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Innovative
When using your BERNDS, you will realise that we have consistently put
a lot of thought into the details and this is to your advantage. Often
unique, ingenious solutions have come about which on occasions have
been copied, but which have never achieved the quality of the originals.
The standard phrase, "We have always done it that way, but don't ask
us why ..." is not one you will hear at BERNDS. We use things that are
tried and tested, but we always check carefully that you, our customers,
really do get added value from them.
And so over the years, without really trying, products have appeared
which - in complete contrast to the spirit of our fast-moving times -
captivate users by their unique, elegant and timeless design.
The BERNDS toothed-belt drive
Simplicity
Even though the toothed-belt drive on the bicycle is not an invention of ours, we are nevertheless one of the few companies which have been providing it as an option for years.
We find that the toothed-belt drive is particularly suited to our folding bikes because it does not require any grease or oil, meaning it is clean, and has proven to have a long service life. The new carbon-reinforced toothed-belt from GATES, our component supplier, furthermore stretch very little and can be used in high-performance riding.
We combine our toothed-belt drive with all commercially available hub gears.
The BERNDS folding seatpost
No more adjusting the saddle after folding the bike!
In our opinion, correctly adjusting the saddle position is absolutely basic to ergonomically correct riding. With a badly adjusted saddle, at the very least you use more energy – in the worst case, health problems, for instance, damage to the knees may be the result.
With a BERNDS you don't need to adjust the saddle height every time you unfold it, because its unique folding mechanism means that the saddle is automatically in the right position chosen by you.
Up to the present day, there is only one folding bike that can do that - the BERNDS.
We have taken a lot of trouble to give you this benefit:
the hinge is complex but precisely manufactured so that it moves easily and works perfectly.
Just like the handlebar stem, the upper seatpost is a standard size so that very different lengths and saddle offsets can be used.
On the plus side again: our hinge seals the seat pillar completely to water seeping in. Since there is no water entering from above, the bottom bracket does not need to be open at the bottom - unlike other bikes. As a result, even after years of intensive use, you can change the bottom bracket on a BERNDS without too much effort.
The BERNDS handlebar stem clamp
Three-fold safe and flexible
The BERNDS push-fit construction with flexible handlebar mounting offers several advantages:
- you can use very different handlebar shapes – simple and functional Moon handlebars, curved touring handlebars or racing handlebars. Due to the flexible mounting, all handlebar shapes can be optimally folded in and fixed in the best position for each one.
- Security against incorrect use: Even if in fact the locking lever was not tight, the handlebars could not simply come loose and you could still steer because of the built-in twist-lock.
The BERNDS tandem hinge
Compact and robust
All BERNDS-Folding bikes stand out due to their hingeless frames. All of them?
Not quite: in order to be able to fold the BERNDS-Foldingtandem Lowstep to ultra-small size, we have built a very special hinge joint.
We have more than compensated for the basic disadvantages of a hinge by using a very solid, mechanically highly-resilient design with an array of interlocking blades.
On a tandem the necessary extra weight can just about be put up with.
Because the result is: the BERNDS-Foldingtandem Lowstep becomes so compact that it fits in the boot of a VW Golf.
You don't even have to fold the rear seat down!
The BERNDS suspension block
Efficient and maintenance-free
Many conventional spring or damper units not only have a complicated structure, they are often relatively heavy and in addition must be regularly serviced. Unless they are professionally maintained, the efficiency deteriorates if, for example, the slider tube on the suspension forks no longer moves easily, the suspension forks react sluggishly and no longer smooth out small, rapidly-following bumps.
Consequently we looked around for an alternative and found a very efficient, while at the same time simple, robust solution.
Our suspension block consists of a special rubber-based foam material called "Cellasto" which stands out because of its high self-damping properties and constant suspension characteristics independent of temperature.
Just out of interest: this material in the meantime is being used by such famous-name companies as Magura, DT Swiss and the prestigious manufacturer German Answer.
The BERNDS mudguard stays
Flexible and with style
This is a topic not only for folding bikes – but for them in particular. Mudguard stays should provide a solid fixture but at the same time be flexible enough to withstand knocks.
In the case of a folded bike (without luggage rack), the weight is sitting on the rear mudguard. To keep it in lasting shape, we mount elegantly curved, especially flexible struts. And because it looks so good, we use this principle on all bikes.
The BERNDS rear sub-frame
Changing the chain without tools
Our BERNDS rear sub-frame is open on the chain side. This method of construction which is also used on motorcycles not only looks good, when it comes to cleaning or a repair, it has a priceless advantage:
you can take the chain off all in one piece without undoing it.
The BERNDS headset construction
safe AND adaptable
Our headset ingeniously combines the advantages of the Ahead method of construction with those of a classic bolted headset.
Thus the headset race – as with the Ahead headset – can be simply and effectively clamped with no play; at the same time we use a commonly-available 1" stem with interior clamping. There are a multitude of different lengths and heights available in this size so that your BERNDS bike can always be adapted with little effort to your personal size.
This way, BERNDS provides you with variety and ergonomic riding unbeaten on the folding bike market. Putting the dot on the i: using the BERNDS headset, you can raise or lower the height of the bike.
Let us give you a tip: For the 1" size we use, you can get hold of stems which can be adjusted without tools so that even while out riding you can quickly change your sitting position.
The BERNDS folding technique
Simple, quick - and safe!
The elements that make up our folding design are particularly safe and simple to handle. SIMPLE: Only four steps are needed, for instance, to fold up our folding bike - without any bolts, and so simple that our bike came out top in independent "usability“ tests. QUICK: The special thing about our folding technique is: both the construction of the handlebar unit hinge, as well as the seatpost, mean that they always return to the pre-set position; after unfolding you do not need to adjust either saddle or handlebars – you can ride off straight away. No other folding bike on the market can manage this. SAFE: The BERNDS quick-release catches on our folding bikes only hold units in place but, mechanically speaking, they do not have any load-bearing function. As a result, the whole construction is especially stable and safe.
The BERNDS cables
extremely reliable
Particularly with folding bikes all cables are subject to special loads. The BERNDS frame possesses special strain-relieving attachments, and in addition, for years, BERNDS has been using - as far as we know we are the only manufacturer to do so - robust, 2-core cables with protective housing.
The BERNDS brake booster
always fits, always ready.
With rim brakes, boosters lead to a particularly direct response. Because of its special frame geometry, BERNDS uses a modified booster which is used with the hydraulic rim brake (HS33).
Our front brake …
is placed BEHIND the forks.
- It doesn't squeak
- is easier to modulate
- is easier to adjust
Why do rear brakes squeak much less often than front brakes? Well, rear brakes are behind the forks, in other words fitted in a trailing position. When being applied, the brake pads are pressed between the forks and are held firmly in place – in contrast to traditionally-mounted front brakes. When being applied, these have their brake pads forced outwards away from the rim and so tend to squeak. The long V-Brake pads make this phenomenon worse. BERNDS rim brakes thus have other benefits: they are easier to modulate and adjust.
The BERNDS rear light bracket
Simple and ingenious
Our patented rear light bracket made of spring steel is fixed to a special attachment on the rear sub-frame or on the cantilever brake boss. Since it is also outstandingly suited to mountainbikes it is also marketed through Busch & Müller, the market leader for lighting requisites.