Comments on: Klein: Back from the Dead http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/ Mountain Bike Reviews, News, Deals and How Tos Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:48:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Tim Grahl http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154658 Tim Grahl Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:02:38 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154658 I talked to a Trek rep this morning about the future of Klein and it looks like it's going to be all road. No mountain bikes are planned for the obvious reason... Gary Fisher and Trek are already covering that. So Klein will be back from the dead... but not back to it's roots. I talked to a Trek rep this morning about the future of Klein and it looks like it’s going to be all road. No mountain bikes are planned for the obvious reason… Gary Fisher and Trek are already covering that.

So Klein will be back from the dead… but not back to it’s roots.

]]> By: Fritz http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154626 Fritz Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:59:14 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154626 Kerbouchaud, from 2000 until just last year Trek was trailing Specialized, Giant and others in their factory processes -- Trek were using outdated building methods that limited their designs. Trek finally bit the bullet to retool last year and their current bikes are excellent. Not saying the previous bikes were bad, but you could get better bikes for the same money from elsewhere, especially at the very high end. Current Treks are about evenly matched with their competitors. Kerbouchaud, from 2000 until just last year Trek was trailing Specialized, Giant and others in their factory processes — Trek were using outdated building methods that limited their designs. Trek finally bit the bullet to retool last year and their current bikes are excellent. Not saying the previous bikes were bad, but you could get better bikes for the same money from elsewhere, especially at the very high end. Current Treks are about evenly matched with their competitors.

]]> By: Grant http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154546 Grant Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:31:27 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154546 You got it right with the snobbery idea. When you spend years in this sport, what one actually needs to enjoy the woods becomes increasingly obscured by brand name concerns and a not so subtle push by advertisers and magazines to drop all of your coin on the newest edition of bike part gee-whizzery. The fact is that Trek makes good bikes backed up by good warranty (though they are as guilty of selling snake oil as anyone). Bottom line is that there is no concrete reason why you shouldn't feel good about spending your resources on a Trek bike, or any other for that matter, you have found you enjoy. You got it right with the snobbery idea. When you spend years in this sport, what one actually needs to enjoy the woods becomes increasingly obscured by brand name concerns and a not so subtle push by advertisers and magazines to drop all of your coin on the newest edition of bike part gee-whizzery. The fact is that Trek makes good bikes backed up by good warranty (though they are as guilty of selling snake oil as anyone).

Bottom line is that there is no concrete reason why you shouldn’t feel good about spending your resources on a Trek bike, or any other for that matter, you have found you enjoy.

]]> By: kerbouchaud http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154468 kerbouchaud Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:21:21 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154468 I'm currently running a K-2 hardtail (don't laugh) with XTR v-brakes rocksox dart-3 fork, travitiv cranks with Mallet C clipless pedals. XT front and rear derailiurs with shimano rapid fire shifters. Titec Hellbent OS stem and bars and getting ready to pick up a set of Sun rims. I do a lot of tight technical singletrack in Florida with a lot of jumps, drops and pretty steep fast decents, but I also ride some XC type trails when there is nothing else rideable. The bike I'm looking at is a Trek fuel EX-6 if I can still get one, or a 5.5 if the 6 isn't available anymore. They look like good bike, have half decent componentry (I can always upgrade what I don't like) the prices are right (under $1300) and they have a lifetime warranty on the frame. My big question mark is why a lot of people who have been in the sport for a while don't like the Trek bikes? They look pretty decent to me. I’m currently running a K-2 hardtail (don’t laugh) with XTR v-brakes rocksox dart-3 fork, travitiv cranks with Mallet C clipless pedals. XT front and rear derailiurs with shimano rapid fire shifters. Titec Hellbent OS stem and bars and getting ready to pick up a set of Sun rims. I do a lot of tight technical singletrack in Florida with a lot of jumps, drops and pretty steep fast decents, but I also ride some XC type trails when there is nothing else rideable.
The bike I’m looking at is a Trek fuel EX-6 if I can still get one, or a 5.5 if the 6 isn’t available anymore. They look like good bike, have half decent componentry (I can always upgrade what I don’t like) the prices are right (under $1300) and they have a lifetime warranty on the frame. My big question mark is why a lot of people who have been in the sport for a while don’t like the Trek bikes? They look pretty decent to me.

