Here we go 27.5 or 29?

Craiger22

Craiger22

Newbie with Hope!
Please excuse my newbie ignorance but I did a search and came up empty, so here we go. With so many good deals on bike as of late I can't decide between the two wheel sizes. Im very open minded and think I'm leaning towards 27.5, in my mind it seems more controllable, I have no idea if that's true. I will be riding mostly Ladera, SC single tracks and most OC trails, easy ones of course ;) Thanks in advance to a topic I'm sure has been beaten to death.
 
Craiger22 said:
Please excuse my newbie ignorance but I did a search and came up empty, so here we go. With so many good deals on bike as of late I can't decide between the two wheel sizes. Im very open minded and think I'm leaning towards 27.5, in my mind it seems more controllable, I have no idea if that's true. I will be riding mostly Ladera, SC single tracks and most OC trails, easy ones of course ;) Thanks in advance to a topic I'm sure has been beaten to death.
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How tall are you? What size frame do you fit on? Which bikes are you looking at?
 
Im about 5'10 maybe 5'11 and decided on a med frame. My last bike was a large and never felt stable on it, it was a Trance x1 I think. So far Ive narrowed it down to the stump jumper and another trance but med size. Also my last bike was a 26 in wheel. I should note that I am looking at used bike at the moment.
 
Craiger22 said:
Im about 5'10 maybe 5'11 and decided on a med frame. My last bike was a large and never felt stable on it, it was a Trance x1 I think. So far Ive narrowed it down to the stump jumper and another trance but med size. Also my last bike was a 26 in wheel. I should note that I am looking at used bike at the moment.
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At your height alone, I'd go 29er. You're plenty big enough to push the clown wheels around, which is rewarding.
 
I'm 6'4" and loved my 27.5s. I went through about 4 modern 29ers before I found one I liked (Yeti SB 130 LR - now discontinued, thus deeply discounted). On the other hand, I was riding pretty fast on steep, challenging trails at the time of my 27.5 love affair.

You know you don't have to choose, right? My Revel is what we call a reverse mullet - or just a mullet - 27.5 on back and 29er in front. Many bikes are now sold that way, although they are aimed at very aggressive riding. Many DHers and enduro racers use a mullet setup. The 27.5 rear is stronger, quicker to accelerate, cheats the turns and is more comfortable rolling over steep rock faces and drops. The 29er front gives you that margin of security when running into stuff like a snowplow. Truly the best of both worlds.

But if you want the most versatile bike, get a full 29er. A full 27.5 is for kids or slopestyle riders. My 5'7" daughter rides a 29er and it looks small on her. When 29ers were first introduced, the geometry sucked and they handled like a greyhound bus. Now you really can't tell them apart from a 26er in handling, but you sure can in plowability and speed. If you buy a 27.5, everyone you ride with will leave you in the dust.

Rail ToW 11-24-24.jpg

My Revel Rail Mullet.

Ruby Rides Again 11-25-24.jpg

my 5'7" daughter on her Giant Trance 29er
 
herzalot said:
I'm 6'4" and loved my 27.5s. I went through about 4 modern 29ers before I found one I liked (Yeti SB 130 LR - now discontinued, thus deeply discounted). On the other hand, I was riding pretty fast on steep, challenging trails at the time of my 27.5 love affair.

You know you don't have to choose, right? My Revel is what we call a reverse mullet - or just a mullet - 27.5 on back and 29er in front. Many bikes are now sold that way, although they are aimed at very aggressive riding. Many DHers and enduro racers use a mullet setup. The 27.5 rear is stronger, quicker to accelerate, cheats the turns and is more comfortable rolling over steep rock faces and drops. The 29er front gives you that margin of security when running into stuff like a snowplow. Truly the best of both worlds.

But if you want the most versatile bike, get a full 29er. A full 27.5 is for kids or slopestyle riders. My 5'7" daughter rides a 29er and it looks small on her. When 29ers were first introduced, the geometry sucked and they handled like a greyhound bus. Now you really can't tell them apart from a 26er in handling, but you sure can in plowability and speed. If you buy a 27.5, everyone you ride with will leave you in the dust.

View attachment 95658
My Revel Rail Mullet.

View attachment 95659
my 5'7" daughter on her Giant Trance 29er
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You're a different breed though Herz, mostly focused on the return back down the mountain. Your mullet shines in DH tech and DH turns where flickability is a priority. The rest of us on our clown wheels are gonna leave you in the dust on the climb up to the top of the TH. For me, the climb might actually be more rewarding than the trek back down the mountain so it's 29er FTW. That said, I feel that 29er is the perfect "all around" plan. It will get you up the mountain faster and cover more ground per rotation, it will gobble the hits better, and it will do fine coming back down.
 
