{"id":10924,"date":"2026-10-21T10:34:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T08:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/43ride.com\/en\/?p=10924"},"modified":"2026-10-21T13:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T11:00:06","slug":"leap-barmate-system-multitool-hidden-in-handlebar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/43ride.com\/en\/technews\/2026\/leap-barmate-system-multitool-hidden-in-handlebar\/","title":{"rendered":"Leap Barmate System – multitool hidden in handlebar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In mid-September, I received an interesting email from Slovenian brand Ride Leap, which offered us the chance to put his product\u2014a multi-tool called the Leap Barmate System\u2014for a review. What exactly is it? How does it work, and why is it such a clever solution?<\/p>\n\n\n

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Leap Barmate System multitool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tool kits designed to be stowed in unconventional spots on a bike have taken the market by storm, finally eliminating the need to carry around tools that might be required at the most unexpected moment. One such solution I used was the OneUp EDC Lite tool, which was mounted inside the steerer tube. Unfortunately, in 2023, Fox redesigned its steerer tubes\u2014giving them an oval internal shape\u2014which meant I had to say goodbye to my handy tool kit.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Installation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is where the Leap Barmate System<\/a> comes in. It consists of two simple tools\u2014the 7-function Barmate Chain & Tire Plug Tool and the 11-function Barmate Bit Tool\u2014designed to be mounted inside your handlebars. You simply remove the handlebar end plugs and insert the tools in their place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The set includes an 11-function Barmate Bit Tool… (the bit organizer is not in the photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, this solution also has a drawback: the diameter required for installation. The Slovenian manufacturer has created a tool that requires an internal diameter of at least 18.7mm, which means the system is incompatible with most carbon handlebars\u2014certainly with my PRO Tharsis 3Five handlebar. Fortunately, I also have the aluminum version of that same handlebar, as well as an aluminum Race Face Atlas handlebar, which I ended up using instead. Alternatively, the crank’s thru-axle can be used, though this limits space to just one tool and comes with a somewhat longer list of requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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…and the 7-function Barmate Chain & Tire Plug Tool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another thing to consider is the handlebar grips. Ideally, they should have open ends, though it\u2019s not a deal-breaker if they don\u2019t. My personal favorites, the ESI Fit XC grips, would be perfect here\u2014but anyone who has ever tried to move them from one set of handlebars to another knows that it\u2019s easier to just buy a new pair! ;) So, I looked into an alternative: the Race Face Chester grips, which, as it happens, have fully closed ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once installed, the Leap tool is completely unobtrusive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not a major issue, but it does require a bit of creativity. In fact, the manufacturer itself provides instructional material<\/a> on how to quickly and effectively ensure full compatibility. In my case, it took about 15 minutes of tinkering with a utility knife and a hacksaw blade, and the final result turned out much better than I had expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Installation is quick and simple, even when taking a more creative approach ;)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That covers the preparation for the final installation, which takes just a few seconds. At the end of the tool, there is a screw-in bar end, secured by a rubber gasket. Depending on the inner diameter of your handlebars, you simply tighten or loosen this assembly accordingly… and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The circumference can be adjusted using an elastic band near the screw cap; simply tighten or loosen it to achieve a perfect fit for your handlebar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leap Barmate in practice<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been using the Leap Barmate System for over a month now, and I have to say, it\u2019s a genuinely useful solution. My bike doesn\u2019t have any built-in storage, so otherwise, I\u2019d have to carry any extra “just-in-case” tools in my pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Selecting the right bit takes only a moment, but because they are interchangeable, you get a longer reach than you would with a standard mini-multitool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During my last trip to the Czech bike parks, I used the tools a dozen or so times\u2014mostly to help out a friend. Getting the tools out and assembling exactly what\u2019s needed takes just a moment, which also serves as a nice little break along the trail. You just have to be a bit careful not to lose any of the bits while pulling out the specific one you need. Fortunately, a small plastic tube acts as a handy organizer, keeping all the bits together in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Among the spoke wrenches, we also find the Mavic standard, which came as quite a surprise to me.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I was also concerned about the feel of the handlebar\u2014specifically, the possibility of something feeling loose inside\u2014but I didn’t notice this while riding. You can feel it a little in a parking lot if you focus on it, but when you’re actually on the move, it\u2019s completely inconsequential. As for noise, you might occasionally hear the unit\u2014the casing bumping against the inner wall of the handlebar\u2014when riding over rougher terrain; this is simply a byproduct of the mounting system. It could likely be eliminated entirely with a bit of tape, but for me, the sound was so infrequent and quiet that I consider it completely negligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do I recommend the solution designed by Ride Leap? Definitely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leap Barmate System specs:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n