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I started thinking about this after reading the similar question about Ritchey bikes.
BITD me and my buddies never even thought about Kleins. If we dreamed about the super bikes we might own it would be Manitou, Yeti, Pace, Salsa, Cannondale, Mountain Goat or some of the Brit custom steel frame builders. This was because this what was in local shops, amongst other brands, and maybe in the mags too. I was aware of Klein but dont think I'd ever wanted one.
So here I am now on this site and there seems to be an almost religious following of the Klein brand. Obviously this can't be for no reason, but I'm struggling to find out why. In my eyes, they are just expensive paint jobs that people daren't ride for fear of reducing their value. This view is narrow minded and based on no evidence apart from posts on here.
So please answer these questions honestly:
1) Why were they so expensive BITD? What's so special about the frame construction that made them so expensive? Are there things Klein did before anyone else?
2) Why are the paint jobs held in such reverance? A couple of them like night storm for instance are stunning, but the fade jobs are fade jobs. Not difficult to a pro paint sprayer, surely? And why one earth was the gloss black paint job recently shown on here so expensive an option? Surely it should be cheaper than a fade?
3) How do they ride? Are they a lot different from other bikes? The design and the tubing suggest to me that they are ridiculously stiff and harsh - are they? Or is there some subtle handling trait that makes them ace? Are they only racers bikes?
4) I may be wrong, but is there a larger percentage of Klein owners that won't ride their bikes off-road or at all? If there is and they are so great then why? Are they too delicate, or is it that people don't want to reduce their value?
Some of the above may apply to other brands too but after having a good lurk around the Klein threads these questions have come to mind.
I am hoping (probably beyond reasonable expectation) that this will be a gentlemanly thread with some real answers found. If it turns into a slagging match all that will happen is that you'll look like a prat and the thread will be locked, which won't help me or anyone else who have thought the same as me.
Thanks!
BITD me and my buddies never even thought about Kleins. If we dreamed about the super bikes we might own it would be Manitou, Yeti, Pace, Salsa, Cannondale, Mountain Goat or some of the Brit custom steel frame builders. This was because this what was in local shops, amongst other brands, and maybe in the mags too. I was aware of Klein but dont think I'd ever wanted one.
So here I am now on this site and there seems to be an almost religious following of the Klein brand. Obviously this can't be for no reason, but I'm struggling to find out why. In my eyes, they are just expensive paint jobs that people daren't ride for fear of reducing their value. This view is narrow minded and based on no evidence apart from posts on here.
So please answer these questions honestly:
1) Why were they so expensive BITD? What's so special about the frame construction that made them so expensive? Are there things Klein did before anyone else?
2) Why are the paint jobs held in such reverance? A couple of them like night storm for instance are stunning, but the fade jobs are fade jobs. Not difficult to a pro paint sprayer, surely? And why one earth was the gloss black paint job recently shown on here so expensive an option? Surely it should be cheaper than a fade?
3) How do they ride? Are they a lot different from other bikes? The design and the tubing suggest to me that they are ridiculously stiff and harsh - are they? Or is there some subtle handling trait that makes them ace? Are they only racers bikes?
4) I may be wrong, but is there a larger percentage of Klein owners that won't ride their bikes off-road or at all? If there is and they are so great then why? Are they too delicate, or is it that people don't want to reduce their value?
Some of the above may apply to other brands too but after having a good lurk around the Klein threads these questions have come to mind.
I am hoping (probably beyond reasonable expectation) that this will be a gentlemanly thread with some real answers found. If it turns into a slagging match all that will happen is that you'll look like a prat and the thread will be locked, which won't help me or anyone else who have thought the same as me.
Thanks!