I have one of each, and I would say 27.5 is more fun and definitely turns better. Any advantage a 29er has is a bit overhyped IMO. You are also getting heavier rims and tires with a 29er. Once you get used to it, you will only notice the differences if you switch back and forth.

That said, you should probably get a 29er, because 27.5 seems to be going the way of the dems and dinosaurs. :thumbsup:
 
Defending the 27.5 x 2.8's- One of my favorite downhill trail runs was this past July going down Faulty, Lower Faulty, Cairn-age trails in Richfield, Utah on my 2018 Hightower with my 27.5 x 2.8 wheel set on. I had total confidence having ridden the trail on previous trips and felt completely planted on that bike. It was like a bobsled ride on a mountain bike. However for most of the rides I do it's on a 29'r for climbing local Southern California trails.
 
@Craiger22 I'd say go 27.5 Riding a 29er is like riding an E-Bike, everything is too easy.

And would ya looky here, I just happen to have a very nice 27.5 Reign for sale! Who would've thunk it?!

doublewide

Thread 'Any Interest? 2015 Reign Advanced 0'

Cleaning up the garage, looking to see if anyone here is interested in my 2015 Reign.

One of my favorite bikes, I just haven't ridden it in a bit. Tallcan has been my go to as of late.

I'll get some more pics this week. Have a question, ask. I'll answer. :)

20200517_113802.jpg
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(subliminal message...BUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUY)
 
doublewide said:
@Craiger22 I'd say go 27.5 Riding a 29er is like riding an E-Bike, everything is too easy.

And would ya looky here, I just happen to have a very nice 27.5 Reign for sale! Who would've thunk it?!

doublewide

Thread 'Any Interest? 2015 Reign Advanced 0'

Cleaning up the garage, looking to see if anyone here is interested in my 2015 Reign.

One of my favorite bikes, I just haven't ridden it in a bit. Tallcan has been my go to as of late.

I'll get some more pics this week. Have a question, ask. I'll answer. :)

20200517_113802.jpg
  • Like

(subliminal message...BUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUYBUY)
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you would not want Easy. Me, I would want easy, but that is me
Happy easy trails
 
Pros= 29r
Better roll over the chunk, faster when up to speed, more traction cuz more rubber on the ground. Can run less air for better traction and supple ride. Its pushes out front of the bike further so harder to go otb. (Although some of us still manage too :facepalm:.)

Cons- depending on the geo they can be sluggish maneuvering, Generally heavier and because of the mass it takes more effort to get up to speed. More expensive, require more momentum to roll over obstacles, may look goofy on smaller framed bikes, may be easier to damage because of the larger circumference.

That said, My 29r mid travel IZZO handles great in all situations until I run out of travel. That's going up and down. My Slash 29r Does not handle the slow techy climbs as well because of the slacker head tube angle. Going down its Mob on!
My Levo Stumpjumper on the other hand is a mullet. I handles both the ups and downs very well. The smaller wheel in the rear just makes it easier and tighter in the turns both up and down and because of the 29r rollover ability in the front I do not need the extra momentum to roll the chunk in the rear. It just follows. I thought the mullet was just another gimmick till I rode Herz's and demoed the levo. There is definitely an advantage in cornering. I am on an s6 xxl on the Levo which is probably a bit big for me at almost 6'4"but the mullet made it work for me. I realistically am in-between an xl and xxl for a stump jumper. On the other hand my Slash is an xl and fits perfect for me.

So the best move would be buy to your riding preference in regards to travel and demo everything in that category. 29, 27.5 and mullet. If you ask a seller of a used bike you can generally work out a demo . I did on all the bikes I bought. I would not buy a bike without demoing it. I made that mistake once and never again!
Good luck.
 
Thanks for all the feedback. So new to me and totally confused now ;) Guess the best thing is try to demo them and see which one feels the best. After my crash, break, surgery, really want something I feel stable on can't go through that again. Ive seen some Good deals on 27.5 and almost pulled the trigger but still a bit hesitant. Thanks again for the feedback its clear as mud now :)
 
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Craiger22 said:
Thanks for all the feedback. So new to me and totally confused now ;) Guess the best thing is try to demo them and see which one feels the best. After my crash, break, surgery, really want something I feel stable on can't go through that again. Ive seen some Good deals on 27.5 and almost pulled the trigger but still a bit hesitant. Thanks again for the feedback its clear as mud now :)
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If you're coming from a 26er, the clown wheels are gonna be a complete shock to the system, but then again, so are the 27.5ers. Trust those who have already taken the step forward. That said, absolutely try both and not just for a ride or two, for several rides each if you can make that happen. You'll discover something new about each one every time you roll during the demos.
 
