Road Cycling - CAAD7 vs Klein Q-Carbon

I have taken a short demo ride on a Cannondale R1000 and the Klein Q-Carbon. Surpisingly to me, the Klein seemed to have a stiffer frame yet more forgiving too. It just seemed to offer more effortless acceleration while absorbing road grunge very well. The CAAD7 seemed a touch harsher. Unfortunately, both rides were only 5 minute sojourns (though I did this twice) and not on the same road.

Also rode the Q-Carbon Pro though it is out of my price range. It has almost the same forgiving ride, though not quite, but feels a little lighter and quicker.

All in all, I was impressed with the Q-Carbon. Has anyone else ridden both bikes and what are your comments? Also, why do companies such as Klein not provide their telephone number on their website? This always turns me off.

I read alot about the CAAD 7 and on this site. Racer X and a couple others convinced me to try out the Cannondale. It is a great bike and felt the best of all the top end bikes I tried. I did not ride the Klien Q Carbon but another aluminum Klein.

I am going to go ride the Cannondale yet again. Sometimes it takes a little time to appreciate an item like a bike. My first impression is that the Klein is better for me however, first impressions can often be misleading.

Another issue that bothers me, even if only slightly, is that the tubes on both bikes are just so thin. Paper thin it seems. Doesn't leave much room for accidents or drops.

Just my .02 on the Klein Quantum (and note: I am a bit biased). I have been riding my Klein Quantum Race for 2 years and I will tell you that it is a fantastic bike. It handles like a dream, is very light (sub 3 lb frame) and due to the super stiff chain stays it accelerates like a cheeta on red bull. The craftsmanship is top notch and the Klein paint jobs are second to none.

I race Crits every Thursday during the summer and spend many a great afternoon on 40-50 milers on it. Can't say enough good things about this frame.

I ride in a club and many of the racers are using the new Klein's (with the carbon seat stays) and absolutely rave about them. They still have the great acceleration that Klein is known for but also have a bit more cushion on longer rides.

The Caad 7's also seem nice, but I have seen a few failures on Cannondale's (mostly the Cad 5 frames) that would make me think twice.

Also, you might want to check into the Quattro Assi line of bikes. They also make some great frames at very reasonable prices.

Either way you are sure to get a nice bike and I wouldn't worry too much about the thin wall tubing. As with any aluminum bike, care needs to be taken in handling but they are typically a lot stronger than they appear. (Mine once launched off the roof of my friends car when his Yakima rack broke and the frame made it through without a nick, the saddle, wheels and bars...that's a different story.)

I have been doing research on road bikes for three months and am not finished yet, but of the two, the CAAD7 frame is, to me, more forgiving and a much superior ride.

When you get down to it, when you are spending upwards of $1900 on a road bike, they are all pretty close and it is what you like best.

Originally posted by rnhood
I am going to go ride the Cannondale yet again. Sometimes it takes a little time to appreciate an item like a bike. My first impression is that the Klein is better for me however, first impressions can often be misleading.

Another issue that bothers me, even if only slightly, is that the tubes on both bikes are just so thin. Paper thin it seems. Doesn't leave much room for accidents or drops.


I found the CAAD7 to be better in all departments.
Tubing is thin hence the large diameter tubing but not as thin as you think, around a 1mm is average in high end tube sets.

The bikes will be more crash worthy than high end Carbon fibre for the same weight.

Just joined the forum and I ran across this post.

So which bike did you end up getting?

I am just starting to ride and want a beginner bike....there is a q-cabon in Ral on craig's list

Just joined the forum and I ran across this post.

So which bike did you end up getting?

I am just starting to ride and want a beginner bike....there is a q-cabon in Ral on craig's list

You did catch that this thread is 5 years old - didn't you?

He retired and now lives in Arizona.

Klein WOW, I loved them back inthe day I thought they were goners. WOW during the bif tubed 80's-980's Klein & C dale were all the rage. Kleins were always a tad nicer more racey better made I thought..C-dale was better able to getthe market share and I thought later bought Klein????or was that Trek who did so? Anyway I say is Kelin is still around go with them they focuse more on a pure racing bike. Let us know:thumb:

Klein is still semi alive.
The make some carbon bikes, primarily for Japan. The quality (at least of the 07-08 models) has gone down from the 06 and earlier aluminum frames.

Trek bought Klein. They stopped marketing them in the U.S. a couple of years ago but were still selling them in Japan and Europe, where the brand is more popular.

There was a rumor they'd be bringing them back in the U.S. market after the split with Lemond, but now that they've brought out the Gary Fisher line of road bikes I don't know if that's likely. By the way, is it just me or do those Gary Fisher ARC's look suspiciously like the Klein Aura model from 2004?

Trek bought Klein. They stopped marketing them in the U.S. a couple of years ago but were still selling them in Japan and Europe, where the brand is more popular.

There was a rumor they'd be bringing them back in the U.S. market after the split with Lemond, but now that they've brought out the Gary Fisher line of road bikes I don't know if that's likely. By the way, is it just me or do those Gary Fisher ARC's look suspiciously like the Klein Aura model from 2004?

They killed the Klein line completely in the U.S.

yeah, picked up on the old thread...I can still be curious.

I dod not know that trek bpought Klein, huh...so the quality is really going down?

I guess I hsould look for an entry level trek or c-dale.

The kill now applies to the world at large. Trek is on a mission to perform total Kleinocide.

The kill now applies to the world at large. Trek is on a mission to perform total Kleinocide.

They did a fantastic job with Bontrager (former maker of VERY nice road, cross, and mountain frames).

Did we ever settle the CAAD7 vs Klein Q Carbon debate?

They did a fantastic job with Bontrager (former maker of VERY nice road, cross, and mountain frames).

Except in this case the name dies too. They are keeping the Fisher name alive but using the Lemond bike frames and calling them Fisher. Hard to believe that of those three choices they would choose to destroy Klein.

yeah, picked up on the old thread...I can still be curious.

I dod not know that trek bpought Klein, huh...so the quality is really going down?

I guess I hsould look for an entry level trek or c-dale.

The Klein produced at Trek's Waterloo facility are just fine as far as quality goes. The only problem is, you can't buy one (except used, of course...).

Except in this case the name dies too. They are keeping the Fisher name alive but using the Lemond bike frames and calling them Fisher.

I'm not so sure about that..the Fisher road bikes I've looked at online (haven't had the chance to see them up close and personal) look like the Klein Aura model, right down to the internal cable routing.


Hard to believe that of those three choices they would choose to destroy Klein.

Klein basically represented high end aluminum. It's a carbon world these days....