Tell me about Klein

[mikee]

you could imagine treck tring to " get some bucks " out of the build cost from about day 3 of ownership

the earlier ones always had some interesting inovative engineering applied
to them , the later ones just looked like a generic aluminium framed bike

educate me people

 

[brocklanders023]

Don't know a lot about them but I see the issue like mikee. The early ones were proper 'dream bike' standard, the sort you'd have a poster of when you were young and never believe you could ever own. The later versions became more mainstream and obtainable with lower end kit and a price to match. Trek chasing sales on the back of the early bikes rep I guess :?

Same would have happened to Fat if they'd sold out and started making mass produced, lower end gear instead of folding the company. The spirt of the brand would have been/ was lost.

 

[MikeD]

I think the point is that you can't just say that all pre-95 Kleins are ORSUMS and all post-95 ones are TEH SUCK. It's perfectly valid to suggest that the bikes got less innovative/distinctive/respected as time went on, but it was a gradual process.

 

[marky2484]

Not as simple as pre and post Trek at all. I have a post Trek, Chehalis built Klein. The quality of the welding, construction etc is every bit as good as my pre Trek Klein. Indeed, in some respects, it is better. No stupid pressed in bottom bracket, for example....whilst retaining the internal cabling, which I love. Pre and post Trek is lazy shorthand for people with limited knowledge. Now pre and post Chehalis, that could make sense.......

 

[Shamus]

Best for riding are 94-96 Pulse and first Attitudes with 1 1/8" headset

 

[BrentYYC]

Can anyone identify this Klein

Can anyone identify the year of this modded Pinnacle? Thanks.

 

[Martin]

check www.wundel.com and you can compare.

 

[BrentYYC]

check www.wundel.com and you can compare.

Thanks for the link. The paint on the frame above is similar to the '88 and '89 model year, but it looks like the top tube cable routing and seat stay mounted cantilever brakes didn't arrive until 1990, but the paint from 1990 on seemed to be monotone. Now I'm confused.

Edit: I just found a small corner of the 1990 catalog that showed the matching paint job, so it looks like the pic above is a 1990 with the "Backfire" fade pain job.

The one above has been fitted with XTR hydraulic disc's, a Marzocchi MX fork, and a sweet Fizik saddle to match the paint. Someone near me has it for sale, and I'm thinking of 'doing the deal'.

 

[Martin]

Just be aware of the cracking-seatpost syndrome.

 

[Archangel]

Best for riding are 94-96 Pulse and first Attitudes with 1 1/8" headset

Agree with Samu. Basically a '97 Attitude is "best bang for the buck". It's the same as 94-96 Pulse but with threaded BB shell and cable routing for V-brakes. Paintjobs are bit simpler that before but still very nicely done and build quality great.

One can get those '97 models very cheap since they're Post-Trek era bikes and people do not keep them in high esteem because of that.

Then again, Pre-Trek Kleins are sooo sweet with their special details - I should know since I own two Adroits...

As for the ride - Kleins were made to be ridden from A to B as fast as possible and with their short chainstays, they're great climbers. Comforwise not so great as they're very rigid, especially with aluminum forks.