what makes those 15 hundred dollar hunter’s so much better than all the rest of the unicycles? how could you possibly charge that much for less than half a bike? If anyone has one could you reply saying the good things that a hunter offers?
i dont like your attitude. also, BECUZ THEY PWNNNNNNNN 
sorry I’m not trying to be ignorant or anything.
- there handmade frames, and still the best of their kind if you don’t mind their weight. 2. it has a break. 3. it has profiles. 4. it’s handbuild. 5. it has an expensive tire. 6. it has an expensive nice rim. 7. it has a nice seat…
also…
it’s not the wrong forum! I’m just having a conversation about the hunter unicycles… sheesh
I see…
itz all gewd, i was just playin
Back in the old days (before 2003 or so) that’s how much the good unicycles cost. It is only recently that we’ve gotten good muni and trials unicycles in the $500 or less range.
Back in the old days the good unicycles were hand made. They were made in small batches. Parts had to be made special for them. Most were made in well developed countries like the US, Canada, or UK where labor is more expensive. That makes them expensive.
Now we have good muni and trials unicycles made in China, Taiwan, and other places where labor and manufacturing costs are less. They are made by contract manufacturers in manufacturing factories. Costs are less and the unicycles cost less.
Be happy that you can get a good unicycle now for $500 instead of $1500.
Are the $1000+ unicycles still worth it?
Well, not so much. Certainly not if they’re way beyond your means. But they’re still worth it to a few people who like things different and are able to pay for things like that. There are some who would argue that the Hunter frame is better than the KH aluminum frame. Steel is stronger and can take more abuse. KH aluminum frames have been known to break.
And there are people who will dress up a $500 KH unicycle with extra bling like a carbon fiber saddle, carbon fiber handle, better seatpost, better pedals, and other such things. You can get that $500 KH up to $1000 with those extras.
I ride an old school KH Pro muni. It cost me about $1400 way back then. Then I added things like a CF seat, Roach seat cover, custom air pillow, Thomson seatpost, and Atomlab pedals, braided brake line, and other things so the cost increased. Was it worth it? Hell yes. There were no other alternatives for a bombproof muni back then. It has gotten plenty of use and I’m still using it now. Would it be worth it to buy the same muni now? Not really.
How do people justify spending $5000 on a custom XC mountain bike? You see bikes like that riding the trails so people are buying them. You can buy an equally functional stock bike for much less. Why do they do it? Those are the same types of people who would be willing to buy a Hunter muni now even though they’re more expensive.
JC, that’s a pretty good justification from someone that doesn’t own a Hunter.
Since I own one, here’s mine: Like JC said…
nice use of wording 
thumb up
Aside from all the points, that JC made…
The Hunter frame is handmade by a custom skilled frame builder (Rick Hunter). You simply cannot expect to compare the cost of a skilled american custom frame builder to mass production factories in China. Just because cheap labor is available over seas and we have some ridiculously cheap products available to us doesn’t mean that you should expect quality domestic labor to be priced similarly.
One other reason most unis cost a little more than half a bke, including both mass produced and hand made, is the lower production volumes. Even if it were hand made the frame parts could be produced much more efficiently if say 10 times as many were made, like some hand made bke frames.
So the Hunter is stronger, but heavier becouse of the steel.
What are the other differences (good or bad) between this frame and the KH, DM ATU, DM Vortex, and Wilder frames.
Maybee If someone could compare the differences to an equal performance level MTB (something more of us, including myself, are more familiar with), then we can more esily dicide if the frame is worth it to us, considering the extra cost.
$5000 spent on a custom xc mountain bike, is jutified in that each component will maximise the riders abilities. “Light, strong, cheap, pick two.” the lightest bike that won’t break on you will maximize every ounce of imput you put into the bike/uni. Usually in a bike that expensive, you have a frame built to your exact geo demands.
Geometry means nothing to a unicycle, as long as the seat post stays connected to the bearing clamps you’re good. So, a hunter frame actually takes away from you efforts in a ride ever so slightly over a kh uni. Why pay so much more for a frame that takes away (ever so slightly) from your potential?
