How good a bike was the Klein Mantra?

[[email protected]]

Hey All~~~

same *48 year old-school mt biker. Ready to retire my 15 year old Klein
Attitude hard tail for full suspension* that posted earlier.

I can lay my hand's on a friend's Klein Mantra for $400. Not sure the
vintage. Prolly circa '00 or so. I've rdden it/ not sure it's upgrades,
but they swapped out the rear shock... . . the bike was out of trig
(front shocks felt like junk) but it could be tuned up sweet again

but my Q? how good a bike was the Klein Mantra? To get me in the FS
game for $400 (plus as much for replacement parts and upgrades over
the next few months), is this a better bike than what $1000 buy me
today

more key- how good was the rear suspension design of the Mantra? Modern
real suspension far better? I read somewhere the Mantra was an obsolete
design..

thanks!!! peace out

 

[[email protected]]

oops... just googled alt.mb

quick looksie shows "stink bug" LOL

and URT = obsolete

i'd still like more feedback from thems who know

 

[Paladin]

[email protected] wrote:
> oops... just googled alt.mb
>
> quick looksie shows "stink bug" LOL
>
> and URT = obsolete
>
> i'd still like more feedback from thems who know

I think it was mountainbike mag or Mountainbike Action that rated it in
the top 5 of worst bikes ever made. Now, I don't ride one and don't
know anybody who does, but I have heard about the endo-prone
stinkbugging problem, and the fact that its all old school fs geometry,
ie, limited travel.

But it looks cool. And so does the fs adept, and no stinkbugging to my
knowledge..

CDB

 

[JD]

Paladin wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > oops... just googled alt.mb
> >
> > quick looksie shows "stink bug" LOL
> >
> > and URT = obsolete
> >
> > i'd still like more feedback from thems who know
>
> I think it was mountainbike mag or Mountainbike Action that rated it in
> the top 5 of worst bikes ever made. Now, I don't ride one and don't
> know anybody who does, but I have heard about the endo-prone
> stinkbugging problem, and the fact that its all old school fs geometry,
> ie, limited travel.
>
> But it looks cool. And so does the fs adept, and no stinkbugging to my
> knowledge..


I'm sure in the chorus of ragging the stinkbugger, he saw JIMBA's
accolades. I wonder if JIMBA ever got a FS with a good design yet?

JD