I'm hoping the latest shop will be able to find some way to eliminate or at least minimize this issue. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first full suspension bike. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for having replaced straight bontrager handle bar with an Easton riser bar to ease the back soreness, and a new saddle because the Bontrager saddle it came with is a torture device. | | Bottom Line: | It's an amazing bike and well equipped for its price point. Performance-wise it is awesome, but the braking issue is a sore spot. Maybe if someone else has had this problem and solved it I would appreciate an email me at phil@apexjobs.net. Thanks! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frugalex
a Cross Country Rider
from Redwood City, Ca
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1450.00 | | Purchased At: | Palo Alto Bicylces | | Strengths: | Versatility and Price - what a combo! | | Weaknesses: | Vibration problems when upgraded to disc brakes. Other than that, original set up has been solid. | | Similar Products Used: | S Enduro | | Bike Setup: | Rock Shox Duke, LX and XT drivetrain, Bontrager stuff | | Bottom Line: | This bike has been nothing but fun for the last 2 years. The climbing is excellent and the downhill is perfect for my type of riding. Smooth singltrack to Tahoe rocks, it has handled both with ease. For the price I paid, I don't think there is a better bike out there. I'm sold on the monolink suspension and have started looking at Maverick for my next bike (if I can save up enough). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Ewing
a Cross Country Rider
from Chandler, Arizona, USA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | mrewingspam@yahoo.com | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Source | | Strengths: | I have been riding this bike every other day for two years. This bike does everything very well. It climbs really well, has no bob at all, and eats up the trail. | | Weaknesses: | You have to keep the rear shock pumped up or you get ghost shifting, cables get dirty and then cause shifting problems, the front fork split a cap doing National Trail in Phoenix (very rocky, very difficult). Oh, and the bike has a tendancy to squeak -- Arizona has a very fine dust and it gets everywhere. I've had to replace a lot more components from wear than any other bike I have owned--probably because this is a 25 pound racing bike and I do not ride in racing situations but in technical situations (lots of rocks) | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Liquid, Klein Mantra, Trek Fuel | | Bike Setup: | Swapped out the handle bars for crow bars, swapped out the grips, swapped out the seat and tires, put on peddles from old bike, replaced the chain and the rear cartridge set after they wore out from riding. | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding this bike for two years. It is the best mountain bike I have ever owned and this is my 4th bike. I really like the way that Kleins ride. To bad they have gotten out of the full suspension business. The only thing that I have had problems with are the front fork (Duke) (split cap) but talking to the bike shop, they say with the miles I have put on it and the type of riding that I do (technical riding = lots of rocks), the front fork held up well. The front fork is an air only shock and with Arizona being so dry, the seals fail after awhile. Also, you have to keep the rear shock pumped up or the bike will ghost shift. Bottom line is that I ride a lot. I figure that I have ridden the bike close to 400 times and the bike does everything I want it to do. It is the best bike I have ever owned and I am very hard on bikes and very picky. If you can find a Klein full suspension bike then buy it -- they are fine bikes. Funny thing about all this, I took my bike into the shop to get the front fork worked on and I rode my old Klein Mantra that had been collecting dust for two years. I was very surprised about how much I liked it. It was not in the Palomino league but it was a blast. Klein really does a great job on their bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Seth Crawford
a Cross Country Rider
from Corvallis, OR
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything I build... | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Climbing. Lookin' pretty. Decending technical terrain at mach 3 (thanks Chris King). Making half-ass riders competitive with the freaks. | | Weaknesses: | Rear travel. Just not enough for the 5 foot drops to pavement, but that's by design. This is not a super-plush suspension, but is there when you need it. Don't get me wrong--it can handle the 5 footers without a problem--and I'm pretty sure that's not the "intended use" of a design like this....oh well. | | Similar Products Used: | Tested everything from all the major manufacturers and most of the spendy boutique bikes. | | Bike Setup: | '04 Palomino frame, '06 Fox TALAS RLC, Chris King hubs (can you say fast?) and headset, Mavic 823 rims, Avid Juicy 7 brakes (with a Hayes 203mm front rotor), XTR rapid fire shifters, XT cranks, front and rear derailleur, and cassette. SRAM chain--do yourself a favor and don't use those crappy Shimano chains. | | Bottom Line: | I want(ed) a Maverick ML7, but I got a super deal on this barely used '04 frame on Ebay. It has not disappointed. It is a faster ride than my hard tail, no pedal bob (everyone knows this story by now), and, mated with my TALAS fork, is an unbelievable climber. Everyone is Corvallis seems to be riding one of these ponies these days, and it's for a good reason--nothing else compares. There are two downsides: the rear suspension is not as plush as competitors (i.e. SC Blur) and the pivot bushings are prone to infection from dirt. This lack of plushness is traded for its unreal climbing ability--which is why I bought this bike instead of a Blur. The bushings...well, it can be a problem. They are not that difficult to replace, but $pendy if purchased at the LBS (~$90). I've found that the local hardware store can get me the same parts for about $20. You shouldn't HAVE to replace the bushings more than a couple times a year at worst--we ride in pretty awful conditions through the winter, and I haven't had any problems yet.
