About Klein

Kleins History

You can find most of the background History about Klein on Wikipedias Klein Bicycle Corporation page, and it goes into far more detail about them from their humble beginning in the mid-1980s until they ceased distribution in 2009. But if you would rather stick around here, I am more than happy to give you some information about them.

From a Mountain Bike perspective, Klein started producing some of the most iconic bikes on the Mountain Bike scene in the early 1990s, and some enthusiasts say that this was their best era. The early Kleins were famous for their Paintwork and innovations, which were years ahead of their time, like the MC2 system or their precision Press Fit Bottom bracket. They even patented an improved cable guide system, US 5433465, for bicycle frames, which improved the fatigue life of lightweight frames and other stressed tubular structures.

You could list numerous superlatives about Klein and talk about how they helped shape today’s Mountain Bikes. Either you loved them, or you didn’t, but you can’t deny that they were one of the forerunners and if not one of the best Mountain Bike builders of their time, and they consistently ranked among one of the leading exhibitors at most major Mountain Bike shows.

How I discovered Klein

It must have been around the late 1980s when I saw all these new bikes coming onto the scene with large wheels, bulky tubing, and multiple gears. They differed from what I was used to seeing and could be used off-road and over rough ground. I didn’t know it then, but these bikes would soon become known as Mountain Bikes. And it wasn’t long before all these new bicycle manufacturers started appearing everywhere, like Muddy Fox, Saracen, Orange, Kona, and Trek. They were all bringing out these Mountain Bikes and actively competing against each other to build the best ones.

To the average biker like me, it felt like a modern-day Gold Rush, with new startups coming onto the scene by the day. I couldn’t keep up with it all, and I was in awe at some of the technology and craftsmanship going into the designs. I came across some bicycles that were remarkable examples of handcrafted engineering. I remember how my Father, who worked in the welding industry, would also look at them and comment about the quality of the welds on the frames. Klein’s welds were flawlessly crafted, with a polished, smooth finish that was nothing short of perfection.

Around the same time, I discovered Cannondale, a US-based manufacturer producing Mountain Bikes with oversized tubing. The tubing was supposed to make the bike frames lighter and stiffer than others, resulting in a better ride. But because of this, some of their bikes became extremely expensive and were classified as high-end boutique bikes.

How I Became Convinced by Klein

It was on a chance visit to Evans Cycles in Wandsworth, London, UK. I saw this oversized glossy green Mountain Bike in the window with Klein written on the downtube. It reminded me of a Cannondale due to its oversized tubing. However, its finish and look were more like a Bugatti or a Ferrari under the lights of the showroom. This bike had also been equipped with some of the lightest components of the day, and it made an everlasting impression on me. Although this was not the first time I had seen a Klein, it was the first time I had ever seen a Klein Adroit in Gator Linear Fade, and I was sold for life.

Klein was far too expensive for a teenager like me; all I could do was admire them and dream. Whenever possible, we used to visit any shop with one in store to experience seeing one for real. At that time, I was fortunate to see an Adroit, Attitude, and Rascal.

After that, life moved on for me, and bikes and other things around that era became a distant memory. That is until I came across a video on the Internet in 2020 about old Mountain Bikes. I immediately thought I remember Klein, and I wondered if some of the older ones from my past were still around. So, armed with the Internet, I searched for one, and that is where my journey began.

It didn’t take me long to find some, but most of the ones I came across were from the Trek era and were different from the ones I remembered from the early ’90s. Those models appeared to be more elusive. Possibly because Klein produced them in fewer numbers, they were no longer around or were in some collector’s showroom, never to be seen again.

When I found one, it was no surprise that these bikes were still expensive. Nothing had changed; their status had stayed the same, and it looked like I would have a serious problem finding a decent one at a reasonable price.

That said, I eventually managed to source one, but finding the right one took a lot of searching and effort. Since then, I have imported them and various parts from around the world.

It has taken a lot of patience, time, and money to restore these bikes to their former glory, but it has been worth it. I have tried to preserve them as best as possible, so they don’t get lost in time. I hope you appreciate their magnificence as much as I do.