The Berlin brand, whose name refers to the rock-hard tyre pressure for narrow racing tyres, was founded in 2011 and initially concentrated on steel rigid and single-speed racing bikes for urban traffic. The Mitte presented in 2016 expands the focus and is intended to combine several bikes at once: with a few simple conversions, it can be turned into a road racer, a cross-country bike or an adventure gravel bike. In addition to versions with steel and aluminium frames, 8bar now also offers the Mitte with a titanium frame. A special feature of this version is that the brake lines are fully integrated at the front, whereas they are on the outside of the steel and aluminium versions. However, the titanium centre can only be combined with electronic gears.
8bar centre TI: Other wheels, other bike
Instead of different forks, which were still necessary for a conversion in the first version, today so-called flip-chip dropouts on the fork and rear regulate the wheelbase and the riding characteristics. Depending on the tyre width being ridden, they position the front slightly higher or lower, the rear wheel slightly closer to the seat tube or further away. In a high or long position, the 8bar rides more smoothly, in a low or short position it is more manoeuvrable. The riding position also changes slightly: in off-road trim, the bike is a little more relaxed.
However, if you want to complete the conversion with the wheel change alone, this only works with different sized brake discs (road bike 140, gravel 160 millimetres). Otherwise, the brake calliper adapters must also be changed. If you prefer to focus on one area of use, you can still order a special gravel fork with luggage eyelets or a slim road bike fork for the centre. Off-road, the bike allows a maximum of 45 millimetre wide tyres, which are fitted to the test bike.
8bar centre TI: Exploit tyre clearance
We recommend maxing out the tyre clearance, as the thick tyres mitigate the moderate comfort of the frame and handlebars and go well with the steering geometry. With smaller 650B wheels, 50mm tyres can be retrofitted, but the steering is then likely to be a little more nervous. Almost all components can be configured using the modular system. The wheel options are pleasingly plentiful, but only SRAM drivetrains and various Schwalbe G-One tyres are available. Special features of our exemplary test bike are the 3D printed saddle, which is made to measure, the in-house modular crank and the classy DT Swiss wheels, which reduce the weight but also drive up the price.
8bar centre TI - Info & test grade
- TOUR grade: 2,3
- Price: 7273 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 8.9 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL (test size greased)
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 540/550/161 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 598/369 millimetres/1.62
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 653/543 millimetres/1.20
- Wheelbase/caster: 1020/74 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Force XPLR AXS (1x12; 44, 10-33 t.) | Grade: 2.0
- Brakes: SRAM Force (160/160 mm) | Grade: 1.5
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One R TLE 45 mm (eff.: 44 mm) | Grade: 1.0
- Impellers: DT Swiss GRC 1400 Spline
- Impeller weights: 1552/1962 grams (front/rear)
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Relatively light construction, can be converted to a road racing bike, configurable in the modular system
- Minus: Frame and handlebars with little comfort, comparatively expensive
Jens Klötzer
Editor
