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Reviews 1 - 5 (8 Reviews Total)
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Submitted by
Chef23
a Recreational Rider
from Date Reviewed: September 9, 2004
Strengths: Great performing frame that is beautifully finished.
Ultegra front & rear derailleursWeaknesses: None so farBottom Line: I was looking to replace a 20 year old Cannondale as I am getting back into cycling after a long absence. I looked at a number of bikes including Trek 2100, LeMond Alpe dHuez, Specialized Allez Comp & Roubaix and a comparable Cannondale. I narrowed it down to the Klein and the Roubaix and I could have been happy on either bike. The geometry on the Klein was very comfortable to me right away and I loved how responsive the bike is. I felt like the frame on the Klein was a little nicer than the Roubaix although they were close.
From a comfort perspective anything would have been a big improvement over the mid 80s Cannondale I was riding but I love the Klein.
A good deal on a leftover 2003 pushed me over the edge. So far it has been everything I was hoping.
Price Paid:
$1299.00
Purchased At: Belmont Wheelworks
Similar Products Used: Test rode:
Specialized Roubaix & Allez
Trek 2100
LeMond Alp d'Huez & Zurich (too expensive)
Cannondale R1000
1985 Cannondale R300
Bike Setup: Stock plus a set of Shimano Ultegra PD600-SL pedals
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
jakej
a Triathlete
from Date Reviewed: July 29, 2004
Strengths: Carbon fork and seatstay. Ultegra and 105 mix.Weaknesses: I have had some problems with a clicking sound when I really mash the pedals. It only does it sometimes and only when pedaling really hard.Bottom Line: This bike is awesome! I was extremely impressed by the cornering abilities and the responsiveness when I first jumped on it. Great setup. I really like the agressive position and it climbs exceptionally well.
Favorite Ride: Alpine Loop
Purchased At: Golson Cycles
Similar Products Used: Old Trek Bike.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
wintermancop
a Recreational Rider
from Deer Park, TXDate Reviewed: December 8, 2003
Strengths: Love the compact frame, paint and general fit. My welders at work are amazed at the workmanship. I shouldn't have to change anything unless I decide to become a racer in the near future.Weaknesses: None so far.Bottom Line: Please do not drool on the paint! This baby is as fast as it looks...and that is FAST! Everyone in the house wants to ride, but I keep those animals at bay. So far only a hand full of rides, but man, how nice. I was used to hybrids, so I had to figure out the Shimano shifters and get used to the ride position. For a 6'1" 240 lb guy it took a bit of getting used to. Switched seats to my favorite Koobi AU Enduro. May swicth to the carbon post later, but not bad the way it is. Superfast, twitchy and lite. Corners like a race car. Speed has increased by a few miles per hour. In flat areas top speed is about 27, but once I loose the extra 30-40 lbs I look for that to jump. I usually average about 150 miles a week, so this bike will get a workout, weather permitting.
Favorite Ride: 225 to 146 to Morgan's Point
Price Paid:
$1599.00
Purchased At: Bike Barn, Clear Lak
Similar Products Used: Tested the Trek 5200, but this bike felt more sturdy for a big guy like me.
Bike Setup: Shimano 105/Ultegra, Ultegra triple, AU Enduro seat, Bontrager RaceLite tires & Select wheels. Did I say the Sudberry metal flake iridescent purple and green paint is the bomb? Yes I did!
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Kraus
a Recreational Rider
from Date Reviewed: November 25, 2003
Strengths: The frame, paint job, components. I am 6'2" & 220lbs and the compact frame seems to work well for me and the paint job looks like a work of art.Weaknesses: The stock saddle never made it out of the store.Bottom Line: After 17 years of abuse, my old Raleigh finally snapped at the seat stays. In my quest, I found lots of great riding bikes but to shorten the list I decided that my minimal acceptable standard was:
1)Shimano 105 or Ultegra,
2)A quality wheel set & frame that wouldn't bend under my (220lb) body,
3)A shop that specializes in road bikes and did a fitting.
What I didn't like was that some companies mixed high & low quality components or had great components and skimpped on the frame - you only get what you pay for. One last recommendation would be to find some bumpy/hilly roads to test ride. Most of the test rides (least 10) I took were on nice roads but the Buenos Aires and the Klein set themselves apart when the roads got rough. I guess the road around Chicago area force you to really take that into consideration.
