One
Bicycles, based in Holland, are Europes biggest BMX manufacturer, they
are spreading all over the world and making a huge impact.
One Bicycles frames are feature packed but the most eye-catching, would
have to have been the paint job. I have never seen anything like it on
any other frame. It's a two colour mix with a marble effect, the frame
we reviewed is blue and black but there are various other colour combinations
available. The stickers also really stand out and compliment the frame
well, no matter what colour combination.
The next thing that caught my eye were the stamps in the CNC'd head tube,
these definitely added to the aesthetics of the frame.
Being a European BMX company, you would expect the frames to have a European
BB, however this was not the case. Not that it's a bad thing, this actually
made things easier as a new bottom bracket isn’t required if you
are upgrading from a frame with a traditional America bottom bracket.
The XXL frame has a 550mm (21.7/8”) top tube but is available in
a range of sizes from Expert – 480mm (18.7/8”), Pro Jnr –
500mm (19.5/8”), Pro 1-3/8 – 520mm (20.1/2”), Pro –
520mm (20.1/2”), Pro XL – 540mm (21.1/4”), and Pro cruiser
– 560mm (22.1/16). The frame is almost an inch longer than my previous
frame and the difference felt huge. Being 6ft I appreciated the longer
frame and felt a lot more comfortable on the bike.
One’s
2004 50mm stem was used as well and complimented the frame perfectly.
A small problem I had was with the brakes, the posts on the frame seem
a touch longer then usual, the breaks didn’t seem to mesh as well
as they normally would but they still work the same.
One frames are constructed from 7005 Aluminium, they all have the huge
tear drop down tube and box tubing rear end which work to making the frame
stiffer and stronger but what about the weight? At 4lb.1oz for the XXL
you can’t go wrong!
Ok, but how does it ride?
We spent a lot of time putting the frame through our "Life Cycle Test" review process (approx. 3 months) to get a good feel of how the frame would ride and hold up to regular punishment. It held up well with just a few scratches.
Gates: The bike accelerated quickly, the short back end could be a major contributor there, it was very responsive. The back end was also noticeably stiffer than my previous bike, and with little to no flex, power is transferred directly to the wheels without being wasted.
Cornering: The One frame has a 75-degree head tube, which gives it great handling in the corners, and most importantly it doesn’t feel twitchy. The frame felt as stable thru turns as it is with gates.
Jumps: Being a Fairly light frame it was easy to manoeuvre through the air whether staying low or boosting off the lip. The short back end made it easy to find the sweet spot so it glides through the rhythm sections like it's on rails.
Rating 18/20:
Value for money: |
4.5/5 |
Weight: |
4.5/5 |
Functionality: |
4/5 |
Looks/Finish: |
5/5 |
Comments:
For more information about One Bicycles check www.onebicycles.com.
Review and test by bmxultra.com's AA Pro Jonathan "Jon Jon" Hoare (12 May 2004)