Spotted: 32″ DT Swiss Suspension Fork & Wheels At Nove Mesto World Cup, But…

At the recent Nové Město na Moravě World Cup, DT Swiss showcased significant progress in their development of 32-inch wheels and suspension forks, although these innovations were not yet seen on cross-country race bikes as some had anticipated. Instead, the only 32-inch wheels spotted belonged to a gravel bike and a trail bike, both equipped with DT Swiss components. This aligns with DT Swiss’s cautious approach to introducing 32-inch products, reflecting their intent to develop the technology gradually before wider adoption in competitive mountain biking. One of the key highlights was the appearance of the pre-production DT Swiss XR 1700 Spline aluminium wheels, now bearing an official model name for the first time. These 32-inch wheels, designed for cross-country use, feature a 686 bead seat diameter and a 28mm internal rim width with tubeless-ready hooked beads. The wheels are built around DT Swiss’s 350-series straight-pull hubs with centrelock disc brake mounts, positioning the XR 1700 as a mid-tier alloy option in their lineup, just below their carbon rim offerings. In addition to the wheels, a prototype DT Swiss suspension fork was spotted on an Actofive I-Train 32 trail bike, signalling a fresh design direction for the brand’s fork range. The fork combines design elements from DT Swiss’s current top-tier ONE forks but introduces slimmer dropouts, a more angular brace, and machined weight-saving sections on the lowers. Although specific technical details remain under wraps, the fork appears to offer 120-130mm of travel and likely features 34mm or 35mm stanchions, fitting the trail bike’s geometry and intended use. DT Swiss has not yet disclosed further specifications or a timeline for these 32-inch components, emphasising that both the wheels and fork remain in prototype stages. The development of these larger wheel sizes reflects a broader industry trend towards exploring 32-inch options for enhanced rollover capabilities and tyre volume, particularly in trail and gravel disciplines. Enthusiasts and riders can expect more concrete product releases and details as DT Swiss continues to refine these components throughout the year.