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Klein Bicycle Corporation

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Klein Bikes
Founded1977; 47 years ago (1977)
FounderGary Klein
Defunct2009; 15 years ago (2009)
Headquarters
Chehalis, Washington
ProductsBicycles
ParentTrek Bicycle Corporation

Klein was a bicycle company founded by Gary Klein that pioneered the use of large diameter aluminium alloy tubes for greater stiffness and lower weight.

Klein produced his first bicycle frames while a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the 1970s, and full production runs of frames began in the 1980s. In 1995 the company was purchased by the Trek Bicycle Corporation, and the original Klein factory at Chehalis, Washington, closed in 2002 as production moved to the Trek headquarters at Waterloo, Wisconsin. Widespread distribution in the United States stopped in 2007, and ceased altogether in the rest of the world in 2009.

History

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Seat tube badge on a Klein Quantum, saying "Made in Chehalis, WA"
Seat tube badge on a Klein Quantum

Gary Klein, born (1952-06-09) June 9, 1952 (age 72), attended the University of California at Davis before transferring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).[1][2] During the Independent Activities Period in 1973, a group of students including Klein worked together under Professor Buckley to produce an aluminum framed bicycle.[3] After analyzing a number of contemporary steel frames, and examining ones that had broken in use, they were able to determine the stresses placed on a bicycle frame.[3] Faced with limited available types of aluminum alloy tubing, the students chose to construct frames from 6061 aluminium alloy seamless drawn tube; alternatives such as the stronger 7075 aluminum alloy were discarded because of the tubing dimensions.[3]

After graduating from MIT in 1974 with a degree in chemical engineering, Klein took a business course for entrepreneurs.[4] As a keen road racer, in 1975, he started a business project with three other people and built a limited run of aluminum alloy framed bikes at the MIT Innovation Center, using a US$20,000 grant provided by MIT and US$1,000 of capital from each partner.[1][2] The prototypes, with larger diameter tubes and thinner walls than those produced in 1973, were displayed at the International cycle show in New York in February 1975.[3]

A Klein Adroit in Burgundy Blue

The next year, he relocated to some disused buildings on his parents' farm in San Martin, California, that had previously been used for dehydrating prunes.[3][4] In 1977, he patented use of large diameter aluminum alloy tubes to increase stiffness,[5] and in 1980, he moved from San Jose, California, to Chehalis, Washington.[4][6] He started production runs of road bicycles in the early 1980s and mountain bikes in the mid 1980s.[3]

In the formative beginnings of the Klein Bicycle Corporation, the company began building bicycles out of a barn in Mary's Corner, a small community south of Chehalis, starting in 1981.[7] The company opened a 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2) factory plant in the town that was expanded to 70,000 square feet (6,500 m2).[8]

In 1995, Trek bought Klein bikes, after Klein found it hard to compete without the sales network of a larger company in place.[6][9][10] At its peak, around 250 people worked at the Chehalis plant, but operations gradually moved to the main Trek factory in Wisconsin.[9] In 2001, a workforce of around 70 people produced 15,000 to 20,000 frames a year.[6] In 2002, all production moved to the Trek headquarters at Waterloo, Wisconsin[11] and the Mary's Corner manufacturing site closed that same year.[12] Bikes were still sold under the Klein name until around 2009 in Japan, but widespread distribution ceased circa 2007 in the United States.[9][13]

Innovations

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Rear triangle of a blue Klein Mantra
Rear triangle of a Klein Mantra
Bottom bracket and suspension linkage of a bright orange Klein Adept Comp
The bottom bracket and suspension pivot of a Klein Adept Comp

Some off-road models featured two designs of one-piece welded stem-bar combination, marketed as "Mission Control" (MC), that eliminated clamping bolts and excess material.[14] The original version, MC1, used a quill stem and required a 1 inch (25 mm) threaded steerer.[15] MC2 used a locknut tightening against a collet that sat between the fork steerer and the stem, and a special eight pointed wrench was required to remove it.[14][16] The steerer had to be cut to the correct length in order to adjust the height of the stem.[14] MC3 was a third version that was only the stem, thus the handlebar was not welded.[14]

