Vintage Klein ID please?
 

Hi all,

My friend just recently picked up the frame pictured below. He believes it is a Klein. Serial number is RTT000705, Right before the serial number there is a K enclosed with a circle. Note the internal cable routing and the track dropouts!

Can anyone help us figure out the model and perhaps the year?

http://gallery.agamemnon.unixboxen.n...1/P3041018.JPG

There are more (very fuzzy) pictures here:
http://gallery.agamemnon.unixboxen.n...hotos/kleinid/

That was never a standard issue Klein. Up to 1980, Klein was esclusively custom. Then until about 1989 they still made a lot of customs but were developing the stock bikes.

Those track ends were never standard, and what is the logic of track ends with a RD hanger and shifter cable guides?

I haven't seen any internal routing on Kleins until the mid 1980's, but those do look like Klein's style.

The reverse-facing micro dropouts came in about the mid 1990's but they never looked anything like track ends.

If that's a press-in BB, then it's almost surely a Klein.

Those squarish chainstays don't look very Kleinish though.

The cantilever bosses make me think this was a touring bike, but the track ends make me think I have no idea what's going on.

History of Klein Road Bikes on my Blog

Triple water bottle bosses as well, and yes, the BB is a press in. He's going to order a Ti axle and new bearings from PW after I paint it. So we're probably talking a custom Klein then?

I took a quick look at klein's website and I don't see any contact email address... Do you know of anyone I can email to see if there are any records?

I'm guessing what you have is a Rascal or an Attitude (mountain bike country). They did have rear facing dropouts. The cantilever bosses would support this - before you go too far in building it for 700c wheels, you should try some and see if the brakes work.

Sorry, should have mentioned that yes, it's built for 26" rims...

If it's a mountain bike then I'm not the guy to talk to.

And Klein is pretty much unsupported now... unfortunately.

Here's a rascal i found with google. Sure looks like the frame in question...

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/...serialNumber=5

The RTT prefix on the serial number standing for radical might make sense, as there's a klein attitude on firstflightbikes with a serial number with an ATT prefix.

Looks right.

Can't imagine why anyone would strip off a paint job like that though.

The difference between the attitude and the rascal was primarily the fork - the attitude took 1 1/2" bearings, and the rascal took standard headset bearings. the attitude has a little bit different geometry as well. if it fits a 1" fork okay, it is a rascal.

Thanks luker!

Sheesh, what an undescriptive person I am today. It does have a 1" headset. Thanks! My friend will be very pleased as he's a "Rascal" as well :-D

I think he has a period correct Rock shox sid lined up for it.

it'll polish if you want to take the time to do it.

Yep, the frame is an early 90's Rascal. He's mine.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...99/rascal3.jpg

He wants me to blast it and clear coat it with some klein decals to match the color of the fork. I was planning to lightly blast it with some VERY fine aluminum oxide... Sound good?