Seems like the perfect travel bike in a standard suitcase? Unbolt the shock bolt and fold the rear triangle, all set to go, with wheels in a separate bag.

Single speed and v brakes, you will have zero concerns.

 

I don't think that stem is long enough

 

Honestly it is shorter than the stem that came on the bike when I got it.
1990s were not kind to lower backs.
But this is a small frame and I do not have a small frame. (6 foot 235lbs and 20% body fat at the moment).

Longer seatpost installed (to match the stem) - reach and ride position is perfect based on my expert opinion.
I did the Trek bike fit and got all the measurements in 2011- went home and measured my bike and it was spot on.

Ass hatchet installed - with custom foe-snakeskin cover applied (I also covered some old flight saddles with suede the same way and they turn out pretty cool). Being old I am not sure my man bits can ride it as it is - I will have to put on a flight or not be able to pee for a few days.

The longer seat post - and I put the Ti Eggs on the road bike - currently sitting at 24.00 lbs

I would really love a weird linkage fork for it - found a AMP fork but they sold it when I had no bike cash.

I am going to put on a fixed gear wheelset at some point and bring it to the Tracklocross event.
I have a rear wheel that I was going to "Fix" with jb-weld - but don't have time to mess with it.

 

It's a striking frame, that's why people like old Kleins, but you honestly could not engineer a worse mountain bike if you tried to do so today. The rear suspension is known for ejecting riders -- and that could be exacerbated by a single-speed setup (not to mention the atrociously short reach and twitchy head angle). Great coffee shop bike if not much else.

 

This.

Be careful if you plan to ride it. The Mantra was absolutely diabolical.

 

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/1996-klein-mantra-pro-now-that-was-a-bike.html

 

Just install an idler by the pivot on the top tube...

 

That would be cool long chain to grab leg hair!

 

FYI did a nice ride - short ride but SO much fun... I did get the one boingo moment when a hiker came around a blind spot on the trail and I jammed on the brakes back tire came off the ground!! Cool!!

 

That is not cool.

 

I have never ridden a 24 lb bike before on the trails - is was really fun. My shoulders were protesting a bit - but on the flats while seated - there was an occasional whoop of the suspension that was very interesting - if feels the same when you are riding a steel bike that has a broken seat stay, which happened on my OG schwinn High Sierra.

 

I can see why people ran away form these things. I have a fat bike fork that will be on it in a while - that will prevent the near death pucker moments a bit.
But current favorite ride is a coaster brake wheel - so Cool is a relative term.. The sketchier the cooler to me.

 

 

A quick ride around without brakes and it feels great! I can't wait until I get it on the trail. Have to figure out the brakes - I love the drop bars - but I don't currently have linear pull drop levers. I have a rear wheel I can make a fixed gear... but not sure that is a good idea (I have limits).

I have a set of cantilever brakes and road levers that I could put on. OR put the flat bars on.

 

Okay - semester ends in 2 days - giong to take it out. Sorry Mr Klein for doing this to your bike - but it has been a fun ride (if flying monkeys are your jam). IF I can find a green Vintage Wild Gripper for the back - then I think I will be done. Kicking around the block - this is actually nice - slower turning, but no panic eject on braking.

I have not weighted it yet.


I gave the XTR wheels to a neighbor kid who thought they were cool.

The Pugs fork I got - is on the pugs and looks perfect - and rides soooo well.

 

Okay - semester ends in 2 days - giong to take it out. Sorry Mr Klein for doing this to your bike - but it has been a fun ride (if flying monkeys are your jam). IF I can find a green Vintage Wild Gripper for the back - then I think I will be done. Kicking around the block - this is actually nice - slower turning, but no panic eject on braking.

I have not weighted it yet.


I gave the XTR wheels to a neighbor kid who thought they were cool.

The Pugs fork I got - is on the pugs and looks perfect - and rides soooo well.


View attachment 2098031

I just noticed you're running a 3x1 drivetrain.

I absolutely love the sheer insanity of this build.

 

Man, I read some weird **** on this site.

 

Taking life to seriously and fighting for strava times is not my jam (well it was until I lost a lot of testosterone thanks to aging). Now I will settle for "that old weird professor" who seems to be having a lot of fun...

 

Seems you’ve also taken up false dichotomies as one of your hobbies.

 

False? Not sure what that means - I have been a Psychology Professor at a community college for the last 26 years. I can talk about dialectical thought and how to be mindful - and how it is not okay at 54 to get my HR over 180.

