Welcome back to the #1 MTB newsletter brought to you by RECON, mountain biking’s fastest growing media brand and online store.

On today's ride:

•  🏁 Crisis ongoing: Now Canyon and probably more brands are struggling

•  ⚡️ Big: A monster 32 inch MTB by Dirty Sixer & Intend Samurai`s forks

• 🚵‍♀️ Prototypen für die Federung for Illes & Goldstone
  

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👇 Quick Picks

🚨 Mavrix by Matt Jones now available for Playstation & Xbox

MAVRIX, the open-world mountain biking game created by professional rider and Red Bull athlete Matt Jones and developed by Third Kind Games, is now available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The console launch arrives alongside a major content update featuring a new Slopestyle mode, additional tricks, expanded freeride areas, and technical improvements to bike physics and handling. Console players gain access to the complete MAVRIX experience, including all previously released PC content, competitive events like the MAVRIX Cup, and new launch-day addition

🦈 New Riders added for Red Bull Hardline Tasmania 2026

The rider list keeps getting stacked: Ryan Gilchrist, Roger Vieira, Mykayla Parton and Mille Johnset have officially been added to Red Bull Hardline Tasmania, going down in just two weeks. Unfortunately, Matt Jones announced he won’t be lining up this time as he’s still recovering from an injury. Health first. With the legendary track at Maydena Bike Park and one of the heaviest rider line-ups out there, this one is shaping up to be absolutely epic. Definitely not a race to miss!

🫡 Power included: The Atherton Bikes S.170E eMTB is coming

Atherton have finally teased their first-ever e-bike, and hype is real. Pre-orders kick off today, though it won’t actually hit the trails until April. The new e-rig is built on their S.170 enduro platform, rocking machined aluminum lugs, mullet wheels, a 180 mm fork up front, and 170 mm of DW4 rear travel. It’s packing an Avinox motor, and while battery size is still hush-hush, Atherton claims it can climb a full 1,600–2,000 m (5,200–6,500 ft) on a single charge. Some specs are still under wraps until the full launch though!

INDUSTRY

🔄More brancrupt bike brands to come? The Industry Crisis in 2026

The bike industry is going through a rough patch. What many people feared has now become reality. Since 2024, more and more mid-sized bike manufacturers have filed for insolvency, and the long-awaited recovery keeps getting pushed further into the future. One of the latest and most striking examples is Canyon.

Canyon Cuts Up to 320 Jobs

Canyon, the direct-to-consumer brand based in Koblenz, is reacting hard to the end of the bike boom. The company announced that it plans to cut around 20 percent of its workforce at its main locations. That means up to 320 jobs out of roughly 1,600. After years of explosive growth and record sales, Canyon is hitting the brakes.

The reason, according to the company, is a fundamentally changed market after the pandemic boom. Founder Roman Arnold says the goal is to reduce complexity and become more agile again. In his words, races are not won by size alone, but by speed, precision, and flexibility.

Profit Over Growth at Any Cost

The cuts are a serious hit. Talks with employee representatives have already started, and Arnold admits the decision is painful. Still, he says the process will be handled as responsibly as possible. This is not just about saving on salaries. Canyon is rebuilding its entire cost structure and shifting its focus away from growth at any price toward profitability. For industry insiders, this move did not come as a complete surprise.

How Did the Crisis Start?

The roots of the crisis go back to 2020. When the pandemic hit, the bike industry suddenly struck gold. Travel was restricted, gyms were closed, and people looked for ways to stay active close to home. Bikes were perfect. They were fun, healthy, practical, and felt safe. Demand exploded, but the industry was not ready. Factories, ports, and borders were closed, supply chains broke down, and manufacturers could not deliver fast enough. Dealers and brands panicked and placed massive orders, often more than they really needed. By the time all those bikes were finally produced, demand had already dropped again. Most people already had a new bike and did not need another one.

