Every season needs new challenges. I've just found mine. I see a web clip of Kirt Voreis. In it, Kirt slides round bends, tabletops over jumps and spins his handlebars at every opportunity. And he does it on his everyday mountain bike. I want that too. But how? Call bike pro Korbi Engstler:
Can you teach me the barspin?
Korbi answers without thinking:
Sure, one day is enough and you can do it.
Opportunity for another bet: if Korbi manages to teach me the barspin, he gets 500 euros. If my handlebars don't spin at the end of the day, Korbi goes home empty-handed. Admittedly, there are dozens of tricks that are cooler than the barspin. The backflip, the moto-whip or the shoulder burner, for example. But I wanted to learn a trick that was 1. realistic, without much risk and quick to learn. And 2. that I can do anywhere. That's why I was tempted to learn the barspin on a trail bike instead of a dirt bike. In my mind's eye, I could already see myself on my home track in Munich - with rotating handlebars: barspin from the kerb, at the drop on the banks of the Isar, waiting at the traffic lights. Just everywhere, even in the bike park of course. After Korbi's assessment, I no longer doubted that I would learn the barspin quickly. Because if he says so, it's probably true.
Time is short. Instead of one day, the barspin should now be completed in just a few hours.
I had my first doubts when I came across a YouTube clip by Jasper Jauch. The web video is entitled: "Self-test, can I learn the barspin in 4 days?" In the clip, the ex-worldcupper and Youtuber tries the trick with moderate success. I see Jasper stumbling, swearing and bumping his fingers on the handlebars. My self-confidence wanes. I think: If even Jasper, a former pro, is struggling, how am I supposed to succeed?
The YouTube algorithm means well with me and builds me up immediately. Because now another video is suggested with the title: "How to bunny hop barspin in just 5 minutes" by Lukas Knopf. In it, Lukas breaks down the trick into individual movements. It all sounds logical to me.
But what is true? Can I learn the trick in five minutes, in four days or in one day? Before I can even start, I have to make my trail bike suitable for barspin. That takes a lot of time and skill. It's a good thing that my colleague Mike from our test lab is helping me (editor's note: the author was actually just standing next to me). You can read his instructions here.
The bet: Barspin in 3 hours
Friday afternoon near Leutkirch in the Allgäu. Korbi's home. The coach unstraps his dirt bike from the tailgate carrier. You can see the determination on his face. He doesn't want to take the humiliation from the last time. Attentive FREERIDE readers will remember: Korbi wanted to teach the FREERIDE editorial team the Eurotable for issue 3/22 - without success. Bet lost! This time it's going to be different. Korbi has come up with a master plan. Because time is short. Deadlines! Instead of in one day, the barspin should now be done in a few hours. But first Korbi puts the brakes on my euphoria. While I thought I could already be spinning the handlebars over dirt jumps at the weekend, Korbi only wants to guarantee the so-called pick-up barspin. The cheap version.
"The bunny hop barspin is much more complex," says Korbi, raising an eyebrow as if to reprimand my immodesty. The pick-up barspin is the simplest variation. You lift the front wheel at low speed, clamp the saddle between your legs and let the handlebars rotate. "All right, then just do that," I reply. A little disappointed, though.
Korbi starts with the first how-to exercise of his masterplan: First, I lean against a fence with the rear wheel, the front wheel hovers in the air. Here I try out the movement. "Don't throw, lead," says Korbi. So I use one hand to guide one end of the handlebars to about the height of the top tube, the momentum is enough for the remaining 180 degrees, then both hands reach for the handlebars again in a flash. I repeat this a dozen times until I've got the hang of it.
Then comes the second most important movement: clamping. I have to clamp the saddle with the inside of my knees so that the front doesn't drop immediately when I pick it up. I practise this lying down with my back on the ground. "Your inner thighs will hurt tonight," says Korbi, grinning mockingly. He will be right.
Finally, it's time for the first attempts. We choose a tarmac road, which makes it easier to lift the front wheel. The biggest obstacle is my head. It takes two or three attempts before I can bring myself to let the handlebars whirl. And lo and behold, after around five "throws" I manage the 360-degree turn. I'm stoked, even photographer Janik seems surprised and grins contentedly at his camera display. Korbi, on the other hand, shakes his head: "Don't throw it!".
Okay, okay, then I'll try guiding, and that also works faster than I thought. Every now and then a mistake creeps in, but on the whole it works. Mission accomplished! This time the 500 euros go into Korbi's pocket.