Klein held a patent (US 5433465 ) for an improved method of routing cables through the frame of a bicycle, that reduced aerodynamic drag and stress on the frame.[2][note 1] The front and rear derailleur cables were routed through the down tube, and the rear brake cable through the top tube, although some models changed in 2002 to top tube cable routing for greater harmonisation with Shimano components.[2][14]

In the 2002 model year, Klein replaced 6061 aluminium alloy with a new alloy called ZR 9000, that used zirconium in place of chromium; the new alloy had not been assigned an industry number and it was named after the unused 9000 series.[2][17] Advertised improvements included a 190 grams (6.7 oz) decrease in weight per frame and a fatigue life five times longer than the 2001 model year frames.[2]

While Klein's use of aluminium for a bicycle frames was not entirely novel, his use of large diameter tubes was.[1][4][note 2] Aluminium alloys have a Young's modulus around a third that of steel, but with thicker tubes he was able to make a bicycle that weighed around 15% less than a conventional model.[1]

Techniques

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Klein bicycles were famous for their paintwork, and offered a large number of custom colours and patterns.[14][18] The paint used was a Durethane enamel non-metallic paint that cost up to US$1,800 per gallon.[14] The Klein logo was debossed into the frame by painting the frame in the colour of the logo, then applying a mask and painting the pattern.[14]

Beginning with the MC2 frames, Klein used "Gradient tubing", where the wall thickness varied along the length and diameter of the tube.[2][14] Highly manipulated chainstays on mountain bikes allowed a tighter rear triangle to accommodate large off-road tyres, and facilitated efficient transfer of power.[19]

Welded aluminium needed heat treating to restore strength lost in welding.[2] After the treatment, frames were required to be aligned to within 0.004 inches (0.10 mm) on all alignment surfaces, and were then machined to within 0.0002 inches (0.0051 mm).[2]

Models

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Klein produced both mountain bikes and road bikes.[20]

Models are sourced from the official catalogue for that particular year. Years marked in red are incomplete due to a lack of reliable source information.

Model '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08
Adept[note 3]
Adroit
Advantage
Aeolus
Agile[note 4]
Attitude
Aura
Criterium
Fervor
Karma[note 5]
Kirsten
Mantra
Mountain Klein
Navigator
Palomino
Panache
Performance
Pinnacle
Pulse
Q-Carbon[note 6]
Q-Elite
Q-Pro
Quantum
Rascal
Reve
Stage
Team
Top Gun[note 7]
References [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [21] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45]
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Klein made custom bikes for San Francisco's Lombardi team, which were ridden in 2001.[46] German cycling team Gerolsteiner rode Klein Quantum frames before 2003, when Gerolsteiner changed their bike sponsor to Wilier Triestina.[47][48] For the 2004 season, Klein sponsored the Jittery Joe's cycling team.[49]

Media

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A green Klein Pinnacle bike was hanging in the set of Seinfeld from season 3 episode 5 through the end of the series.[50][51]

