My new project -- Vintage Klein
 

So,
I was surfin' the CL today and came across this

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...oat/frame1.jpg

I picked it up for a few bucks, after convincing my wife that I needed another bike. I have to say that she wasn't impressed that it was only a frame.

It has been repainted. It is an aluminum frame with the press in BB. I'm not sure how old it is, the previous owner seemed to think somewhere around the late eighties. If anyone has any ideas about it, I would greatly appreciate some insight. It has a serial number on the left rear drop out, 204D6 with the unique K in a circle after it.

That's gonna be a sweet build. What parts are you thinking? That would look sweet with some blacked out stuff, sans decals. That'd be a cool challenge too, sourcing all black vintage road parts.

Is the fork aluminum or steel? Do the top tube cable guides go down the middle or are they offset to one side? That BB axle may be hard to come by. I haven't had a reason to replace one, recently.

I believe the fork is aluminum. It feels pretty light and the only exposted metal is where the bearing cup would go and that looks aluminum to me. The cable guides appear to be slightly off to the left. I'm hoping that I can get a BB axle from Phil Wood. I think I need to replace the bearings too; they feel a little rough when they rotate.

As for components, I'm just looking around at the moment. Waiting for the bike to talk to me the way it did when I saw the add.

That bike was on ebay last week. I watched it all week and then just could not press the button. Nice frame.

jim

He mentioned that he had it on ebay and it didn't sell. We figured the shipping from Hawaii was the killer.

Alright after looking at Diablo Scott's page and taking a few measurements, I'm pretty sure I have a Quantum.

I do have a question after looking at a few spindles on ebay. Is the BB spindle a smooth rod with the square taper or does it have some flanges on it to stop it from moving left and right in the BB? I know it's only 17mm in diameter, but I'm wondering if one of the old campy or shimano spindles would fit.

From the serial number placement it's either a 91 or 92. Probably a Quantum Road, although if it's got a long wheelbase it could be a Performance touring model.

That font started in 1992, but since it's a repaint that doesn't mean much.

Can't help with the bottom bracket and spindle issue, but Phill Wood would be a good place to start. I'd appreciate hearing your results.

Thanks. The wheel base matches up with the Quantum Road wheel base.

I've been doing a bunch of research the last week and even came across an old manual for pre 96 Klein bikes. I realized that I need to decide on the crankset before I can get the correct spindle.

I'm torn between getting older Shimano Ultegera / Dura Ace or Campy Chorus stuff. It's been so long since I've been on anything but a mountain bike, I don't really have an opinion on either one.

I can see that finding parts for it are going to be an adventure in itself; a strange seat post size, 27.4mm, the rear dropouts are space just barely 126mm and I'm not going to coldset an AL frame.

I didn't realize that index shifting was available on downtubes, I'm tempted just to stick with friction shift.

I love it.

126 mm hubs will be easy to find.

If the BB is pressed in, then a Phil Wood will not work, as they are threaded. Replacement cartridge bearings are not hard to obtain - check the internet. I'd be worried about the sindle.

If you cannot find a perfect fitting seat post, you can always shim a Campagnolo seat post to fit. 27.2 mm is common. That is just 0.2 mm larger. A 0.004" thick aluminum, brass or stainless steel shim would be perfect. Check the hardware store for shim stock or flashing.

It is a quantum road. They came in flavors depending on the parts group. The newer ones had Knesis aluminum forks, but the offset toptube guides were found on bikes from the mid-late 80's. The 27.4 seatpost was a feature of the earlier bikes, too...but I don't know about the Kleins in the 90's. I'm not arguing with DiabloScott, I just don't know.

Is it just the location of the number or is there something encoded in the number that makes you say 91 or 92?

The axles were custom to the Klein bikes; I see 'em on ebay sometimes. I don't recall much of a lip on any. Klein made a special tool to install and remove these things, but the right sized socket and a BF hammer was what I always used.

My wife has a Rascal rigged as a single speed townie, and I have three - a Klein Quantum Chorus from ( I think ) about 1987, a Klein Rascal from the very early 90's, and a very old Klein (stage? or maybe a really old Quantum) from the early 80's. Steel fork, offset cable guides, single tab that both of the shifters work from (sort of an aero dealie). The oldest is serial number 00017, and I have never gotten it together. Someday...

For a spindle one of the sealed bearing Stronglight's might be a way to go or look up titane on ebay there is a French seller, who has some titanium spindles, that might work or could be reworked to work at a fraction of the cost to have one made. I have purchased other stuff from this ebay seller, so I would not worry in that regard. Locating a proper spindle will be a trick until you do not need one anymore.

My brother has a Top Gun, which I always laugh about as they had to drop the use of that name under threat of lawsuit, and lawsuits and royalties were the order of the day to keep Klein in cash for quite a time.
Nevertheless, when I first rode one in later 1975, I knew this was the future. Impressively stiff.

btw, I'm pretty sure that you couldn't coldset a Klein. It just will not bend, with anything you have access to, except perhaps your car. I'm not even sure that it would bend then.

So, I've scouring Ebay looking for parts and found this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=310123085523
Heck of a deal right? Well I bought and paid for them, then I ordered a Cinelli stem to hold them. Well turns out the handlbars don't have a 26.4 mm clamp size, they are to small, probably a 25.4 mm size.

The messed up thing they are selling more handlebars with the same type of add. I sent them a note telling them about the measurement error, so we'll see.

So I guess I'll be looking for a set of Cinelli handlebars now. I still need to find a spindle. I have really moved that part to the bottom of the list or a "if I happen to find one" deal.

Don't know if you have seen this:

http://www.actiontec.us/attack.htm

Yes, as far as the serial number...just the location. See my serial number database HERE Lots of other indications that put it in that era too though (dropouts, extended seat tube, etc)

My History of Klein Road Bikes page: LINK

And Phil Wood does make the perfect BB bearings... LINK finding the spindle should be pretty easy.

They're just locktighted in there, finding a dealer who knows how to do it shouldn't be too tough. I think I have a tech manual that describes the procedure if you need it.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/Sa...essed%20BB.jpg


126mm spacing and 7-speed DT shifters would be easy. STI or ERGO will require some kind of 7-speed derailleur kludge.

I bet a syncros titanium BB spindle would work in there... just find the inner and outer diameters needed and the width of the bearing seat and then figure out what the flange distance needed would be... I bet you it would be close if not perfect.

When the weather's better I'll try to remember to post you some pics of the older one and the quantum chorus that I have together. Great resource, btw, thanks!

Ebay pays off!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=220366844903

I also found some ceramic bearings for the BB at $15.00 ea.

Now, I guess I'm tied to getting a Campy crankset though.

I don't think I recall seeing that one on Craigslist...

Was it you who was posting about the Cinelli and 3TTT handlebars? I emailed someone about them... I have some Aluminum Cinelli and 3TTT bars, but I think they are 42cm.

Nope wasn't me. What is the clampsize of the handlebars? How much do you want for one?

It was only up for a day. I snatched it up and he removed the add.

Not to over-complicate things, but you could call Klein (owned by Trek, of course) and see if they have any spindles. Two years ago, they did.

I believe they are... 26.0? If you're interested, email me at jbnakatsu@gmail.com

Thought I would post an update
 

Well I figured I would post an update. The wheels are somewhere in the mail...surface to Hawaii takes longer than I like.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t/HPIM3027.jpg

I just need to get a couple more of the bits and pieces and I'll be set.

Lookin good so far !