Re: Klein Prototype
Hi
It would be in the 92, 93 and 94 brochures I think.
700c wheels indeed (same size as a 29er basically, although the frame won't take a wide 29er tyre - watch this space on that one however!!)
No Boron on the Adept (although I like to think mine might have being a prototype and all!! - but probably not!). It carried the Adroit larger downtube (2 inch), Pinnacle rear dropouts, MC1 setup up front and a slightly slacker geometry when compared to the 'racey' Attitude/Rascal/Adroit etc.
Bike was pitched squarely at tourers, off roaders, cyclocross or commuters (quoting their 93 brochure) - so a rather mixed up jack of all trades, which is why the bike appeals to me. Some reckon it is a posh hybrid, others a forerunner for todays 29er movement.
Stamped 'Prototype' is special in my eyes, but at the end of the day is just a stamp on one of the rear dropouts. Whether this adds any special provenance, value or cache, I don't know, but it's special to me as I say. I know of only one or two other Adept prototypes out there. Eitherway, I will be riding it whether it were a prototype or not. I can't really tell if it being a prototype has any redeeming physical differences to a main stream Adept... for instance there are a few Attitudes out there with zipgrip seat binders which offer a visual difference to your normal product run Attitudes and therefore add cache for some (me included).
Thanks for your interest dude.
M