Does anyone ride a...

[Dr. Guitar]

I am comparing differnt bikes, and what come on them. If you ride something listed, please give me some feedback on how you like it.


Hardtail frames

Klien
Gary Fisher
Trek
Bianchi

Forks
Rock Shox Duke XC with or w/o u-turn
Duke SL
Marzocchi MX comp

Bontrager Wheels

[qheuie]

i ride a Klein Attitude Comp frame. i have had it since 1997 and love it. it has been able to withstand the beating very well so far.
i have owned several other bikes and i always keep coming back to the Klein.
i also have a set of bontrager mustang rims on XT hubs, they have stayed true no matter what i have thrown at them.

if you ever want to test ride my bike, i would be more than happy to let you hop on.

josh

[manitouman84]

mmm, bontrager mustang rims are possibly the sweetest rims out there. Beat the crap out of them and they stay true! Whatever you do though, if you come across a bike with bontrager "race" wheels, forget it. Those wheels are bunk, the rear hub will die in less than a season or two, no cartridge bearings, and the front wheel has too much flex, guess thats what you get for 24 spokes.

[manitouman84]

Go to mtbr.com for consumer reviews on anything you can imagine, its a bomb site, they got trail reviews too.

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by manitouman84
Go to mtbr.com for consumer reviews on anything you can imagine, its a bomb site, they got trail reviews too.

It is a good site, but I find their reviews pretty sketchy. You have to sift through the crap, then there is good stuff. Most of the crap is obvious. The trail review area is horrible (duplicate trails, outdated info etc.), but at least its there.

[Trevize1138]

Bonty wheels RULE ALL! :banana:

I love my rear Bonty with the off-center spoke positions. Originally built by the Freewheel guys and then rebuilt by Shad with better hub. After 100 miles of Maah Daah hey and several hundred miles of log whacking at Lebanon, it's still straight and smooth. :)

[manual63]

I will put in a good word for Gary Fishers. The reason is because of the Genesis Geometry they have. Click <a href="http://www.fisherbikes.com/fisher101/">here</a> and click on the Genesis Geometry link to find out more info.

What they do is make the frame longer and the stem shorter. This allows your weight and body to be behind the front wheel instead of over it (which can cause you to endo easier), without changing the position of where the bars are at in relationship to your seat. You have the same riding position, but better handling and a more stable ride while standing and doing technical stuff. When I get a new Cross Country ride, it will probably be a Fisher.

[b dub]

I will 2nd the emotion for the Fisher bikes. I have had my HKK for about 1 year now and love it. What was said about the genesis frame is all true (in my experience). The bike handles very well. If I had a complaint, it would be that the frame geometry seems to limit the amount of power I can apply on climbs (not quite far enough over the pedals, imo).

I also have Bontrager wheels and have been happy with them.

[funky-funky-chicken]

I have a custom made Co Motion steel hardtail with the RockShox Duke SL fork and the Bontrager Race wheels.

I think the wheels are okay. Not great, not bad. I don't think that I would go out of my way to make sure that they came on my bike. I personally would much rather have a well built set of traditional wheels using good quality hubs and rims. I think this primarily stems from my bias against Trek components. Anyone remeber Matrix rims and components? Well, somehow slapping the Bontrager name on the same stuff has not done a lot for my opinion of it.

The fork gets a luke warm opinion too. It's okay, but I just have not found that I have been able to set it up right yet. I have a Manitou Skareb Super on my other hardtail. I prefer the Manitou, I like having the Lockout feature.

[manual63]

The offset rim on the Bontragers is a good idea. Why? Because is makes the dish of the spokes less drastic. On a traditional rim, you must dish the wheel strongly to the drive side to allow for spacing for the gears. This makes the rim stronger on one side and weaker on the other. By having the rim off center to the drive side, there is less of a dish in the wheel and makes the wheel have more even strength. I built Chris' wheel with one of the off center Bontragers and he has had good luck with it so far.

[funky-funky-chicken]

Again, the benefits can depend on a number of different factors. Hub design and the distance between hub flanges can also play a part in a good wheel design.

I do like the concept of the Bontrager Offset Spoke Bed (OSB). I would prefer the Velocity Synergy asymmetric rim with a good quality set of hubs. It's good to be a little different.

"Dr. Guitar" below seems to be evaluating the most important stuff when it comes to a bike... Frame, Fork, and Wheels.

[manual63]

Oh, don't forget to check out Haro as an option. They have some sweet rides and since they have a strong BMX/Freestyle background, you can be assured their geometry and strength are good. Go to <a href="http://www.harobikes.com">Haro Bikes</a> to check them out. Hard to find here in the cities, but I know Erik's carries them.