Favorite Ride: Anywhere that's into the wind, uphill, against traffic, at night and in the rain.
Price Paid:
$1429.00
Purchased At: The Bike Rack, St Ch
Similar Products Used: A mid 1970's Schwinn World Traveler (Stolen) & a 1986 Raleigh Technium 460 (deceased). The LeMond Buenos Aires '04 was a very hot ride but not worth $500 more, Trek's 5200 was about $1000 more than the Klein, Trek's 2200 was also a nice ride but lacked the style & Geometry of the Klein. Specialized Allez, Cannondale 800, Raleigh & Giant OCR rode like rocks compared with Klein, Lemond & Trek. I might have been interested in the new Specialized Roubaix but it wasn't available anywhere in Chicagoland and the dealers said that they weren't sure how long the wait would be.
Bike Setup: Stock except saddle
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
hornblower1a
a Road Racer
from Date Reviewed: November 5, 2003
Strengths: Klein heritage and quality, Trek involvement (read: quality service and warranty), top-level frameset, good value, excellent looks, a turnkey solution for new racers.
Compact geometry makes a stiffer lighter frameset.Weaknesses: CRZ saddle is uncomfortable for me personally. I would prefer a 80-90 mm stem with 10 degree negative rise and 165 mm cranks (this may not be an issue for 67" riders using the 52 cm frame instead of the 55, or for taller riders than myself, i don't know). Bontrager select wheelset may be a bit heavy. Shimano SPD pedals are a touch heavy and have only a few degrees of float. All of these issues are very minor and can be easily accomodated.
Compact geometry makes it tougher to figure out exact measurements for precise dialing-in.Bottom Line: Actually this is the first bike I have ever purchased. Every other ride I've had has been a gift, going back way before I used to attack the hills of upstate NY as a young kid on a 10 speed Panasonic. Now, at 35 years old, 5'7" and 150 lbs (this might matter for the review) I decided to get serious about my biking, using it first as an aerobic training aid for my competitive water-skiing, and now perhaps as competition on its own.
I think this bike is the best choice for an entry into serious cycling. There might be some bikes out there that are similar for a little less money, but with Klein you get, in my opinion, a very high quality frame, light, strong and quite stiff. I noticed immediately that my acceleration and hill climbing were improved by this bike. I have been able to dial it in a little better for my own riding style, getting more aero, finding the sweet spots for stem position, handlebar angle and saddle position. This has increased my average speed to above 16 on the endurance rides and above 18 on the speed rides. I believe this to be a good foundation for improvement and intend to keep training on the bike for years to come. I am positive it is enough bike to eventually qualify in the lower categories for road racing and time trialing (with the addition of aerobars). In its stock condition it is not a perfect fit for me, but it is closer than any off the shelf bike I have tried for the money, and it can be dialed in to be very close to perfect with stem, seatpost and saddle adjustments. It is possible that the 52cm bike is a better fit (I have the 55), although it is harder to tell these things with the compact geometry design.
The best thing about the Q-carbon race is that you don't spend a great deal more on the entire bike than you would on just the excellent frameset, making it a great choice for novice bike racer types like myself. I am slowly changing out parts (currently replacing the stock Trek CRZ saddle which is uncomfortable for me) with ones better suited to my riding style. Eventually I will replace the pedals with a lighter, free floating pedal such as the Speedplay, and perhaps a different stem angle and length as well.
I highly recommend this bike to any rider as having a top quality frame, excellent paint job, and the inclusion of a component set and wheelset that is excellent for entry-level racers.
I give it a 4 value rating because I am spending more on dialing it in for me exactly.
I give it a 5 overall rating because I still think it's the best bike in its class.
Favorite Ride: Any that are faster, higher or longer
Price Paid:
$1599.00
Purchased At: Babcock's Bikes
Similar Products Used: Several 1970s vintage Panasonic steel frame bikes.
Bike Setup: Stock 55 cm compact frame, stock 100 mm stem at 17 degrees negative, 175 mm cranks. Thomson seatpost, fizik alliante saddle. Shimano SPD pedals (for now, maybe Speedplay x-series eventually)
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