Avona brings its 32-inch Callis gravel bike to Australia

German bike brand Avona has brought its Callis 32 gravel bike to market, claiming it is the first complete production 32-inch gravel bike available to buy in Australia.

Founded in 2025 by cycling industry veterans with experience at brands including BMC, Santa Cruz and DT Swiss, Avona is a relatively new name in the bike industry, with a focus on performance road, gravel and mountain bikes.

While a handful of smaller custom framebuilders have experimented with 32-inch wheels, the Callis is, to the best of the company’s knowledge, the first production bike of its kind to be available as a complete build.

The bike made its racing debut at the UCI Gravel World Series round in Girona on September 19, ahead of its official release. It went on to take the win, with the race decided in a sprint out of the final corner. Not a bad start for a bike that uses considerably larger wheels than the gravel norm.

The Callis 32 is available in three sizes (M, L and XL) and three colours, as well as a ready-to-paint option. There are three SRAM 1×13 XPLR AXS builds, with Shimano options expected early next year. A frameset-only option, including the seatpost and cockpit, is also available.

Buyers can choose between Faserwerk Kornkreis wheels with DT Swiss 240 or 350 hubs, or Newmen G.62 wheels, available with either bladed steel or Vonoa carbon spokes. The Faserwerk Kornkreis with DT Swiss 350 hubs is the standard specification. Various seatpost offsets and one-piece cockpit options are also available.

Fit was one of the bigger challenges during development. Avona says the medium is suitable for riders from 165cm, although it expects anyone 170cm and taller to fit. Standover height is likely to be the main consideration for shorter riders.

The top tube has been kept as low as possible while still allowing room for two full-size water bottles inside the frame.

Why 32-inch?

According to Avona, the benefits extend beyond simply rolling over bigger bumps.

The company’s development testing found an 11.7-watt reduction in rolling resistance at 35km/h compared with its 700c Callis, on a bumpy gravel course. Wind-tunnel testing, meanwhile, found an aerodynamic penalty of between 1.2 and 3.1 watts, depending on the wheelset.

Avona says the larger wheels also provide better rollover, traction and braking, making the bike more comfortable and less tiring to ride quickly over rough terrain.

It also says that during testing, riders were able to maintain their target power through corners more consistently, thanks to the additional grip and confidence.

Of course, 32-inch wheels aren’t without their compromises. Fit is an obvious consideration, particularly for shorter riders, and the larger wheels place greater demands on frame geometry and design. There is also an aerodynamic penalty, albeit a relatively small one according to Avona’s testing.

Acceleration is another potential concern, with larger wheels generally bringing greater rotational inertia. Avona’s Girona race result suggests this might be less of an issue than expected, although a single race result doesn’t settle the question.

The larger overall dimensions may also be less appealing for riders tackling tight, technical gravel courses. Tyre and wheel availability is another practical consideration, with considerably fewer options than the established 700c market.

The weight of those big ol’ wagon wheels is another potential stumbling block, but Avona claims the 32-inch version comes within around 100g of its 700c equivalent. Claimed weights are 8.75kg for the SRAM Rival build, 8.35kg for Force and 7.75kg for Red.

Interestingly, the first production batch has already sold out, with the second batch expected to become available from mid-November. Australian buyers can order directly through EightyOneSpices (the Australian supplier for Avona) or through their preferred dealer.