[Dr. Guitar]

Here is where I sit. I have $98 twords a new bike as of today. I have some things I don't use that I will be selling to close in on my ~$1000 target.

I have been test riding, and know what bikes I like, and what ones I don't. I have checked a different review site on bikes then mentioned below. It brought many things into consideration, and has all but eliminated Stumpjumpers from my list.

The bikes I like are; Klien Attitude, Gary Fisher Big Sur, Stumpjumpers, a lower model Trek than the 8000, and a lower model Bianchi than the King Bee.

The trek I ride now has soooooo many miles on it. I have been through many parts, and just don't want to get into the cycle of replacing things all the time with a new bike.

It seems as though the Bonty wheel sets get many poor reviews on their own. I have read several reviews about the Manitou Skareb breaking on the arch between the lowers.

I still have my White Industry hubs (There is no way I will listen to anyone say anything about another hub being better), but they have 2000? (maybey less, maybey more) miles on them and never have they been overhauled. It may be wishfull thinking to want the same out of what's on the bikes I have tested out.

[qheuie]

yeah yeah.. Klein Attitude :)
i agree with John about the reviews on mtbr.com, and any other review sit for that matter. it is difficult to weed out the good reviews and the ones that some schmuck is writing just to ba a poop.

like i said before, if you want to try my bike on some trails, let me know.

josh

[jeffgude]

I own three Kleins. My 2000 Attitude Race is a geat bike, and was a great deal. You will not find a better hardtail frame. Not as stiff-riding as others would have you believe. Klein geometry makes for a great climbing bike, especially short steep hills. (The Bontrager Race wheels are still going strong, no rear hub problems at all. The wheels have only been trued once.) I'm riding my 1993 Klein Fervor again now that it has been converted to a single speed. Then there's my Klein Quantum road bike...but you get the idea.

[tmac]

Originally posted by jeffgude
I own three Kleins. My 2000 Attitude Race is a geat bike, and was a great deal. You will not find a better hardtail frame. Not as stiff-riding as others would have you believe. Klein geometry makes for a great climbing bike, especially short steep hills. (The Bontrager Race wheels are still going strong, no rear hub problems at all. The wheels have only been trued once.) I'm riding my 1993 Klein Fervor again now that it has been converted to a single speed. Then there's my Klein Quantum road bike...but you get the idea.

I think Klein riders tend to be some of the most brand loyal in the industry. Not many manufacturers have fan sites just archiving photos of their frames (Search MTBr.com). I only have two. 2003 Attitude Comp, 1996 Stage Comp (road). Both take a beating very well, climb great and although they are not the stiffest bike on the market, they have a great stiff/weight ratio. I think they are a great investment in frame, as components can always be upgraded, though I have pretty much rode their stock setups a few thousand miles a year and have no complaints.

Gary Klein gets a banana. :banana:

[Dr. Guitar]

I've been leaning twords the Klien over the past week. I took one out for a second test ride, and decided that it was what I like. I don't know what I was thinking my first time on it.

Being someone who has riden the same frame for years and years, I am looking mostly into the frame quality. I know the Klein is top marks in bot weight and strength.

As for the posibly suspect wheels...

I had an idea today. I have some White Industry hubs on rims that are close to shot. I was thinking of converting the bike my W I's are on, into a 3 speed (3 chain rings with a tensioner on the rear). Would it be posible for me to take my W I hubs and put new rims on them, then put on a new bike that has a 9 speed casset. Or I supose I could put on a new 8 speed and chain rings, and the left over shifter from my Trek.

P.S. to those who offer their bikes for test rides, thanks, but I have a ways to go before I have the money. So "ill hold off for a bit.

[soupboy]

...then yes. I run a 1x8 on my FS bike with 5-6" of travel in the rear. I use a chain guide up front due to the suspension movement and commensurate chain lengthening/shortening.

If you have a HT is may be less of an issue. Personally, I don't need the granny unless it is a severely steep and prolonged climb - few in the TC. Otherwise, I make due with my SS-stressed legs despite my Clyde-carcass. Regularly ride Leb w/o the need to go into 32x32 (lightest gear) although some of the Farm's switchback climbs have left me w/o the right gear although I suspect more frequent rides would have me better prepared for the terrain ahead.

Hope this helps,

Sean

[socrates]

Originally posted by Dr. Guitar
Being someone who has riden the same frame for years and years, I am looking mostly into the frame quality. I know the Klein is top marks in bot weight and strength.

P.S. to those who offer their bikes for test rides, thanks, but I have a ways to go before I have the money. So "ill hold off for a bit.

You'll never go wrong with a Klein....love mine!