Klein mountain bike - Page 2

bgyglfr · 12-02-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtkkz

Some will prefer Alum. over Steel or Ti. I think it is personal preference.

True. I have to admit, I ride a carbon fiber road bike. I just like the feeling of floating on the trail. I feel steel seems to have a sort of dead glued to the ground feel. That is what attracted me to the Kleins years ago. I felt like I could move all around the bike when I was on the trail. Does that make sense? Maybe it's all about the geometry and not so much the frame material.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgyglfr

I have had a couple of Kleins. They are still a very fun bike to ride. I completely disagree that aluminum is a harsh ride. I would take it over a steel frame any day. Especially a Klein. These bikes were way ahead of their time.

Us old farts that rode before suspension would disagree

I loved the old Kleins, but I never would have owned one and when I rode them I found them to be rather punishing - especially that big fat fork they used for awhile.

I put a ton of miles on a Trek 970 (lugged steel frame), then had a Curtlo and Salsa Ala Carte. I always preferred the feel of steel, and back in the bad old days of a lugged frame, repair was pretty trivial.

Yes, aluminum frames have gotten "better" but you'll notice that they often use other materials to try and get some compliance. Plus for mtn bikes, suspension has made some of that a moot point (especially full suspension - Al is excellent for that). I'll still take this over any aluminum beast:

einreb · 01:13 PM

My 'vintage' '89 Klein Top Gun has served me well. I absolutely love it with a light rigid fork.

jtkkz · 12-02-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgyglfr

True. I have to admit, I ride a carbon fiber road bike. I just like the feeling of floating on the trail. I feel steel seems to have a sort of dead glued to the ground feel. That is what attracted me to the Kleins years ago. I felt like I could move all around the bike when I was on the trail. Does that make sense? Maybe it's all about the geometry and not so much the frame material.

Yes true on road bikes = carbon or Al. will have a more lively feel than steel. I still prefer the steel ride especially on long road rides.

On the trail where trail conditions can be rough (rocky / roots / ruts, etc) an AL. frame can be very harsh compared to Ti or steel frame. Ti and steel frame are very comfy & forgiving ride.

jtkkz · 12-02-2010, 01:25 PM

1993 Sycip steel frame = still rides very comfortable after all those years

2005 Sycip Aluminum frame (Easton ultralite tubing)

2009 Sycip (steel blend of lite weight tubing) 2x9 gear set-up, very comfy ride

My new 2010 FS Sycip frame = the most comfortable so far

vash · vash's Garage

the only bike from my past that i still miss..is my Bridgestone MB-1. loved that thing. sold it for the full suspension craze..dangit!

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

the only bike from my past that i still miss..is my Bridgestone MB-1. loved that thing. sold it for the full suspension craze..dangit!

My ex left her garage door open and some yahoo stole her MB-1. We bought it used back in '94. The jerk likely doesn't even know what he has...

jtkkz · 12-02-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

the only bike from my past that i still miss..is my Bridgestone MB-1. loved that thing. sold it for the full suspension craze..dangit!

I feel the same I had 1997 Sycip (reynolds 853 tubing) frame tand he whole bike built up with Rock shock Indy SL forks / super lite components weigh in at 20.4lbs.

the only Sycip that I sold and regret selling it, that frame rode very nice, almost full suspension feel, it was very comfortabe in rought trail conditions.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtkkz

1993 Sycip steel frame = still rides very comfortable after all those years

Nice thumbies - and I approve of the fork

bgyglfr · 12-02-2010, 01:35 PM

OK. So here's my ride. I have put tons of miles on it including a couple of trips to Kettle Morraine where we put in 38 miles of trails. I gotta stick with aluminum. I do ride with front suspension though.

vash · vash's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

My ex left her garage door open and some yahoo stole her MB-1. We bought it used back in '94. The jerk likely doesn't even know what he has...

oh, i'm sick.

my BIL still has a frame. the 1" head tube and threaded bottom bracket makes for a PIA rebuild. he may have tossed it by now.

bgyglfr · 12-02-2010, 01:39 PM

I just noticed that was a fixie. Pretty cool. Where in Illinois are you btw?

Quote:

Originally Posted by einreb

My 'vintage' '89 Klein Top Gun has served me well. I absolutely love it with a light rigid fork.

jtkkz · 12-02-2010, 01:39 PM

Those Bridgetone MB-1 are really nice bikes... My cousin and close friend rode that same bike

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

oh, i'm sick.

my BIL still has a frame. the 1" head tube and threaded bottom bracket makes for a PIA rebuild. he may have tossed it by now.

Threaded bb is trivial to rebuild. The cartridge things are a pita. I hate the disposable world...

jtkkz · 12-02-2010, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostatic

Nice thumbies - and I approve of the fork

those are classic old 7 sp. XT thumbies. I placed it on friction mode and upgraded to 8 speed rear wheel and works just fine

jtkkz · 02:10 PM

On my other bike, I went with new Paul pods and run new dura ace shifter set up as thumbies

They work well but not as ergonomical as rapid fire shifters....

einreb · 12-02-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgyglfr

I just noticed that was a fixie. Pretty cool. Where in Illinois are you btw?

Not a fixie. Its a single speed. I now have a Surly Singleator on it to tension the chain. I actually have 2 gears on the back that I can manually change over.

I'm in the burbs west of Chicago.

bgyglfr · 12-02-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by einreb

Not a fixie. Its a single speed. I now have a Surly Singleator on it to tension the chain. I actually have 2 gears on the back that I can manually change over.

I'm in the burbs west of Chicago.

Bad terminology.

I get up that way once in a while for work. Any good trails up your way?

teenerted1 · 12-02-2010, 02:13 PM

you could do a lot worse if they are in good condition
my 19yr old Rascal is still my go to hardtail

i have swapped out every part on that bike multiple times, except for the mission control bar/stem combo.

the custom paint is a thing to behold still....this is a model years before gary sold to trek so the quality cant be beat.

my bike has been all over the western US in all kinds of weather
3foot deep muddy rivers in the pacnorwet
12000ft high peaks in colorado
2ft deep snow drifts in NM
115degree rides in so cal mtns
and everything in between

give it a quick spray down after every messy ride... lube the cables, derailleur, brakes, and chain and its always ready for more.

bgyglfr · 12-02-2010, 05:20 PM

OK. Since we are talking Klein. My local bike shop has a really cool poster. It has a Klein road bike on a rack on top of a 911 except it is upside down like the car is on top of the bike. It has a caption the says something about priorities. Has anyone seen it? I have always wanted to find one of those posters.