This is a classic case of the bullwhip effect. A small change in demand at the consumer level turns into a massive swing further up the supply chain.

Insolvencies Across the Industry

Scrolling through bike industry news today can feel brutal. Insolvencies are everywhere. The most high-profile case in 2025 was YT Industries. The German direct seller filed for insolvency after expected funding failed to arrive. The search for investors went nowhere, and many customers were left without bikes or refunds. Eventually, founder Markus Flossmann bought the company back and relaunched it. According to YT, all outstanding bikes have now been delivered, which was crucial for rebuilding trust.

But YT was far from alone. Canadian icon Rocky Mountain filed for insolvency. The Polish group behind NS Bikes and Rondo ran into serious trouble in 2025. Finnish brand Pole collapsed in 2024, followed by Austria’s Simplon later that year. Syntace and its sister brand Liteville also went under, though they have recently been taken over by a new investor and are back in business.

Urban mobility brands have suffered too. Sushi Bikes, known for lightweight e-commuters and celebrity backing, filed for insolvency. The same happened to traditional brand Möve and Berlin-based Hawk Bikes. Even large retailers like Hibike and Internetstores were hit.

Why Direct-to-Consumer Brands Struggle

A closer look shows a pattern. Many affected companies use the direct-to-consumer model. They sell online, cut out bike shops, and offer lower prices. For years, this model put heavy pressure on traditional retailers. Now, it seems to be backfiring.

Brands like YT and Sushi admitted that heavy discounts and very thin margins played a role in their downfall. When the market is flooded with bikes and prices keep falling, there is simply no room left to cut costs. Many of these companies also lacked financial reserves. Canyon, despite heavy losses and even a battery recall crisis, survives largely because of its size and access to capital.

So, Is There Hope for 2026 and beyond?

Yes, but with a big “however”. For years, the recovery of the bike industry has felt like nuclear fusion. Always just 20 or 30 years away. Since 2023, the message has been the same. Next year will be better. Most recently, 2026 was supposed to be the turning point. Now, at the start of 2026, that optimism sounds more cautious. The core problem is oversupply. Too many bikes and components are chasing too few buyers, leading to massive discounts and weak margins. The good news is that this oversupply is slowly shrinking. If that continues, 2026 could actually mark a turning point.

There are already positive signs. YT is back. Nukeproof has returned under new ownership. Simplon, Rocky Mountain, and Hibike are operating again. Parts of Internetstores survived. Many companies are smaller now, with leaner teams and tighter product ranges. That is bad news for employees and sponsored riders, but it also makes these businesses more stable.

The Long-Term Picture

Despite all the pain, the long-term outlook for bikes is strong. The mobility transition may be delayed, but it is not cancelled. In cities, bikes are simply too practical to ignore. Sport cycling is also here to stay. Many people who discovered mountain biking or road cycling over the past five years will keep riding.

The real issue is not a lack of customers. It is an excess of products fighting for attention with heavy discounts. Once that imbalance fades, the bike industry should be back on track. Not bigger than ever, but hopefully healthier, smarter, and more sustainable.

TECH

📏 DirtySixer MonsterEnduro and the Rise of 32 Inch Wheels

Big riders have always been forced to compromise on mountain bikes. Frames were stretched a bit, stems got longer, and that was usually the end of the story. DirtySixer wants to change that with the MonsterEnduro, a bike that is not just bigger but genuinely built around very tall riders. This is not a regular enduro bike with oversized wheels. It is a purpose built machine designed for riders up to 215 cm tall.

At the heart of the MonsterEnduro are massive 32 inch wheels. This wheel size is still a rare sight in mountain biking, but it has been slowly gaining attention, especially in cross country racing. Larger wheels roll smoother, carry speed better, and scale far more naturally with tall riders. DirtySixer believes those benefits should not be limited to XC bikes. With the MonsterEnduro, the brand wants to prove that big wheels also make sense in gravity focused riding. The ultimate test will be the Megavalanche 2026, where a team of exceptionally tall riders will race the bike in real world chaos.

