{"id":1899049,"date":"2026-04-23T17:12:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1899049"},"modified":"2026-04-23T17:12:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:12:22","slug":"the-15-boundary-pushing-bikes-everyone-was-talking-about-at-sea-otter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1899049","title":{"rendered":"The 15 boundary-pushing bikes everyone was talking about at Sea Otter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sea Otter 2026 proved that innovation in mountain biking is still going strong. This year, the Singletracks team discovered an impressive array of creative and unconventional builds, from eye-catching 32-inch wheel experiments to one-of-a-kind hand-built bikes to vintage restorations. <\/p>\n

In short, these are the bikes that are pushing boundaries and sparking conversations.<\/p>\n

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Be More Bikes Mule EN<\/h2>\n

Bronson Moore was walking around with his Be More Bikes<\/a> Mule EN high-pivot, gearbox downhill bike at Sea Otter. Naturally, the bike is set up with his Raised Reversed (RR) stem, and he was happy to let anyone throw a leg over the bike to see how it rides.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Frameworks 32\/29 mixed wheel DH bike<\/h2>\n

Professional downhiller Neko Mulally was spotted rocking a mixed wheel setup on his Frameworks DH bike, and he went on to win the downhill race on it. It was rolling on 29in Continental Cross King in the rear and 32in Maxxis Aspen front. Though quite the ragebait setup, could this hint at long-travel bikes to come?<\/p>\n

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Actofive I-Train 32\u2033 bike<\/h2>\n

One of the most intriguing bikes Greg spotted at Sea Otter this year was this 32er I-Train prototype from Actofive. This gorgeous frame is made of bonded CNC-machined aluminum, meaning that the frame is constructed in two halves that are essentially glued together. This machining technique allows Actofive to craft endless intricacies into the frame. Looking closely reveals that the tubing has ridges and unique shapes to it, including recesses for cable routing. The bike sports 120mm of rear travel and 130mm of front travel, with a claimed weight of less than 30lb.<\/p>\n

The build kit is fully custom, with MarkZero components including ALT XC pedals, external rotor lockrings, seatpost clamp, headset, and top cap. Eagle-eyed readers will also spot the blingy Madrone rear derailleur, plus Morse Ti bottle cage, Encase pump, Resolve dropper post, Berd Hawk30 Gold wheels, Intend suspension and brakes, and Schwalbe Rick Race XC 32\u2033 tires.<\/p>\n

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A Prevelo full-suspension bike for kids <\/h2>\n

Without a reference point for scale in this photo, it\u2019s hard to tell that this Prevelo full-suspension prototype is a kid\u2019s bike. Everything is scaled to size, from the cranks to the cockpit to the suspension. The 20\u00d72.4\u2033 tires on the display bike had clearly been ridden, so it seems this prototype is already getting some heavy use!<\/p>\n

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Esker drop bar 32er mountain bike<\/h2>\n

This Lorax 32 drop bar mountain bike was on display at the Maxxis booth, sporting the new Aspen AT 32\u00d72.4\u2033 tires. The bike features Portage dropouts, allowing buyers to run gears or singlespeed. Though this prototype has a rigid fork, the 29er version of the Lorax is designed to work with a 120mm fork, and we suspect this one will fit a suspension fork as well.<\/p>\n

In an Instagram post, Esker says, \u201cWe hear all of you that badly want us to make Lorax 32. Keep your eyes and ears open, because we will be talking next week about how and when we intend to bring these to market.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A $25,000 Telepathy mountain bike<\/h2>\n

The Telepathy<\/a> Opus features a unique suspension design they\u2019re calling Sync Link or Parallel Axle Path. The idler and linkage combo is meant to eliminate chain growth for a \u201cchainless\u201d feel on the trail. This special edition bike with serial number 007 was on sale for $25,000, which certainly had people talking. For an upstart bike brand, that kind of money could certainly go a long way toward development and production!<\/p>\n

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Ari full-suspension 32er prototype<\/h2>\n

Like a lot of brands, Ari<\/a> is tinkering with 32-inch wheels. This prototype features CNC aluminum construction and flex stays to keep the rear end simple and lightweight. Ari says they\u2019ve been able to shrink the bike down to a size small in order to fit a wide range of riders. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A brightly colored bicycle displayed on a wooden stand at a bike expo, surrounded by attendees. The bicycle features unique designs and is positioned under a booth with the name \"Monkey Designs.\" In the background, various people are engaging with vendor displays and interacting with one another, highlighting a lively outdoor event atmosphere.<\/a><\/figure>\n

Retro Rebuild 1991 Specialized Stumpjumper \u201cLa Escultura Del Mono Loco\u201d<\/h2>\n

Mad Monkey Designs, a Southern California custom frame bag company, showcased a special collaboration project with various bike brands to revive a 1991 Specialized Stumpjumper. Here are the collaborators\/components that were used.<\/p>\n