UNNO TR 130

One of the main features of Unno’s thinking is to produce one size frame for the average rider. the most important number here is the 455mm reach which is found on all bikes, and just the one size. It might well be a narrow outlook, one which might for now be necessary due to the small size scale of the operation and the costly process of making moulds, but when this is viewed in the wider mountainbike world and the wildly conflicting idea of what dimensions are applicable to a certain persons shape, then it makes sense to some degree.

Yet this can be relative on so many levels. Take for example the range of sizes different brands offer for ‘medium’ bikes, a size which after all people consider to be the ‘average’ size. The ‘reach’ on medium Commencal Supreme for example is 392mm, a Santa Cruz V10 measures at 398mm whereas Canyon Sender is 440mm. Cesar’s philosophy would equate to a size in between a XL and XXL for V10 and not even within the range offered by Commencal. His sizing in downhill terms would equate to the top five largest size ‘L’  bikes. Yes the world of mountainbike sizing is pretty fucked up.

And then even within brands we see a range of reach which varies between bike type. For example Danny Hart (less than 6’) rides around 442mm reach on his size ‘large’ bikes, whilst a Dune carbon Mondraker in size ‘small’ has a reach of 452mm whilst a Foxy in similar size is 458mm.

Its difficult to know who to believe but the 455mm reach on the Unno bikes does seem to add up nicely to the European average of 5’ 10” for males.

LIMITATIONS. As much as Cesar has a very legitimate case for eliminating the bamboozling geometry that the bike industry suffers from, there’s an equally compelling case for producing bikes to fit for a wide range of riders. For me at 6’ it’s on the limit. How long Cesar’s ‘one size fits all’ philosophy lasts will be an interesting one to follow because I can see real demand for this hugely relevant bike.

VERDICT. There’s nothing new here in the process of production. Some sheets of synthetic material hand pressed into position and inflated into the aluminium mould by a plastic bag. Yes there’s a lot of individual pieces (about 400), yes it’s one of the few European made carbon bikes, but even in Asia and the USA it’s still a handmade process. So is it worth the high price tag, one which comes from the decision on European build costs?

The most striking aspect of Unno is the material used, what appears to be a beautiful fabric mix in the correct places, of compliant lay-up of that fabric, and a geometry which is quite simply superb. Maybe more importantly is that the decision making is made here in Spain, that changes can be made quickly between R&D the manufacture.

And to answer the question, is it better? The geometry is certainly the best I’ve ridden on any 130mm bike, my gut and body feeling on the carbon fabric used in construction is good. But more than this, the fact the brand is a little anomalous but young and already boasting great legacy will lead many to put their hand in their pocket pretty sharpish.

Frames from around €5000

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