Built for Real Weight and Real Speed

DirtySixer did not just extend tube lengths and call it a day. Tall riders usually bring more body weight, higher leverage, and much bigger forces into the frame. That is why the entire aluminum chassis has been reinforced to handle those loads. Instead of the common Boost standard, the MonsterEnduro uses a 150 mm front hub and an ultra wide 197 mm rear hub. This creates a much stiffer wheel build and a stronger spoke bracing angle.

The bottom bracket is equally serious. A T47 Fat Bike standard is used to fit a crank with a 30 mm steel axle. Despite the wide setup, the Q factor stays reasonable at 189 mm, keeping pedaling ergonomics in check. The wheels themselves are DirtySixer in house aluminum rims with a triple wall design, angled spoke holes, and an anti snakebite profile. These wheels are clearly built to survive hard riding, not weight weenie dreams.

Only 140mm of Travel and That Is the Point

At first glance, 140 mm of suspension travel might sound conservative for a bike called MonsterEnduro. DirtySixer argues that the big wheels change the equation entirely. Thanks to the larger diameter tires, obstacles feel smaller, impacts are smoother, and traction improves naturally. According to DirtySixer, the bike delivers the control of longer travel setups without the downsides in efficiency.

The suspension layout is a four bar Horst Link design, paired with a modified Manitou Dorado fork that also delivers 140 mm of travel. The Dorado has been adapted specifically to clear the massive front wheel. Early rides on 32 inch bikes suggest that travel numbers alone are no longer a reliable way to define bike categories. Wheel size now plays a huge role in how capable a bike feels on trail.

Geometry That Finally Makes Sense for Tall Riders

The MonsterEnduro geometry starts where most brands stop. Frame sizes begin at Large and go all the way to XXXXXL, yes that is four X. DirtySixer aims to cover riders from roughly 170 cm up to 215 cm tall. Exact geometry numbers are still provisional, but the brand currently mentions a head angle around 65 degrees, a seat angle close to 75 degrees, and long 490 mm chainstays for stability.

A notable detail is the 34.9 mm seat tube diameter. This allows compatibility with 200 mm dropper posts, which is a must for tall riders who actually want proper saddle clearance on descents.

Components That Make 32 Inch Possible

Building a 32 inch bike comes with serious component challenges. Rims, tires, and forks are the main bottlenecks. DirtySixer solves the rim issue in house and teams up with Maxxis for tires. The new Dissector in 32 inch form is designed to bring real enduro grip, something that traditional XC tires like the Aspen simply cannot deliver in aggressive terrain. Shifting duties are handled by a SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission, while braking is taken care of by Magura Louise brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear. This setup makes it clear that the MonsterEnduro is meant to be ridden hard and fast.

The complete bike comes with a Taiwan made aluminum frame and carries a retail price of 8,999 US dollars. Riders who fully pre order can secure one for 6,299 US dollars. Delivery is planned for late summer 2026.

Intend: 32 Inch Forks Are Finally Catching Up

The growth of 32 inch wheels has also pushed suspension manufacturers to adapt. Intend has been one of the early supporters of the wheel size, especially in cross country racing. Many of the 32 inch XC bikes spotted at races were equipped with the Intend Samurai. Originally launched as a lightweight 120 mm fork for 29 inch wheels, the Samurai platform has now evolved into a dedicated 32 inch version. The Samurai 32 offers adjustable travel from 100 to 130 mm and weighs a claimed 1,620 grams. The inverted design works particularly well with large wheels since it does not rely on a traditional arch.

The first production run uses machined dropout extensions to gain the necessary height, but future versions will integrate this into a new dropout design that raises the fork by 33 mm. The air spring and damper architecture remain unchanged, with buyers able to choose between Intend’s Energizer lockout damper or the lighter RockShox Charger Race Day unit.

