The Raven 32

Why 32 inches?

The 32-inch wheel is everywhere right now, so I thought... why not build my own?

I have always been interested in trying new ideas, but I have to admit I was sceptical about the move to even larger wheels. I previously experimented with 36-inch wheels, but for me they felt like a step too far—more like riding a five-bar gate than a mountain bike.

So when 32-inch wheels started gaining attention, I was curious, but not convinced.

That changed.

After spending the last 12 years riding fatbikes, my approach to mountain bikes has evolved. Fatbikes completely changed my perception of what is possible off-road. They showed me that bigger tyres and larger overall wheel diameters can transform the way a bike rides.

A fatbike, depending on the tyre setup, can already have a larger overall wheel diameter than many 29-inch mountain bikes. Without really realising it, I had already been exploring the benefits of a larger wheel.

Because of that, moving to a 32-inch wheel wasn't the huge leap I first imagined.

The Prototype

Rather than designing a completely new frame and hoping I had got everything right, I decided to take a different approach.

Could a 32-inch wheel actually work in my existing Raven Fatbike frame?

After some basic calculations, careful measurements, and plenty of curiosity, I discovered that a 32-inch wheel and tyre combination would fit.

This opened up another advantage: I could use fatbike hubs.

In my opinion, fatbike hub widths provide an excellent foundation for building strong, reliable wheels. The wider stance gives excellent spoke angles and creates a very robust wheel package—perfect for a bike designed to explore new possibilities.

The rims had already been manufactured, Teravail tyres arrived, and the prototype build began.

The first rides proved something important: this wasn't just an experiment. The Raven 32 had potential.

What I discovered

The bigger wheels brought the advantages I had hoped for—improved rollover, increased momentum, and a smoother ride over rough terrain—while still keeping the playful character that makes a mountain bike enjoyable.

The biggest surprise was how natural it felt.

It wasn't a 36-inch wheel experience. It wasn't a bike that needed to be wrestled around the trail. It felt like a logical evolution of everything I had learned from years of riding fatbikes.

The Production Frame

The production Raven 32 has been developed from everything learned during the prototype stage.

Geometry, specifications, and pricing details will be released shortly.

The journey from a simple idea to a completely new wheel size has been fascinating—and the Raven 32 is the result of being willing to try something different.

Please Note: All the current images are of the prototype.

Building and testing

The following video is the build and test ride of the prototype.

  • The Design

    The frame is based around a tried a tested geometry, but adjusted for standover and bottom bracket height.

    The Ride

    Larger wheels equal more comfort, without ruining the technical ability in offroad singletrack. The ability to run rigid forks keep the weight down and enhances the ride.

    Cable Routing

    You will have a choice of internal, or external cable routing when placing your order. Dropper post internal routing as standard

    Wheel Strength

    The Raven uses fatbike wheel spacing, 150mm front, 177mm rear. This delivers are far superior wheelset for long life and delivering a more confident feel to the bike.

    More Clearance, More Confidence

    Due to the use of Fatbike hubs, the frame has plenty of clearance for the winter mud. Wherever your next ride takes you, the Raven 32 is ready.

    Bikepacking setup

    Rack mounts and cargo cage mounts as standard

    • Headset Size: -   Top = IS42, Lower = ZS52.

    • Rear Axle: -   12 × 177mm (Bolt through axle included).

    • Bottom bracket - 100mm x BSA standard threaded.

    • Crank width 100mm

    • Seat Post Size:  -   31.6mm

    • Seat Clamp Size: - 34.9mm (Included)

    • Dropper Post:  -  Internal Stealth cable routing.

    • Cable Routing - Internal cable routing. (External Option)

    • Pannier rack mounts.

    • 2 x bottle cage mounts.

    • 1 x Cargo cage mount (3 bolt under downtube)

    • Fixed UDH dropouts or Sliding non UDH drop out option available

    • Sizes:  - Medium, Large, X-Large

    • Max tyre size - 32 × 2.8

    • Rigid or suspension ready 100mm max.

GEOMETRY Chart coming