It’s hard to compare unicycle frames the way you compare bike frames. Bike frames have differences in ride due to different geometry, materials, and frame building. Unicycles don’t really have such differences. Geometry is all the same (except for a few notable exceptions that add suspension or other notable design differences that affect the ride). So all unicycle frames ride pretty much the same.
One area that does affect the ride and feel is the bearing clamps. A secure and solid bearing clamp that properly holds the bearing (not too tight, not too loose) does make a difference. Flex down at the bearing can be noticed when pedaling hard up a climb. That flex will cause the wheel to flop a little bit and in extreme cases can cause the tire to rub the frame. A frame with good machined bearing holders makes a difference.
Another area is the seat tube. How well does the seat tube fit the seat post. Does it fit a quality bicycle seat post size? Is it well machined inside and fit snugly? Can you fit a good seat post clamp on it? A seat post that twists when the unicycle crashes is not good. A seat tube that requires you to clamp the seat collar so tight that it deforms the seat post or breaks the seat collar is not good.
The Hunter has quality bearing holders and a quality seat tube. No problems there.
The new breed of hubs is using 42mm OD bearings. I don’t know if Hunter has made any frames to fit 42mm OD bearings yet. If you want to use a hub with 42mm bearings you’ll need to make sure the frame can fit them. I’m sure Hunter can make a frame with 42mm bearing holders.
I don’t know what the weight difference is between the Hunter and other frames like the new KH. The Hunter is made from quality steel bicycle tubing (the same tubing used for his bikes). Just because it is steel doesn’t mean it has to be excessively heavy. But I have no idea what the weights are and how it compares to the new KH.
Strengthwise I’d say the Hunter is probably stronger and can take more abuse. The southern Cal guys have broken a couple aluminum KH frames and aluminum Wilder frames. I’m not aware of any broken Hunter frames. Maybe those southern Cal guys should be riding Hunters.
The Hunter frame also has the benefit that you can run a bike lock through the frame so you can lock it more securely when you stop at the pub for an after ride (or middle of the ride) pint.
The frame isn’t the most important part of a unicycle like it is on a bike. The frame just needs to hold the parts together. The wheel is more important in terms of defining how the unicycle will ride. What hub and cranks. How wide is the rim. What tire. What tube. All those are more important that the frame.
My questions about justifying a $5000 MTB were rhetorical. I know why people spend that much on a bike. I was pointing out that not everyone is driven by going for the lowest cost that will meet their basic needs in a bike.
It’s the same reason there is still a market for $1500+ custom unicycles even though you can get a KH now for much less.
Maybe the KH and Wilder frames are breaking because steel maintains its strength, better than aluminum, after repeatedly being stressed.
So I guess you’d want a Hunter or DM if you are breaking frames.
Or custom Titanium. I think I remember reading that Zack had Bedford make him a custom Ti frame for $800.
scarry
What’s scary? I’ll stop for a pint with lunch during a Coker ride. Unfortunately there aren’t any pubs located along my muni rides.
I think this should be on Rec.Sport.
I think we can take the excellent knowledge from John Childs about the MUni, and apply it equally to the 36" Hunter framed unicycles, which cost over $1500 with all the bells and whistles.
Now someone mass produce manufactures a frame for 36", that looks a lot like a Hunter-style, and sell for a littel over $500 with brakes.
Pretty cool. Even tho my Coker frame suits me fine, I’m considering selling my Coker and getting one, just for the look and color.
I guess I’m just bit by consumerism.
I went to a Japanese restaurant and had some sushi, then thought I’d try a shot of sakii. On the ride back to where we were hanging out I realized my reaction time wasn’t as good but kept riding, just didn’t try anything challenging. Right before I was about to get off I fell backwords, fell on my but and ended up bruising my tailbone. I couldn’t ride for several days and it took over two months to fully heel.
It’s been proven that alcohol decreases your reaction time and your sense of good judgement.
But it takes more than one drink (or one pint) to reach that state.
I’ll only have one pint if it’s the middle of a ride. It has never caused me any problems or noticeable effects. I’m careful not to do anything rash immediately after leaving the pub, like say see if I can sprint up to 17 mph.
Perhaps it was the sushi that caused you problems? I stick to burgers or fish and chips for my pub eats.