Some might think that with three full-suspension models already in production an XC hardtail would have been an easy project to accomplish for a brand. Well, not here at UNNO. Since we laid the fundamentals of the design of the Aora, we had decided that it was going to be another challenging project: an hardtail frame made out of a single piece of carbon, without any glued parts. This, in turn, allowed us to work with the lofty goal to make it the lightest production 29” frame in the World by a good margin. Sounds easy? It wasn’t. Countless hours spent refining the carbon lay-up, many prototypes tested to destruction and a lot of lessons learned later, we can finally say the Aora is ready to enter production in early January 2019.
The raw frame comes in at an astonishing 685g in the single available size (between an M and L for most brands). At 790g, ready to ride with rear axle and derailleur hanger (size M/L), it’s definitely the lightest production XC hardtail on the market today, but, mind you, it’s not a bike made to be ridden on your toes. The Aora features UNNO’s progressive geometry that breaks the mold of traditional XC bikes to deliver a fast and efficient ride on every terrain. A 67 degrees head angle means confidence and traction in every situation, from technical descents to steep climbs, and the Aora even sports a 31.6mm seat-tube, making it dropper-post compatible – and ready to be ridden on the most challenging, modern XC courses.
Pre-orders for the Aora are open now, and deliveries are expected from the end of January 2019 – with a limited number of frames available, orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so make sure to reserve your Aora now to secure an early delivery time. Aora full builds will be available later in the year.
AORA FRAMESET
Weight (incl. rear axle, der. hanger): 790g (+/-5% tolerance on weight due to the handcrafted production process)
BB: PF92
Rider weight limit: 90kg
Water bottle mounts: 1 (2 on special order)
Seat tube: 31.6mm
Front derailleur compatible: no
Headset: TPR-IS41/28.6/H9 – IS52/40
Rear hub spacing: Boost 148
Rear brake mount: Post Mount
Price: 4.000€