7 Mountain Bike Industry Predictions for 2026

I’m no oracle, and I don’t have an orb to ponder these days, but I do have my finger on the pulse of the culture, and these are some of my MTB industry predictions for 2026. A new wheel size is coming (or is it already here), UCI Downhill is going to be wild, radial tires will be available from more brands, Specialized probably won't drop a new Enduro, and someone is going to give Avinox some competition. Some of the fastest junior racers are moving up to the elite UCI DH ranks and will make for yet another absurd year of racing. I also think the humble trail bike will be the focus for many brands, but I’ve been advocating for the 130/140mm bike category for years, so that might be wishful thinking.

For good or bad, the industry is constantly in flux, but trends repeat. After decades of paying attention to these trends, it’s not impossible to connect the dots and make educated assumptions about what’s coming. Humor me, and drop your predictions in the comments section (we have that now).

More Powerful eMTBs

The battle for more power wages on, but there are three top dogs in the game right now. Specialized, Avinox, and Rocky Mountain all offer bikes with motors that churn out over 100nm of torque, and peak power numbers that allow for some illegal speeds, and gobs of fun on the trail. The Avinox system is the newest and most exciting player on the scene, and Amflow, Crestline, and Forbidden have all tapped into the god-like power on offer. The entire Avinox system has the power-to-weight thing down to a science, and I predict we will see more bikes with this system, or another brand will cook up something that gives the Avinox system a run for its money.

Less Powerful and Lighter eMTBs

Hot take! But I think that we’ll see more bike brands shy away from the race for more power in pursuit of more efficient power and lighter eMTBs. A lot of riders are looking for a bike that isn’t completely unleashed and want a little bit of a tailwind or winch on a climb without worrying about tanking the battery or lugging a heavy bike up and down the trail.

I personally love the Bosch SX and TQ drive systems for that reason. eMTBs with a smaller, lighter motor and battery are heaps of fun and offer enough support to hit big days, still feeling like you’re riding a bike. A smaller and lighter eMTB offers all the damped and planted feeling you get from heavier, full-power eMTBs, but with more of a you-powered-bike feeling overall, which I think riders will begin to appreciate more in 2026. 

UCI Downhill World Cup Gets Even Better

Asa Vermette and the Alran brothers are in the Elite ranks for 2026, and I don’t think we’ll see them slow down. In 2025, the Juniors were putting down times that rivaled Jackson Goldstone, Loic Bruni, and the other top brass in the Elite category. As Asa Vermette and the Alran brothers mature as racers, I predict that we’ll see the top 10’s shift as the next generation brings their talent to the top level of DH racing. Aside from the Alran brothers and Asa Vermette, the Junior ranks aren’t all nipping at the heels of the Elites, but after the racing we saw in 2025, I think these three riders will be able to shoulder the pressure of racing amongst the fastest riders in the sport - something Asa has already done at multiple Red Bull Hardline Events… 

The 130mm Trail Bike Keeps Getting Better

I’ve been a fanboy of the trail bike category since forever, and I think with more brands working on long-travel eMTBs, and Enduro racing being stuck in the mud, there will be more demand for uber-capable trail bikes in the 130-140mm travel range. This class of bike is versatile and accessible for the majority of riders and has always been capable of handling a wide variety of trails and riding styles. Just look at the hype surrounding the Cannondale Habit when it was redesigned in 2019. 

The trail bike can take on just about anything, and I think more brands will start to prioritize developing more capable models that climb, descend, and ride exceptionally well. Some of the best bikes I’ve ever ridden have fallen into this category, and I think they will only get better in the next year. Just look at what Revel has done with the Rascal.

The New Specialized Enduro Won't Release

I’m guessing the current Specialized Enduro, which came out in 2019, will go another year without an update. The new Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Evo is an absurdly capable bik,e and the development of the new Specialized Demo is taking up a lot of R&D, plus, as I said before, Enduro racing is not in right now, so there isn’t a lot of demand for a new enduro bike from Specialized. In fact, all the riders on the Specialized Enduro team are on the new Stumpjumper 15, and that says a lot. You also have links from Cascade Components that allow you to get more rear travel, and even a high-pivot for the SJ 15. 

Despite the Specialized Enduro's dedicated following, I don’t think the signs point to the brand refreshing the bike for 2026, but I’m very open to being wrong about this one.

Someone Will Make a 32” Wheeled DH or Enduro Bike

The 32” wheel is probably here to stay. We’ve got tire brands releasing 32” tires and a few bike brands developing bikes around this new wheel size, but it's primarily seen on XC and trail bikes. I imagine we’ll see someone try to squeeze these wagon wheels into a DH or long travel chassis just to say they did it. However, I don’t think, or at least I hope, that this won't be the new standard for the industry, and I’m pretty damn happy with 29” and MX bikes these days. But that’s what we all said about 26” wheels when 27.5 and 29” wheels were beginning to take over. 

I bet we’ll see 32” catch on in XC - it just makes more sense, but I think it will be a while before it is widely accepted or welcomed into longer travel bikes, but again, I could be wrong. 

More Radial Tires

Schwalbe cooked with the Radial tires, and after finally getting to test them out in both the Albert and Magic Mary patterns, other tire manufacturers will be looking to make the change to a radial casing for 2026. Aside from dropper posts and wireless drivetrains, the radial tire casing is one of the most important innovations within mountain biking in the last decade.

There are already murmurs of other brands working on radial tires, and I think we’ll see many more become available in the new year. I look forward to seeing which brands adopt the proper way to make a tire. Personally, if Specialized could drop a Butcher and Eliminator radial tire, I’d be hyped.