The history of TUNE dates back to 1988. Uli Fahl, born in the Black Forest, was living in Munich at the time, working as a chemist for a lubricant manufacturer. At 35, he made it a habit to go climbing in the Alps with his wife on weekends. He rode a new, innovative Kettler aluminum mountain bike, accessing the steepest climbing zones nearly every week. However, mountain bikes of that era weighed over 20 kg, which was far too heavy for Uli, and he was usually exhausted after the climb. Feeling the need to turn climbing into a more enjoyable activity, he began an experiment.

He replaced every screw on his bicycle with aluminum versions and developed his own weight-optimized rear derailleur kit. These received much acclaim from the market, but it was the ultra-lightweight AC8 quick-release system that garnered even more attention in the world of professional racing. In 1989, the inventor quit his job, founded his own company, and returned to his home in the Black Forest. Uli began hiring staff, and the company gradually grew, continuing to develop innovative lightweight equipment to this day.

In recent years, hubs and wheels have become increasingly important. Uli’s philosophy is: "Wheels are the best way to save weight. Because of the rotating mass, every gram saved is particularly noticeable and makes a significant difference." TUNE’s high-tech hubs are designed and manufactured with greater precision than those of competitors, resulting in superior rotational performance and lightweight properties.

In the 90s, the company launched a ceramic bottom bracket developed for German hero Jan Ullrich’s Tour de France victory. The success of this product brought TUNE more attention worldwide and established its premium status in high-end bicycle parts. Uli announced a new rear hub, the "DeCibelles," which weighs less than 100g. Its name comes from the characteristic freewheel mechanism, which is actually much noisier than a typical freehub body. It is arguably overkill for riding through the otherwise very quiet Black Forest, though...

Fun and innovation best describe Uli’s spirit. Later, he developed a "Rocket Bike" equipped with a kerosene tank and a real aircraft turbine, racing through the Black Forest mountains at over 70 km/h. Although the frame eventually broke, the lightweight components still function perfectly and can still be seen today at TUNE’s headquarters in Buggingen.

1. The first mountain bike owned by our founder, Uli, was a Kettler Adventure S. However, it wouldn't fit on the plane ride back from the Cape Verde Islands, so he ended up leaving it behind... ;-(

2. TUNE developed a special bottom bracket for a rider who would later go on to win the Tour de France. That rider's initials are "J.U." ;-)

3. Markus Klausmann, who won the German Downhill Championship 15 times, has been using TUNE parts since the very beginning of his career.

4. TUNE developed a square-taper bottom bracket equipped entirely with ceramic bearings. At 2,900 Deutsche Marks, it was likely the most expensive bottom bracket in history.

5. The TUNE treasure, the "Click" derailleur, was the best-seller at the TUNE booth during the 1995 Kirchzarten XC World Cup.

6. Uli Fahl was invited to a casting call for the German film "Wickie und die starken Männer." The casting agency wanted to hire him for the role of the character "Urobe."

7. The raw material weight for a hub shell is approximately 1kg, compared to about 70g for the finished part.

8. TUNE manufactures the world's only one-piece carbon saddle, the "Skyracer." This design eliminates all the weaknesses of carbon saddles while achieving ultra-light weight.

9. The "Pulsar" spoke magnet is the lightest product in the TUNE lineup, weighing just 0.4g.

10. The first T-shirts made by TUNE had "Hello" printed on the chest and "Good Bye" on the back.