Opinions on Klein Mantra....

[jfizer]

On 17 Jun 2004 15:54:42 -0700, [email protected] (Jonesy) wrote:

>jfizer wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>> I just purchased my second Klein Mantra (a 2000) after my last got
>> stollen a few years ago (a 1997). People I've talked to seem to either
>> love or hate these bikes and I was wondering why that is.
>
>Three words:
>
>URT.
>
>HTH, HAND.

I guess I just dont think that URT setups are that evil. Especially on
the Mantra where the pivot point is high on the frame and in front of
the rider.

However I do agree that a more modern suspension system would be
preferable. I just cant justify the cost of a new bike and thus count
myself lucky to find a 2k Mantra in "as new" condition.

 

[Zilla]

John, Paul, George & Ringo!
Well, at least Paul & Ringo...

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC
(Remove XSPAM)


"Sgt Pepper" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> rest of...what? rest of me?
> Sgt Pepper
>
> "Zilla" <[email protected]> pí¹e v diskusním pøíspìvku
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hey, where's the rest of you?
> >
> > --
> > - Zilla
> > Cary, NC
> > (Remove XSPAM)
> >
> >
> > "Sgt Pepper" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > oh, yes, it's me on my actual bike
> > > http://www.turist.cz/mysteryteam/sumava/Foto2002jaro/vanthor16.jpg
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Sgt Pepper" <[email protected]> pí¹e v diskusním pøíspìvku
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > > true - I own one (model 1998) before couple of years and I
succesfully
> > finish many marathons on
> > > this
> > > > bike...but through the time I become to ride more and more technical
> > tracks and races and my
> > > > satisfaction with the Mantra was smaller and smaller, so I sold
Mantra
> > and bought Morati 1.3
> > > > (hardtail titanium bike - www.morati.com )
> > > > I think Mantra is great bike for long distance turistic/recreation
> > riding on dirt roads and
> > > > non-technical tracks, but not for racing...
> > > > Actually, I think it's one of the lightest full-suspension bikes
> > ever...depending of components,
> > > of
> > > > course...
> > > > Sgt Pepper
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > <jfizer> píse v diskusním príspevku
> > news[email protected]...
> > > > > On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 17:32:00 GMT, "Michael Paul"
> > > > > <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > ><jfizer> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > > > >> I just purchased my second Klein Mantra (a 2000) after my last
got
> > > > > >> stollen a few years ago (a 1997). People I've talked to seem to
> > either
> > > > > >> love or hate these bikes and I was wondering why that is.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Most people just don't like a URT (unified Rear Triangle) for a
rear
> > > > > >suspension design. It was great when it first came out but there
are
> > so
> > > > > >many better designs now. The biggest issue with the URT is that
the
> > entire
> > > > > >rear half of the bike including the rider is supported by the
pivot.
> > So, if
> > > > > >you're sitting down, then the suspension will be active but when
you
> > stand
> > > > > >up the forces from trail impacts are transferred to your legs
rather
> > than
> > > > > >the suspension so a URT could be thought of as a "quasi" full
> > suspension
> > > > > >since it's activeness depends entirely on your position. The
> > problem, of
> > > > > >course, is that for most descending the rider is not seated so
you
> > really
> > > > > >aren't getting the most of the suspension with the URT while
going
> > downhill
> > > > > >and standing.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Michael "Sorni used to have a URT" Paul
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I agree that in general the newer designes are better then the
URT.
> > > > > However of the URT designs I find hte Mantra to be far better then
(as
> > > > > an example) the Trek Ys due to the position of the pivot being in
> > > > > front of the rider rather then under or behind. Also, as I said in
> > > > > another post, the Mantra was not designed or sold as a down hill
bike.
> > > > > It is more for distance riding over rough terain.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

 

[R.White]

"Sgt Pepper" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> oh, yes, it's me on my actual bike
> http://www.turist.cz/mysteryteam/sumava/Foto2002jaro/vanthor16.jpg
>

I recall that color scheme from somewhere...

Oh yeah,

<http://www.whooya.net/pitstop/buses/partridge.jpg>

>
>
> "Sgt Pepper" <[email protected]> pí¹e v diskusním pøíspìvku news:[email protected]...
> > true - I own one (model 1998) before couple of years and I succesfully finish many marathons on
> this
> > bike...but through the time I become to ride more and more technical tracks and races and my
> > satisfaction with the Mantra was smaller and smaller, so I sold Mantra and bought Morati 1.3
> > (hardtail titanium bike - www.morati.com )
> > I think Mantra is great bike for long distance turistic/recreation riding on dirt roads and
> > non-technical tracks, but not for racing...
> > Actually, I think it's one of the lightest full-suspension bikes ever...depending of components,
> of
> > course...
> > Sgt Pepper
> >
> >
> >
> > <jfizer> píse v diskusním príspevku news[email protected]...
> > > On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 17:32:00 GMT, "Michael Paul"
> > > <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > ><jfizer> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > > >> I just purchased my second Klein Mantra (a 2000) after my last got
> > > >> stollen a few years ago (a 1997). People I've talked to seem to either
> > > >> love or hate these bikes and I was wondering why that is.
> > > >
> > > >Most people just don't like a URT (unified Rear Triangle) for a rear
> > > >suspension design. It was great when it first came out but there are so
> > > >many better designs now. The biggest issue with the URT is that the entire
> > > >rear half of the bike including the rider is supported by the pivot. So, if
> > > >you're sitting down, then the suspension will be active but when you stand
> > > >up the forces from trail impacts are transferred to your legs rather than
> > > >the suspension so a URT could be thought of as a "quasi" full suspension
> > > >since it's activeness depends entirely on your position. The problem, of
> > > >course, is that for most descending the rider is not seated so you really
> > > >aren't getting the most of the suspension with the URT while going downhill
> > > >and standing.
> > > >
> > > >Michael "Sorni used to have a URT" Paul
> > > >
> > >
> > > I agree that in general the newer designes are better then the URT.
> > > However of the URT designs I find hte Mantra to be far better then (as
> > > an example) the Trek Ys due to the position of the pivot being in
> > > front of the rider rather then under or behind. Also, as I said in
> > > another post, the Mantra was not designed or sold as a down hill bike.
> > > It is more for distance riding over rough terain.
> >
> >

 

[Craig Brossman]

jfizer wrote:

> On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 19:02:58 GMT, "S o r n i"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Where do you get this "not designed to do" stuff? A big part of /any/ XC FS
>>bike is handling technical descents (as opposed to "downhill runs"). The
>>Mantra doesn't do this very well...period. (Neither do I, but that's a
>>separate issue.)
>>
>>Bill "go ride your bike already" S.
>>
>
>
> I "get this" from the 1997 Klein Mantra users manual. I dont have it
> in front of me so I cant give exact quotes.

Yeah I asked you before, you bought a mountain bike that is not for
technical riding, of downhill, but for exploring? WTF is that?
It is a mountain bike, I don't know any of them that say "don't ride
this bike downhill!".

It just seems plain stupid that Klein would build a bike, which was
clearly aimed towards the XC market (it did come with shocks on both
ends), then tell the user it is not intended for downhill or technical
riding.

--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado
(remove ".nospam" to reply)