Spotted: Unno's hyper-adjustable Ever DH prototype

In downhill racing, a prototype isn't just a new bike; it's a statement of intent. The new Unno Ever, spotted under factory rider Veronika Widmann, makes a clear one: the future of the race bike is a chassis you tune, not just a frame you ride.

This isn't a typical pre-production model with a tweaked linkage and a new coat of paint. Widmann describes the bike as a "full new prototype," and the details suggest Unno is building a platform from the ground up with rider-defined geometry at its core.

Geometry by Request

The most telling detail isn't a number on a geometry chart, but the process Unno used to create the bike. According to Widmann, the brand's approach was refreshingly direct. "They literally said to us, you can have the reach, you can have the headset angle, you can have whatever you want, just give us some numbers," she explained.

This moves beyond common flip-chips and adjustable headsets into the realm of the truly bespoke. The result on Widmann's bike is a suite of adjustments that allow the team to tailor the bike to the rider and the track.

The chainstay length is adjustable, with Widmann running it in what she believes is the shortest setting at 455 mm. The reach can be altered via headset cups, with -5 mm, 0 mm, and +5 mm options; she's currently on the -5 mm setting.

This level of frame-tuning is becoming the price of entry for a top-flight World Cup bike, but Unno's willingness to start from the rider's desired numbers, rather than just offering adjustments on a fixed design, is a significant step.

A Chassis, Not Just a Frame

Beyond the core geometry, two features stand out. First is a special shock mount that Widmann notes adjusts the bottom bracket height and head angle.

Second is a machined aluminium brace connecting the seatstays. This isn't just for show; it's a bolt-on addition designed to add stiffness to the rear end for high-speed, high-load tracks.

This suggests a modular approach to frame flex, allowing the team to tune the chassis's rigidity to match course demands – a level of detail usually reserved for MotoGP.

For Widmann, the result of all this customisation was immediate. "I hopped on the bike and I felt home straight away pretty much," she said. That's the ultimate goal of any custom program: to create a tool so perfectly matched to the user that it becomes transparent.

A Rolling Testbed

It's not just the frame that's in development. Widmann's bike is a showcase of prototype components, reinforcing its status as a pure R&D platform.

It rolls on what she calls "super secretive Vittoria Labs editions" of a new downhill casing tyre, which she has been testing for a year. The bike is also fitted with prototype pedals from Renthal, alongside the company's cockpit components and a TRP drivetrain and brakes.

What We Know, and What We Don't

So, what does this all mean for the bike you might one day buy? Details are thin on the ground. While the material of this prototype isn't confirmed, Widmann did state that a carbon version is in development for later in the season.

That's the strongest signal yet that the Ever is destined for production. What remains unknown is the final spec, weight, price, and how much of this adjustability will trickle down to the consumer.

Will the production Unno Ever offer the same modular stiffness brace? Will customers be able to choose their own geometry numbers? That last one is unlikely for a mass-produced frame.

But this prototype suggests Unno is deeply invested in creating a highly tunable platform. The real question isn't whether the Ever is a good bike – for a top-level racer, it's clearly working – but what lessons Unno will carry over to the bike they eventually offer to the rest of us.