Road Cycling - Klein Aura X

Hi everyone:

I am new to Road bikes and was wondering what bike in the Trek line does the Klein Aura X compare to?

Thanks for your help,

Pablo

OK, I think the Aura X is similar in components to the Trek 2200, now which one would you get?

I concur - the 2200 is pretty close, although the Klein has Ultegra F/R ders, and Trek has 105 front.

Another thing I noticed is the Trek has a *slightly* better sprinkling of some components, e.g. "race lite" bars where the Klein merely has "race". BUT, if you weigh the bikes, you will likely find the Klein is still a smidge lighter in weight.

If you don't mind, I'd also like to strongly recommend the Klein. The Aura X is my bike, and so I am very biased in favor. Same situation, it was my first road bike, I always rode mtn bikes and eventually decided on this one. Has been great so far, no complaints at all, except I bought a nicer saddle. Great bike that enough performance to really grow into and not feel like you need to upgrade after 6 months; and yet not so outrageous that you'll get the negative attention you would with a 4k bike.

Towlie:

Thanks for the recommendation. What is the weight of your bike? I am a 17.5 to 18 inch frame on a mountain bike, but don't know the frame I should get in a road bike. I am 5' 9".

Doesn't trek own Klein?

Yep, trek owns klien, lemond and gary fisher.

Seriously? I love Trek bikes...but didn't know the company is THAT big.

I believe it was a few ounces under 20 lbs, and I think that was with at least a few bottle cages, maybe the seat bag too. It's a 58cm, which is almost certainly larger than what you'd get, so yours would probably be lighter. I'm somewhere around 5'10-1/2 to 5'11 barefoot, and I used to ride 17.5 mtn bikes that felt too small.

As for who owns what, Trek bought up several of those "prestige" brands in the last decade, Fisher, Klein, etc. For some people this taints the brands rep, and I understand that, but really what that whole deal boils down to is the specs for the different bikes. Just because Trek owns the factory and the workforce does not mean that a Klein is just a disguised Trek, just like a VW Phaeton (88k car) is not merely a disguised VW Golf (exaggerated analogy), just like an Audi is not merely a VW (closer analogy), and so forth. The design and construction of the two frames, alone are much different. For example, speaking of the 2200 vs. Aura X, they both have that "Z9000" Al allow in the frame, both are probably internally butted (tapered walls for optimal strength/lightness), BUT the Klein frame has more steps taken in manufacturing and a more detailed construction, e.g. the square-to-round transitioning of the stays, and the patented cable-thru-frame design.

Now, I am not enough of a bike historian to know if Trek has CHANGED specs or ways of doing things with Klein, but I do know the current specs and construction legitimately and add desirability over Trek (which is not meant to be a slam on Trek, which includes some awesome bikes). As long as the manufacturer is capable of building to spec, and those specs add legitimate value, then I think the identity of the owner of the plant is immaterial.

just as a random window shopper with no a$$-on experience like towlie, i prefer the classic geometry of the trek to the compact of the klein. but on the flip side i love klein paint jobs and think the aura x is sexier than the 2200.

okay, enough aesthetic commentary from me - hardly advice i know - i just like to look at pictures of bikes i can't afford is all..

Sorry, I misinterpreted the post, just re-read, self censorship on my part, post deleted... :D