WE ARE ONE ARRIVAL SP2 REVIEW

We Are One opted to use a dual-link suspension design to control the 150mm of travel, with the two links rotating in the same direction (co-rotating) to produce the desired kinematics. The Arrival also sports a short Trunnion mounted rear shock standard, which retains a reasonable 55mm stroke to control the rear end, but packs it into a 185mm eye-to-eye, which allows for standover heights to be minimized across the size range and the center of gravity to be kept low.

The front and rear triangles are produced from carbon fiber at We Are One’s Kamloops facility and joining them are two machined aluminum links. The “paint” finish is noteworthy, with the raw carbon frame seeing a matte Cerakote H coating that should resist wear and tear better than pretty much anything out there, keeping the Arrival looking fresh for lap after lap. With sustainability in mind, they managed to source 99% of the materials required to produce the bike from within a 500-mile radius of the factory and ensure that no plastic is used in the packaging of the bike.

We Are One Composites also back the Arrival frame with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and offer a fix and repair service that they take no profits from, to prolong the life of crash damaged frames that don’t qualify for a free replacement. To ensure the need for warranties on the Arrival is kept to the minimum, We Are One tested it to the EFBE Tri-Test standard, which they consider the toughest test in the industry. The very first frame they sent passed, which should mean there are no issues with strength out on the trail.

We Are One Composites uses a SuperBoost 157mm rear hub standard to produce a stronger wheel and improved chainline for the bigger cogs on the cassette but stuck to a standard boost 148 crank to avoid increasing the Q-factor. This is done to keep things feeling more comfortable and agile as a narrowed Q-factor allows for a more natural pedaling position and gives a nice chainline, maximizing the lifespan of expensive and hard-to-find replacement parts. The rear brake mount is We Are One’s own system, initially designed to take a standard caliper with a 180mm rotor, but the aluminum machined adapter can be replaced for a 203mm version, available separately.

A majority of the fasteners on the We Are One Arrival frame are made out of titanium, shaving a little weight and showing a real sign of quality over every last detail. They ensured that the hardware throughout the frame would sit as flush as possible with the carbon surfaces, preventing any unsightly mud accumulation over time that may otherwise occur. All threads on the carbon use aluminum inserts to ensure any strip-outs don’t write off the frame. Aluminum insert is present in the BB to accept threaded BSA bottom brackets, which should reduce the likelihood of damage to the frame and facilitate easier replacements.

We Are One offers the Arrival in three sizes, named SZ1, SZ2 and SZ3, to fit riders from 5’3” to 6’4” (160-193cm). There are equal 25mm reach gaps from the 450mm on the SZ1 to 500mm on the SZ3, with the SZ2 tested sporting our preferred 475mm figure. A 77-degree effective seat tube angle is shared across the sizes, along with the 64-degree head angle and slammed 37mm BB drop. The chainstays grow from 437mm on SZ1 and SZ2, to 441mm on SZ3, to help maintain weight balance between the wheels. Wheelbases aren’t too extreme compared to some of the current crop, with the SZ2 coming in at 1,246mm, which should retain some agility. Short head tubes across the size range allow stack heights to be kept relatively low, at 621mm for the SZ2, meaning slammed front-end lovers will be well served. Something else worth noting is the lack of adjustability in the geometry department. While it’s not a deal-breaker for us when things are right, we could have loved a high position to raise that bottom bracket a touch for our rocky trails.

The We Are One Arrival is available in two complete build options. Named SP1 and SP2, they are both high quality builds to match the premium level carbon fiber frame. Shared between the two spec levels are Fox’s Factory level suspension kit, with a 36 Float Grip 2 sporting 160mm of travel up front, paired to the Trunnion mounted Float X2 rear shock. We Are One’s Union carbon fiber rims are featured on both builds, with the SP1 built with an Industry 9 Hydra hub set, and the SP2 build featuring the slightly cheaper I9 1/1 hubs.

Gearing is SRAM’s XO1 Eagle on both bikes, but the SP1 features the AXS wireless system, opposed to the mechanical version on the SP2 build. The dropper posts receive the same treatment, with an AXS Reverb on the SP1 and SDG Tellis cable-operated dropper on the SP2. Magura brakes are featured on both builds with 203mm front rotors and 180mm rear: MT7 4-piston calipers and HC3 levers stop the SP1 build, whereas MT5 brakes are spec’d on the SP2. Both builds feature We Are One’s DA Package cockpit, with their 45mm stem mated to the bar of your choice. Rounding out the spec lists on both bikes are an SDG Bel Air III saddle, Vittoria Mazza Trail tires, and a Chris King Inset 2 headset.

The SP1 takes the top-spec crown at $10,755 vs the SP2’s slightly cheaper $8,999 price tag. We Are One’s Arrival full builds are usually available to purchase directly from the We Are One website, however at the time of writing this they are sold out. So, you’ll have to source one in stock from your local dealer, if you’re lucky.