SnakeCharmer said:
You're a different breed though Herz, mostly focused on the return back down the mountain. Your mullet shines in DH tech and DH turns where flickability is a priority. The rest of us on our clown wheels are gonna leave you in the dust on the climb up to the top of the TH. For me, the climb might actually be more rewarding than the trek back down the mountain so it's 29er FTW. That said, I feel that 29er is the perfect "all around" plan. It will get you up the mountain faster and cover more ground per rotation, it will gobble the hits better, and it will do fine coming back down.
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It appears you didn't read my post very carefully. I essentially said the same thing.

I disagree with you about feeling anything coming from a 26er to a 27.5, unless it was the same day. Not noticeable in any bad way, if the geometries and travel numbers are similar.

Hey @Craiger22 buy @doublewide's 27.5 and you could make it a mullet if you wanted too. Just need a 29er fork (with less travel) and a 29er front wheel and tire. Then you would have two bikes!
 
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still rolling double 27". Even recently bought a (barely) used 27" frame recently for a great deal, as a companion to my ancient 27" Banshee Rune. even though I know theyre on the way to being phased out.
Simply because i have 3 27" forks in my garage-one of them fairly new with a smashpot and custom tuned damper. And 2 27" wheelsets.
I'm short and ride smalls, so dont feel a need for 29". Everyone outclimbs me no matter what.
my newer frame, Esker Elkat, is mulletable if i ever wannna go that route
 
herzalot said:
I disagree with you about feeling anything coming from a 26er to a 27.5, unless it was the same day. Not noticeable in any bad way, if the geometries and travel numbers are similar.
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I rigidly disagree with you on this. :laugh:;)

The added rotational size would be instantaneously noticeable (in any way) to a seasoned 26er rider, whether it be same day, next day, or next month.
 
I ride Medium sized frames and still ride strictly 27.5 wheels. I have flirted with the idea of a Mullet but I think the In-Frame storage compartment was the real appeal to me. 27.5s are slowly becoming obsolete but forks can be rebuilt and wheel/tire availability won't change as long as Mullets exist. My advice would be that you can't go wrong either way, both options will work to get you on the trails having a blast.
 
SnakeCharmer said:
I rigidly disagree with you on this. :laugh:;)

The added rotational size would be instantaneously noticeable (in any way) to a seasoned 26er rider, whether it be same day, next day, or next month.
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I barely noticed the handling difference when I went from my Knolly Endorphin to my Intense Tracer. I think I noticed the wheels for about half of the first descent (probably Rock-It or 5 Oaks in Aliso). I did notice that the Tracer was kinder to my back and it climbed better, but that was kinematics and geometry, not wheel size. I actually remember feeling a little disappointed that the wheel size wasn't truly noticeable.

I notice 5mm in crank length more than I notice a difference between 26 and 27.5. :facepalm:
 
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dssgaffler said:
I ride Medium sized frames and still ride strictly 27.5 wheels. I have flirted with the idea of a Mullet but I think the In-Frame storage compartment was the real appeal to me. 27.5s are slowly becoming obsolete but forks can be rebuilt and wheel/tire availability won't change as long as Mullets exist. My advice would be that you can't go wrong either way, both options will work to get you on the trails having a blast.
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herzalot said:
I barely noticed the handling difference when I went from my Knolly Endorphin to my Intense Tracer. I think I noticed the wheels for about half of the first descent (probably Rock-It or 5 Oaks in Aliso). I did notice that the Tracer was kinder to my back and it climbed better, but that was kinematics and geometry, not wheel size. I actually remember feeling a little disappointed that the wheel size wasn't truly noticeable.

I notice 5mm in crank length more than I notice a difference between 26 and 27.5. :facepalm:
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See, I told you! :D
 
Craiger22 said:
Please excuse my newbie ignorance but I did a search and came up empty, so here we go. With so many good deals on bike as of late I can't decide between the two wheel sizes. Im very open minded and think I'm leaning towards 27.5, in my mind it seems more controllable, I have no idea if that's true. I will be riding mostly Ladera, SC single tracks and most OC trails, easy ones of course ;) Thanks in advance to a topic I'm sure has been beaten to death.
Click to expand...
Don't let wheel size dictate what bike you will get.

Controllability will come from your choice in tires and not so much wheel size, but what do I know I still ride 26ers with DHR/DHF or Nobby Nics.....
 
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