Actofive I-Train 32 inch: First 32" trail bike goes into series production

Mountain bikes with 32-inch wheels are in the starting blocks and the Dresden label Actofive is already a big step ahead with the brand new I-Train 32. The trail bike has between 120 and 140 millimetres of rear suspension travel. Every detail has been adapted to the new wheel size. The geometry is also a completely new development by Actofive mastermind Simon Metzner. In order to pack the large wheels into a sophisticated trail bike, some standards had to be thrown overboard. If you have the necessary change, you can now be at the forefront of the 32-inch trend with the beautiful Actofive I-Train 32.

The most important facts about the Actofive I-Train

• Range of use: cross-country to trail
• Wheel size: 32 inch
• Front and rear suspension travel: 120-140 mm
• Frame material: 7075-T6 aluminium
• Price: 6900 Euro (frame without shock absorber)
• Delivery time: 4-5 months
• Available sizes: S2 / S3
• Special features: Mullet option (32/29"), flip chip, steering angle and anti-squat adjustment, customised stem, tool mount

>> We have already been able to test the 32 inch wheels. This article reveals our impressions.

DT-Swiss and Actofive join forces

Actofive and DT-Swiss joined forces to test the advantages and disadvantages as well as the special riding characteristics of 32-inch bikes. The Swiss were looking for a way to test components in practice and Actofive was able to deliver. Thanks to small series production in-house, the Dresden-based label was able to design not only an initial prototype but now even a production-ready 32-inch fully within a short space of time. The development time was just 1.5 months. The 32-inch frame is also CNC-milled in-house. The wall thickness of the aluminium is only one millimetre at its thinnest point. Compared to the regular 29-inch I-Train, the big 32-inch brother should weigh around 250 grams more. It takes around 24 machine hours to complete the frame. Added to this are 8 hours of manual labour. Actofive had to buy new hardware and software for the new 32-inch frame. So the price of 6900 euros for the bare frame is hardly surprising.

>> We found out how an Actofive frame is made and how the I-Train runs during a home visit.

Optimised for large wheels

Actofive mills the two thin-walled shell elements of the new I-Train 32 main frame from a solid block of 7075-T6 aluminium. These are then glued together. The entire frame structure was rethought as the entire bike has to cope with more loads due to longer forks, a shorter head tube and a longer rear triangle. In favour of stiffness, more material and a stiffer chainstay yoke are used on the now longer seat stays. Actofive was able to adopt the rocker and chainstays from the original 29er. Due to the complex production process and the special nature of this project, customers must be prepared to wait four to five months from ordering.

>> The first series-produced 32-inch carbon full-suspension bike for marathon use comes from Switzerland: the Stoll P32.

Completely new geometry

The geometry of the Actofive I-Train 32 is a completely new development. Nevertheless, all points of contact with the rider should remain the same as on the 29er model. To realise this, Simon Metzner had to throw established geometry standards overboard. To be precise, the effective increase in wheel size is 2.5 inches, or 64 millimetres. The correspondingly higher stack value has to be compensated for on the cockpit. Actofive is also in favour of introducing an "effective reach value" for the purpose of comparing geometries, as the perceived value does not correspond to the real value due to the higher stack. The I-Train 32 was realised for the first time in size S2, which is characterised by a real reach of 455 millimetres and an effective reach of 485 millimetres. An S3 size with an effective reach of 525 millimetres is also planned. The manufacturer does not currently see the point of a smaller frame size.

>> Want more suspension travel? Find out more about the Actofive P-Train here.

The new Actofive I-Train 32 is based on a steering angle of 65 degrees. The seat angle measures 77.5 degrees. The chainstays are exactly 458.5 millimetres long and the bottom bracket is 333 millimetres high. As the availability of parts in the 32-inch range is currently still very limited, the test rides were carried out on an Intend fork with 46 millimetres of travel. When it came to the stem, Actofive took the initiative and milled a model with a high negative rise specially optimised for the I-Train 32. Similar to its 29er relative, the new trail bike comes with all kinds of adjustment options: The steering angle, suspension travel, chassis height and anti-squat can all be customised. The new I-Train can also be ridden in mullet style with 32-inch wheels at the front and 29-inch wheels at the rear. This makes the bike a versatile platform for experimenting with the new wheel size.

>> Bike Ahead is also experimenting with 32 inches. Here we have taken a closer look at the special carbon hardtail.

Practical impressions from the company boss

Of course, Avtofive owner Simon Metzner has already been able to test the new Actofive I-Train 32 extensively. He praises the improved rollover behaviour over steps, stones and roots. Fewer counter-impulses, increased smoothness and directional stability resulted in a higher riding speed. The strong integration between the wheels and the resulting feeling of safety have also been confirmed by previous BIKE tests.

You need noticeably less effort to move forwards on uneven surfaces. I am convinced that 32-inch will offer real added value in the XC, DC, gravel, touring and bikepacking sectors. Overall, the bike feels very unobtrusive and intuitive. I didn't notice any serious disadvantages in terms of manoeuvrability. - Simon Metzner, Actofive

>> In the meantime, 32-inch wheels have also been approved for racing. All information on the UCI regulations can be found in this article.

According to the Actofive founder, there are limitations on jumps and big hits, especially for smaller riders, but Metzner could not identify any handling deficits.

I use a seatpost with 125 millimetres of travel so that the tyre doesn't hit the saddle with 140mm of travel. With a height of 1.78 metres, I often come into contact with the rear wheel when jumping and riding actively. In the enduro and DH sector, there will probably be a lot of opposition. I think Mullet (32/29) is a possible compromise here. Simon Metzner, Actofive

>> 32-inch standard parts were presented for the first time at Eurobike. Since then, the scene has been discussing the new standard.