[leadin]Three bikes for the price of one. That is the theme with German upstart 8bar, which launched its modular concept this week.[/leadin]
Two forks, sliding dropouts, and lots of fender and rack mounts make this road bike frame a passable off-road option.
Berlin-based custom bike manufacturer, 8bar, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund what they claim is a bike for all occasions. The MITTE can go from aggressive road geometry and short wheelbase to a more upright, wide wheelbase cyclocross bike “within 15 minutes.” The campaign was successfully funded with 40 days remaining.
Adjustable Geometry Bicycle
Each frameset comes with two forks — one carbon for road, the other aluminum for cross and touring. Switching from the road to the cross fork reduces the bike’s head and seat tube angle by a degree, lowering the bike’s overall stance, and allowing more clearance for knobby tires.
After swapping forks, you can also slide the rear dropouts back, widening the wheelbase and allowing for a wider tire in back. The effect is subtle, but noticeable to seasoned riders.
Anyone investing in a MITTE should have a basic set of tools, or a nearby bike shop to take full advantage of this ride. Hex wrenches, tire levers, and a bike stand are a must, and they are not included with a purchase.
Complete bikes start at $1,450. While most riders can, and do, get by with hybrid bikes and couple wheelsets, this bike is really geared more toward riders that want a do-everything bike that really outperforms hybrids in road performance.
The multitude of fender and rack mounts is a nice addition for road riders that want the option to load up for weekend getaways.
The MITTE comes in two options: the Comp, which has a 10-speed Shimano Tiagra groupset, and the Pro, which is 11 speeds on an Ultegra group. Both come with internal routing for cables and a triple-butted 6066 aluminum frame.
Learn more at 8Bar Bikes.
