Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Klein Attitude Dolomite

Klein Attitude Team USA

You really had to hand it to Gary Klein. He was one of the most innovative entrepreneurs of the modern mountain bike, pioneering aluminum as a viable frame material and thus initiating an evolutionary leap of design and style. Klein Bikes were considered some of the most beautiful of that era and are now among the most iconic.

Klein Attitude Team USA
Wikipedia tells me Gary presently designs telescopes, maybe to satisfy an urge for forward thinking. I’d like to hear what he thinks of modern MTB technology, but at least we have the original Klein Bikes to reveal where his head was at during the early 90s.

The Klein Attitude, shown here in the Dolomite or Team paint scheme, is perhaps one of the most recognizable of that era.

Klein Attitude Team USA
Fat tubes, buttery smooth welds, internal cabling, the Mission Control bar/stem combo and integrated headset were some of the reasons why Klein Bikes were referred to as “the Porsche of mountain bikes” back then. The crazy ‘Durethane’ paint schemes were a brilliant marketing move, available as an option upon ordering, and just added to their mystique.

Martin Kozaczek specializes in immaculate restorations of bikes from this era and although this one was built up for a customer, he also rides a ’93 & ’94 Adroit and a Quantum Pro.

Klein Attitude Team USA
This Attitude was a mess when Martin acquired it but with a little period knowledge and a new paint job from Spectrum Powderworks in Colorado Springs, it was presented at the 2013 NAHBS to an awed reception.

Klein Attitude Team USA
Klein Attitude Team USA
Klein Attitude Team USA
Klein Attitude Team USA