This was when he first got in touch with the car industry and its specific designs and constructions. When he eventually hit the bicycle industry, he applied his skills working on bike components differently than his competitors. The first “aero bar” was born. The Syntace aero bar C2 soon became the most successful product worldwide, crowned by the win of the Ironman Hawaii. Further road component
s were to follow that entered the German and American market via Syntace manufacturers in Taiwan. In order to guarantee for the high-quality standards of Syntace products despite the great distance to Taiwan, Jo had video conferences with the manufacturers checking their work for entire nights. On top of that, he established his own quality assessment centers as well as his own test benches. In this very context, the Syntace Red Monster saw the light of the day, the VR-3 test bench for handlebars and stems. The machine simulates the impacts on a handlebar of its entire lifespan. It is a path of trial and tribulation, yet only when a product passes the test, a lot is approved for sale.
1994 was a milestone in the history of Syntace when the first products for the new mountain bike market were released. The VRO system was the first big success, a handlebar/ stem combination whose length can be varied while it was still able to stand the stress of long racing events. The first frame was released in 2004 under the Syntace-owned brand Liteville, the 301. The frame models 101, 601 and 901 were to follow soon. These frames frequently won tests in national and international test magazines ever since this time. A special frame must not lack a special seatpost, which was the reason why Jo designed the Syntace P6-Hiflex-Carbon. The design features a particular Layup with several different shock-absorbing carbon fiber layers. After the seatpost, the handlebar and the stem, two out of three contact points between rider and bike were set. The missing link was yet to come: Syntace released the lightest and most durable pedal that was ever designed. New ideas emerge: building entire wheelsets. Syntace wheels were to be distinguished from competitors’ products, which led to the idea to produce wider rimes that were super lightweight at the same time. In 2013, a new production line was ready for take off, including a warehouse for new hub components, rims and entire wheelsets. No more than one year thereafter – still as a newcomer on the market – Syntace wheels were voted a top of the class manufacturer by its customers. Exactly one decade after the first 301, we decided to introduce a limited edition of the 301 as a fully equipped bike. As the success was phenomenal, we decided to keep offering fully equipped bikes called “Factory Machines”. Since Summer 2015, as the first manufacturer in the world, we are represented with a test center in the biggest mountain bike test regions in the world: right by the Lake Garda. The product portfolio:
- high-end components made from Aluminum, carbon fiber and Titan, specifically for safety-relevant places (handlebar, stem, seatpost, wheelset). Sold under the name of Syntace. You will find the entire product portfolio here: http://www.syntace.de/index.cfm?pid=3
- full-suspension mountain bike frames and fully equipped bikes. Sold under the name of Liteville. You will find the entire product portfolio here: http://www.liteville.de/t/22_3.html
Besides these two product fields that we constantly work on, new technologies and quality ensuring procedures are developed and improved internally. Our products are secured by more than 25 patents and licensed utility models. This unique setting is also reflected in a whole series of successes in sports during Olympic Games and World Cups as well as in uncounted test wins in the trade press. A representative survey of the biggest bike publishers regarding road bike and mountain bike handlebars and stems proves the outstanding position of Syntace on the market. All this is because we want to design the best products on the market …and actually build them. Or put differently: we want to build exactly those products other manufacturers were not able to build for us. Products…
- that incorporate new, innovative ideas without compromises as to the manufacturing and construction. The development is supported by one of the best test laboratories in the world, the Syntace labs.
- that are as light as possible without giving up stability and stiffness. This is possible as we are designing them with great efforts in order to safe material where it is actually possible.
- that work better and stand the toughest test standards in the world. It goes without saying that our products enter the market only after they have proved their reliability. Our uncompromising policy has led to the production of the most neutrally working, agile and energy saving mountain bikes that at the same time react as sensitively as no other bike on the market. A 10-years warranty including a customer care that comes from the heart - before and after the purchase. This is what we love doing most at Syntace. Jo Klieber Form Follows Function
The laws of physics are not concerned with us, but we must pay attention to them - especially when there's a headwind! By applying technology and science to the bicycle, we are able to build human-powered machines that carry us over mountains and down the road with more speed and efficiency than ever before, thereby unleashing your full potential. And thats exactly what we like best at Syntace!
