skagwayroadie
contributor
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 141
Loc: Alaska
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Howdy all...
I've been a long time Klein rider and a couple years sold my Quantum 2 for a change of rides. Going to the dark side - full carbon and mtn biking. Recently a friend picked up a Aura VX and it has caused me to think of getting a Klein again. His is very nice and typical of past Klein craftmanship.
Anybody out there familiar with the ride of a Quantum 2 or better, pre 1999 frame, that could compare that style frame with a new one. I am looking for comments on the ride, stiffness, compliance and especially the durability of the carbon rear end on thier bikes. I am looking at a Q-Pro frameset that I will build up. Any thoughts or experiences on the Aeros fork and integrated headset. The old Quantum Pro was highly regarded and the ride was quite nice at the time I rode one, 1999 I think...much has advanced since then.
My idea is for a build of Shimano 7800 components, customs sew-up wheelset, CF bars with a Ritchey WCS stem, Flite saddle on a Thomson post...all in all a basic, highend set up.
Thanks for any info and keep the rubber side down.
...Mark
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DiabloScott
friend
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 35
Loc: Concord, California
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My Quantum Pro is a 1998 model and it's a great ride. I think the carbon stays on the newer Q-Pros and Auras are kind of gimmicky but nothing really wrong with them. The Aeros fork is excellent but doesn't come on the Aura frames. Internal headsets are a cause of much debate but they do look sexy and Klein's is very well thought out - especially since they got away from the proprietary steerer size.
I'd trade my bike for a 2005 model with DA10 or Record, but not for anything else. And I'd stay away from carbon bars, sew-ups, and anything Ritchey… but that's another debate.
Go Klein, you won't be sorry.
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Check out my bike blog! http://diabloscott.blogspot.com
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skagwayroadie
contributor
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 141
Loc: Alaska
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Coming from a person who has been riding on a Kestrel CF bar since they came out, you'd think I would not have a problem with CF stays on an aluminum bike. I have not seen or heard of any issues from Klein riders about the CF stays so that is a plus. Has Klein changed the Areos fork since then? I am not finding any info to say otherwise...I agree, they are damn good looking and it blends really well with the large tubing on the frame. One thing I am not happy with is the integrated headset, though, you are very correct, they do look sleek! All I can think about is how smoothly my Klein rode, how well it responded when I t was hammer time. It climbed like a goat, as long as my legs and lungs were up to the task!!!
Thanks for the opinion Diablo! What color is your frame...I love the red on the current framesets, but last years Burning Poinsetta was to kill for!
Can o' worms time: Since you brought it up, what is your issue with CF bars? And of Ritchey stems?
Ciao...Mark
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DiabloScott
friend
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 35
Loc: Concord, California
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My frame is "Jade". It looks deep green most of the time, but from certain angles it's purple. I get a lot of compliments on it. They used to do it with a very thin coat (like 1/4 wavelength of purple light) but it was quite expensive. Mine doesn't have flashy graphics but it's beautiful in a subtle way. Also looks great with purple ProRace tires! You're right though, that Burning Poinsettia is really pretty. Sure is easier to love a pretty bike than some sandblasted titanium thing.
Carbon bars scare me because they break. Too much risk of overtightening the brake levers or stem clamp and crushing the "tube" enough to damage the bars with no indication that you've done so until your chin hits the pavement. Broken handlebars is about the worst failure scenario I can think of.
I don't like Ritchey because they take cheap Taiwanese stuff and market it as high end stuff and most of it is kind of ugly. If you're going cheap - get a generic stem, if you want elegance get Thomson.
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Check out my bike blog! http://diabloscott.blogspot.com
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Purple Pro Race...a few places have had them on special. www.biketiresdirect.com has them 3 for $99 for any color. Somebody had purple for 29.95 but I can't remember where I saw it. Nice thing with "direct" is they give you a road hazard warranty for $5 for all you order for 60 days.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Since you like the purple here is a real deal...at Performance they have the purple Pro Race for $21.99.
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DiabloScott
friend
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 35
Loc: Concord, California
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Thanks Lon!
I've been buying from BTDirect for a couple years but they've always been ~$35 per.
Gotta watch those Performance specials though - a lot of times they're just for oddball sizes like 19 or 20mm wide but I'll check it out.
OH, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 
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Check out my bike blog! http://diabloscott.blogspot.com
Edited by DiabloScott (12/01/04 07:43 PM)
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Well hopefully they still had the 23's when you got there. I actually checked that first just in case it was as you said.
Good luck. Happy I could help. That is really a bargain. Plus I like purple too. I just don't have the bike for it now...at least with parts and wheels on it!
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skagwayroadie
contributor
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 141
Loc: Alaska
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Hey Diablo, just got back from my vacation!
Jade reminds me of the Linear Horizon, I think it was called, it is a beautiful color scheme. My old Quantum II was Corral Reef and was quite striking in the sunlight...I miss those awesome Klein paint jobs...one of the main reasons I want another Klein. Plum Crazy purple was another fave color of many Klein owners from pre 2000 bikes. Your comment about sandblasted Ti is right on the money.
On another note...busted bars are scarey, I have busted a stem bolt before on a Syncros single bolt stem and it was the man upstairs smiling down on me that allowed me to walk away unscathed from that nightmare. That is one reason I do not like single bolt stem clamps. However, CF bars are completely safe as long as one uses a torque wrench, everytime and one doesn't purchase a used bar. I used to feel that CF seat posts were too risky as well, for obvious reasons, but now that CF has matured quite a bit in the cycling world, I don't hesitate at all to try new CF gear...unless it is really expensive! CF forks or wheels used to bother me for a while too, when they first appeared, as they too are about the worst things that could fail on you. There are few outright failures anymore...popularity and lots of R&D has solved those issues, I think.
The recent crop of bar/stem combo's is very interesting and makes me wonder if they will ever catch on. I like the idea from a standpoint of no stem clamps and the clean asthetics of the joint, but I wonder if the high price for them is justified by coolness and the possible weight savings they may offer. Even so I am intrigued and won't mind trying one when the prices drop a bit more.
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Purple Michelin Pro Race $21.99