kolektif Berlin Bike Fair 2020 – Craftsmanship, Custom Bikes and Cargo Trends

The kolektif Berlin Bike Fair enters its second year for 2020 and is becoming a firm fixture on the German bike scene calendar. We’ve compiled a list of our show highlights for you here!

The team behind RAD RACE have done it again: taking full advantage of the opportunity, Ingo Engelhart’s crew poured their heart and soul into kolektif Bike Fair 2.0, making it cosier and more popular than ever before. The timing couldn’t have been better, with the World Track Championships and the RAD RACE Last Wo/Man Standing both hosted in Berlin, the German capital was still completely in the grip of bike-fever. Once again, for 2020 the kolektif Bike Fair has remained true to itself as a trendy meeting place for bicycle fans of all colours. Instead of acting as a stage solely for big industry, they also lend a voice to high-end custom builders, craftsmanship and the occasional oddities. We’ve compiled a summary of the most exciting products of the show for you here:

Fern custom bikes

The bikes from Fern-Fahrräder, based in Berlin-Lichtenberg, invariably trigger your must-have reflex and frame builder, Flo’s latest creation also drew in the eyes of all those who passed. With a OneUp Components dropper post that can be operated via the left shifter and clearance for up to 650B x 60 mm or 700C x 55 mm tires, the bike should also feel at home on rough slopes and technical trails. Up front, they’ve got their in-house developed ALLYGN carbon fork. With three bottle bosses on either side that are both cleared for a 5 kg carrying capacity and internal routing for brake and dynamo cables, it’s perfectly made for bike packing adventures. As usual, the fancy NASA inspired paint job was done by the Berlin-based Velociao.

For more information visit fern-fahrraeder.de

Gramm custom bags

Leading the Gramm Tourpacking brand is Kristin Heil, who has been producing custom bike bags since 2013. The only limit to what she can make is the customer’s imagination. Extras such as additional inner pockets, zippers or rubber bands can almost always be arranged. The new two-part frame bag on the Fern show bike gets attached directly to the frame via eight bolts, ensuring a clean look and chafe-free riding without the usual Velcro fasteners. The new dropper seat bag is equally ingenious: a saddlebag specially developed for dropper posts, which is becoming increasingly popular in bike packing.

For more information visit gramm-tourpacking.com

Meerglas custom bikes

To the delight of all trade fair visitors, frame builder Thomas Becker brought one of his latest works of art. His Rinko Randonneur bike is built to individual customer requirements, based on Reynolds 853 steel tubes and, true to the Japanese Rinko system, can be dismantled to a train and car-friendly pack size within minutes. Clever details such as the separable Honjo mudguard, a fully detachable brake cable on the rear, MKS quick-release pedals and the wireless SON hub dynamo are equally as impressive as the light switch integrated into the stem cap. The green beauty rolls on 650Bx42 René Herse Baby Shoe Pass tires and Pacenti Brevet rims. In order to achieve the specified target weight of 10.4 kg in frame size 63/57, Thomas dug deep into his bag of Drillium tricks, leaving almost no component untouched.

For more information visit meerglas.org

Robertone custom bikes

Combining classic looks and modern functionality: at Robertone this is the definition of a perfect road bike. The small company from Hamburg presented itself to the public for the first time at kolektif Berlin. Their exclusive show bike features a seat post, spacer, handlebar, and hand-engraved components from Italy as well as Shimano’s current DURA-ACE 9100 groupset. After a long search, they found a jeweller from Pforzheim to produce the elaborate brass head badge – Robertone’s love for detail can be seen on every one of their frames. Individualisation is what they’re all about, customising everything from the geometry to the componentry and the paintwork. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can now also visit their recently opened showroom in Hamburg and take a seat on their bike fitting bike for more advice.

For more information visit robertone.cc

Desiknio E-Gravel bike

Spanish ebike manufacturer Desiknio present their new 11S Gravel, the first electrically driven gravel bike in their range. While Desiknio did have a gravel package for their earlier framesets, they’ve made a lot of improvements for the latest generation model. The 250 Wh battery is integrated almost invisibly into the down tube and is said to power the MAHLE Ebikemotion X35 M motor for up to 100 km. The frame offers clearance for up to 50 mm wide tires and is available in different colours. The motor and lighting system can be controlled via MAHLE Ebikemotion system’s familiar, illuminated buttons on the top tube. Specced with a mechanical Shimano GRX groupset and aluminium fork, the bike costs € 4,290. Shimano’s electronic Di2 version and a carbon fork are available for an additional charge.

