The where did it all go wrong thread

Re:

With the exception of the Mantra, Klein failed to keep up with technological advances in suspension .... And died because they persisted with overpriced rigid bikes with paint jobs that had little mass market appeal.

So I guess they went in the opposite direction to Raleigh as far as price point goes and yet paid the same price.

Like has already been pointed out earlier the car industry is no different, Lancia,Saab at one end and Rover at the other.
 
Are you sure about klein?

Im sure there is a market for nicely painted bike frames, as there is for rolls royces.

How much does it cost extra for a nice two tone hand paint job, although with the right tech and money a robot could be trained to do compared with a mass produced trek paint job.

I suspect in the early days klein did not have much competition but where pushed out the market by the big boys, cannondake, spesh, trek ...but then i could be talking bollocks... . again :facepalm:
 
02gf74":3fo06x01 said:
Are you sure about klein?

Im sure there is a market for nicely painted bike frames, as there is for rolls royces.

How much does it cost extra for a nice two tone hand paint job, although with the right tech and money a robot could be trained to do compared with a mass produced trek paint job.

I suspect in the early days klein did not have much competition but where pushed out the market by the big boys, cannondake, spesh, trek ...but then i could be talking bollocks... . again :facepalm:

I like to look at Kliens and can appreciate the work, but I think everyone who wanted one BITD and could afford it scratched that itch and then moved on to something better able to take on the demands of XC.

A Klien today still turns heads, but more for the luxury aspects of its paint and components and not its functionality
 
Adam_S":25vg8rm8 said:
You have to admit that the Mantra wasn't exactly a triumph of engineering either.


It does have rather a Unique look about it...

That said the patiented "Sweet-Spot" technology employed for the rear end was used by many others including Breezer, Ibis, Schwinn,ControlTec and actually making a come back on 29 Szabo/Zorro.
 
Re:

Trek happened to Klein. They thought they could charge Klein prices for Trek standard frames and Trek standard paint jobs. When they stopped fooling people they dropped the brand.

Voodoo are a funny one as although they've gone downmarket they still get very good reviews at their price point.
 
02gf74":iuf4r3qe said:
Cannondale did that sort of frame design but I suspect this Raleigh is aimed at the ignorant with £ 150 to spend on a new bike so it is a marketing ploy to make it stand out from the mediocraty that is available in that price bracket.


Expect never ending disappointment should you buy that bike.

It looks like they had a load of front triangles for some cheap full suspension bike hanging around and somebody said, "oh **** it let's just weld a rear triangle on the back and flog 'em in Halfords."
 
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