Frameworks began the 2026 race season with major results, including an Elite-level World Cup win by Asa Vermette and an Elite-level Sea Otter DH win by founder and team manager Neko Mullaly. Mullaly’s Sea Otter DH bike used a 32-inch front wheel and a 29-inch rear wheel, with a Fox Podium fork lowered to 140mm travel for clearance. Frameworks is continuing experimentation with 32-inch wheels through a prototype mega-mullet tested at Mountain Creek in New Jersey. The prototype uses a bonded front triangle designed by Faction Bike Studio to fit the larger wheel, and a Fox 40 fork with modified lowers for clearance. The prototype keeps a 27.5-inch rear wheel because a 29-inch rear wheel did not provide sufficient clearance, and the front wheel and tire are not yet DH-ready.
"Frameworks kicked off the 2026 race season with a bang. A few weeks ago, at the first stop of the World Cup, Asa Vermette took first place. It was Asa's first Elite-level World Cup race and his first Elite-level win. It was also Frameworks' first Elite-level World Cup win. But that wasn't the brand's first big win of the year. Weeks before, founder and team manager, Neko Mullaly, won the Sea Otter DH on a Frameworks."
"Neko's Sea Otter DH rig consisted of a 32" wheel up front and a 29" wheel out back. He used a Fox Podium fork, lowered to 140mm of travel, to get the proper clearance for the large front wheel. And, upon that bike, he took first place. Surely, Sea Otter is the place to experiment with crazy ideas like that. However, it seems that Frameworks isn't done experimenting with 32" wheels."
"A video just released by Frameworks shows Neko "testing out the 32" mega-mullet" at Mountain Creek in New Jersey. Faction Bike Studio designed the prototype mega-mullet, one of Frameworks' partners, with a bonded front triangle to fit the larger front wheel. Unlike other dual-crown bikes sporting a 32" wheel, Frameworks uses a Fox 40. To get the clearance needed for the larger wheel, the lowers appear to have been cut, extended, and bonded on."
"Unlike the bike raced at Sea Otter, this mega-mullet has a 27.5" rear wheel. Neko explained that a 29" rear wheel didn't provide the clearance needed. He also mentions that neither the front wheel nor the tire is up to DH standards. Ultimately, they were trying to"
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