Unior celebrates 100 years with their first aluminum bottom bracket sockets

Written by Zach Overholt February 25, 2019

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Unior’s new bottom bracket sockets were part of a large introduction of products at Eurobike last year, but there’s more to the story than just a few new tools. According to Unior, these new tools mark a fairly big shift in the company’s 100 year history – because they’re made from aluminum. Previously, all of Unior’s tools have been manufactured from forged steel. For a tool like a bottom bracket socket where steel could damage pricey aluminum cups, the company has opted for a more task-specific approach and has introduced what they’re calling their first CNC machined aluminum tools.

Offered in 16 notch (HollowTech II), Shimano BB9000, Shimano BBR60, BSA30, and FSA Mega-EVO standards, the aluminum sockets include a 1/2″ drive with a knurled lip for turning by hand. Made in Slovenia, the sockets sell for $34.99 each and are available now.

uniorusa.com

Zach Overholt

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Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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Velo Kitty

4 years ago

This is not directly related to Unior, but why are there so many “standards” for something that does the same thing? Your cups have 16 splines? Oh yeah? Well mine have 20.

I’m getting tired of all this BS where manufacturers try to lock you into their proprietary systems.

Shafty

4 years ago

Reply to Velo Kitty

They’re not usually arbitrary arrangements. The number of notches and pattern typically correlates with the outer diameter of the cup, so a larger or smaller cup needs a different SIZE tool. The Shimano 16 notch pattern is by far the most common for external cups.

The bigger question is WHY ARE THEY 1/2″ DRIVE!!! Typical bottom bracket cup torque is around 40NM, which is easily handled by 3/8″. I don’t even have 1/2″ drive tools on my bench at work.

Anonymous Coward

4 years ago

Reply to Shafty

1/2 inch is a good idea in this situation. The bigger drive will distribute the torque over more area. The tool is aluminum and with a smaller drive it would wear out quicker.

Velo Kitty

4 years ago

Reply to Shafty

> They’re not usually arbitrary arrangements.
> The number of notches and pattern typically
> correlates with the outer diameter of the cup,
> so a larger or smaller cup

They are very arbitrary. Abbey makes about 10 different tools to fit the different variations out there. There’s no good reason for so many diameters/spline patterns for a bottom bracket cup, except to make s(#* proprietary, more expensive, and more difficult to work on.

markbikes

4 years ago

Reply to Velo Kitty

The only bb standard I care about is 1.37 in x 24 TPI. These proprietary notched cups are all for threaded bbs. I’d rather live in a threaded world even if it means building more cups for 15 bucks a pop.