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Building the Future Together: Manitou x Neuhaus and the 32” Frontier
Mar 30, 2026
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Mani32 and Neuhaus
New wheel sizes don’t arrive quietly. They challenge assumptions, disrupt established norms, and force the entire industry to rethink what is possible.
The growing conversation around 32” wheels in mountain biking is exactly that. Exciting, promising, and still largely undefined.
At Manitou, we see this not as a finished idea, but as the beginning of a process.
The growing conversation around 32” wheels in mountain biking is exactly that. Exciting, promising, and still largely undefined.
At Manitou, we see this not as a finished idea, but as the beginning of a process.
More Questions Than Answers
The move from 29” to 32” is not a simple scale-up. It introduces a new set of variables that affect nearly every aspect of bike design. Geometry shifts. Ride dynamics change. Loads, leverage, stiffness targets, and kinematics all need to be reconsidered.
A fork cannot be developed in isolation. It is part of a system.
Frame, wheels, suspension, and rider position must all work together in harmony. Change one element, and the rest must adapt. With 32”, that ripple effect is significant. This is why meaningful development requires more than prototypes.
It requires real, rideable platforms.
A fork cannot be developed in isolation. It is part of a system.
Frame, wheels, suspension, and rider position must all work together in harmony. Change one element, and the rest must adapt. With 32”, that ripple effect is significant. This is why meaningful development requires more than prototypes.
It requires real, rideable platforms.
Frame + Components = R&D Platform
To move from theory to reality, Manitou has partnered with Neuhaus Bikes, a builder known for its precision, openness, and willingness to explore new territory.
Working together allows for the creation of a functional test platform. Not a concept, not a render, but a bike that can be ridden, evaluated, and refined.
This collaboration allows both teams to gather critical feedback early in the process. What works, what needs to change, and where the true opportunities lie.
It is an approach grounded in agility and curiosity.
Working together allows for the creation of a functional test platform. Not a concept, not a render, but a bike that can be ridden, evaluated, and refined.
This collaboration allows both teams to gather critical feedback early in the process. What works, what needs to change, and where the true opportunities lie.
It is an approach grounded in agility and curiosity.
A Collaborative Approach to Innovation
Developing for 32” demands a different mindset. It requires the courage to question established solutions and the flexibility to adapt quickly as new insights emerge.
At Manitou, this is nothing new.
From the earliest days of suspension development, progress has come from collaboration. Working alongside frame builders, athletes, and engineers to ensure that every component contributes to a cohesive, high-performing system.
The Neuhaus + Manitou test platform is a continuation of that philosophy. By working together from the outset, we can ensure that the fork, the frame, and the entire bike evolve as one. Not as separate parts, but as a unified solution.
From the earliest days of suspension development, progress has come from collaboration. Working alongside frame builders, athletes, and engineers to ensure that every component contributes to a cohesive, high-performing system.
The Neuhaus + Manitou test platform is a continuation of that philosophy. By working together from the outset, we can ensure that the fork, the frame, and the entire bike evolve as one. Not as separate parts, but as a unified solution.
From Baseline to Breakthrough
Every new standard needs a starting point. A baseline from which refinement can begin.
This project is that starting point.
It allows us to move beyond speculation and into tangible development. To test assumptions, gather data, and shape the future of the platform with intention rather than guesswork. There is still much to learn. That is what makes this process so compelling.
It allows us to move beyond speculation and into tangible development. To test assumptions, gather data, and shape the future of the platform with intention rather than guesswork. There is still much to learn. That is what makes this process so compelling.
The Trail Ahead
The potential of 32” is real. Increased rollover, improved momentum, and a different riding experience altogether. But unlocking that potential requires careful, methodical development.
It requires partnerships like this.
Manitou and Neuhaus are proud to be part of that journey. Not chasing trends, but helping define what comes next. Because progress in mountain biking has never come from standing still.
Manitou and Neuhaus are proud to be part of that journey. Not chasing trends, but helping define what comes next. Because progress in mountain biking has never come from standing still.
