Bikes rolling on 32-inch wheels are steadily moving from curiosity to mainstream, with more models hitting the market and, just as importantly, a growing range of parts that actually fit them. Plenty of 32in machines are still prototypes built to turn heads and gauge interest, yet a rising number of complete, rideable 32-inch bikes can now be purchased. Below we look at six 32in cross-country hardtails and gravel bikes that have caught our attention, a few of which we have already put through their paces. Other 32in projects remain mere announcements of future launches or, especially among the bigger brands, prototypes and one-off builds.
Singular Pterodactyl
Back in July, Warren tested the titanium Singular Pterodactyl gravel bike and came away convinced it “has everything I want from the best gravel bikes: speed, smoothness, brilliant handling, and a breathtaking way of keeping momentum thanks to those huge wheels.” He went on to describe the ride as epic across every surface, even technical trails, where it floated over impacts that would have sapped speed on 700c wheels. The frame comes in L, XL and XXL, and Warren’s verdict is that it only suits taller riders, a box he happens to tick. Founder Sam Alison explains: “That’s where this large wheel size can do what it’s supposed to do, without excessive stack height, slow handling, or toe overlap.” The Pterodactyl borrows mountain bike standards, running a Boost front hub with a flip-chip axle and SuperBoost at the rear, plus a wider MTB-style bottom bracket. Thanks to the bigger wheels, its low-sounding gearing ends up comparable to a 700c gravel bike.
Sour Cycles Pasta Party 32
The Sour Cycles Pasta Party 32 is a steel XC hardtail mountain bike, and the test model we rode came with a prototype Manitou fork. Suspension forks for 32in wheels, along with wheels and tyres, are still thin on the ground. As with the Pterodactyl, reviewer Tom discovered that the larger wheels let him hold speed, pedal more smoothly and glide over trail chatter, thanks to the shallower angle of attack when the tyre meets a bump. On more technical terrain, though, the extra inertia of the wheels and tyres made handling trickier, and shifting weight back on steep descents became harder.
Baum DBM 32
The Baum DBM 32 is another titanium gravel bike built around 32in wheels, and it clears tyres as wide as 2.6 inches. Once again, that means adopting mountain bike standards for the bottom bracket and hub spacing. While other brands emphasise the ride qualities above, Baum sees 32in bikes as an excellent answer for tall and very tall riders. Its first build went to a 200cm (6ft 7in) rider who had never found a properly proportioned bike. According to Darren Baum: “A 32er is not going to work for everyone because of the extra standover and reach. A bigger wheel size allows us to build a bigger frame with better proportions, which is something that has really been missing from the market.” Like others, Baum points to the limited component choices as the reason it held off launching its 32in bike, but believes that is changing fast enough to make the wheel size viable. “Perhaps the most surprising thing has been how quickly everybody has been able to adapt to the bigger wheels. They roll really well, offer lots of grip, and they are very stable, which is exactly what we were all saying when we started using 29-inch wheels,” Baum adds.
Mason Macro32
Mason unveiled its 32in Macro bikepacking adventure bike at Bespoked Dresden in September 2026. While mainstream brands have only been testing the water, Mason insists the Macro is no concept, calling it “the first 32in bike of its kind from a UK brand, and probably the first like this in the world”. Founder Dom Mason says he had been holding back because of a shortage of components, but now “we are seeing a really usable selection of 32in tyres in various widths, from most of the big makers, along with the emergence of suitable suspension forks from brands like DT Swiss”. The bike runs 32-inch wheels with Boost axles from long-time Mason partner Hunt Wheels. For now, the Macro is offered as a 29er, but Mason is fine-tuning geometry and features and expects to add the 32in option to the range for 2027.
Scott 32in Unbound prototype
Scott brought out two examples of its 32in gravel prototype in May, ahead of Unbound 2026. They were raced at Unbound 200 by 2025 winner Cameron Jones and in the 350-mile / 560km Unbound XL by Robin Gemperle. The prototype wheels came from I9 and wore 50mm-wide Schwalbe RX 32in tyres, with Jones on a Shimano GRX groupset and Gemperle on SRAM Red XPLR AXS. Before the 2026 race, Gemperle said he felt 32-inch wheels were the size gravel racing, and Unbound in particular, had been waiting for, while Jones claimed: “This bike makes you feel like you’re levitating over the surface. I’ll be experiencing a road race while everybody else is racing gravel!” Jones took 10th in the 2026 Unbound 200, while Gemperle won Unbound XL despite having to walk roughly 21km in the excessively muddy conditions. Scott states its 32in gravel bikes are “pure prototypes and will never be released on the market”, which seems a shame given how they performed at Unbound.
Van Rysel RCR-XC
The newest brand to embrace the trend is Van Rysel. Its first mountain bike, the RCR-XC, jumps straight to 32in wheels. The company says it studied two years of race data and concluded the larger size would give its new Decathlon Ford team a genuine edge in cross-country racing. Van Rysel is the first major brand to announce a 32in bike, a significant moment, though the public will have to wait until next year for its release. The bike also hints at what two other brands may have in the pipeline: press images show the RCR-XC fitted with unreleased 32in wheels from Zipp and an unreleased RockShox SID fork.
