Three bikes for the price of one. That is the theme with German upstart 8bar, which launched its modular concept this week.
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.
