32-inch – A DIY hardtail put to the test: Love at first ride or a rude awakening?

​Being newly in love is fantastic. But what if the personality of the person you’re in love with suddenly turns out to be completely different once the effects of the hormonal rush have worn off? This is the most difficult review I’ve ever written.

I’ve never been so emotionally invested before. My darling is beautiful. Despite the huge wheels and the large frame, to my eyes this hardtail looks absolutely perfect. I chose every detail myself, soldered the frame myself, sourced all the parts myself and was there in person to witness the creation of the carbon wheels. It’s impossible to remain objective about it.

But the BIKE test system shows no mercy. The test benches aren’t interested in my gushing. But even more important is the real-world test: how does my dream bike actually ride? This time, I can’t blame others for any slip-ups, nor can I hide behind editorial discretion. I alone am responsible for this bike. Goosebumps!

Leoveolo Goliath in detail

• Intended use: Marathon / Touring
• Suspension travel: 100 mm
• Wheel size: 32”
• Frame material: steel
• Frame weight: 2535 g
• Weight of the complete bike: 11.52 kg
• Special features: DIY frame, bespoke custom dream build

A surprise in the lab

​The test lab will reveal whether the DIY project was a success. The data is impartial and leaves no room for rose-tinted glasses. In terms of wheel inertia, the hardtail is on a par with a trail bike. On the other hand, the steel frame scores highly for riding comfort. We use lasers to measure every dimension of this one-off bike with pinpoint accuracy. I’d devised my ideal geometry for the project. But so far, nobody knows whether it’s actually been achieved.

And lo and behold: the head tube is a full three degrees flatter than intended. At the same time, the reach has shrunk. Was it warped by the heat? Were our calculations wrong? Or did I simply cut corners? Doubts are gnawing at me. It’s the first frame I’ve ever built myself.

But there’s some good news from the test lab too. Given its large dimensions and the flexible steel, I’d feared it might lack rigidity and had already mentally prepared myself for the experience of riding a rubber cow.

However, the frame, weighing 2353 grams, is well within the acceptable range. The steel frame offers excellent riding comfort. The inertia of the 32-inch wheels, fitted with cross-country tyres, is comparable to that of a 29-inch trail wheelset.

• Total weight: 11.52 kg (excluding pedals)
• Weight of wheels: 4411 g (including tyres, brake discs, cassette and tubeless kit)
• Wheel inertia: 4075 kg/cm² (the lower the figure, the better)
• Seating comfort: 9.38 mm
• Front frame stiffness: 5.2 N/mm
• Rear frame stiffness: 24.4 N/mm

​The moment of truth

The first time I get on it, I’m amazed. Despite the enormous wheels, everything feels very familiar. Thanks to the steep seat angle of a good 75 degrees and the steep stack, the riding position feels more compact than expected.

The 32-inch bikes have a diameter 74 millimetres greater than standard 29ers. Despite the short head tube and negatively angled cockpit, the handlebars sit high. I feel as though I’m riding a trail bike with modern, high-rise handlebars.

Even at 190 centimetres tall, I would opt for a more radical stem drop for a cross-country race. It is one of the biggest challenges facing designers: how can the new wheel size be integrated into designs that are appropriate for the discipline and rider’s height?

There’s no getting round the fact that the wheels have greater inertia. To pick up speed, my Goliath simply takes a little longer than its suspension-equipped counterparts with smaller wheels. Physics doesn’t lie.

Riding is clearly 32 Zoll’s core strength. Once those big wheels get going, they run noticeably smoother and faster. This effect is particularly striking on gently sloping gravel tracks. I’ve never flown through the woods at Mach-Eight so effortlessly on any other bike.

On the climb, it soon becomes clear: I need a smaller chainring! The Race drivetrain is a bit too stiff for the large wheels by two to four teeth. That aside, the Leovelo climbs like a dream. Its traction is unrivalled on all surfaces, and it simply soaks up small ledges on the slope.

The unplanned steering angle is flat but not yet absurd. As a result, the pressure on the front wheel turns out to be just about okay. At low speeds in tight bends, the front end occasionally drifts off line, but in 95 per cent of everyday cycling situations, this doesn’t pose any problems for me.

​It’s got to be fun

My bike has shorter chainstays than most of the 32-inch designs presented so far. Thanks to the curve of the seat tube, the rear end remains compact despite the larger rear wheel, and there’s plenty of tyre clearance too. As a result, the 32-inch bike easily lifts onto its rear wheel and whizzes through bends with delightful agility.

The bottom bracket height is just right, and I feel perfectly positioned between the giant wheels. Thanks to the short seat tube combined with a long dropper post, there’s plenty of room to move above the slender top tube. The Goliath takes to the air with ease over jumps.

On steep downhill sections, the high front end offers a good field of vision and, combined with the comfortable riding position, results in an unprecedented sense of control. Despite their low-profile tread, the chunky tyres deliver excellent grip, and their handling at the limits is phenomenal.

It boosts your confidence and encourages you to choose bold lines. Tearing down the trail in a two-wheel drift on a hardtail? Check! It’s nothing like riding a high-performance race bike. The handling is more reminiscent of a lightweight trail hardtail – an almost extinct niche that I personally find very appealing.

Thanks to its large wheels, the bike doesn’t get stuck in small potholes, but glides purposefully down towards the valley, building up plenty of speed in the process. The extreme steering angle ensures a smooth ride and heightens the desire for speed on the straights. Despite all this, however, this one-off remains a short-travel hardtail. On a section of stakkato-like roots, it simply can’t keep up with a full-suspension bike. No matter how much fun it is to ride or how excellent its roll-over characteristics may be.

The Upsidedown suspension fork from Intend does an impressive job and makes the most of its limited travel. It steers the Leovelo with sensitivity and responsiveness. However, on heavy impacts, the 100 millimetres of travel are pushed to their limit. I’d been hoping for a progressive race hardtail, but what I got was a sporty all-rounder. I hadn’t expected a 32-inch bike with a rigid rear end to be quite so much fun to ride. Now that the honeymoon phase is over, I have to say: I love it!

Facilities

• Suspension fork: Intend Samurai XC, 100 mm
• Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle 90 SL (1 x 12), 34; 10–52 (520%)
• Brakes: SRAM Motive Ultimate, 200 / 200 mm
• Dropper seatpost: Vecnum Nivo, 212 mm
• Wheels: Bike Ahead Biturbo X Safewing 32
• Tyres: Maxxis Aspen / Aspen AT MaxxSpeed Exo, 32 x 2.40

Conclusion

​In testing, my custom bike has turned out to be a bit different than I expected – in a good way, too! The large wheels and radical geometry deliver phenomenal handling, which takes the riding experience to the next level. To me, that’s worth more than the best race performance. What a brilliant bike! But of course, I can’t give an impartial assessment of my own baby. – Jan Timmermann, BIKE test editor

Pro

• Driving pleasure and handling
• a strong sense of control
• unique custom build

Cons

• Stack and steering angle too extreme for racing

What do you think: would 32-inch wheels on a trail hardtail be worth a go? Let us know what you think in the comments!