Klein Product Timeline

1973

• Gary Klein became interested in building Aluminum frames.
• Independent Activities Project was started to test bicycle frames.

1975

• (Feb.) Built and displayed some prototypes at the International cycle show in New York. They were welded and fully heat treated construction

1976

• (July) Batch sizes had grown. Gary Klein and Jim Williams bought out inactive partners, eventually ending with only Gary Klein carrying the business on.

1980

• Custom frames were built and sold for over $2000

1981 line consisted of:

• Team Super Light Road
• Team Super Heavy Duty Road
• Stage Road
• Stage Tour Road

These models were custom built per order

1983

• Mountain Klein was started, featuring a chain stay mountain U-Brake or a roller cam brake.

1986

• Elite Trail was used to win the 1st place at one of the 1986 NORBA races.

1988

• Pinnacle took the place of Mountain Klein, making room for more aggressive bikes.

1989

In addition to the Klein Custom frame models Team Super Road, Criterium, Stage & Advantage Klein offered the following production models

• Performance Road
• Quantum Road
• Kirsten – new road model with women’s specific design
• Pinnacle Mountain Bike
• Top Gun – new shorter wheel base XC Mountain Bike design, symbolized Klein's 'real' first attempt at a racing bike. Paramount Picture had rights to the names so the name ‘Rascal’ was adopted. 

1990

• The Rascal MTB, a simpler approach to a race bike was introduced with thinner tubing, the main difference was the 1" head tube instead of the Klein oversize headset. 
• The Attitude was one of the biggest advances in Klein mountain bikes since the
  introduction of oversize Aluminum tubing

1991

• Adroit Mountain Bike makes its’ first appearance.
• Klein started using Strata monster oversize Aluminum unicrown fork instead of a box crown Cro-Moly fork.

1992

• Klein started using oversize seat tube with 31.6mm seat post & slightly larger frame tubes to further reduce weight

1994

• Quantum Pro Criterium introduced, with Gradient 9320 frame tubing, Aeros composite fork. Weighing in at 3.9 pounds.
• Klein also introduced Micro dropouts, Mission Control 2 bar/stem combo, upgraded fork (no longer fitted to frame), and gradient chain stays.

1995

• Quantum Pro Road
• Quantum II Road
• Quantum Road
• Aeolus Tri-athlete Road
• Adroit MTB
• Attitude MTB
• Pulse MTB w/front suspension fork
• Fervor MTB

1996

• Pulse Comp – New entry level MTB frame

1997

• Quantum Race Road – New revision to Quantum Series; 1^st year offered as assembled bike
• Stage Road – New entry level sport/performance design
• Pulse MTB  – Klein designed Waterloo produced frame series
• Mantra  – 1^st Klein full suspension design

1998

• New Karma Pave rear suspension Hybrid developed

1999

• New Mantra Carbon full suspension w/Carbon main boom introduced
• Mission Control 3 Road & MTB stems introduced

2000

• New Attitude designed introduced with disk brake compatibility
• Custom Color & Fit program introduced

2001

• Adept MTB introduced - new XC race short travel full suspension design

2002

• Klein ZR9000 Gradient Aluminum alloy introduced on Q-Pro Road & Adept MTB
• Q-Pro Carbon Road introduced – ZR9000 alloy with bond Carbon fiber wishbone seat stays

2003

• New Q-Carbon Compact ZR9000 with high modulus Carbon Fiber wishbone seat stays
• Introduced new Palomino Full suspension XC/All Mountain MTB using Maverick Suspension “Mono-Link” rear suspension design.