I bought my wife a similar setup ('04 Palomino XX with all the pretty XTR parts) before I got my bike and we had some problems with it (rear shock must have its oil changed on schedule), but once dialed in, it's an unstoppable machine. If you can find a good frame on Ebay, now is the time to invest. I'm sorry to see Klein stop making these awesome bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Weekend Warrior
from dublin
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | djouce & treerock | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$5500.00 | | Purchased At: | all over - built up | | Strengths: | Likes to climb aswell as take some rough n' tough. Cool Paint job on my 04 frame (much nicer than 05 finish). | | Weaknesses: | Rear shox seems complicated to maintain. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Epic | | Bike Setup: | Wait for it...
I bought the frame on it's own and built up the following so I'm sure it's gotta be unique:
Fox 05 F100X (May get 130mm next year), Hope M4's, Hope Bulb hubs on Mavic XM819's with Sapin Spokes, Maxis Medusa UST's, FSA Carbon Pro Crankset with Time Attack Pedals, Sella Carbon Ti Saddle and Easton Carbon Post, X-Lite Carbon Riser on X-Lite Angelo XLR made with aerospace alloy with a gorgious CNC finish. Opps, almost forgot the Eposure 32 watt light which lets me knock owls off their branches at night. | | Bottom Line: | This bike makes me want to go out all the time even after serious partying the night before. It's a really comftable bike which covers all sorts of riding from xc to freeride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Schoen
a Cross Country Rider
from VaBeach, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | York River | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Top Of The Hill | | Strengths: | very light and durable, monolink suspension design | | Weaknesses: | not laterally rigid enough, can't think of anything else | | Similar Products Used: | stumpjumpers, prophet, own a reign2 and an attitude (hardtail) | | Bike Setup: | older model w/fox model rear shock, going to upgrade to maverick(which is cheap to do by the way), duke forks, lx cranks, xt rear der & lx front,bontrager osb wheels, bb7 brakes,lizrd skins north shore lock on grips(never ride w/out'em) | | Bottom Line: | This is one awesome bike. Owned for about 6 months now.I love it on the trails. The rear end seems to float a little bit but other than that this thing can be a pretty good light duty hucker or a nimble cross country bike. I have taken this thing off of 4 and 5ft all paved flat drops with no problem. Taken it down countless stairs and hit some good jumps. Not made for this stuff but I never had a problem doing it. Rides like a dream on the trails. Very responsive. Talked to a rep at maverick and found out a new rear shock w/ more travel from them only runs a couple hundred bucks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from South Jordan, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Dsolation Lake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Golsan Cycles | | Strengths: | I cannot say enough good things about this bike. It is by far the best handeling bike I have test ridden. Now that I have everthing tuned the way I want it is even better. This bike does everthing well. It climbs like no other bike and the suspension is very plush on downhill. I have always owned hardtails because I never liked the way they climbed. This is bike actually climbs better than a hardtail.
I am not usually influenced by paint but, you have to admit Klein has always done an outstading job of painting. This paint is also surprisingly durable.
The suspension is great on this bike. Both front and rear. The Monolink suspension design is fantastic. This bike feels like a hardtail when you stomping on the pedals. The Fox Float fork is torsionally stiff and has smooth travel. | | Weaknesses: | The documentation says that for a rider of my size I should use too little pressure. On the maveric website it says to use 90% of you body weight for the pressure, which is about right. Klein needs to proof read their manuals.
Using the suggested pressure give in the manual there is way to much sag. Enough that you will experiance deraileur problems. Another reveiwer mentioned disatisfaction with this and attributed it to the front deraileur not lining up with the chain rings. The deraileur is on the monolink with the bottom bracket. Thus, they never move with respect to each other. I know that if there is not enough pressure you will have shifting problems but, that cannot possibly be the cause. I weight 200 lbs and I can set the suspesion up perfectly for my weight. When setup correctly the shifting is flawless.
