Bespoked 2026 – Bikes Are Love
21.09.26 09:03 4242026-09-21T09:03:00+02:00Text: Ralf Hauser (translated by AI)Photos: NR22There are bike shows, and then there are bike shows. At Bespoked in Dresden, frame and component builders showcase their craftsmanship. Some come to sell their gems, some to demonstrate their skills, and all to be part of a growing community united by a love of bikes.21.09.26 09:03 9812026-09-21T09:03:00+02:00Bespoked 2026 – Bikes Are Love
21.09.26 09:03 9812026-09-21T09:03:00+02:00 Ralf Hauser (translated by AI) NR22There are bike shows, and then there are bike shows. At Bespoked in Dresden, frame and component builders showcase their craftsmanship. Some come to sell their gems, some to demonstrate their skills, and all to be part of a growing community united by a love of bikes.21.09.26 09:03 9812026-09-21T09:03:00+02:00
The Bespoked bike show is celebrating its 15th year, and we stopped by during its visit to Dresden, right at the airport – an extraordinary setting for an extraordinary show. For many exhibitors, it is not their first time; for even more, it will not be their last. Apparently, it is less about selling bicycles than spending time together, discussing ideas and talking shop with like-minded people. And right in the middle of it all: me, enthralled by unconventional details, craftsmanship and creative paintwork.
This year, I find myself surrounded by 32" monster trucks. While I defend them on the principle that everyone should ride whatever they want, I also cannot imagine that the bicycle industry, with all its aches and pains, really needs a new standard trailing an entire inventory of new parts behind it, let alone that it could digest one well. But that is another story...
This story is more about images and impressions than information, which, given the sheer volume, would easily exceed its scope – from A to Z.
612 Parts
Switzerland
Normally, Die Bremse RS – that is the product’s name, not its description – is only available in silver or black. Especially for the show, trained CNC machinist Felix Lüttner also had it anodised in pink and brown. The components for Die Bremse are CNC-machined in Germany.
A few highlights: a four-piston brake with 17 mm and 16 mm pistons respectively, paired with a 9 mm master-cylinder piston for enormous braking power. Mineral oil flows inside, while total weight is 301 g with a 90 cm brake hose.
Can I actually pull it off?
Felix Lüttin’s driving force behind building a brake.
Actofive Cycles
Dresden, Germany
Actofive is the work of tinkerer Simon Metzner, whose company Metzner Engineering handles CNC projects both within and beyond the bicycle industry. Based in Dresden, he did not have far to travel, bringing along his P-Train (enduro) and I-Train (less travel). It is hard to stop looking at the CNC artistry of the main frame, manufactured in two halves.
Alonukis Frameworks
Murnau am Staffelsee, Germany
Alutech
Anscheffel, Germany
Alutech turns 35 in spring. Jürgen Schlender took over the business 25 years ago. Since then, a great deal has been welded and developed in aluminium, and 2026 is no exception. Alutech is also currently experimenting extensively with 32"; rideable products are already available.
I built the Punk 32" especially for Bespoked, and it is purely a showcase.
Jürgen Schlender on his wild prototype that is not for sale
The Punk is available from Alutech with 29" wheels. For the moment at least, the Punk A1.0-32 prototype with 32" wheels is purely a showpiece. The fork crowns come from an old Kowa suspension fork, while the stanchions are seat tubes retrieved from the parts store.The Punk is available from Alutech with 29" wheels. For the moment at least, the Punk A1.0-32 prototype with 32" wheels is purely a showpiece. The fork crowns come from an old Kowa suspension fork, while the stanchions are seat tubes retrieved from the parts store.
The Pelmo 1.0 32" rolls on a very large tyre at the front at least, while a 29" wheel is fitted at the rear. The Manitou Dorado dual-crown fork is limited to 176 mm of travel, with 170 mm available at the rear.The Pelmo 1.0 32" rolls on a very large tyre at the front at least, while a 29" wheel is fitted at the rear. The Manitou Dorado dual-crown fork is limited to 176 mm of travel, with 170 mm available at the rear.
