Is Klein a good bike brand?

[2wheel_lee]

This was my Attitude, which I enjoyed greatly

View attachment 129445

til I got greedy and bet the farm. Sold it to fund a mint '93 Adroit, which then the seller decided not to sell. Oof.

/\ WOW, awesome photo of a great bike!

Honestly, I normally appreciate old mountain bikes about the same as I do old personal computers (even though I still have my old Texas Instruments TI-99-4A if any of you older people remember those). But I certainly appreciate the quality and workmanship of the old Kleins. And although I didn't like the wild paint schemes back then, they sure seem cool now.

I really like this thread.

 

[Beowulf Shaeffer]

Esmeralda...British Racing Green:

 

[ahimanic]

One of the solutions for the 1" steerer is to find an old 1" Judy fork with the pinch bolt crown. The fork itself can be junk, you just want the steerer. Then find a SID from around ten years ago that is still in great shape. Cut (with a Dremel tool) the SID from it's crown carefully. The SID forks from that era were the same size stanchion, and the spread was the same too. So then, slide the SID Stanchions (and the rest of the fork too) into the 1" steerer Judy pinch bolt crown and you have a 1" steerer SID.

Thanks for the tip! Although I'm not really clear on which part of the Judy you are keeping and which part of the SID you are suppose to cut?

Am I keeping the steer tube from the Judy by unbolting the crown? Where exactly am I suppose to cut from the crown on the SID? The steer tube?

Actually, my Bomber has a removable, pinch-bolt crown so I have a removable 1" steer tube (see post# 27).

 

[jcw]

I've messed around with this Judy crown swap thing a few times.
The older Judys with the bolt on crown/steertube are going to be your platform to mount a SID, or newer Judy lowers, on your bike.
The centerline of the fork stanchions is the same for these forks.
You just remove the 1" crown/steertube assembly by unbolting it form the fork stanchions.

With the early model SIDs, the crown/steertube is bonded to the stanchion tubes, rather than bolted.
You will actually cut the crown at each stanchion so that you can remove it.
You can do this carefully with a Dremel type tool, with a small cutoff wheel, or if you're steady handed, a good hacksaw.
You don't even really need to go all the way through the aluminum crown to the stanchion tube.
Once you're close, a large flathead screwdriver can be used to "twist and split" the opening to free the stanchion tube.
The cut will mimick the "split" that is on the bolt on style crown.
The crown from the SID is now junk.

Bolt the Judy crown/steertube to the SID stanchions, and you're ready to go.

 

[ahimanic]

Got it and thanks! Now does anyone know if the Mag 21 has the same stanchion centerline so I can use that as the steer tube/crown base? I think that one also has the pinch bolts for the stanchions.

 

[jcw]

The Mag series forks DO NOT have the same centerline as the SIDs and Judys.
The Mag series stanchion tubes are closer together.

 

[K6Rrider]

Thanks for the info. I have 91 rascal and still ride it with my buddies brand new Yeti SB66. I bought it because it was light( at the time) and the frame was different than anything else I saw out there. If Gary Klein is going to get back into making his frames, his way, that would be great.

 

[GBall]

Man, this takes me back. I got my first Klein mountain bike in 1993 and rode the hell out of it until around 1997, when I gave it to a good friend. He still has it, and it still rides great - whenever I visit him I ride it.

The pre-Trek bikes are some of the best ever built, and I would not hesitate to ride a low use one today. Even the early Trek ones are pretty good.

 

[danmtchl]

Why does Trek do that to bike companies like Klein, Fisher, Lemond. I know they bought Klein for it proprietary frames. But Fisher and Lemonds, why stop making them? They put perfectly good bike companies out of business? I know Bontrager is parts but he was really only making frames and rims that I remember. Seems Trek does not like competition.

 

[GBall]

Why does Trek do that to bike companies like Klein, Fisher, Lemond. I know they bought Klein for it proprietary frames. But Fisher and Lemonds, why stop making them? They put perfectly good bike companies out of business? I know Bontrager is parts but he was really only making frames and rims that I remember. Seems Trek does not like competition.

Man, I have been wondering that for a long time now.

- Bontrager steel frames were the tits. Now just reduced to a house-brand parts producer.
- LeMond road bikes were super comfortable and tons of bang for the buck. Gone.
- Fisher was a pioneer and always built a solid, no-nonsense bike. Now its the "Gary Fisher Collection" of Trek branded bikes.
- Klein was everything already discussed in this thread. This one breaks my heart: after my first couple of Cannondale mountain bikes I rode Klein mountain and road frames for years until Trek ruined and then ultimately deep sixed the brand. I have personally even given some thought to buying a classic Klein, but I have not found the right one yet...I need a 22" and they seem to be damn rare.

 

[speckledtrout]

Why does Trek do that to bike companies like Klein, Fisher, Lemond. I know they bought Klein for it proprietary frames. But Fisher and Lemonds, why stop making them? They put perfectly good bike companies out of business? I know Bontrager is parts but he was really only making frames and rims that I remember. Seems Trek does not like competition.

I know that at least with Lemond, he and Trek had a very contentious relationship. Trek canned him and discontinued the Lemond line of bikes about 3 years ago.

 

[4xdave]

Saw my friend Jerry tonite, he still has his Klein hanging in his apartment!

 

[martink]

Here is my Adroit

 

[Pickettt]

Why does Trek do that to bike companies like Klein, Fisher, Lemond. I know they bought Klein for it proprietary frames. But Fisher and Lemonds, why stop making them? They put perfectly good bike companies out of business? I know Bontrager is parts but he was really only making frames and rims that I remember. Seems Trek does not like competition.

If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. It happens everyday in every type of business.

 

[marshal]

If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. It happens everyday in every type of business.

Just what I've been thinking...

 

[nailknot]

I knew JCW would like that post.. He wears Klein underwear!

 

[danmtchl]

If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. It happens everyday in every type of business.

I know but it sucks, let them go sink or swim as their own company not because Trek does not like competition. Some buyouts are good but these in the end were not.

 

[RGO]

Klein's are great frames. The problem is that the aluminum hardens over time. If the bike gets ridden hard it WILL crack fairly soon. That is why so many of the classic Yetis, Manitous (have one hanging in my garage), etc don't get ridden now. Big tube, thin wall aluminum frames have a shelf life.

Yes, a Klein will last. I've had my 1992 Quantum road bike since '92 and have over 14K miles logged. Best money I ever spent on a bike!

 

[herzalot]

Timely response to 7 year old post!