]]> By: Quinn http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154466 Quinn Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:44:15 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154466 Kerbouchaud, bikes are a personal think, go with what already know, For instance, I much perfer steel, and shimano, and rim brakes, also, exacly what are you going to use it for? Last summer I picked up an XXIX, its still, but disc, I got that one because it was In the LBS, rather than weight a month for an SE Stout, which is alloy but rim brake. I then bought a Kona Jake, alloy, I compromosed on the steel because I needed something light weight and it was in-expensive. Kerbouchaud,

bikes are a personal think, go with what already know, For instance, I much perfer steel, and shimano, and rim brakes, also, exacly what are you going to use it for?
Last summer I picked up an XXIX, its still, but disc, I got that one because it was In the LBS, rather than weight a month for an SE Stout, which is alloy but rim brake.
I then bought a Kona Jake, alloy, I compromosed on the steel because I needed something light weight and it was in-expensive.

]]> By: kerbouchaud http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154465 kerbouchaud Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:31:34 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154465 Sorry, not trying to be arguementative but I'm looking at buying a new bike soon and I'm really wanting to know if there is really anything wrong with Trek or if it's just a case of brand-name snobbery. Sorry, not trying to be arguementative but I’m looking at buying a new bike soon and I’m really wanting to know if there is really anything wrong with Trek or if it’s just a case of brand-name snobbery.

]]> By: kerbouchaud http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154464 kerbouchaud Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:30:08 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154464 I see........I think? Kinda like I prefer a Toyota, Lexus or Honda cause they have really cool names and their cars look really nice but.....I drive a Kia cause that's what I can afford and there really isn't a damn thing wrong with it except that it doesn't have a cool name and maybe not so flashy? Oh yeah, Kia has a great warranty too. I see……..I think? Kinda like I prefer a Toyota, Lexus or Honda cause they have really cool names and their cars look really nice but…..I drive a Kia cause that’s what I can afford and there really isn’t a damn thing wrong with it except that it doesn’t have a cool name and maybe not so flashy? Oh yeah, Kia has a great warranty too.

]]> By: Quinn http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154450 Quinn Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:37:53 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154450 Why? I go for bikes/companies like Cannondale and Rocky Mountain and Raleigh Why? I go for bikes/companies like Cannondale and Rocky Mountain and Raleigh

]]> By: Grant http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154449 Grant Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:39:07 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154449 It was a two way street in terms of technology between Trek and Klein for a while. The aluminum alloy that Trek now uses on their high end hard tails was first found in the Klein line, in the aforementioned Attitude frame. It made for some seriously thin tubes, rivaling the scandium alloyed stuff everyone is gaga over these days. I don't know that Klein ever got fully left behind in the suspension end of stuff by the rest of the Trek stable. I mean, the Adept was essentially a Fisher Sugar with a shorter top tube, which was not so dissimilar to a Fuel in that they were both linkage driven single pivots. It has only been in the last two years that Fisher/Trek have been trying new things, in terms of fork offest for the former and that new floating shock mount and concentric to the axle pivot feature for the latter. Klein at least tried that second generation URT thing in the interim with the Maverick licensed design on the Palomino, which by most accounts was a really good riding bike. Whatever, I ramble. I think Klein's problem was a marketing one..Gary Fisher sells bikes the way Miley Cyrus sells lip gloss and blond wigs. The hoi polloi respond to the Trek brand at the sound of the name Lance like nothing else. Klein only ever had beautiful paint, innovative (at the time) frame designs and an uber nerd at the helm. Gary Klein isn't exactly going in the spot where you have your Cheryl Tiegs poster. It was a two way street in terms of technology between Trek and Klein for a while. The aluminum alloy that Trek now uses on their high end hard tails was first found in the Klein line, in the aforementioned Attitude frame. It made for some seriously thin tubes, rivaling the scandium alloyed stuff everyone is gaga over these days.

I don’t know that Klein ever got fully left behind in the suspension end of stuff by the rest of the Trek stable. I mean, the Adept was essentially a Fisher Sugar with a shorter top tube, which was not so dissimilar to a Fuel in that they were both linkage driven single pivots. It has only been in the last two years that Fisher/Trek have been trying new things, in terms of fork offest for the former and that new floating shock mount and concentric to the axle pivot feature for the latter. Klein at least tried that second generation URT thing in the interim with the Maverick licensed design on the Palomino, which by most accounts was a really good riding bike.

Whatever, I ramble. I think Klein’s problem was a marketing one..Gary Fisher sells bikes the way Miley Cyrus sells lip gloss and blond wigs. The hoi polloi respond to the Trek brand at the sound of the name Lance like nothing else. Klein only ever had beautiful paint, innovative (at the time) frame designs and an uber nerd at the helm. Gary Klein isn’t exactly going in the spot where you have your Cheryl Tiegs poster.

]]> By: kerbouchaud http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154447 kerbouchaud Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:07:38 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/04/11/klein-back-from-the-dead/#comment-154447 And I ask again Quinn, WHY? And I ask again Quinn, WHY?

]]>