Product Description
This was a custom ordered bike, built for the owner of one of the top Klein dealers in the 1980's. I bought out the remainder of his bike shop and some of his personal bike goodies, and this was among it. EVERYTHING he had was in top shape, and this touring bike is no exception! It's barely been ridden, and in true show worthy condition. Paint and decals are completely original!
It was loosely built around the Stage model. Features the elusive Boron wrapping on the chainstays under the paint. It has aero downtube shifter mounts (rare feature), fender/rack mounts, and a Haden fork crown. Angles are on the steep side at 72 degree headtube, 76 degree seat tube. It has the trademark Klein press-in bottom bracket, as well as a paint-matched Silca Impero frame pump. The paint is a gorgeous metallic champagne, with deep crimson red decals. Horizontal dropouts. Front/rear rack and fender mounts. Direct mount front derailleur. Braze-on's for 3rd bottle cage on bottom of downtube. Frame number is A68 on the bottom of the non-drive seatstay. Unknown year, but shop owner recalls it could be as early as 1980-1981. This is backed up by those are the years it's Modolo Kronos aero shifters were produced.
The build is set up with the best "performing" touring parts available in the early 80's, with less regard to prestige than usual. The highlight of the build is the Huret DuoPar titanium, which is a super rare and highly efficient derailleur. Avocet is highly represented with the legendary Avocet Touring Triple crank and Touring 1 saddle. Modolo Professional brakes/levers, Specialized headset and hubs, Titan T rims, Campy skewers. Blackburn rear pannier. Dura Ace fluted seatpost for a bit of flair. All in minty shape.
Condition
Lightly used, and very close to mint show bike condition! 100% original paint and decals. From two feet away, the bike passes for unridden NOS. The paint is highly glossy with no fading. Decals are nearly flawless; no bubbles or peeling and look amazing. VERY few paint blemishes. The only substantial paint mark is on the bottom/drive side of the downtube right by the head tube. There's a half inch paint chip, with a couple tiny chips on either side of it. Otherwise, there's some paint wear on the bottom of the fork ends, a tiny chip just forward of the rear skewer lever on the non-drive chainstay, and slight chipping on the bottom of the rear dropouts from wheel install/removal. No chain slap/suck on the chainstay. The underside of chainstays and downtube are practically flawless.
All components are mint with hardly a mark anywhere. Bar tape is NOS. Rear tire appears new, front has very low mileage. Sidewalls on both are supple, and just slightly dry. No cracking in treads. Plenty rideable as far as 30 year old tires go. Brake hoods are NOS and supple. Chain, chainrings, freewheel show low use. Cables/housing are original, and in great shape. The bike is tuned, and ready to ride if you choose to do so. All bearings are silky smooth. Brake pads feel a bit harder than usual, but function fine. You may want to replace them if you're going to ride this extensively.
Frame
- Serial number: A68 (bottom of non-drive seatstay)
- Seat tube: 59cm (c-c), 61cm (c-t), 64cm to top of seat tube
- Top tube: 58cm
- Headtube: 200mm
- Seat tube angle: ~76 degree
- Head tube angle: ~72 degree
Components
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Frame: Oversized aluminum
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Wheelset: Specialized 1 Touring hubs, Matrix Titan T hard ano rims, Campagnolo Nuovo Record skewers, 36H
- Shifters: Modolo Kronos aero carbon downtube shifters
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Rear derailleur: Huret DuoPar titanium
- Front derailleur: Suntour Cyclone
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Crankset: Avocet touring triple- 175mm, 50/44/30t
- Brakes/levers: Modolo Professional, 1st gen, black hoods
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Freewheel: Suntour Winer Pro 5 speed, 13-32t
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Chain: Sachs
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Tires: Specialized Touring Turbo 700x32c
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Saddle: Avocet Touring 1
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Stem: ITM, 120mm
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Handlebar: 3ttt Superleggero handlebars (quite rare)
- Headset: Specialized, black
- Pedals: not included
