It’s been a few years since we reported on the original Unno Horn XC race bike. That bike was among the lightest production full-suspension frames on the market, with 100 mm of rear travel and a progressive-for-its-time cross-country geometry. Six years on, and things have changed quite a bit in the world of cross-country racing, and it was time for the Horn to change with them.
Just last week, Unno announced a completely redesigned Horn XC race bike. With 10 mm more travel, updated geometry, and a shockingly low weight, the new Horn has evolved and looks ready to race. It’s still got that undeniable Unno aesthetic and swagger, and on paper, it certainly appears capable of competing with the fastest race bikes on the market.
Unno Horn Details
Like the Horn before it — and all Unno frames for that matter — the new version is a carbon fiber-only affair. It is laid up with “a mix of high-strength and high-modulus carbon fiber, offering the perfect blend of strength and stiffness to transmit all of the power to the cranks.” Unno is known for its detailed carbon designs, production, and finish quality, and the new Horn is stunning to look at. It doesn’t just look good, but it’s apparently very light, too. Unno did not provide a frame weight, but they told us the complete Factory SL builds weigh as little as 9.6 kg (21.2 lbs.).
The frame now has 110 mm of rear suspension, intended to be paired with a 120 mm fork. Like many modern XC bikes, Unno chose to use a proven and lightweight single-pivot suspension design with flex stays. The brand says it has enough progression to prevent harsh bottom outs, along with 100% anti-squat for efficient pedaling. The frame partially hides the shock under the sculpted top tube, although it remains fully accessible for maintenance or adjustments.
The frame also got a host of other updates, including clearance for cross-country tires up to 2.6” wide and mounts for two bottles in the front triangle. The brake mounts are 160 mm native, but the frame can fit 180 mm rotors if you choose to upgrade. An integrated rear fender protects the pivot, an integrated chain guide helps keep your chain on, and a molded chainstay protector helps keep things quiet. All builds also come with dropper posts as well as integrated DEUX cockpits for responsive handling.
An internal Block-Lock anti-turn mechanism protects the frame by preventing interference between the handlebar and top tube. The threaded bottom bracket should be easy to maintain. The internal routing has also been designed so that cables can be routed from back to front without the need to separate the front and rear triangles.
Unno Horn Geometry
Cross-country racing has been evolving quite rapidly, and race bike geometry has followed suit. While the original Horn had a progressive geometry for its time, the new Horn is longer, lower, and slacker than its predecessor. The 66-degree head tube angle and the 450 mm reach (S2) are right on par with today’s norms. The 1-degree slacker head tube angle and longer, 435 mm chainstays have extended the wheelbase by over 40 mm compared to the previous version. Along 50 mm of bottom bracket drop, 10 mm more than before, the new Horn should be significantly more stable and confident at speed.
The Horn is offered in three frame sizes — S1, S2, and S3 — with a recommended rider height range of 155 to 195 cm (5’0″ to 6’4″).
Unno Horn Build Options
The new Horn is offered in four complete build options starting at 7,095 € and topping out at 14,095 €. The Horn is also available as a frame and shock only for 3,195 € for those interested in putting together their dream build. While far from inexpensive, Unno’s complete build prices are roughly in line with those of more mainstream brands.
The range-topping Factory FA build will set you back 14,095 €, but it comes draped with the latest and greatest, including RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, a SRAM XX SL AXS drivetrain, Formula Cura X brakes, and superlight DT Swiss XRC 1200 wheels.
One price tier down, the Factory SL build goes for 11,895 €. It is similar to the FA build above, but ditches the Flight Attendant in favor of lighter, non-electric RockShox Ultimate suspension components and a Fox Transfer SL seatpost. It is also reportedly the lightest, with claimed complete bike weights starting at just 9.6 kg (21.2 lbs.)
The Pro build drops down to 9,295 € with a move to Fox Factory suspension, a SRAM XO AXS drivetrain, and DT Swiss XRC 1700 wheels.
Unno Horn Availability
The new Horn bikes are available for purchase now on the Unno website with delivery dates in August. That said, some sizes already appear to be sold out, so if you’re interested in getting one, it may be wise to act fast.
If you’re in the U.S., you’ll need to find an Unno dealer either online or in person to check availability. You can find the nearest Unno dealer using the dealer locator on the brand’s website.