For more information visit desiknio.com

SOUR BICYCLES Clueless

The small brand from Dresden is no longer only known to connoisseurs of steel frames. Defined as a road plus bike, the SOUR Clueless presented here can be ordered as a frameset (€ 749) or as a complete bike (from € 2,619). With clearance for up to 40 mm wide tires, it’s happy to keep on going even when the paved roads end. The choice of colours is by no means limited to their five standard options. You’ll be spoiled for choice with over 60 different colours when you go to the official dealer or visit their webshop. You can customise every detail of your build just as easily, such as this example riddled with silver Chris King components. Regarding the wheels, the company relies on a cooperation with wheel builders, Light Wolf, also based in Dresden.

For more information visit sour.bike

8bar news: TFLSBERG 2021 and MITTE STEEL 2020

The TFLSBERG 2021 is the latest bike from Berlin-based bicycle manufacturer, 8bar, and with the bosses on the side of the down tube, it gives you the option of attaching water bottles as well as a full frame-bag – as tested by founder Stefan Schott for two weeks in Slovenia without any problems. The wide 29 x 2.25” tires should roll comfortably over rough terrain and generate sufficient traction at all times. A suitable frame bag is available for each size, which you can include in your order – once launched, the bike will be ready for your first adventure out of the box! Stefan also presented the brand new 8bar MITTE STEEL in a classy black finish. Based on the existing MITTE, the new steel bike is also intended for gravel riding and commuting. The price for the frameset starts at € 499 and builds with Shimano’s GRX groupset are available from € 1,899.

For more information visit 8bar-bikes.com

COPRO Lilienthal wheels

Carbon wheels, made in Germany. With know-how carried over from the aerospace industry, not only are the wheels developed and designed in Braunschweig, but also manufactured. They’re so convinced of the quality of their product that you get a lifetime guarantee on the new COPRO wheels. The processing of the carbon fibres is fully automated. According to COPRO, they achieve a high level of strength through a multi-layer construction. The wheelset shown here is approved for the toughest MTB downhill and enduro use, available with at least 24 and a maximum of 36 spoke holes as required and – as you can see – also looks really good on a gravel bike. Due to the manufacturing process, the rim is filled with foam, but this is said to be removed on their lighter gravel-specific wheelset planned for late 2020. The wheels are built in their own workshop in Braunschweig and the preferred partner for hubs is German brand, Tune. However, special requests shouldn’t be a problem.

For more information visit copro-technology.com

Bastiaen cargo bikes

Originally designed as a private project with a toy crate, Bastiaen are now producing their third cargo bike. By dispensing with a fork up front, the bike can be kept relatively compact and light despite ample carrying capacity. The handling of the black turbo transporter should also benefit from this design. The latest evolution is claimed to weigh less than 17 kg, including SON hub dynamo. Aside from the rim, the complete set is manufactured in Europe. The front wheel was designed in-house and the special component joining the rim and the spokes is 3D printed. You can order the set, including the frame and dynamo for € 2,950.

For more information visit customind-id.de

Catan Cargo Bikes X Rhino Cargo Box

The origin of this unique titanium cargo bike goes back to the idea of having a bike for travelling with the whole family without loading your bike up like a pack mule to the point of being unrecognisable. A large duffle bag filled with the luggage of his whole family: that’s all that Catan founder Sebastian Grassow wants to transport and for which he developed his 17.6 kg titanium cargo bike, offering a maximum carrying capacity of 30 kg. The frame can be split in the middle of the top and down tube so that it can fit in the back of your van when you go on holiday. The unique construction of the front end includes a record-breaking number of headsets and a push-pull cable for steering, keeping the centre of gravity nice and low to ensure agile handling. The cargo bike can be individually configured and set up on request.

For more information visit catan-bikes.com

Big Forest Frameworks Roadrunner

Robert Piontek, founder of Big Forest Frameworks, also thought about the little fair visitors and brought his son, Alexander’s Roadrunner push-bike, which he built himself. With high-end hubs and a Chris King headset, Thomson seat post and cockpit, and probably the smallest carbon rims in the world, the Roadrunner put many of the fair exhibits in its small shadow. If your kid gets tired: no problem. The bike can be split in half and stowed away within seconds. Your kids haven’t given you a break since visiting kolektif and absolutely have to have this bike? You can order the bike in Big Forest Frameworks’ online shop for € 4,250.

For more information visit bigforestframeworks.com

What else?

The kolektif bike fair wasn’t unaffected by the Coronavirus either – instead of the customary fist bump or handshake, some opted for an elbow bump instead or hugging with their breath held. Although visitors and exhibitors agreed that the effects of the virus would occupy the entire bike world for many months to come, it hasn’t diminished its fascination with two wheels over the past few days. We’re leaving this year’s fair feeling very optimistic. The atmosphere at Motorwerk, Berlin was friendly, inclusive and tolerant. kolektif 2021? We would love to come back and hope to see you all again next year!

For more information visit kolektif-berlin.com

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Words: Philipp Schwab, Benjamin Topf Photos: Benjamin Topf