The seat is too small for a rider my size but , what bike isn't that way. | | Similar Products Used: | None, but is similar to Maveric ML-7 and Seven Duo in suspension design. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except replaced saddle with Serfas Dorado. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. I have never been so impressed with a bike. There are bikes that seem to have better specs for the same price but none of them are as fun to ride. Test ride one and you will know what I am talking about. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg H
a Weekend Warrior
from Denton, Texas
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Johnson Branch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Plus | | Strengths: | Climbs like a champ, high quality Klein finish, Fox front fork, Maverick M bits rear shock is very strong. | | Weaknesses: | Front derailure! The double pivot geometry suspension causes the front derailure to flex in relation to the front chain rings. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Liquid | | Bike Setup: | bone stock, except brakes. Fox Float 100R front fork, Maverick M Bits rear shock, etc, etc. I added Avid Juicy Five hydraulic disc brakes front and rear (originals were V brakes). | | Bottom Line: | I bought this 2004 Klein Palomino V on a closeout deal and couldn't pass it up since it was 25% off. This is a very nice bike and I fell in love with the way it handles and climbs. However, I have one very serious problem that I am dealing with: Front derailure shifting problems. The double pivot geometry suspension causes the front derailure to flex in relation to the front chain rings when the suspension flexes. The result is that it doesn't ever shift reliably which means I have to keep it on the middle ring only. That sucks. I've had it in the shop where I bought it three times and they keep telling me it is adjusted correctly. I'm a big, heavy rider, so I suspect that my body weight is creating more suspension flex than the skinny guys at the bike shop when they test it. I've cranked the stiffness of the rear shock up to almost hardtail levels, and it still shifts badly. Seems like a Klein design flaw to me. If I don't get this resolved soon, I am going to be one very unhappy Klein customer. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, OR
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Newberry Crater Rim Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Sunnyside Sports | | Strengths: | Let's me climb and descend better than I ever have. And it makes me happy. The front (Fox Float 100) and rear shocks are amazing.
| | Weaknesses: | Front shifting, weight (28lbs, stand over height. | | Similar Products Used: | Stumpjumper FSR, Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bike Setup: | Stock, accept Brake levers (Avid 7) and pads. | | Bottom Line: | I had a lot of brand loyalty to Specialized. My ’97 Stumpjumper (hardtail) had seen me through many a difficult day. I really wanted to love the Specialized ’04 FSR Expert – it was red (color of choice), MTBR reviewers rave about it, the magazines articles were positive, and the price was very reasonable. But...
A LBS put me on a demo Palomino and off I went to Grey Butte. I did steep single track and gravel roads. My first time on and it felt great. I climbed better on the steep stuff, no rear wheel spinning, just power up. I like to stand on climbs and this pony did not sag. I thought I was still on my hardtail. On the downhills, the Fox stayed true, the Turner rear made the trail smooth out. (The Fox fork is the first fork where I could actually tell a difference when fiddling with the rebound dial.) The rear did not flex. My second ride out the demo proved the first ride was no fluke.
The FSR that I also demo’s displayed a lot more climbing bob. The FSR has suspension levers to switch – a sign that there is a problem to fix. But it wasn’t as much fun as the Palomino. I returned the FSR and the same night I bought the Palomino. They weigh about the same. They both have Fox Float front shocks. The FSR is better spec’d, but you don’t need the extra technology with the Palomino.
It is sad that 2Gs buys LX but, hey, LX is OK and when it breaks down I’ll buy XT. The best compliment came from a mtb legend – I let him ride my Palomino and he said, “It’s the best full suspension I have tried, it does what a bike is supposed to.” Can’t do better than that.
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Submitted by
Brad
a
from Maple Valley, WA
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Strengths: | Amazing tracking up hills and plush ride down hills, Good price for the perfect bike. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Haro EX3, DB XR4, Intense Tracer, Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bottom Line: | I demo'd the Palomino over the weekend and HOLY CRAP what an awesome ride. I'm going to be getting one as soon as I save the 2000 bones. I took it down some fairly technical single track and it was very responsive and an extremely plush ride over the bumps.
I think the best feature is the new rear suspension. This bike tracked perfectly going uphill. All power was transmitted with absolutely no bobbing. Then to make things even better I took off downhill and the suspension took the bumps with no problems. I was even taking some small 3 and 4 foot jumps with ease.
Klein has hit the bullseye with this bike. If you are looking for the perfect XC bike this is it. I've ridden Intense, Santa Cruz, you name it and this is the Shiz Nit for all around cross country and I would even say all mountain riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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