Notes

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  1. ^ Earlier patents for internal cables, such as US 4585246 , also exist, and the Klein patent specifically covers the entry and exit points of the cable.
  2. ^ Aluminum had been used previously in Monarch bicycles produced in the 1940s and by ALAN of Italy.[3]
  3. ^ The earlier Adept models were hardtails; in the 1992 catalog it is described as "multi-use."[21] The ones produced in 2001 and 2002 were full suspension mountain bikes.
  4. ^ The Agile was a modified Adept, with a drop bar for cyclocross use. Only a very small number (two or three) were ever made for Klein team racers.[22]
  5. ^ The earlier Karma produced in 1998 was a full suspension mountain bike, whereas the later ones were commuter bicycles.
  6. ^ Distinct from the Q-Pro Carbon
  7. ^ The Top Gun was renamed the Rascal after Paramount Pictures objected to the name, shared by the 1986 film Top Gun.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Gary Gordon Klein". Advameg Inc. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "2002 Technical Service Manual" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "The Art of Bicycles" (PDF). kleinjapan.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d Bob Woodward (March 1987). "Mountain Man". Backpacker.
  5. ^ US patent 4500103, "High efficiency bicycle frame" 
  6. ^ a b c "Washington Bicycle Makers Are in High Gear". Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. July 15, 2001. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  7. ^ Mittge, Brian (September 18, 2006). "Today in history: From the files of The Chronicle". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Lawton, Mark (September 17, 2004). "Two manufacturers opening in Lewis County". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Roy Wallack; John Maynard. "Gary Klein". Switchback. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Press Release to Trek Organization Dealers" (Press release). bikepro.com. June 16, 1995. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  11. ^ "Klein Bicycles Moves to Waterloo". Totalbike. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  12. ^ "Business Digest - Klein to shut down bicycle plant". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. November 1, 2001. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  13. ^ "Spotlight on Klein". Chain Reaction. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Klein Attitude evolution". oldklein.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  15. ^ "Archival Review of Klein Mission Control Bar / Stem Combo". .bikepro.com. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  16. ^ "Partially disassembled MC2 clamping mechanism". Archived from the original on May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  17. ^ "Trek Bicycle". totalbike.com. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  18. ^ AdamsMorioka (2008). Color Design Workbook: A Real World Guide to Using Color in Graphic Design. Rockport Publishers. pp. 110–111. ISBN 9781616736514.
  19. ^ Tom Walz (November 1985). "The Mountain Klein". Bicycle Guide.
  20. ^ "Klein Models". oldklein.com. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  21. ^ a b "1992 Klein Catalogue" (PDF). retrobike.co.uk. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  22. ^ "Klein Agile". oldklein.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014. and they do not feature in the catalogs.
  23. ^ "Q&A with Gary Klein". mistermoose.org. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  24. ^ "Klein Bicycles". mombat.org. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  25. ^ "Klein Catalogue 1986 Page 2". retrobike.co.uk. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  26. ^ "1988 Klein Pinnacle". mombat.org. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "1988 Mountain Bike Specialists Catalog". Archived from the original on May 26, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  27. ^ "1989 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  28. ^ "1990 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  29. ^ "1991 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  30. ^ "1993 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "1993 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  31. ^ "1994 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "1994 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  32. ^ "1995 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "1995 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  33. ^ "1996 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "1996 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  34. ^ "1997 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "1997 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  35. ^ "1998 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "1998 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  36. ^ "1999 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "1999 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  37. ^ "2000 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "2000 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  38. ^ "2001 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "2001 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  39. ^ "2002 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "2002 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  40. ^ "2003 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "2003 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  41. ^ "2004 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "2004 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  42. ^ "2005 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "2005 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  43. ^ "2006 Klein". BikePedia. Retrieved May 25, 2014. "2006 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  44. ^ "2007 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  45. ^ "2008 Klein Catalog" (PDF). vintage-trek.com. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  46. ^ John Crumpacker (September 7, 2001). "To Beat the Best / Lombardi Sports cycling team has a lot riding on an S.F. race that features Lance Armstrong". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  47. ^ "Davide Rebellin's Gerolsteiner Klein Q-Pro Carbon". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  48. ^ Chris Henry. "News for November 24, 2002". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  49. ^ "Cesar Grajales' Jittery Joes Pro Cycling Team Klein Q-Pro XX". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  50. ^ "Seinfeld Klein mountain bike tribute at Classic Cycle | Classic Cycle Bainbridge Island Kitsap County". Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  51. ^ David V. Herlihy (2004). Bicycle: The History. Yale University Press. p. 368. ISBN 9780300120479.
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