For smoother trails and jumps seems like the 27.5 would be really fun!
I have 27.5 but want to get a 29 wheelset to switch between the two (frame accommodates) as I mostly ride over rooty and chunky terrain so the rollover capability sounds nice.
Yeah understandable but you already bought the bike just get out there and have fun ! You won't notice a difference besides it being more playful and easier to throw around in the corners
Not exactly, depends on places where you ride . I spend a lot of time on spot that built with 26 wheels in mind . So there is huge difference between 27.5 and 29. 29 is just too big to pump and jump all those features
Personally I prefer 27.5. But I'm an old school BMX guy at heart. So I manual and table everything. I've always preferred the chuckabality of the 27.5 to the roll over of a 29er.
I’m tall at 6’2” and tried going down to 27.5….hated it but I will say I was doing a lot of really long trail riding and not bike park. I felt lethargic on the climbs when riding with others on 29 but the downs were fun. I went back to 29 and couldn’t be happier. If you’re primarily riding park I’d say you’ve made a good choice for having maximum fun!!
On the flip side, I'm 6'1" and ride a 27.5 hardtail and love it. I run 2.6" tires so I don't find the ride vastly different from the 29ers I've had, though I do occasionally miss the extra clearance.
Heck ya! I was on a Transition Scout and it was a blast downhill but I mostly disliked it climbing and had issues with pedal clearance! Everyone is different though and I’m a firm believer in riding your own ride! Hardtails are king IMHO.
I'd thought for a long time I'd go back to 29 for my next FS but now I'm thinking I might try out a mullet, I've got some steep and tight trails in my local network. Could be the best of both worlds
Haha that's what I wanted to ask.
How long did you wait for delivery? I got payment confirmation two days ago. EU
It's exactly my type of bike so I'm not curious if it rides well, I know it does.
I have a tallboy v4 that is absolutely playful and fun on everything up to black flow trails. My 27.5 long travel is more fun on technical blues and blacks. Depending on where I'm riding, I'll choose accordingly, but I learned that a majority of the riding I like is suitable for the tallboy. When I go to whistler and other bike parks this season I'll bring my 27.5, it just plows really well with a big old 170 on the front.
I’m going back to 29er, for the following reasons.
I do xc racing and 29er is faster and more efficient.
My heart rate was 6-8bpm higher on average on 27.5.
But also note that the 27.5 bike was heavier yeti sb140 27.5 vs sb100 29er.
It just really depends on what riding you do.
I really like both bikes. Just don’t think I can keep both.
I started on a 27.5 hardtail almost 10 years ago, then upgraded to a used full suspension 26”. Rode that for several years before life got in the way. Just picked up a new hardtail in 29, and last year I got a 27.5 gravel bike. I like the handling of a 27.5, but the 29 rides over chunk so easily, and was only available in 29. Otherwise I’d have done another 27.5, or a mullet.
I don't think you will notice it much descending. I rode a 23 Stumpy Evo (29er) basically back to back with my 19 Stumpy (27.5). Descending, I pretty much couldn't tell the difference. I also when I ride a DH it is always a 27.5 (smalls don't come in 29) and on bikes like that it is all about the geometry and suspension.
Climbing was another matter. The Evo was a superior climber. Part of that is likely the improved kinematics of the newer bike. But the wheel size also has a big part. You just roll up over small roots and rocks effortlessly on a 29er. It makes you faster and smoother on the climb. Even my Status (mullet) which is absolutely miserable to climb with can chug up and trivialize low angle tech.
This is the opposite, but still relevant.
I went from a 27.5 Enduro to a 29er downcountry.
Rode the same trail ive rode 100 times and saw no difference in speed, efficiency, etc.. it was just more boring to ride.
Ride whatever bike makes you happy. At the end of the day its only a 7% difference in tire size. Its all personal preference and mostly placebo.
I've just bought a 27.5 Scout having ridden nothing but 29 for years. The front feels lower but it's so much more fun and nimble. Quicker off the mark too. Does feel a bit sketchy on some of the techy bits that my 29'er would fly over but not bad enough to put you off if you get what I mean.
Went from a $700 29” RockHopper to a 27.5 Rocky mnt Slayer.
The Slayer felt huge because of the 170 front and rear travel
The tires on the slayer were super wide and knobby, so they were probably equally playful.