The barspin during a bunny hop
But I want more. Namely the barspin during a bunny hop. We go over to the meadow, where the ground is softer - better for falls. "And you will fall," says Korbi. This variation is not only more challenging, but also a little riskier, Korbi knows. The master demonstrates it: a normal bunny hop, only with a turn of the handlebars. Looks easy. Now me. The mental hurdle again. Five bunny hops go by without any barspin impulse. Then I finally get over myself and bang, the handlebars turn once, but I can't get a grip and spin backwards. Nothing happens, but I'm one insight richer: you don't learn complex MTB tricks in an afternoon.
I'm stoked, photographer Janik is also grinning contentedly at his camera display. Korbi, on the other hand, shakes his head.
Quick-How-To Pickup-Barspin
- Maximum walking pace
- Front high due to discreet manual impulse
- Clamp the saddle with the inside of the knee!
- Guide handlebars, approx. 90 degrees (top tube)
- Momentum takes over the rest of the way.
- The catching hand reaches for the handlebars at lightning speed, the leading hand follows. This all has to happen before the front wheel touches the ground.
How-To: How to make your trail bike Barspin-compatible
Want to make your trail bike Barspin-compatible? We'll show you how - but you'll need some manual dexterity and wrenching experience. Here are our instructions on how to do it yourself.
That's what you need for the conversion:
- Tube cutter for shortening handlebars (carbon with saw blade especially for carbon)
- Brake bleeding set, carpet knife (with new blade) to shorten brake lines
- Long cables for support, gearstick and brake (from the manufacturer as a set)
- Impactor for claw or have it impacted in the shop
- Barspin headset, e.g. from Reverse
1 - Shorten handlebars
Unscrew the grips and levers from the handlebars. Measure with a metre rule. We shortened the aluminium handlebars to 740 millimetres. Mark the centimetres to be shortened on both handlebar ends - then shorten.
2 - Extend the cable to the Vario support
Firstly, you need to extend the cable of the Vario support. To do this, you need a new cable plus outer sleeve (available as a set). Get it in the maximum length.
3 - Extend rear brake
Unscrew the rear brake hose, cut off the olive and pull out the hose (be careful with internally routed cables) Ideal: Brake hose extension kit (approx. €20) saves a lot of time.
4 - Extend the shift cable
The same as step 2, but you will need a shifting set (maximum length). Tip: Leave the old shift cable in and use it as a threading aid for the new outer casing.
5 - Hammer in claw
Claw impactors are expensive. It is therefore best to hire them from the shop or have them hammered in. Be careful when hammering in with the screw only - high risk of injury!
6 - Cut new cables to length
Find the correct lengths for the cables - turn the handlebars 360 degrees to simulate a bar spin. Mark and cut the cables.
7 - Connect cables at the front
Now reconnect the cables (both brakes, vario and gearstick). Follow the operating instructions.
8 - Connect brake lines
Connect both brakes to the calliper and bleed. Use the bleeding set and operating instructions to help you.
9 - Connecting the circuit
... and post them. There are YouTube clips for this, e.g. on the YouTube channel from BIKE.
10 - Cockpit adjustment
Adjust the cockpit to your requirements and tighten the headset. ATTENTION: The spacers cannot be changed afterwards because of the cables.
Top tip from Mike Schinke, Testlabor:
Make sure the cockpit is high (using handlebar risers or spacers) so that the handlebars don't rub against the frame during spins.
Opinions from the scene on Barspin-Mania
Brage Vestavik, heavy metal freerider:
Barspins are cool. I like to do a barspin now and again - but only one. I don't want to learn double barspins.
Tomas Lemoine, slopestyle pro:
The barspin is the ultimate combination trick. You can add it anywhere - that's what makes it so appealing. Of course, it's also fun in isolation. I do it everywhere - in the car park or on a trail ride - yes, it even works in the hotel room. I've even dedicated a song to the trick.
Kathi Kuypers, slopestyler:
I was fascinated to learn the trick because it's so terribly technical. Especially when jumping over doubles and tables. You have to know: If you mess up the handlebar turn, the end of the handlebars will be in your stomach in no time. It is important to guide the handlebars instead of throwing them! Throwing brings unrest into the flight phase.
Dimitri Lehner, FREERIDE editor-in-chief:
I can think of five tricks right off the bat that I would prefer to learn. The barspin is certainly not one of them. It's a pure dirt trick. Sorry, I don't understand the hype.
Stefan Herrmann, driving technique veteran:
The barspin is a risk manoeuvre. Either you make it round or you don't. A challenge in terms of coordination. Every now and then I do one on the dirt bike.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