Enduro Is Next

For harder riding, Intend has also developed the Edge 32, an enduro fork that is currently available only to bike brands and frame manufacturers. Travel ranges from 140 to 170 mm, offset sits at 49 mm, and the axle to crown height reaches 620 mm at 160 mm travel. Claimed weight is only about 50 grams more than the 29 inch version, landing near 2,180 grams. According to Intend founder Cornelius Kapfinger, several major brands have already placed orders for the Edge 32, and there has even been interest in a full downhill fork for 32 inch wheels.

A Glimpse Into the Future

The MonsterEnduro and the growing ecosystem of 32 inch components show that this wheel size is no longer just an experiment. For tall riders especially, proportional wheels finally offer a bike that feels balanced, powerful, and natural rather than compromised. Whether 32 inch wheels will break into the mainstream remains to be seen, but one thing is clear. Big riders are no longer an afterthought.

TECH

Spotted: A Fresh Öhlins Coil Shock on Finn Iles’ Specialized Demo

World Cup downhill never really sleeps. Even when the season winds down, the fast riders are still testing new gear, and sometimes the most interesting stuff shows up when you least expect it. At the end of last season, Loïc Bruni and Finn Iles were finally racing what looks like a near-final version of the Specialized Demo. The sketchy, industrial carbon prototype was gone. In its place sat a clean monocoque carbon frame, which pretty much confirmed that Specialized had locked in the mold and was ready to move forward.

But the frame wasn’t the only thing catching eyes. Tucked into the back of Finn Iles’ Demo was a new Öhlins coil shock, and this time there was nowhere for it to hide. The piggyback section, which had been partially covered before, was fully visible. And yeah, it looks different. Compared to the current production Öhlins TTX22M.2, this new shock has the piggyback running inline with the main shock body instead of sitting off to the side. That change alone could make it easier to fit into more frames, especially tight downhill layouts. It also hints that this could be the next evolution of the TTX line, possibly an M.3 version.

From what we can see, the shock still runs proper external adjustments. Low speed compression and rebound are almost certainly still part of the package. What you don’t see, though, is any obvious electronics bolted on. That part makes sense. During World Cup races, Bruni and Iles are often spotted with bar-mounted electronic remotes, which are rumored to let them tweak suspension settings on the fly. For offseason testing laps, that kind of tech is probably overkill. When you’re just dialing in feel and collecting data, simple and reliable usually wins.

A super sharp photo from Finn’s Instagram stories gave away most of the details, leaving very little to the imagination. Still, the full story stays locked down for now. We reached out to Öhlins for more info, but they’re keeping things quiet. What they did say is pretty telling though. Racing is a huge part of how they develop products. Finn’s shock is a prototype that’s being used to test new designs and technologies. Some of that tech might end up in future consumer shocks. Other ideas may stay exclusive to racing or only appear in Öhlins’ factory-level products.

Either way, it’s clear that Öhlins and Specialized are still pushing hard behind the scenes. If this shock is any hint of what’s coming next, downhill suspension is far from done evolving.

Fox is striking back - New Shock for Jackson Goldstone?

Spotted on the internet: Jackson Goldstone has been riding his Santa Cruz with a completely new Fox shock prototype. The shock was clearly visible on his bike, but covered enough to keep details under wraps. Until now, there has been almost no real information about it online, which makes the whole thing even more interesting.

Fox and Santa Cruz are staying very quiet about this setup, so all we can do at the moment is speculate. Judging by the photos, it looks like Fox is testing something seriously different, possibly aimed at the highest level of racing. For now, fans and tech nerds will have to be patient and wait until more details finally drop.

🏁 Video Of The Week

Worldchamp Reece Wilson fell in love with a new stem, which could change the game:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

He is an absolute MTB legend and now without Trek Bikes - Cam McCaul:

This newsletter is written with ❤️ every week by the Recon Team with a special shoutout to Marc Brodesser!