Perfectly styled, a design as if from a single mould with the highest standards of aesthetics and functionality in equal measure. "Form follows function" without devaluing the visual appearance, yet customisable and individually adaptable to customer requirements. And all of this in carbon fibre. The small Saxon bike manufacturer White Stone, centred around Jens Jankowski, has set itself quite a challenge. Especially as the combination of individual customer wishes and consistent design is considered to be quite impossible.
But first things first. It all started back in 2013, long before the company was founded in 2015, when the current developers were working on carbon wheels - handmade in Saxony, of course. The first prototypes were able to prove themselves in racing as early as 2014, at that time still inconspicuous because they were unpainted and free of any indication of their origin and background. And it came as it had to: the wheels became lighter, stiffer and more stable and one fine day the question arose: "What if we could actually sell stylish complete bikes, customisable and handmade in Saxony?"
Customised carbon bikes handmade in Saxony
The idea was born, the bike was already in their heads. Now all that remained was to find the company. But easier said than done. Over a year and a half, concepts were developed, a homepage set up and contacts made with other manufacturers. The name came from a striking boulder in the Zittau Mountains, also known as the "White Stone", which was also the model for the logo design. Then, in July 2015, the time had finally come. White Stone GmbH presented itself to the public for the first time and has been demonstrating its skills in the industry ever since. The first bikes have been produced, a few have already been sold, others are proving themselves as exhibition and test bikes or as race bikes under the bum of racing driver Felix Donath.
White Stone's team of just five people has already earned its first laurels. On the Eurobike 2016, the White Stone 516 Lauf C was honoured with one of the coveted Eurobike Awards was honoured. The jury was impressed by the combination of innovative technology in the frame design, the add-on parts and the exotic charm that the bike exudes, as well as "the philosophy that it consistently pursues".
Everything made in Saxonia?
Quite a lot, but not quite. Even if this was White Stone's original idea, the lamination of the blanks could not take place in Germany. The frame alone would have been far too expensive at a price of 7,000 to 13,000 euros per piece without components and wheels. But White Stone found a good compromise. The prefabrication - essentially the lamination of the carbon blanks - is carried out by a carbon specialist in the Far East. The blanks are then delivered to Zittau, where they are sanded, painted and laminated by the White Stone team. This process alone takes around two to three weeks due to the many different layers of paint and adhesive.
The wheels, just like the frame, are also spoked, painted and customised in Zittau with quality parts from Sapim and high-quality carbon hubs from PoP Products. A point of honour, as this is where the White Stone story began. The remaining parts on the bike come from selected manufacturers and, like the White Stone bikes themselves, are mostly both innovative and exotic. Brakes are supplied by Trickstuff, stems, seatposts and handlebars come from carbon specialist Haero, while you can choose between Shimano XT, XTR and XTR Di2 for the gears. But while you're at it, you can also opt for the Acros hydraulic groupset.
The head tube contains either the ultra-light, less fault-tolerant Running fork or the more comfortable and somewhat heavier German-A Xcite. The mountain bikes from White Stone are priced between 7,000 and 9,000 euros, depending on the components and special requests. Not exactly a bargain, but not even more expensive than the high-end bikes from market giants such as Trek, Cannondale or Rocky Mountain.
The boss himself introduces you to the White Stone.
The White Stone perspective
White Stone will continue to dedicate itself to the further development of customised carbon mountain bikes and racing bikes in the future. The next few years should help the team to consolidate its own position on the market and establish a regulated demand. However, White Stone's bikes will remain bikes for individualists with a correspondingly small series. But the model range is to be expanded a little. In addition to the hardtails already available, the developers are probably already thinking about a race fully. We are curious!
Click here for the Website of White Stone. Be sure to try out the configurator!
Adrian Kaether
Editor
