What's considered a "true" Klein?

[samxmas888]

I've been riding my '97 Adroit for a year now and always thought of it as a pre-trek classic Klein as it was handbuilt using gradient tubes in Klein's Washington factory before Trek took over production in 2001/2.

Does this make it a classic? :?

 

[Shamus]

Sorry, no

That one is first ones what are no "classics".
And Koi is nice color but not so rare...

1996 was last year when Klein still the Klein.

 

[Dhphat]

a bike w/ a cracked seatube, that sells for 5 times whats its worth

 

[Carsten]

a bike w/ a cracked seatube, that sells for 5 times whats its worth

...and has slicks mounted and is a wall hanger ;P
carsten

 

[Carsten]

strictly spoken Shamus is right in that the 97 Adroit is the first real Trek-Adroit. the 1996 line-up was still mostly unchanged although the merger was in 1995. the 97 Adroit is essentially the 96 Attitude frame with modifications that should make it more marketable. those changes are seen by most hard-core freaks as being "dictated" by Trek.

- loose seat post clamp instead of welded on to avoid said cracking of the seat tube,
- V-brake ready cable outlet (96 was only compatible with cantis),
- threaded bottom bracket shell instead of the press-fit bb and
- the 1 7/8" Attitude down tube instead of the 2" Adroit down tube that dented (even) more easily.

all those changes were good ones from a dealer's and rider's perspective and were long overdue back then and demanded by the market. however, from the perspective of a present-day enthusiast a bunch of beloved Klein specific details were gone and the bike was more main stream. next step was to take away the internal cables and the Klein specific oversized air head and fork because many people did not like it and just wanted a cheaper bike that had the Klein riding characteristics.

Carsten

 

[samxmas888]

a bike w/ a cracked seatube, that sells for 5 times whats its worth

I'm confused - what do you mean about cracked seat tube?
Mine's fine so far... :?

 

[samxmas888]

strictly spoken Shamus is right in that the 97 Adroit is the first real Trek-Adroit. the 1996 line-up was still mostly unchanged although the merger was in 1995. the 97 Adroit is essentially the 96 Attitude frame with modifications that should make it more marketable. those changes are seen by most hard-core freaks as being "dictated" by Trek.

- loose seat post clamp instead of welded on to avoid said cracking of the seat tube,
- V-brake ready cable outlet (96 was only compatible with cantis),
- threaded bottom bracket shell instead of the press-fit bb and
- the 1 7/8" Attitude down tube instead of the 2" Adroit down tube that dented (even) more easily.

all those changes were good ones from a dealer's and rider's perspective and were long overdue back then and demanded by the market. however, from the perspective of a present-day enthusiast a bunch of beloved Klein specific details were gone and the bike was more main stream. next step was to take away the internal cables and the Klein specific oversized air head and fork because many people did not like it and just wanted a cheaper bike that had the Klein riding characteristics.

Carsten

Wow that was pretty comprehensive Carsten, thanks!

Ah well, its still my pride n joy till I sell it or have it prof resprayed..

Thanks all

Peas

 

[Vitorzip]

As Carsten said, old ones used to crack below the seat clamp which was welded. After Trek models have a loose seat clamp to prevent that to happen...

 

[cherrybomb]

Personally I think they were the first (and last) decent frames Klein ever made.

Gone were most of those stupid 'unique' :roll: details that made the earlier frames either fragile or virtually impossible to upgrade but if you really had to have one, then it's still made by Klein in their US factory.

Would have been perfect if they'd given them a proper paint job too.

Right, I'm off to get me popcorn and stand back too watch the fireworks.

(Nice bike BTW.)

 

[Carsten]

Personally I think they were the first (and last) decent frames Klein ever made.

Gone were most of those stupid 'unique' :roll: details that made the earlier frames either fragile or virtually impossible to upgrade but if you really had to have one, then it's still made by Klein in their US factory.

Would have been perfect if they'd given them a proper paint job too.

Right, I'm off to get me popcorn and stand back too watch the fireworks.

(Nice bike BTW.)

i tend to agree but then consequently the 97/98 Attitude (same frame but with standard 1 1/8 head tube) would be the perfect "retro" Klein. those had nicer paint jobs too just that then people started to complain about missing disc brake tabs which was "corrected" in 1999 along with other "upgrades" like external cables on the Attitude and replaceable rear der hanger. and the barrel shaped head tube...

btw, the 99-01 Adroits were very very similar to the 97/98 and had nicer paint jobs too and could take a longer travel suspension fork. some even have disc brake tabs...

carsten