The ePelmo 1.0 with a 32" front and 27.5" rear wheel is not some vision of the future, but available in this form. Intend supplies 160 mm of travel at the front and 150 mm at the rear (optional: 170/170 mm). It is equipped with the Alutech P120 by Gobao, delivering 120 Nm. Battery options range from 600 to 805 Wh.The ePelmo 1.0 with a 32" front and 27.5" rear wheel is not some vision of the future, but available in this form. Intend supplies 160 mm of travel at the front and 150 mm at the rear (optional: 170/170 mm). It is equipped with the Alutech P120 by Gobao, delivering 120 Nm. Battery options range from 600 to 805 Wh.
Now 24 years old, this frame normally hangs above Jürgen’s desk at work. It was the first frame Jürgen developed entirely himself – he built three of them, although two fell victim to the development process. Inspired by the Intense M1, „Die Kuh“ is a substantial chunk of bike history.Now 24 years old, this frame normally hangs above Jürgen’s desk at work. It was the first frame Jürgen developed entirely himself – he built three of them, although two fell victim to the development process. Inspired by the Intense M1, „Die Kuh“ is a substantial chunk of bike history.
Angle
Brno, Czech Republic
Thanks to a proprietary process, Angle Bikes can build a frame with your preferred geometry, wall thickness and amount of travel.
A prototype also made the journey.
I can build custom geometries in carbon.
Boleslav Samek on the process he developed himself
This model is already available in your preferred colour, with a choice of intended use (trail or enduro), 120–156 mm of travel and custom geometry. A 61–70-degree head angle, 76–80-degree seat angle, 420–540 mm reach and a chainstay length of 430 or 440 mm leave little to be desired.This model is already available in your preferred colour, with a choice of intended use (trail or enduro), 120–156 mm of travel and custom geometry. A 61–70-degree head angle, 76–80-degree seat angle, 420–540 mm reach and a chainstay length of 430 or 440 mm leave little to be desired.
Aper
Patras, Greece
The Dryad made its debut at the Bespoked show. Manufactured from multiple in-house CNC-machined components made of 7075-T6 aluminium, this process helps keep the overall cost within reasonable bounds. Aper calls the construction Riblogic. Together with the Monolithic-One-Piece fork, which is machined complete with the steerer tube from a single block of aluminium, the Dryad is available in five frame sizes.The Dryad made its debut at the Bespoked show. Manufactured from multiple in-house CNC-machined components made of 7075-T6 aluminium, this process helps keep the overall cost within reasonable bounds. Aper calls the construction Riblogic. Together with the Monolithic-One-Piece fork, which is machined complete with the steerer tube from a single block of aluminium, the Dryad is available in five frame sizes.
The KOMPace has been around for a little longer – but that makes it no less interesting. With a main frame made from two CNC-machined halves, there is plenty going on in the kinematics of its 160 mm-travel rear end.The KOMPace has been around for a little longer – but that makes it no less interesting. With a main frame made from two CNC-machined halves, there is plenty going on in the kinematics of its 160 mm-travel rear end.
Avalanche
Paris, France
Marie Kervella is one of the few women to have devoted herself to framebuilding. Her titanium long-distance creation earned her the Bespoked award for best road bike.
We tried to create harmony and continuity between our design and the 3D-printed components.
Marie Kervella, one of the few female framebuilders
In detail, the seat-tube lug and dropout are made from 3D-printed titanium and joined to Grade 9 titanium tubes. The premium material is also used for the custom-built aero bar, whose height can be adjusted using spacers. With a different cap, the stem can also be used with conventional handlebars. A dynamo-powered light on the left dropout adds everyday practicality.In detail, the seat-tube lug and dropout are made from 3D-printed titanium and joined to Grade 9 titanium tubes. The premium material is also used for the custom-built aero bar, whose height can be adjusted using spacers. With a different cap, the stem can also be used with conventional handlebars. A dynamo-powered light on the left dropout adds everyday practicality.
Bastion Cycles
Melbourne, Australia
Among other techniques, Bastion works with 3D-printed titanium lugs – and the end result looks like the Archetype.
