Virtually New 1998 Klein Mantra Race (Koi)

[Alex Creasey]

Hi all,

Well, not a complete retro build so any die hards may wish to look away now

... But browsing Ebay one afternoon I stumbled across a 98 Klein Mantra Race frame, WTB Greaseguard headset and Manitou X Vert triple crown fork in the US. This had been built up when new then stripped and stored pretty much ever since so stuck in a reasonable offer and a few weeks later this was sitting in my hall:

So out of the loft came the Spins:

And one of the Flites in the collection got put to use:

Didn't work for me when on so a switch to this...

So then the mix of old and new bits started to take shape, things like thumbshifters I had, I had the full set of Pauls V's tucked away for some time and finding things in the colours I wanted after around 5 months of getting the bike how I wanted it to ride, it finally saw daylight at the weekend...

Specs:

Frame: 1998 Klein Mantra Race - Medium - Koi

Fork: Manitou X-Vert Triple Crown (circa 2000)

Headset: WTB Greaseguard
Stem: Nuke Proof Warhead
Handlebar: RaceFace Deus XC
Grips: Superstar

Brakes: Paul Components V's
Brake Pads: Kool Stop Slimline
Brake Cables: Jagwire
Brake Levers: Paul Love Levers

Shifters: XT Thumbies
Front Derailleur: XT
Rear Derailleur: XTR Shadow (970)
Derailleur Cables: Jagwire
Cassette: N/A
Chain: KMC
Cranks: RaceFace Atlas AM
Crank Bolts: A2Z
Chainrings: Middleburn
Chainring bolts: A2Z
Bottom Bracket: RaceFace
Pedals: Time Atac

Hub Skewers: A2Z
Wheels: Spins
Tyres: Panaracer Fire XC Pro
Tubes: Schwalbe

Saddle: Flite Ti
Seatpost: Nuke Proof Warhead
Seatpost Binder: Hope

Can't wait to get out and give it some proper use and enjoy riding it. It certainly feels different to the Mountain Goat I'm so used to but loving it so far.
I'm sure it won't be liked by everybody but thanks for looking .

Cheers.
Alex.

 

[Defender]

Klein Mantra

WOW, that's all I can think of saying really, love those Spin carbon Tri-spokes.

 

[JeRkY]

Wow really hate those spin wheels!

(The bike worlds marmite?)

Lovely frame in there somewhere, if your interested I have a 1998 Klein brochure in all its A3 format glossy goodness that I could get around to photographing.

 

[Pickle]

Tyres, no. Need to be all black.

Forks, no. No triple clamp. Normal please.

Otherwise, nice. Think the Spins work on there.

 

[Defender]

Wow really hate those spin wheels!

(The bike worlds marmite?)

I think you right about the 'marmite' thing.
However for me they have to be on the right bike though.
I really DO like them, much better than those four spoke (Spinergy?) wheels.

 

[Alex Creasey]

Wow really hate those spin wheels!

(The bike worlds marmite?)

Lovely frame in there somewhere, if your interested I have a 1998 Klein brochure in all its A3 format glossy goodness that I could get around to photographing.

Would love a copy if you get the time to take some pics... Ta very much .

 

[jamabikes]

you know when you've been tango'd

 

[VTFoco2001]

Beautiful bike, good job!

 

[saltyman]

nice work bud.

 

[GT-Steve]

I love this build, Alex

Every aspect works for me.....

This is the quirkiest frameset Klein produced IMO, and so a quirky build will always work spectacularly. Spins suit it perfectly from that quirky perspective, I think conventional spoked wheels would've made the look too 'fussy'

Orange cranks and cables suit the orange hue of the koi finish, and you've tied the opposing yellow of the frame paint in with that lovely NOS saddle, yellow wall tyres and grips.

Stunning, and top work