The Heighliner: Big Tires, Ti Feel, and a Dune Reference
A look at the new Wilde Heighliner, a $3,300 titanium gravel bike that blends massive 29x2.25" tire clearance with modern standards like T47 and UDH.
"Heighliner." As a bit of a sci-fi nerd, I love that Wilde named their new bike after the Spacing Guild's massive space-folding ships from Dune. It's a bold name that sets a high bar. They call it a "thoroughly modern gravel spaceship," and after looking at the details, it feels like a fitting description.
I’ve always had a soft spot for titanium. It has that “sublime” ride quality Jeff from Wilde mentions in the press release, and it’s famously a "forever" material. But what really catches my eye with the Heighliner is how it blends that classic Ti feel with every modern standard I’d want in a new bike.
It’s like they went down a checklist of everything that makes a modern frame practical and future-proof. T47 threaded bottom bracket? Check. UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) compatible? Check. Full internal cable routing for that ultra-clean look? Check. Fender mounts for practicality? Check. It’s electronic-only and 1x-only, which feels like a smart, decisive choice for this kind of bike.
But the real story here is the capability. This frame is designed to fit massive 29 x 2.25-inch tires. That’s well into '90s-era cross-country mountain bike territory, and it really blurs the lines of what a "gravel bike" is.
I found the designer's note on this really interesting. Jeff admits he was a "skeptic of the big tire trend" but is now a convert, finding it "mind blowing" off-road without being a total dog on pavement. This seems to be the core philosophy. In a world of gravel bikes splitting into either hyper-aero road machines or super-slack, straight-line bikepacking rigs, the Heighliner is designed to be "nimble, agile, [and] playful." The geometry—like the 440mm chainstays and 75mm BB drop—seems intended to balance those huge tires, so it still feels responsive and fun to ride.
And then there's the production. A custom US-made Ti frame is a huge investment. By having these frames built in Taiwan by Ora (who are known for top-tier work), Wilde is making the titanium experience more accessible. The $3,300 price for the frame and carbon fork is still a serious purchase, but it’s significantly less than a full custom build.
The only catch? The pre-order just launched for a June... 2026 delivery. That is a long time to wait. But for a bike that claims to "fold friggin' space" between disciplines, it might just be worth it. It looks like a wonderfully thoughtful, future-proofed "do-it-all" machine.
