That was quick: the first 32-inch mullet in small series production is here

Big Bird Starling

Starling Cycles presents the Big Bird, its first mountain bike with a 32-inch front wheel – not just a concept bike, but a small series handcrafted in Bristol. The 32″/29" "mullet" concept combines a huge front wheel with a classic 29-inch rear wheel, 120 millimeters of suspension travel at the front and rear, and is designed to roll confidently over roots and scree on the trail without delivering completely unfamiliar handling.

The cornerstones of the project are a Reynolds 853 steel frame with a simple single-pivot rear triangle, a 32" prototype IntendBC Samurai fork, and hand-built wheels from RyanBuildsWheels – but components of this size are rare on the market. Starling himself is ambivalent: the 32-inch front tire works surprisingly well, but whether a new wheel size really benefits the sport or just creates more "standards" remains to be seen. The Big Bird is only available in limited quantities, sizes Large and XL, with orders running until around the end of March and a production time of around twelve weeks. In addition to frames, Starling also offers matching 32" forks, shocks, wheels, and tires.

Will 32" bikes follow the same path as fat bikes or bikes with 27.5+ wheels? It is not yet clear whether the wheel size is a short-lived trend or the next big thing. In any case, Starling is taking first place in the race for the first (small) series production in the new format.nbsp;

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Autor: Tobias Gütlin

News published on 20.02.2026

Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.