mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== Klein Bicycles =====

Gary Klein started producing road bikes built with oversized, light weight TIG welded aluminum tubing in 1976.  He pioneered many design and processes resulting in 18 patents producing consistent, very high quality bicycles.  By the time Klein started making mountain bikes, all production was in Chehalis, WA and would continue there until 2002, long after Klein Bicycles was bought by Trek in 1995. ((The last bicycles to bear the Klein logo were produced in Japan in 2009.))
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Klein bikes became famous for their paintwork, culminating in their "linear fade" colors which were introduced in 1992.  Other unique details included interior cable routing ((Klein patented internal cable routing - although road bikes have been using internal routing since at least the 1940's ([[http://classiccycleus.com/home/1947-legnano/|link]]).  Klein also patented aluminum frames, despite aluminum being somewhat popular on touring bikes since the 40's.  Many of [[https://patents.justia.com/inventor/gary-g-klein|Gary Klein]] 's patents did not survive challenge in [[https://www.sheldonbrown.com/AluminumBikeProject.html|court]].  Nonetheless, Klein's had a unique level of quality through the 80's and 90's.)), square chain stays, super smooth large welds, and the lightest and strongest ((But not cheap.  Kleins' cost about $2000 in 1984.)) bikes available.
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Sources:
[[http://www.faqs.org/sports-science/Je-Mo/Klein-Gary-Gordon.html|faqs.org]],
[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klein_Bicycle_Corporation|wikipedia]]

{{fade.jpg?300|1993 Attitude}}
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1993 Attitude with //Sunburst// linear fade.
[[https://fotos.mtb-news.de/p/2265318|mtb-news.de]]
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<div column 45%>
{{gary.jpg?300|Gary Klein, 1990}}
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Gary Klein, 1990
[[http://diabloscott.blogspot.com/2000/05/a-history-of-klein-road-bikes.html|diabloscott]]
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<div column 50% #s1983>
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===== 1983? Mountain Klein Prototype =====

The date is just a guess and is relying upon the date from the old Klein website.
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Cantilever brakes ((This is a terrible picture.  It's also appears to be missing a rear cable stop/hanger.  Which aren't always needed.)), bullmoose stem, weird fork crown, internal chain stay cable, dual decals, SunTour? components.

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<div column 45%>
{{1983.jpg?300|1983 prototype}}
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1983 prototype, photo by Charlie Kelly.
[[https://www.mtbr.com/threads/klein-mountainklein-1985.353967/|mtbr]]
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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 Mountain Klein =====


Klein's now defunct website states that:
<blockquote>
1983:  Mountain Klein was started, featuring a chain stay mountain U-Brake or a roller cam brake.
<cite>
[[https://web.archive.org/web/20050310042741/https://www.kleinbikes.com/us/about_klein/history.html|archive of kleinbikes.com]]
</cite>
</blockquote>

However, no authenticated photos of either a 1983 or 1984 Mountain Klein can be found.  There are a few promising mislabeled photos of Kleins with original components which are period correct for 1984.  The example on the right uses a SunTour Cyclone MkII front derailleur, which was in production from 1981->1984 and a Deerhead Version 1 rear derailleur which was in production from 1983->1984.  Note the radial spokes, cantilever breaks, internal chain stay cable and top tube decals, which are not seen on later Mountain Kleins.

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{{1984.jpg?300|1984 Mountain Klein}}
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1984? Mountain Klein
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Klein.html|mombat]]


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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 1985 Mountain Klein =====

1985 is the likely first year of true production, as many examples can be found online.  Painted forks, internal chain stay cable routing, SunTour XC derailleurs, rear roller-cam brakes, lowered decals.  The black crank arms are likely original.
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<div column 45%>
{{1985b.jpg?300|1985 Mountain Klein}}
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1985 Mountain Klein
[[https://www.mtbr.com/media/1985-mountain-klein.1507184/|mtbr]]


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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 1986 Mountain Klein =====

External rear derailleur cable.  Shimano 600EX road triple crankset.  Chrome forks.  Rear non-roller-cam u-brakes.
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{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Mountain Klein}}
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1986 Mountain Klein
[[https://www.flickr.com/photos/68386265@N07/46497453531|flickr]]


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<div column 50% #s1987>
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===== 1987 Mountain Klein =====


This is an example of a "//Kleiningham//," an attempt to get a bike as close as possible to the impossible to obtain [[cc:start|Cunningham]].  Hence it was modified to have a Steven Potts/WTB fork, stem, headset, brakes, seat post and toe flips - all on unpainted aluminum.
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{{1987.jpg?300|1987 Mountain Klein}}
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1987 Mountain Klein
[[http://www.vintagemtbworkshop.com/1987-mountain-klein.html|vintagemtbworkshop]]


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<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Pinnacle =====


By this point Klein had branched out the MTB line into Mountain Klein, Pinnacle, and Top Gun ((Which would turn into the Rascal after Klein was sued by [[http://www.mistermoose.org/bikes/classicKleins/q&a_gary.html|Paramount Pictures]].))  Even better, Klein introduced cool paint jobs at this point ((The Top Gun paint scheme was a pale red, white and blue, which was not pretty.))
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<div column 45%>
{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Pinnacle}}
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1988 Pinnacle
[[https://www.mtbr.com/threads/klein-pinnacle-1988.353460/|mtbr]]


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<div column 50% #s1989>
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===== 1989 Mountain Klein =====

This is painted in the //Aurora// scheme.  Many paint styles were available.
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Rear cantilever brakes.
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<div column 45%>
{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Mountain Klein}}
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1988 Mountain Klein
[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1989-mountain-klein-aurora.336080/|retrobike]]


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<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Attitude =====


The traditional watermelon "Team USA" scheme. 
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{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Attitude}}
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1990 Attitude
[[http://www.wundel.com/classickleinnr87.html|wundel]]


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<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Attitude =====

"Backfire" paint scheme.
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<div column 45%>
{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Attitude}}
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1991 Attitude
[[https://twitter.com/bikerecyclery/status/539526545115594754|bike recyclery]]

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<div column 50% #s1992>
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===== 1992 Attitude =====

Horizon linear fade.  Full XTR gruppo - the first year that Shimano offered XTR.  A flawless bike.

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<div column 45%>
{{1992b.jpg?300|1992 Attitude}}
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1992 Attitude
[[https://www.oldschoolracing.ch/mountainbike/1992-klein-attitude-horizon/|oldschoolracing]]

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