My Klein Attitude - a long story

mk1Matt

Retro Guru
Klein.jpg


As per spec sheet sticky above, here's the spec:

Frame: Klein Attitude (unknown year)
Fork: Marzocchi Z4 Air
Headset: FSA Orbit
Stem: XLR8 (leisure lakes cheapie) 135mm 0deg rise
Handlebar: Scott DH
Grips: Yeti
Brakes: STX RC V-Brakes with Ritchey red front pads and Koolstop red rears
Cantilever cable hangers: N/A
Brake Levers: Avid SD 1.0
Shifters: Shimano Deore thumbshifters
Front Derailleur: LX
Rear Derailleur: 1993 XT
Cassette: Shimano HG50 7 speed
Chain: Shimano HG50
Cranks: FSA Sidewinder
Chainrings: 22/32/42 Shimano
Bottom Bracket: Shimano UN52
Pedals: GT platform
Quick Releases: Shimano
Rims: Sunn Big Mammoth
Hubs: 1994 Alivio (boooo)
Tyres: Ritchey Z-Max WCS 26x2.1 (Front) Specialized 26x2.1 (Rear)
Saddle: Black leather Flite ti
Seatpost: Kalloy 350mm
Weight: Unknown

If you've read my post in the general MTB forum you'll see that the Klein frame is currently "ill" awaiting repair to a broken chainstay. I'm currently rocking my old DMR Trailstair from the late 90's.

Originally the bike started as a 1994 Scott Motion, purchased by me in 1995 when I worked for Lawes Cycles in Northampton. At the point of purchase I swapped the Alivio STi's for the Deore tumbies that had been in the shop's display cabinet for years, plus a set of Tektro brake levers.

I ran it for a while like this, then added some random barends and a set of Time clipless pedals. Soon enough this got dull so I swapped the pedals out for the GT flatties, put on the Scott DH bar (nice rise and not too wide - I love this bar), and started paying about a bit more.

Then the forks were replaced with a set of Rock Shox Indy C's. These were my first suspension forks and did the job ok.

The saddle was duly swapped for the flite with a mate (my saddle + £10 I think), then the mechs were bought second hand. About this time I invested in the full STX RC V-brake setup. the crappy adjustable brake levers hurt my hands though, so I then got the avids, which are beautiful.

I then swapped the rims to the Mammoths. I broke a load of spokes just trying to build the wheels - the rims are that strong.

Then came the big day. I lent the bike to my brother who came back an hour later holding the l/h crank arm. He'd managed to snap the BB spindle! This was the original BB and it was now 1999 (I think). It was seized in solid. With a 4ft bar on it we still couldn't remove it, so the frame was basically dead. Out came mr credit card and the trailstar was duly purchased from a place over in Leamington, along with the cranks.

A quick eBay moment later and I was the proud owner of some brand new Bomber Z4-air forks which went on immediately. Such a difference over the Indy's!

I used it like this for about 6 years until I found a used Klein attitude for sale on my local VW enthusiast site. The Klein was complete, but with a rubbish spec, but all I wanted was the frame. I got it back, swapped all the parts over and enjoyed it like that for about 6 months until I killed it when riding to work.

I'm now using the trailstar again, but hopefully the Klein will be back soon!
 
Moral

There's a big moral here, Trailstar=ace frame, Klein=heap of Coke Can crap. Don't waste any more of your hard earned dough, you'll break Klein frame after Klein frame, if you ride them regularly. I know, I did and many of my pals did too. No warranties were honoured, the dealers all accused us of either "jumping" them or "extreme" riding. A decent chromo frame will do you much better and be a nicer ride.
 
I hear what you're saying guys, but the Klein weighs half as much as the DMR and it looks so very pretty. It also rides pretty well.

I don't ride hard at all. Literally just to and from work and on the local ex-railway track. For this kind of stuff I'd have thought the Klein would be ok. The condition in which I bought the Klein in the first place (2nd hand) indicates that it has been ridden pretty hard.

If it breaks again then I'll either go back to the DMR or something completely different.
 
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