Black Sheep
Fort Collins, USA
A different take on full suspension: over the rocks on a leaf spring …
Clorofilla Bike Lab
Cesena, Italy
The “Horse With No Name” – the provisional working title of Clorofilla’s bike – was produced entirely at the company’s own CNC facility in Italy. Even the carbon tubes come from a company in Tuscany, Italy, making the “Made in Italy” designation thoroughly deserved. Clorofilla hopes to put the bike into small-scale production soon.
The bike does not have a real name yet; we did not expect this much interest.
Lorenzo Buratti on the “Horse With No Name”
Curve
Abbotsford, Australia
Cybercycle
Jena, Germany
Dedicated
Siegen, Germany
The Brakestuff stand featured not only every kind of aftermarket brake rotor, but also Dedicated’s Senduro XR.
Don Sebastiano
Mödling, Austria
Sebastian used to spend a great deal of time restoring cars and acquired the skills needed to build bicycles along the way. Even the frame jigs used to braze the steel frames with his signature exposed joints are homemade.
Anyone wanting to know where the name Don Sebastiano originated should look to the legendary Bud Spencer & Terence Hill films.
I only do it for fun; I work in aerospace.
Sebastian Bauer, when asked whether he earns his living from framebuilding
With 180 mm of travel at the front and 170 mm at the rear, the 17.7 kg Shredderalla Mullet is made from steel tubes. It is already the sixth bike Sebastian has built.With 180 mm of travel at the front and 170 mm at the rear, the 17.7 kg Shredderalla Mullet is made from steel tubes. It is already the sixth bike Sebastian has built.
Drom
Czech Republic
Festka
Prague, Czech Republic
For the show bike, Festka joined forces with Holy Hardcore Ride – an initiative that connects people, products and places through authentic storytelling.For the show bike, Festka joined forces with Holy Hardcore Ride – an initiative that connects people, products and places through authentic storytelling.
Finnbar Trout
Cologne, Germany
Forma
Hamilton, Canada
Custom bicycles with filament-wound carbon and 7075-T6 lugs.
Fraise
Roubaix, France
Geos
Berlin, Germany
The Geos can be built with a steel frame or, as here, titanium. Inside the frame, the battery is split between the top tube and down tube, while an Aikema motor sits at the rear wheel. The integrated rear light conceals the charging port. A Pinion gearbox is one of the drivetrain options.The Geos can be built with a steel frame or, as here, titanium. Inside the frame, the battery is split between the top tube and down tube, while an Aikema motor sits at the rear wheel. The integrated rear light conceals the charging port. A Pinion gearbox is one of the drivetrain options.
Giawasa
Germany
Hage Bikes
Germany
Marten Hageney of Hage Bikes has built three frames to test his ideas surrounding his patent-pending Coaxial Drivetrain Tensioner (CDT).
The frame consists partly of conventional tubes and partly of machined halves that are welded together. The large unit between the down tube and Pinion gearbox, as well as the seatstays and chainstays, are machined by Metzner Engineering in Germany.
Among other things, CDT is intended to solve the problem faced by full-suspension bikes with belt drives, where a tensioner mounted at the gearbox permits only slender chainstays. Smaller front belt pulleys can also be used. The snubber at the rear pulley is eliminated as well.
At the moment, Hage Bikes is just for fun, as I do not have the capacity either. Its main purpose is to test the CDT tensioning system.
Marten Hageney, who, in his own words, also fancied building a proper bike
Hayes
Hayes brakes could be found on several bikes at the show stands. The items brought along for the stand also demonstrated that Hayes has been active in other fields for decades.
Heintz
Dornstadt, Germany
The Fundamentalist from Heintz Bikes is a titanium enduro bike with 160–170 mm of travel. One of the goals when developing the frame was to achieve maximum stiffness while keeping the weight as low as possible.
In addition to the available frame sizes, custom reach and stack figures can be specified at extra cost.
HP Bikes
UK
At 24 years old, Harry Prescott made it to the Bespoked show thanks to an SRAM Scholarship. Accordingly, the components were sponsored by SRAM, with Hope contributing further parts.
The rocker link was ground by hand from a machined block; I didn't have a better machine available.
Harry Prescott works with what he has.
