2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

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11 hours ago

Not to disrupt the 32" hub spacing convo but -

I'm linking up with Specialized next week to ride/film a video on the new Demo 11. I want to focus this video more on getting everyone's questions answered about the bike since we will do a proper test of the bike later this summer during our DH Test Sessions.

So if you have anything you want explained or answered, drop a comment here - https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/specialized-demo-11-what-do-you-want-know-about-it 

5
11 hours ago
Zuestman wrote:
So, going to ask this question fully understanding the debates and tech here...So everyone is saying 32" will NEED new/wider hub spacing, especially for DH.  WHY...

So, going to ask this question fully understanding the debates and tech here...

So everyone is saying 32" will NEED new/wider hub spacing, especially for DH.  WHY?   Most companies are designing asymetric rims. spoke tensions are even. now, on top of that, commencal is running 32h rear 28h front. so going down in spoke count. AND most teams are running LESS spoke tension to get better traction (and in turn INCREASE wheel flex). So.... if you take that into account, I see no need to run wider flanges on a 32h asymmetric rim at full tension.  Also... most of us here have not actually run 32" and are talking from our comfy chairs Wink

While I agree there is a possiblity of needing to work on wheel design... i think there are many tools still to be used in building a wheel that won't need a changed to standards, and that we won't need to go back to super boost. We have been working on flexier systems for more traction and taking stiffness out for years... now people are arguing we are making things too flexy....without riding them.

comatosegi wrote:
From Newman, b/c it would regain strength lost in the bigger wheels with the least compromise.  

From Newman, b/c it would regain strength lost in the bigger wheels with the least compromise.  IMG 5437 0

I'd be extremely disappointed in the bike industry if they didn't take this opportunity to also introduce a new hub standard.

That would be VERY uncharacteristic of them.

7
10 hours ago

a 29/27.5 mullet already drives my OCD up the wall. a 32 mullet makes me want to just close my comput

rgard
Posts
25
Joined
5/2/2024
Location
pemberton, BC CA
9 hours ago

Honest question, why pick 32" as the next size, why not 33", 33.25" 34"..? If bigger is better just keep going, right?

Can't sell 34" as the solution to all of your problems in ten years time if they go straight there now. 

9 hours ago

With Santa Cruz crew shamelessly parading around Galbraith on the unreleased Tallboy I wonder how soon I am gonna see a spy shot of the carbon version? I know there was one that looked aluminum on here a month or so ago.

3
peecee
Posts
426
Joined
5/12/2013
Location
Brisbane AU
Fantasy
9 hours ago
sspomer wrote:
updated full bike pic

updated full bike pic

neko32b
Clip0001.00 10 01 40.Still008

I thought downhill was governed by what makes the sport look cool and not by what makes it faster, you can’t tell me that banning a skin suit due to the majority of male athletes being self conscious in the search of speed is any different to putting a massive stupid looking wheel on the front of a bike to make it look like a Penny farthing ? If 32” wheels are allowed then so should ski suits be allowed if it’s helping gain speed in a sport that can come down to thousands of a second missing qualifying! 

On another note Is this about going faster or body position ? Cause if it’s about body position just do what Dak does with a huge riser bar or what Reece Wilson is doing with higher bars or stick a bigger tire on a 29” rim. 
 

3
boozed
Posts
667
Joined
6/11/2019
Location
AU
8 hours ago

I love that it's Neko Mulally doing this.  Nobody else would get out alive.

7
7 hours ago
boozed wrote:

I love that it's Neko Mulally doing this.  Nobody else would get out alive.

*tinfoil hat on*

Big MTB paid an outrageous sum to Neko to show off 32” since they know everyone loves what he’s doing and simply can’t hate on him.

2
FullSendy
Posts
18
Joined
4/3/2026
Location
High St, IL US
7 hours ago
With Santa Cruz crew shamelessly parading around Galbraith on the unreleased Tallboy I wonder how soon I am gonna see a spy shot of the carbon...

With Santa Cruz crew shamelessly parading around Galbraith on the unreleased Tallboy I wonder how soon I am gonna see a spy shot of the carbon version? I know there was one that looked aluminum on here a month or so ago.

Can check out PB right now. lol at Kaz citing Skye Schillhammer, 'Transition’s marketing director and parking lot supervisor' with the spy shot in Transition's hq. 

