Market: A campaign is currently running on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform for the SpeedX Unicorn, a high-tech carbon racing bike that scores with an integrated power meter and bike computer, but also offers a frame that is said to be able to keep up with the crème de la crème. All of this is available for pre-orders for less than €3.500
On Kickstarter you can find all sorts of useless, exotic and not infrequently less mature stuff. Every now and then you stumble across promising products, also in the bicycle sector. That's what happened to us with the new SpeedX Unicorn road bike. The Asian manufacturer SpeedX has already had some good experiences with crowdfunding platforms: in 2015 almost half a million dollars were collected for the SpeedForce bike computer and in March 2016 even more than two million were collected for the smart bike Leopard. Now follows with the Unicorn, a high-tech racing bike that not only makes you sit up and take notice with its integrated bike computer and power meter, but is also currently available as an early bird at an extremely reasonable price.
First, the key data of the SpeedX Unicorn: Each bike comes with an integrated SpeedX power meter, as well as a bike computer integrated into the handlebars/stem, which can be removed in a matter of seconds. The carbon frame weighs only 870g and a sophisticated carbon layup ensures noticeable flex in the seat area, which significantly increases comfort without having to accept any compromises in terms of rigidity.
System integration on the racing bike: SpeedForce and power meter
The topic of system integration on bicycles has been discussed in recent months and years, primarily in connection with e-bikes. However, the SpeedX Unicorn shows that this bridging between the latest technology and bicycles will also become an issue in other areas in the future. With the Unicorn, this means that the SpeedForce bike computer introduced in 2015 can be aerodynamically attached to the handlebars or stem and is therefore always in the driver's field of vision. By the way: The Android-based SpeedForce is included with all equipment variants, communicates via all modern protocols (Bluetooth, ANT+ and WLAN) and thus gets along with most of the sensors available on the market. In addition to GPS, a barometric altimeter, compass and thermometer, there are also sensors for cadence and speed and even a power meter.
The SpeedX power meter is mounted in the crank area and, according to SpeedX, showed only extremely minor deviations compared to the industry leader SRM. The integrated battery should also last more than 400 hours. By the way: Since operating the bike computer via touchscreen while riding is a bit fiddly, a wireless push button is also included in the scope of delivery, which can be used to switch through the basic functions. This button can be attached to the handlebars in the grip area, for example, so it is always easily accessible.
SpeedX Unicorn carbon frame: light and comfortable?
But despite all the technology, SpeedX doesn't seem to have forgotten the basic virtues of a good racing bike. Here, of course, the frame comes first. In the case of the unicorn, this competitive one tips the scales at 870g. A total of over 20 different carbon materials were used in the prototypes in order to find the right balance between stiffness and comfort and to keep the weight correspondingly low. The final frame relies on four different carbon fiber structures and a technology called VCS (Vibration Control System), through which the frame should show outstanding driving characteristics in terms of comfort.
The material is called SpeedX Hyper Carbon and after numerous tests in practice and on the test bench, people are so convinced of its construction that SpeedX offers a lifetime guarantee. Thanks to a clever construction in the area of the seat tube and the subsequent struts, the frame flexes strongly in one direction to absorb bumps from the road, but remains stiff in the opposite direction so as not to appear spongy while riding.
Initially three equipment variants - from €3.450
Untypically for a bicycle, the SpeedX Unicorn will celebrate its premiere at the CES electronics trade fair in Las Vegas, which begins on January 5th. It can already be ordered via Kickstarter - and at a very attractive price for pre-orderers.
The top model Unicorn X eTap comes - as the name suggests - with SRAMS wireless eTap group including the new hydraulic brakes, ZIPP 303 wheels, Quarq crank and of course power meter and bike computer. In view of this noble equipment, the pre-order price of €5.459 is really a bargain, especially since the Unicorn X will later cost almost €7.000 at retailers. Anyone who can do without the ZIPP wheels and is also satisfied with the in-house SpeedX Carbon Wheels should take a look at the Unicorn Pro eTap, which is significantly cheaper at €4.213 (pre-order) or €5.267 (retailer price).
However, the Unicorn Di2 model is a price-technical challenge: With the Ultegra Di2 group, hydraulic disc brakes, the SpeedX carbon wheels and add-on parts from FSA, it comes to an early bird price of €3.447 - including a power meter and bike computer! The entry-level model will later cost €4.231 at dealers.
The project has already reached its funding goal in less than 24 hours. SpeedX specifies April 2017 as the delivery date for the Di2 variant. The two eTap models will then be delivered in May.