This is already the third frame Harry has built. Made from Reynolds steel, the bike offers 170 mm of travel at the front and 165 mm at the rear. Every part is handmade.This is already the third frame Harry has built. Made from Reynolds steel, the bike offers 170 mm of travel at the front and 165 mm at the rear. Every part is handmade.
Huettel Cycles
Germany
Kavenz
Münster, Germany
Ever since the first production frames Kavenz built around 2016, the team has documented its development journey on YouTube. Kavenz now bonds the frame triangle into lugs in-house. Once again, every step of this development, deliberately destroyed tubes and other challenges can be followed across 20 instalments on YouTube.
We had quite a few problems with the main frames welded in Germany. Now we build them ourselves.
Giacomo Grossehagenbrock on why the VHP X came about
The VHP X is made from CNC-machined aluminium lugs and filament-wound carbon tubes from Compotech. Alongside clever details, one of this mid-pivot bike's defining features is the extreme versatility of its build options. You can choose between a 29" and a 27.5" rear wheel, while the travel is equally flexible: different shock lengths and strokes allow anything from 132 mm to 201 mm of travel.
The bike can also be run with either a conventional bottom bracket or a Pinion gearbox unit. With the conventional bottom bracket, a box section is attached to the frame. A thread for a Pademelon steering damper is already provided on the top tube. Finally, the chainstay length of the established V7 rear end can be adjusted by up to 30 mm.The VHP X is made from CNC-machined aluminium lugs and filament-wound carbon tubes from Compotech. Alongside clever details, one of this mid-pivot bike's defining features is the extreme versatility of its build options. You can choose between a 29" and a 27.5" rear wheel, while the travel is equally flexible: different shock lengths and strokes allow anything from 132 mm to 201 mm of travel.
The bike can also be run with either a conventional bottom bracket or a Pinion gearbox unit. With the conventional bottom bracket, a box section is attached to the frame. A thread for a Pademelon steering damper is already provided on the top tube. Finally, the chainstay length of the established V7 rear end can be adjusted by up to 30 mm.
Kernig Components
Wuppertal, Germany
Klunkahara
Kobel Cycles
Freiburg, Germany
Kocmo
Stahnsdorf, Germany
Leovelo
Leipzig, Germany
Manitou
One of the most exciting projects of recent years is this reinterpretation of the legendary Manitou FS frame. Created in collaboration with Switzerland's Gamux, it is a CNC-machined masterpiece. The rear suspension unit was realised using components from Manitou's fork range and some additional machining artistry. Carbon inserts in the main frame influence its stiffness.
Manivelle
Strasbourg, France
Marenda
Winterthur, Switzerland
Mason
Brighton, UK
Meerglas
Groß Lüben, Germany
Milt
Wuppertal, Germany
Morassi
Vienna, Austria
Vienna-based frame builder Morassi is known for handmade custom frames. That earned it the SRAM Scholarship Award at the Bespoked show.
Must
Bludenz, Austria
The Otivao adventure bike pursues a new concept: hike up, ride down. The bike, with its handmade titanium frame, folds up and is carried uphill using a backpack system. It may have no cranks for the descent, but it does have pegs and full suspension.
Nicolai
Elze, Germany
The Nicolai R20 MGU AON was created in collaboration with Gamux and the AON Racing Team. It will only be available to order until 30 September – so if you want one, you had better hurry. The key figures: 200 mm of travel front and rear, a Pinion MGU motor-gearbox unit and a choice of either an 800 Wh or 1060 Wh battery. Even the Manitou Dorado suspension fork is a special silver version with Pro internals.The Nicolai R20 MGU AON was created in collaboration with Gamux and the AON Racing Team. It will only be available to order until 30 September – so if you want one, you had better hurry. The key figures: 200 mm of travel front and rear, a Pinion MGU motor-gearbox unit and a choice of either an 800 Wh or 1060 Wh battery. Even the Manitou Dorado suspension fork is a special silver version with Pro internals.
