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Ultra Lightweight 2011 Components from UK’s New Ultimate – 114g Seatpost!

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new ultimate super lightweight tapered carbon fiber seatpost 118 gramsNew Ultimate, a UK Denmark component manufacturer, has started showing off their 2011 products, all of which are at the low end of weights we’ve seen.

The pics aren’t great, but the new products include a tapered carbon seatpost that comes in at just 114g for the 350 x 31.6!

Even at that gravity defying weight, they say it’s as strong as their “normal” carbon posts that range from 117g (for the 300×27.2 – note that this is narrower and shorter than the new one and still weighs more) up to 135-140g for the white carbon models. These use high modulus carbon with alloy cups and titanium bolts, but the new version tapers the carbon, keeping material where it’s really needed. Did we mention it’s approved for mountain biking? It is.

The post works for road, too, obviously, but the rest of the 2011 new stuff is for the dirt. There are  new carbon handlebars and for the first time from NU, a set of hydraulic disc brakes and a full carbon hardtail frame.

It’s all crazy light, and it’s all after the break…

new ultimate 2011 carbon fiber flat and riser mountain bike handlebars

The new flat bar claims to be the lightest in the world at just 99g. It’s 580mm wide with 200mm of straight area on either side of the oversized clamp area for mounting your shifting and braking kit, lockouts and grips. Amazingly, the ends are even reinforced to accept bar ends!

The riser bar has a 30mm rise and 8º sweep. 30mm is a decent rise, but this bar is designed for XC racing only. It’s 620mm wide and tips the scales at just 120g (claimed).

new ultimate 2011 lightweight hydraulic disc brake for mountain bikes

Their all-new hydraulic disc brake set comes in at 584g for the entire package. If that’s true, and the claimed rotor weight of just 79g, that means front and rear brakes (lever, hose and caliper) come in at 426g for the set, or an average of just 213g each.  That’s down around Ashima’s PCB weight, which is pretty low. Word is, they use standard Shimano brake pads, too, so finding replacements should be easy. NU says they’ll have enough power for all-mountain type riding despite the very XC weight.

new ultimate prototype full carbon fiber mountain bike frame

Another first for New Ultimate is a foray into frames. This prototype Warp SL Hardtail uses full carbon tube to tube construction with high modulus fibers. It’ll be available in UD finish or painted. The frame uses a tapered headtube (1-1/8″ to 1-1/2″), BB92 bottom bracket, postmount rear brakes and full carbon dropouts. The flattened seatstays are designed to have a bit of flex. Claimed frame weight is 1,050g, and retail will be £1,290.

new ultimate prototype mountain bike crankset

Lastly, they’re working on some prototype cranks, which Bikeradar got a look at. The unique feature on these is the ability to disconnect the driveside arm and spider (normally the axle is permanently bonded to the driveside) as well as the non-drive side, allowing quick swaps of gears…or swaps between 2x and 3x setups. Photo by BikeRadar.

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udder
udder
13 years ago

Erm, aren’t New Ultimate from Denmark?
Also some noticable similarities between some of their kit and certain Far Eastern bike catalogues…

Rob
Rob
13 years ago

New Ultimate’s Danish, otherwise great article 🙂

Erich
Erich
13 years ago

I was unaware that Ultimate was no longer good enough, all hail the New Ultimate! Stay tuned for New Super Ultimate Max, coming soon.

emp
emp
13 years ago

haha good to see they can re-brand cheap Chinese products
quick search on alibaba will come up with everything shown
I wish some companies would pull there finger out and stop trying to rip people off

Colin
Colin
13 years ago

The only thing that’s rebranded are the brakes, and possibly the frame (although I’ve never seen it anywhere else).

The seatpost and handlebar are made in china (like everything else), but it is their own design.

Cody
13 years ago

I had the NU seat post last year on my MTB and snapped it right off where it enters the frame. I’m only 140 pounds and ride very conservatively. I love light-weight, but much of this stuff sacrifices durability.

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