My awesome score of the year (Klein content)!

[jpicard616]

I picked up this beauty from my lbs today for a pretty reasonable sum, and don't really much about it. I'm familiar with most 90's Klein's, but haven't been able to find too much info from the "Mountain Klein" era, which I assume by the rollercam brake, and deerhead components is probably from the mid/late 80's. The paint job is a superb maroon to pink fade that I haven't seen before; and all in all, it's in great condition. Aside from a few paint chips and scuffs (no chainsuck!!) here and there, it's pretty much perfect. The frame number stamped into the non-drive side rear dropout is M034. Strangely, there is another number scratched into the under side of the downtube near the bb shell that reads HAGSTTM363KF.

There are some obvious features on this frame that would alert anyone that it's a Klein even if the decals were missing. The square chainstays and massive tubes are the most obvious, and the internally routed cables are pretty unique to Klein as well. But there are a few things I notice on this frame that show the still evolving nature of the Klein workmanship during the period this frame was made. Compared to later frames, this ones welds are much sloppier. These can be especially noted on the cable ports on the down tube. Also, the fork really bothers me. I know it's original, but the legs are so skinny compared to the rest of the bike that it looks a bit off. It kind of reminds me of a body builder with a huge beefy upper body and tiny little legs (you guys can picture that, right?).

If anybody can shed some light on this bike, please let me know!

The components are a complete mash up of parts:
Tubing: Klein Power Tubing aluminum-magnesium alloy heat treated
Headset: Shimano 600 (with cool paint matching spacer)
Stem: Sakae roller
Handlebar: Sakae MT
Brakes: Black Shimano XT Deerhead canti's in front, Suntour rollercam in back
Brake Levers: Black Shimano XT Deerhead
Shifters: Shimano XT Deerhead thumbies
Front Derailleur: Shimano 105 FD-1056
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT Deerhead
Cassette:
Cranks: Shimano B 124 (drive), Shimano XT Deerhead FC-6206 (non-drive)
Bottom Bracket: Klein Press fit
Hub Skewers: Suntour
Rims: Araya RM-20
Hubs: Deore XT HB-M730 (front), Suntour XC (rear)
Tyres: Duro Diamond Grip (front), Mongoose (rear)
Saddle: Univega leather
Seatpost: McMahon titanium
Seatpost Binder: Deore XT M730

I'm planning on using this as a winter commuter, but will probably sell it sometime in the spring if I have time. I'm not sure on it's worth, especially with the current component setup, but I'd appreciate a ballpark estimate. I'll definitely post it on here when the time comes.

 

[lewisfoto]

wow that is an early one...

 

[futuristicoldman]

Thats a nice find. The fully squared stays and internal routing right to the dropout mean it is a first generation mtn klein, later ones had square to round stays. I may be out a little but I think that makes it 86 or 87. I have a slightly later one and its my favourite bike of all time, the skinny forks actually tame an overly stiff frame so it makes a lot of sense keeping them. With a high stem and wide bar they are fantastic, don't be tempted to run a low modern stem with a narrow cockpit as the whole thing will feel wrong.
I have never seen that colour scheme before, I suspect its quite a rare bike. Not worth a huge amount now but wrap it in cotton wool and hide it in the loft for 10 years and I suspect you may be pleasantly surprised how demand changes and the value shoots up. As more 90's kleins become wealthy collectors pieces demand for these is bound to increase especially those with original paint jobs.

 

[jpicard616]

Interesting, I definitely won't put any modern components on it, but I'd like to make it a bit more of a fluid build. Do you know what components might be original to the bike? I checked out the 86' catalog in the archives section, and the image is too small to make out any of the parts on the one Mountain Klein shown. I figure you can't go wrong with the old Deerhead stuff, but I'd like a bit of flair if I can find it.

 

[Vinevo]

That's cool I like that, proper retro! love the big mud shelf above the roller cam!

 

[sandmangts]

I owned 3 Mountain Kleins and from what I see your build is mostly original spec with the exception of the front derailleur, pedals, tires. Most Mountain Kleins you see around are red, yours may have been a custom job as it is rare to see them with the fork painted to match. Most had chrome forks. Please do not change the build. Find yourself a nice deerhead front mech and some gumwall tires and roll that thing as is. With a little fine tuning I think you will find the shifting and braking to be very solid. Those bikes accelerate like rockets.

As far as value goes it really depends on where you are selling. These bikes are very desireable to international buyers. As a frame of reference the 2 I sold were in pristine 100% original condition. I sold one to a guy in Japan for $1350 and the other to a guy in Switzerland for $1100 back in 2007. The color of yours may be a plus or a minus to some people but I suspect you could get at least $500 on ebay, maybe more if you take the time to get it back to original spec with some gumwall tires. I would sell the seatpost separate. Find yourself an SR post and replace the Ti one. You should be able to get at least %50 for that alone.


If you really take the time to do a proper tear down and a full detail job and take some killer photos it would be worth your time. I mean get out the aluminum polish and get those shifters, derailleurs and cranks shining. Find some touch up paint and some automotive light compound and polish that paint up. You may be pleasantly suprised how much you could get for it.

 

[jpicard616]

I thought the pedals were some cheapo new things at first, but at a closer look, they are the PD-MX15's which came with the first XT group in 1983 (according to MOMBAT. The only parts I think should be changed are the drive side crank, hubs, front derailleur, and seatpost. I'll probably get a Deerhead front derailleur, some black Deerhead hubs, and a sakae post. I'd love a set of FC-6206 cranks in black, but I wont hold my breath on that one.

 

[dalecooper]

Nice oldie! Keep it as it is, this one is unique