4
skiskateshane
Posts
40
Joined
7/21/2016
Location
Salt Lake City, UT US
6 hours ago
sspomer wrote:
updated full bike pic

updated full bike pic

neko32b
Clip0001.00 10 01 40.Still008
peecee wrote:
I thought downhill was governed by what makes the sport look cool and not by what makes it faster, you can’t tell me that banning a...

I thought downhill was governed by what makes the sport look cool and not by what makes it faster, you can’t tell me that banning a skin suit due to the majority of male athletes being self conscious in the search of speed is any different to putting a massive stupid looking wheel on the front of a bike to make it look like a Penny farthing ? If 32” wheels are allowed then so should ski suits be allowed if it’s helping gain speed in a sport that can come down to thousands of a second missing qualifying! 

On another note Is this about going faster or body position ? Cause if it’s about body position just do what Dak does with a huge riser bar or what Reece Wilson is doing with higher bars or stick a bigger tire on a 29” rim. 
 

I had this exact same thought before reading your comment. We know skin suit is faster but that doesn’t matter. The 32 is so ugly. 

2
Eae903
Posts
374
Joined
10/20/2023
Location
Laramie, WY US
Fantasy
2 hours ago
sspomer wrote:
updated full bike pic

updated full bike pic

neko32b
Clip0001.00 10 01 40.Still008
peecee wrote:
I thought downhill was governed by what makes the sport look cool and not by what makes it faster, you can’t tell me that banning a...

I thought downhill was governed by what makes the sport look cool and not by what makes it faster, you can’t tell me that banning a skin suit due to the majority of male athletes being self conscious in the search of speed is any different to putting a massive stupid looking wheel on the front of a bike to make it look like a Penny farthing ? If 32” wheels are allowed then so should ski suits be allowed if it’s helping gain speed in a sport that can come down to thousands of a second missing qualifying! 

On another note Is this about going faster or body position ? Cause if it’s about body position just do what Dak does with a huge riser bar or what Reece Wilson is doing with higher bars or stick a bigger tire on a 29” rim. 
 

Hey now, don't say that like it's a bad thing. Looking cool is extremely important. 

2 hours ago
Not to disrupt the 32" hub spacing convo but -I'm linking up with Specialized next week to ride/film a video on the new Demo 11. I...

Not to disrupt the 32" hub spacing convo but -

I'm linking up with Specialized next week to ride/film a video on the new Demo 11. I want to focus this video more on getting everyone's questions answered about the bike since we will do a proper test of the bike later this summer during our DH Test Sessions.

So if you have anything you want explained or answered, drop a comment here - https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/specialized-demo-11-what-do-you-want-know-about-it 

Please fish for some info about the possibility of using the new suspension layout on a pedal friendly bike. Not ebike. I still love my old enduro and still think it is an amazing bike, albeit a few geo numbers slightly out of date. Or maybe they have given up on the long travel non assisted pedal friendly bikes altogether and I have to put Frameworks on my short list instead.

1
Znarf
Posts
28
Joined
4/30/2013
Location
DE
2 hours ago
With Santa Cruz crew shamelessly parading around Galbraith on the unreleased Tallboy I wonder how soon I am gonna see a spy shot of the carbon...

With Santa Cruz crew shamelessly parading around Galbraith on the unreleased Tallboy I wonder how soon I am gonna see a spy shot of the carbon version? I know there was one that looked aluminum on here a month or so ago.

FullSendy wrote:
Can check out PB right now. lol at Kaz citing Skye Schillhammer, 'Transition’s marketing director and parking lot supervisor' with the spy shot in Transition's hq. 

Can check out PB right now. lol at Kaz citing Skye Schillhammer, 'Transition’s marketing director and parking lot supervisor' with the spy shot in Transition's hq. 

This looks suspiciously like a mullet setup!?!

kperras
Posts
163
Joined
12/19/2012
Location
CA
2 hours ago
sspomer wrote:
G-Out Project Pro DH Mountain Creek - https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/g-out-project-2026-pro-downhill-series-mountain-creekand one of neko's 32 for the sake of triggering

G-Out Project Pro DH Mountain Creek - https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/g-out-project-2026-pro-downhill-series-mountain-creek

GMC.jpg?VersionId=eXETdrXqEPjQnlb7Z hqkbPf4gzYq3U

and one of neko's 32 for the sake of triggering

17783073789123579462455984226695.jpg?VersionId=9.a.A17plTV4a1.HnaMumD8Nh X
2

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