Industry Nine has finally shown its hand in mountain biking's surprise new wheel-size war, unveiling 'The Hush' 32-inch wheelset at Sea Otter 2026 — and quietly thinning its famous rainbow of anodised colours at the same time.
Industry Nine finally shows its 32-inch hand
For years mountain biking's wheel-size question looked settled: 29ers for going fast, 27.5 for playfulness, and an uneasy truce in between. Sea Otter 2026 blew that up. The Monterey trade show was awash with 32-inch wheels, and one of the most credible names in hubs and rims finally tipped its hand — Industry Nine revealed The Hush, its first wheelset built specifically for the 32-inch category.
I9 showed the wheels mounted on a clutch of show bikes rather than as a bare set on a stand — including a Revel experimental titanium hardtail and a Neuhaus NOVA32 — a sign the project is real but not quite finished. The company says it is keeping some details under wraps until later in 2026.
The Hush, by the numbers
Source: Bikerumor
Inside the Hush wheelset
The headline spec is lean: a 24-spoke build using I9's aluminium spokes laced to carbon rims, spun on the brand's Solix hub. The carbon layup has been reworked specifically for the larger 32-inch diameter.
Two versions are planned — a mountain bike wheel and a gravel wheel — both targeting a Fall 2026 (Northern-Hemisphere autumn) release at around US$2,400 (~R39 600) a set (approx. R45,000 converted; there's no official rand price yet). According to Bikerumor, the rims skip the Convergence Tech used on I9's other We Are One-built carbon hoops — I9 reportedly wants to prove the 32-inch rim is viable before committing to more complex moulds. The rims are made in British Columbia, and a We Are One logo was spotted on the prototype wheels at the show.
“I was told they weigh a bit over 1500 grams for the set, which sounds pretty darn light to me.”
Why 32 inches — and why now
So why has the industry leapt to a wheel size most riders had never heard of 18 months ago? The pitch is straightforward: a larger diameter rolls over roots, rocks and braking bumps with a shallower attack angle, holds momentum on rough ground, and puts more tyre on the trail. The trade-offs are equally obvious — more weight, more rotating mass, and a fresh set of headaches around frame fit, standover and geometry.
What's striking is how fast the parts have arrived. By Sea Otter the 32-inch club already spanned forks, rims, tyres and complete bikes — yet the biggest suspension and wheel brands are conspicuously sitting it out, for now.
What the bike press is saying
Independent verdicts from across the cycling press — follow each link for the full review.
The trend went 'full send'
“32in wheels were simply everywhere at Sea Otter 2026.”
Read the full reviewInevitable, even for gravel
“It is not a question of 'if' 32-inch wheels come to gravel; it is how much and how soon the new standard will integrate into the gravel landscape.”
Read the full reviewThe giants are still hiding
“But the biggest players are still holding out. We know they're working on them, but they aren't showing their 32" cards quite yet.”
Read the full reviewThe 32-inch ecosystem is filling out
This is what a standard being born in real time looks like. Singletracks counted at least 14 tyre models already developed for 32-inch bikes, alongside rims from the likes of Boyd, Light Bicycle, Astral, Berd, Mavic, Race Face, Reynolds and WTB. On the suspension side, Intend and Wren have inverted forks, SR Suntour has a budget-friendly Raidon, and Fox has a 32-capable 34 in development.
Even the test labs are scrambling: Singletracks notes that some standard testing equipment 'isn't tall enough to fit a 32" rim.'
32-inch suspension forks shown or teased at Sea Otter 2026
| Type | Travel | Price (approx.) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR Suntour Raidon 34 | Telescopic | — | US$350 (~R5 800) |
| Fox 34 (in development) | Telescopic | ~120 mm | US$1,200 (~R19 800)+ (est.) |
| Intend Samurai | Inverted | — | €1,699 (~R31 900)–1,899 |
| EXA Form E36 | Inverted | up to 150 mm | — |
| Wren | Inverted | — | — |
View data table
| Approx. price (US$) | |
|---|---|
| SR Suntour Raidon 34 | 350 US$ |
| Fox 34 (est.) | 1200 US$ |
| Intend Samurai | 1850 US$ |
In Rand (approx, @ today's rate): SR Suntour Raidon 34: ~R5 800 · Fox 34 (est.): ~R19 800 · Intend Samurai: ~R30 500
32-inch wheels: the case for and against
- Higher attack angle and a bigger contact patch roll over roots and rocks more easily
- Carry momentum and hold speed well on rough, fast terrain
- A fast-filling ecosystem — forks, tyres, rims and complete bikes all appeared at Sea Otter 2026
- Heavier wheels and more rotating mass to spin up
- Frame fit, standover and geometry are harder to get right, especially for shorter riders
- A brand-new standard means limited, pricey early choices — and the biggest brands are still holding back
A quieter palette: 12 colours become 7
The Hush wasn't the only news on the I9 stand. The brand is also overhauling its famous rainbow of anodised finishes, cutting the standard palette from 12 colours to 7. In their place, I9 is leaning toward more muted, earth-tone hues — though, per Bikerumor, the final colours hadn't been locked in at Sea Otter, with samples still being weighed up.
For a company whose neon-anodised hubs became a workshop status symbol, a quieter palette is a notable shift — and a reminder that even hardware colour trends move with the times.
Tap to vote — see how readers lean
32-inch wheels and The Hush: your questions
What exactly is 'The Hush'? +
It's Industry Nine's name for its new 32-inch wheelset platform, shown at Sea Otter 2026. It pairs carbon rims with 24 aluminium spokes and the Solix hub, in both mountain bike and gravel versions.
When can I buy it, and how much? +
I9 is targeting Fall 2026 (Northern-Hemisphere autumn, roughly September–November) at around US$2,400 (~R39 600) a set. There is no official South African rand price yet.
Are 32-inch wheels actually better? +
Bigger wheels roll over obstacles and hold speed better, but add weight and complicate frame fit. The verdict is still open — and tellingly, the biggest suspension and wheel brands are holding back.
Why is Industry Nine using fewer colours? +
I9 is trimming its standard anodised palette from 12 to 7 and leaning into muted earth tones. The final colours weren't confirmed at Sea Otter.
Will 32-inch gear reach South Africa soon? +
Eventually. Global supply is early and pricey, so expect local availability of forks, tyres and wheels to lag the US and European launches.
Sources & further reading
- Industry Nine Does 32″ Wheels on The Hush, Fresh Anodized Colors Incoming — Bikerumor
- 32″ Mountain Bikes of Sea Otter 2026: All the Big-Wheeled Bikes We Could Find — Bikerumor
- These are all the 32-inch forks, wheels, and tires that are (probably) coming to market — Singletracks
- A $25k (~R413 000) steel full susser, 32in wheels and upside down forks: the best bits of Sea Otter 2026 — off-road.cc
- New Bikes, Bigger Wheels, and China Rising: The Gravel Trends Defining Sea Otter 2026 — Velo
The Hush makes Industry Nine one of the first premium wheel brands to commit to 32 inches with a real, shipping product, and the spec — 24 aluminium spokes, a Solix hub and a purpose-built carbon rim at about US$2,400 (~R39 600) — reads like a considered first step rather than a moonshot. Whether 32 becomes the next 29 or stays a boutique curiosity depends on the big players still holding their cards. For South African riders the message is simpler: watch this space, because local availability will trail the US and Europe — and in the meantime, I9's quieter new colours are coming whether your hubs are 32-inch or not.
