wanders

I was in my LBS the other day and came across a new in the box 1998 Klein Stage Comp R frame. Anyone know anything about the frame? I can get it for a couple hundred dollars but not sure if it worth building.

I'm afraid by the time I put it together I will have $1500 in a $699 bike. - If I'm lucky.

hoodooguru

Klein frames are awesome, if you don't want it send me the number of the shop. 1998 is before Trek bought them I believe which makes it even tastier. +1 one the frame.

Retro Grouch 

If I remember right:

1. Stage Comp was a lower end Klein. I don't know if the differences were just less delux finishing or if they lacked things like the hydro-formed chainstays. Unlike the top Kleins of that era it'll take off-the-shelf headsets and bottom brackets which, to my mind, is a good thing.
2. 1998 was after Trek bought Klein but while Kleins were still manufacturered in their own plant in Chehalis, Washington. To my mind, that's what separates the "real Kleins" from the "not exactly".
3. If it's the right size I'd grab it in a heartbeat.

wanders

Thanks for the replies.

Funny you mention it Retro,the first question I asked was if it had that accursed pressed in bottom bracket that my Pulse mtn bike has. When I saw that it took a regular threaded type, then I became really interested.

I'm pretty sure I'll get the frame. My next decision will be to go retro with it or 10 speed stuff.

I'll post pics and progress.

K-rider

I have the same bike. I purchased it new in 1999 and I have gradually increased my cycling mileage each year since '99. At the end of 2007 the frame had just under 17000 miles on it. I have had no problems. It is very responsive, climbs well, and for me the geometry is perfect. This past year, I shopped for a CF upgrade bike and I just couldn't find anything that I would happier with. The top tube length and seat tube and head tube angles make it very comfortable for me. Fortunately I ride mostly on smooth surfaces, on chip and seal or chip aggregate roads, a CF frame would be more comfortable than the aluminum Klein. I have upgraded with zipp wheels, arione saddle, carbon seat post, and headset changes.
I may not ride it forever, but I plan never to sell it.

Sirrobinofcoxly

I would probably pass on it.

Skewer

I have a similar frame/bike, 1997 Stage Comp, that I keep in California at relatives. I live in the Rockies, but go to California frequently and ride it around the Santa Cruz mountains. The rear triangle on mine is made of extremely stiff Klein Gradient Aluminum. The main tubes are Klein Power Tubing (aluminum). The fork is Road OCLV carbon. The bike is an extremely good climbing bike imo---and especially loves to go when you stand up out of the saddle on a climb. Not surprisingly, you feel more of the road than you do on my steel and carbon bikes, and the overall ride is a little less smooth.

Your bike was third in the Klein road lineup behind the Quantum Pro and the Quantum Race. Both those models used Klein Gradient Aluminum for both the main tubes and rear triangle, whereas that Stage Comp R used all Klein Power Tubing, which I believe would make the bike slightly less stiff than the other two, as well as a little bit heavier, and less stiff than my Stage Comp in the rear triangle. The fork should be an Icon Carbon classic which was another one of Trek's house brands---probably identical to the Road OCLV fork on my Stage Comp. The 1998 Quantum Pro was 9 speed Dura Ace equipped, the Quantum Race was 9 speed Ultegra equipped, and the Stage Comp R was 8 speed, and a mixture of Ultegra and 105---Ultegra front and rear derailleurs, Sugino RD7000 53/39 crankset, 105 brifters and calipers, ultegra pedals. I suppose the poster below will correct me if I am wrong, but I still have the original build specs for the Klein 1997 and 1998 models in my file cabinet, and I am looking at the spec sheet as I post this info. There is also a Stage Comp T (triple) model and a plain Stage Comp model that are below your model.

Those Kleins made in Chehalis, Washington all had very rich, high quality, deep paint jobs that keep the bikes looking brand new for many years. Did you happen to weigh the frame and fork at the bike shop? If you do, please let me know. I doubt the Stage Comp frames are particularly light frames. That $200 seems like a good price for a good frame, but if it were me, I probably wouldn't be inclined to throw a lot of expensive high end parts on it if I were building it up, seeing as how it wasn't their top of the line race frame when it was new. But I would buy it and throw moderately priced parts on it. JMO.

embibb

I have several thousand miles on my Klein Stage Comp R. It is a great climber and super still in the rear triangle. I did change to a carbon fork and handlebars. Unfortunately, I don't get to ride on the road that often as my area is rather congested and drivers with phone distractions scare me. I don't bounce well ...