Just turned in my grades - graduation is tomorrow - then that bontrager saddle is going to get some use.

 

Something wrong with your heart? My cardiologist says I can go to 200 plus at 54 without any issues? I hit over 190 on several races this year.

 

Well too lazy to find the shorter bolts for the middle ring.. and I want to run it in a tracklocross event in the fall - so 42 X 18 is going to be the gear of choice.

 

It now has a name "Circus Freak"

do do doodle loodle loot oo do do do do

Look at the bones!

All fun and games in the front - death in the back

Side note - I have 2 26 X 4 tubes with slow leaks that I can not find. I cut a small hole in one put in slime sealant - patched the hole - holy smokes it actually worked!!

AND I was able to upgrade my Trek drivetrain to 12 speed - and take the old drive and put it on my DH bike.
Modern stuff is soooo easy to set up!

 

At first I felt sorry for you but now I feel sorry for the Klein

 

I kinda do too. But this is a Trek Klein - so sorry not sorry.

 

Oh my gosh - I have to tell you (the two people interested in this bicycle abomination) I went for a hour and a 1/2 ride this morning with two friends. I let me one buddy ride my "good bike" (2016 Trek Stache) - and I rode the Circus Freak!

The slack of the head angle - and the meat of the 4.5 tire - well lets say that it was really great!! no wheel flop or chopper feeling - thing hooked well - old dry Kenda in the back still has knobs. Full disclosure for the whole ride there was nothing technical at all - Scout trail to sycamore canyon - in Santee Ca, but the SS Mantra rides really well!! I had to remember how to Singlespeed - and I did have to stop and stretch my back out twice.. and to tighten the bars once (oops).

I am tempted to put on a smaller front tire (4.0) which is also significantly lighter than the 4.5 but meh.

I am not as fit as the last time I went for a mountain bike ride!!

 

I added about 1/2 more oil to the rear shock and it is way better - but alas it is time for it to go.
I have it posted on Offer-up and Facebook.

I am willing to trade for a good pair of Dirt jump tires / or magura trials brakes.

 

Oh and now I weighted it - 33.2 lbs
Still my lightest bike -but darn -
Has old Deore drive train from my Stache- 9 speed (10 speed cogs but old hub will only fit 9 of them). I had to redo the cluster a bit - but 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 26, 32, 36, 42 - shifts and works great!
Salsa Woodchipper bars - Tektro Dirt drops (I had to buy those) - and shifter mounted on the steer-tube using a light bar. Need to work on that one a bit - but it works and I only hit it with my knee when climbing super steep climbs.

Thought it would change from the Freak to the Killer Clown, but it was super fun and no back pain at all.
AND i had to tighten the bar mid ride.. why don't I do that before I ride!!!!

 

Oh and now I weighted it - 33.2 lbs
Still my lightest bike -but darn -
Has old Deore drive train from my Stache- 9 speed (10 speed cogs but old hub will only fit 9 of them). I had to redo the cluster a bit - but 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 26, 32, 36, 42 - shifts and works great!
Salsa Woodchipper bars - Tektro Dirt drops (I had to buy those) - and shifter mounted on the steer-tube using a light bar. Need to work on that one a bit - but it works and I only hit it with my knee when climbing super steep climbs.

Thought it would change from the Freak to the Killer Clown, but it was super fun and no back pain at all.
AND i had to tighten the bar mid ride.. why don't I do that before I ride!!!!

View attachment 2109001

It warms my heart that this exists.

 

It gives my ADHD something to do. Cluster worked perfectly this weekend no big gaps. I could take the Dremel tool to the back of the cassette to make all 10 fit - but not enough time for that.

 

Oh Current state of affairs. It is so much fun to ride! The 3 lbs. off of the font wheel makes a huge steering difference!

Bought hub off of Ebay 31 bucks - bought linear pull brake levers - 35 bucks - so I am at a total of ... wait math... 210 bucks in. Front wheel is a spare wheel I had for a bike that I don't own any more - tire also from said bike (it was a original orange Vassago Jabberwocky Epic in all ways) - spokes worked with the new Framed hub. Swapped Saddles for something that looks worse - but does not cause prostate injury.

As it is right now - 30.2 lbs. I could get it down with a lighter tire - and the peddles that are on there now are off of my BMX bike. I have a pair of Chesters to put on - but meh.

I need a green back tire.. Vintage Wildgripper would be perfect.
Making a new rear triangle to fit a 29er would be cool too... maybe I should take a welding class.