[bluronthetrails]

I saw an ad in a local cycling newsletter for a Klein Mantra with Hayes hydros and King hubs for $200. Too good to be true. Other than a shot headset and a flattish front tube, this bike is awesome. The geometry sucks right now coz I dont' have a proper stem and bar but that'll change soon. Bought from a pretty reliable dude who rides a lot of road and hasn't ridden this bike for quite some time and wanted to get rid of it. I tracked him down in DC, rode around for a few and handed him the ca$h, loaded 'er up and came home. The bike is the carbon frame (Edit: carbon front and Al rear), all XT, 1st generation Hayes (the best one, IMHO), fox rear and thomson seatpost...sexy
-The guy also gave me all the paperwork for this bike including all manuals for everything as well as the original reciept. This baby was $3200 as he got it.
-All the pics were shot in the garage tonight. I am so psyched I can feel my pulse race.
-The shots include the hubs , the whole bike, one of two cosmetically challenged spots, the fork, shock etc. Enjoy and give me some feedback.
-ps: one of the shots is also of the strange Klein headtube. I stopped by the LBS on the way home where I'll be working and found out (I was suspecting this from the grinding sound) that the bearings there are shot, but its all good. $200 for this was too good to pass up!

 

[bluronthetrails]

A few more

Some more for your viewing pleasure

 

[carcasshucker]

that is roadies mtn bike
thats some funny lookin chit
good luck buddy

 

[zahgurim]

Cheesus... $200?! Nice score!

 

[sparrow]

King Hubs, Hayes brakes, and a Thomson post...

..... for $200?! A danged good deal! Hope your local landfill doesn't charge too much to take the frame! Tee Hee.

 

[Homebrew]

..... for $200?! A danged good deal! Hope your local landfill doesn't charge too much to take the frame! Tee Hee.

And a 9 speed XT kit. I was thinking the same thing. $200 for that parts kit is a steal. The shock is probably shot as well. I certainly wouldn't put any money to fix the headset or the shock as the frame is garbage.

 

[singletrack]

Strip the parts, burn the frame. Do it now before it infects your other bikes.

 

[Tracerboy]

yeah, 200 bucks is worth it for the king hubs and thompson seat post and a array of various other parts. The only thing i'd watch for in the mantras is that i hear they are endo machines.

 

[CraigH]

Amazing deal!

If you didn't get the original bill, I'd be wondering if it was hot...

Post this on the Klien board, they'll be interested in reading about your deal too.

 

[will951]

Cheesus... $200?! Nice score!

x10

Wish I could find deals like that......especially for a 29er....

 

[Fuelish]

Strip the parts, burn the frame. Do it now before it infects your other bikes.

I say strip and keep usable parts and Ebay the frame - there seems to something of a cult of Mantra lovers out there
Heck, you could probably get your money back..... or just keep it and ride it occasionally - $200 was a steal for what you got

 

[Becky Thatcher]

Mantra Oommm!

I say strip... a cult of Mantra lovers...

You're not kidding. There's a person here at work that freaked when they saw the deal. CK hubs and all the other quality components are well worth the $200.00. Nice RamaHanaQuanzMas present for yourself.

Later,

 

[The Weasel]

Nice score. I have a Mantra that I still keep soley for endurance races. It's light, stable, and handles technical stuff, including techy climbs (here in the northeast) amazingly well.Good luck with it.

 

[damion]

Good deal.

You made a great parts purchase with that deal. Strip the wheels, brakes, post, and drivetrain. DO IT NOW!

 

[SHIVER ME TIMBERS]

check this out

http://cgi.ebay.com/klein-full-susp...205017728QQcategoryZ98083QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[bluronthetrails]

I'll see how it turns out

I definitely acknowlege the 'endo' feel. I stopped hard ont he driveway and the rear suspension (which had like 2 inches of sag) suddenly shot up and nearly tossed me out. it feels like some wierd .25 springy horsey ride outside the Walmart with all the back-and-forth bobbing and suspending. Oh well, a stable platform may help as well as changing the fork's springs. I'll be posting more about it on the Klein board about info to upgrade (in handling, lol) the bike.

 

[damion]

Do not do it.

I definitely acknowlege the 'endo' feel. I stopped hard ont he driveway and the rear suspension (which had like 2 inches of sag) suddenly shot up and nearly tossed me out. it feels like some wierd .25 springy horsey ride outside the Walmart with all the back-and-forth bobbing and suspending. Oh well, a stable platform may help as well as changing the fork's springs. I'll be posting more about it on the Klein board about info to upgrade (in handling, lol) the bike.

That stiffening of the rear end from braking is a trait of the design. You will also notice that the suspension works better seated, under braking or not. That is part of the suspension design. The issue that I have with it is who sits through the rough, unless powering through it? A platform shock will not help, and you will not find a modern shock in the needed size anyways.

Look, you got a deal on the components for sure. Do not throw money at it to try to correct inherrent design flaws. If you can live with that feeling in the rear, fine. If not, sell the frame as it stands.

Is there V-brake bosses on the rear triangle? That 22mm hayes calip[er will only fit that type of mount, so it may need to go with the frame. If there are brake bosses, that 22mm caliper is valuable to someone with an older Fisher, Trek, or others that used that type of caliper for their frames.

 

[cmatcan]

those frames are a fugly disgrace to the klein name. our mechanic i n the shop was fixin one one day and he kept ranting about how shitty it was. but you definitely got a sweet deal. i say grab the wheels, post, w/e else is salvage-able and turn the frame into unorganic compost. maybe you could use it as a tent-pole to keep dust off real bikes.

 

[Call_me_Clyde]

Unreal

I'll follow everyone else like a lemming and say you got one he!! of a steal. Slap a headset on it and see how the bike rides. Seems like one of those "love it or hate it" type of bikes. Hope for sure that you love it.

Let us know what you end up doing with it.

Bob

 

[frank daleview]

I rode one back in 2000-- say what you will about URTs, but that bike could climb like no other. I say give the frame a shot you might like the way it rides... The Hayes & Kings alone make it worth the $$$ though. Happy riding.