I was wondering if someone had experience with both a Mad4one URC 27.5 and a Nimbus 27.5, not the oracle. Before import fees they are the same price but the mad4one comes with full custom anodized parts. I like that with the mad4one I can get the 27.5 in a large frame so if I wanted later to put a 29 wheel on I can. I like the look of the mad4one much better with the custom colors but I want durability too. I plan on gravel rail trail rides and mild dirt trails with some roots. Thanks! Also how is customer service between the two? I have a club 24 and I havent been impressed with unicycle.com so far
Your country will be relevant here around the quality of service from unicycle.com as they’re run by different people in different countries. They’ve been pretty great about any issues I’ve had in the past here in the UK, and always seem happy to provide free advice.
I’d say that the quality of parts is notably higher on the Nimbus than the URC. That Nimbus unicycle shares quite a lot of its parts with more expensive models making it IMO one of the better value options they offer.
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The Mad4One URC is a great unicycle. And you can’t get better personal service than from Marco, the owner of Mad4One (although his English isn’t perfect). My daughter has a 24” URC and is quite happy with it. I have 2 Techno munis in 29 and 27.5, and my wife just got a 27.5 Techno and is also quite happy.
I only have an older 26” steel Nimbus and an Oracle to compare with, but the Mad4One is definitely not lower quality. And Mad4One also offers easy flexibility with crank options and such built in.
I think it’s probably useful to compare parts directly, and discuss quality.
The URC frame has stamped bearing housings, whereas the Nimbus frame has solid steel ones - this should increase the life of the bearings due to more even tightening, and is a stronger design. Typically only cheaper unicycles have stamped housings. I think URC might be the only product of this type with stamped frame bearing housings.
The URC uses the relatively generic “unicyclestuff” cranks, which I believe is a basic crank that Mad4One buy in, compared to the VCX on the Nimbus (these are the same cranks as the higher end Nimbus models, just with a different finish/less machining. The retail price alone of these cranks gives some indication of the difference. Now whether or not one is necessarily better than the other is certainly debatable, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say one is lower quality than the other.
The URC saddles I’ve now seen two snap in half, but that’s all I’ve got to go on there. I didn’t find the one I’ve ridden particularly comfortable but saddles are very polarising so I wouldn’t take that to mean anything really.
The Mad4One Tecno is a very different unicycle though and I’m not saying that Mad4One is in some way a worse or lower quality brand, but comparing these two unicycles, I’d consider the URC lower quality than the Nimbus alternative being discussed here.
Most manufacturers have models which are higher and lower quality, and specific quality and value is different with different models from different time periods so it’s important to be specific.
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Even with the urc being lower quality would you say it is still a durable uni? If I’m using it for gravel riding will the durability be dissapointing?
They are both great quality unicycles (nothing like Walmart bikes and not cheap or low quality, just not the super light highest competiton level). So as a beginner or intermediate, you really can’t go wrong with either.
Both are steel frames that are solid and super durable (the more expensive aluminum ones are lighter and stiffer which doesn’t matter unless you’re racing or concerned about speed doing long distances or big climbs).
If you’re under 200lbs, the uni will last a long time. As the rider weight increases, stress on components like cranks and seat post increases. In that case you might consider upgrading the cranks. Or you could ask Marco if he thinks the cranks are strong enough for your weight (I’m under 170lbs, so no experience there).
This is a good description. There are “no name” unicycles that are usually identifiable by having square taper cranks (although square taper can be fine for learning) and most are for learning on the street rather than muni.
Some small custom unicycle brands only make high end: like Triton, Flansberry
Kris Holm and Mad4One only make mid and high end.
Nimbus and Quax also make mid and high end, but also offer low-mid entry level unicycles (but nothing of low quality).
Probably the biggest quality relevant aspect is the crank/hub interface type: square taper is much lower quality and less durable than ISIS or Q-Axle. That being said, square taper can be fine for learning or for lighter riders (kids) and general freestyle.
But for muni or trials or riders over 84kg/185lbs, square taper is usually not durable (it works and you can still ride it but may not last).
That’s probably too much information: As both of these unicycles have ISIS cranks/hubs, they’re both mid level quality.