The Opposite of a Klein Lover
- Thread starter ez054098
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ez054098":2qznikc7 said:
You asked for an opposite to Klein. I can only give you my experience from this side of the pond. But with that said, when in the Bay area I have to be Honest I noticed a lot more Old skool Bontys than I did Kleins to be fair.
When I had an IBOC in the early '90s, though I had many loves, the bike I lusted after was definitely the Attitude. To me it just looked fast. Never bought one, mainly because I was a broke photographer who was constantly moving and had to cart everything I owned in the back of a Toyota truck.
Now that I do have money I still probably would not buy a Klein because so many of the other bikes I really like are so much cheaper. (like the Wicked that cost me $600)
Now that I do have money I still probably would not buy a Klein because so many of the other bikes I really like are so much cheaper. (like the Wicked that cost me $600)
[/quote]So do you think it is more frame material than aesthetics? If aesthetics, would you group Klein in with Mountain Goat? Both have pretty paint jobs.[/quote]
I don't think its really fair to pigeon hole, but I think the Klein ownership was about both the Material and the paint.
In the first instance there was the WOW factor, the massively Oversized "coke can" sized aluminium combined with the Fork even seeming to dwarf the cannondale offerings at the time. then factor in the fluro White green and pink paint that was so seen at our race events, it kinda made a statement right there. Further factor in the Price ticket, and those with deep pockets dug deep, regardless of whether or not they could exploit its benefits.
Hitting the weight barrier here in the press at 20lbs ish, when other top end bikes were struggling to hit 25lbs, it was a marketing departments wet dream imho.
From this point on it was simple.....it was about weight through material and you got sublime paint to boot.
Klein was associated with this from the outset, sadly every company across the world jumped on board with the material/weight etc, and every where you turned Aluminium was everywhere, it just got cheaper and cheaper and cheaper.
I wont comment on Mountain goat, as it was a Niche here really IMHO.
Bontrager was slighty different in that they were available, they didn't rely on any advertising, or Trick paint or galloping scientific leaps in Aerospace technology to sell it, it was always considerably more underground (and constantly sold out I must add too).
It was skinny it was svelte it was Bombproof, and in keiths own words it was "Fundamentally Cheap".
Like I say unfair to pigeon hole really, but come the end of the Trek Era for both marques, there were certainly a totally different customer base for both brands.
They were complete opposites.
I don't think its really fair to pigeon hole, but I think the Klein ownership was about both the Material and the paint.
In the first instance there was the WOW factor, the massively Oversized "coke can" sized aluminium combined with the Fork even seeming to dwarf the cannondale offerings at the time. then factor in the fluro White green and pink paint that was so seen at our race events, it kinda made a statement right there. Further factor in the Price ticket, and those with deep pockets dug deep, regardless of whether or not they could exploit its benefits.
Hitting the weight barrier here in the press at 20lbs ish, when other top end bikes were struggling to hit 25lbs, it was a marketing departments wet dream imho.
From this point on it was simple.....it was about weight through material and you got sublime paint to boot.
Klein was associated with this from the outset, sadly every company across the world jumped on board with the material/weight etc, and every where you turned Aluminium was everywhere, it just got cheaper and cheaper and cheaper.
I wont comment on Mountain goat, as it was a Niche here really IMHO.
Bontrager was slighty different in that they were available, they didn't rely on any advertising, or Trick paint or galloping scientific leaps in Aerospace technology to sell it, it was always considerably more underground (and constantly sold out I must add too).
It was skinny it was svelte it was Bombproof, and in keiths own words it was "Fundamentally Cheap".
Like I say unfair to pigeon hole really, but come the end of the Trek Era for both marques, there were certainly a totally different customer base for both brands.
They were complete opposites.
futuristicoldman
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They're at their best when they scratched, sun bleached and chipped. At that stage they can be ridden properly and enjoyed.
ez054098":13u4ghnj said:
Im sure with your history, you will see and and Value its worth in your stable, and im sure once you have fettled it, and got it set up just right for you, it will be "That" simple bike you always return too, it wont cost you a lot and might become what we regard here as "old Faithful".
