Brand new Colorado-based Mullet Cycles have today brought their first of several mountain bikes to market, the Honeymaker hardtail. There are many curious things about this hardtail, of major significance is the mixed wheel sizes. The Honeymaker rolls on a 29″ wheel up front, and a 27.5″ wheel in the rear, hence “Mullet Cycles”.
This mixed wheel combination isn’t new to two-wheeled transport, in fact, it has long been the industry standard for motocross. However, it has been used with varying success in mountain biking for years and has seen a resurgence of late with the UCI changing the rules surrounding wheel sizing.
Until 2019, the UCI did not permit the use of different wheel sizes on the same bike at Downhill World Cup races. The combination is fast proving itself a viable option, with downhill legends Danny Hart and Mick Hannah seen dabbling. Indeed, the first two Enduro World Series events, as well as the first World Cup downhill of the season, were all won on the men’s side with 29” front and 27.5” rear.
Mullet Cycles Ti Honeymaker Hardtail![honeymaker hardtail titanium mtb](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1200 960"></svg>)
Mullet Cycles proprietor, Michael Vidovich, has been developing bike designs around mixed wheel sizes since 2012. It wasn’t until he met business partner Miles Schwartz that he was able to realize his dream of launching the Mullet Cycles brand. The Honeymaker is the first of a further 5 promised mountain bikes to come, including 160mm and 120mm full suspension bikes, a ‘Youth’ bike, a gravel bike and a Downhill rig, all of which are designed around mixed wheel sizes.
The Honeymaker is an unusual looking bike to say the least. Neither the chainstay or seat stay meet the front triangle at the seat tube. Rather, they join a short way up the down tube and top tube, respectively, with both stays bending around the seat tube. This has of course increased the tyre clearance by a substantial amount and indeed, the Honeymaker has been optimised for running 3.0″ tyres.
Mullet have provided a most interesting geometry table, a glance at which will leave you no more educated on the specifics of this bike. I guess we shall have to wait until we see one in the flesh. The new company say they have designed the bike with a 175mm dropper post, resulting in one of the lowest standover heights the industry has ever seen.
Pricing and Availability
The Mullet Honeymaker hardtail is available from today, direct from Mullet Cycles, though they will be partnering with bike shops in the near future. The Ti frame alone will cost you $1599, and a full build, featuring Box Components new Box 2 X-Wide 11 speed drivetrain, a 140mm Rockshox Pike Signature Series fork, Industry Nine wheelset and Magura brakes, will be available from $3999. Frame sizes Small to Large will cater for riders from 5’2’’- 6’4’’.
Want to hear them explain the benefits of a “mullet” setup? Check out our Podcast interview with them!