In frame size XS, the S16 MGU receives a newly shaped top tube with extra standover clearance for shorter riders. Nicolai's frame concept specifies 460 mm of reach for the XS frame.In frame size XS, the S16 MGU receives a newly shaped top tube with extra standover clearance for shorter riders. Nicolai's frame concept specifies 460 mm of reach for the XS frame.
Open
Basel, Switzerland
Pi Rope
Chemnitz, Germany
The well-damped Pi Rope spokes can save up to half the weight of conventional spokes. The larger the wheel, the more important this property becomes. The spokes, made from the wonder material Vectran, are now also available for 32" wheels.The well-damped Pi Rope spokes can save up to half the weight of conventional spokes. The larger the wheel, the more important this property becomes. The spokes, made from the wonder material Vectran, are now also available for 32" wheels.
Rheintritt
Düsseldorf, Germany
Alongside their everyday workshop duties, Marvin and Phillip build handmade custom frames from steel and titanium. They are now experimenting with lugged construction too.
With titanium lugs and carbon tubes from Poland, the Dionysos can be ridden with between 145 and 196 mm of travel, achieved through different shocks and shock strokes adjusted via the movable shuttle. The bottom bracket height can also be adjusted using the shuttle.With titanium lugs and carbon tubes from Poland, the Dionysos can be ridden with between 145 and 196 mm of travel, achieved through different shocks and shock strokes adjusted via the movable shuttle. The bottom bracket height can also be adjusted using the shuttle.
Rotor Bikes
Leipzig, Germany
Santa Clara Bikes
Lisbon, Portugal
Schwalbe
Reichshof, Germany
No tyres, no 32-inch wheels. Schwalbe is already represented across a wide range of categories with numerous models of these monster tyres.
Selander Update
Bike or guitar? Why not both ...
Sour
Dresden, Germany
Stanton Project
What do you do when your favourite frame is not available with a Pinion gearbox? Cut apart a perfectly functional titanium frame and install a gearbox yourself, for example. Saw out the bottom bracket, weld in a gearbox mount, cut through the carbon rear end, bond in a connecting piece to allow a belt to be fitted, remove the old link, install a new titanium link – and the job is done.
We were convinced by the way Pinion rides and simply wanted to implement it in a titanium frame, along with all the technical aspects.
Geronimo Wöhrl and Ken Führer explain when asked why.
Starfish
Sydfyn, Denmark
Syre
From: Russia
Ten:07
Haarlem, Netherlands
Terra
Arezza, Italy
The Nero delivers 200 or 210 mm of travel with an I-Track High Virtual Pivot Point. Made from 25CrMo4 steel, the frame is available with either a Pinion or Effigear gearbox.The Nero delivers 200 or 210 mm of travel with an I-Track High Virtual Pivot Point. Made from 25CrMo4 steel, the frame is available with either a Pinion or Effigear gearbox.
Unicorn by Intend
Freiburg, Germany
In future, special models and colourways will be released in limited numbers under the “Unicorn by Intend” name.
Vapour
Berlin, Germany
Vapour Cycles builds not only futuristic prototypes, but also models with a more classic look. To produce his custom frames, Val has built his own carbon-filament winder, among other equipment, and programmed software that allows him to make his own carbon tubes – for his frames, but also for components such as seatposts.
I only built the bike to experiment and try out a few ideas.
Val on the simple motivation behind developing one of the most radical bikes at the show
The Phantom features an extremely stiff main section and a more flexible top-tube section to provide a degree of compliance in the seated position. The frame is built using a type of lugged construction. The lugs are made with 3D-printed compression moulds, while the tube sections come from his own carbon-winding machine. There are currently no plans to put the Phantom into production, but Val can imagine building another one after further testing and technical refinements, provided the customer fits a 54 cm frame.The Phantom features an extremely stiff main section and a more flexible top-tube section to provide a degree of compliance in the seated position. The frame is built using a type of lugged construction. The lugs are made with 3D-printed compression moulds, while the tube sections come from his own carbon-winding machine. There are currently no plans to put the Phantom into production, but Val can imagine building another one after further testing and technical refinements, provided the customer fits a 54 cm frame.
Wheeldan
Freiburg, Germany
Yaad
Stuttgart, Germany
Zoceli
Brno, Czech Republic
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