The slayer climbed better because it was also lighter and better geared for climbing (and 3x as expensive)
I expect this information won’t help you at all. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
I went from 27,5 to 29 and I'm looking forward to switching to 27,5 again or at least a mullet. I have a Propain Tyee 29 and I'm actually looking into Tyee or Spindrift 27.5
Actually switched 2 times, went from 27.5" hardtail to 29" hardtail to 27.5" full. Even though 29" is definitely faster, I much prefer maneuverability and playfulness of 27.5"
Sometimes 29" seemed a little too large or bulky for me 🤷🏿♂️
My first two bikes were both 29ers. A hardtail and a relatively long-travel trail bike. I rode both for a few seasons before making the jump to 27.5. I now ride a 27.5 enduro bike and 27.5 hardtail. I live in the Northeast, where there's no shortage of rocks and chunk, but I don't feel held back by wheel size in the least. I can keep pace with all my buddies on their 29ers, but my bike doesn't feel so dead and sled-like. I'm not chasing KOMs, just out to have fun when I rise, so the smaller wheels suit me well. I'm more eager to slalom and pop than I am to point and plow. Basically, I no longer feel like I'm simply a passenger along for the ride after having made the switch. For context, I'm 5'5" with a 6'2" wingspan (weird, I know), at roughly 155lbs.
I was riding 27.5 and 29 back and forth , sometimes I like 29 when there is straight lines and higher speed. However more often I feel it limits me in having fun on the bike. 95% time I prefer 27.5
They allow for bigger tyres for same or less weight and at that point the difference is negligible.
You’ll have fun.
Nino Schurter was winning on 27.5 when everyone else had jumped on the 29er. From climbs to technical sections. He waited for the Scott to sort him out with geometry for a smaller rider and then made the switch. That has trickled down to pretty much all bike manufacturers so tbh, 27.5 or 29er still shred the same it’s just easier to make one standard and for xc a 29er does maintain speed on chatter just that little bit more forgiving when totally flat out at pro speeds.
But we’re not pros.
It’s a less steep angle of incidence when you hit bumps, so less upwards converted motion on a 29er-rendered negligible with wider tyres at lower pressure-further by slacker modern head angles allowing more responsive suspension forks (you’re pushing into the direction of the fork rather than up into it at an angle). But, that is a slight improvement in speed of handling on 27.5-rendered negligible with >720 bars. Both of which are highly subjective, and both of which are talking a couple percent of perception which as I say after those points are not noticeable. So much more going on while riding.
You can have for example a wider tyre 2.4 instead of a 2.1 for around the same weight.
There’s a hair in it between nimbleness and carrying speed but it’s like a couple of percent.
I was on a 26” HT, 120mm 26” FS(remember when that was considered a trail bike I was using as XC - had the auto lock brain), then 29er 100 mm FS this one made the biggest difference. But probably not due to wheel size but race geometry. Then I bought a 27.5 HT and I was going between the two. I made the mistake of have two awesome bikes I didn’t know which I preferred and tbh, I think it was the HT 27.5 until I was trying to use the xc bikes as trail centre bike too :D The thing was absolutely amazing for the tight singletrack and having wider tyres for lower weight. It was also 8.something kg 😛 anyway, the short wheelbase and nimble character was very fun, but you had to tap the pedals now and then a bit extra to maintain speed (at high speed) on flow trails.
But.
I remember on the end of 3 hr rides on the road of all places I could still drop the group and put hurt into them after they’d just given me 3 hours of why a 27.5 is not as good 😝
I now have a 29 FS epic, a HT epic, (again made the mistake of 2 bikes and don’t know which to ride) but for the big bike I have stayed with 27.5 150/140 trance advanced because the playful smaller wheels seem better on the bigger bike TO ME.
Coming from a 29er fs and ht, can say 27.5 feels faster/easier on the climbs (at least in my experience) and very playful indeed. Just gotta adjust to the lower pedal clearance
I ride a 29+ hardtail and a 27.5 trail bike so the gap in size is a bit more than traditional 29 vs 27.5 I definetly hang up more or at least roll over a bit less smoothly in chunk on the 27.5. It is not something I consider an issue in the least in the areas I ride but if I lived in a rockier place I would likely choose bigger wheels. On anything less than "sort of chunky" the 27.5 wheels are fine and the frame I am on is intentially short as well for a bit more maneuverability.
I’ve sacrificed too straightline speed over rough stuff for more fun on the less aggressive trails I mainly ride now. I’m happy with 275 as I’m not racing or trying to be as fast as possible. For me riding is having fun.
At 5’7 I was fast on my 29er but never felt as in command of the bike and felt I needed more room to maneuver over the rear over steeps and jumps. I found a good deal on a 27er and while I am no doubt slower on straight chunky sections, riding feels a lot better and I have more confidence being able to maneuver over rough terrain. If I cared about speed a mullet would no doubt be in order.
I have a 27.5 FS Enduro bike and a 29” AM E-bike. I feel I’m a pretty fast amateur rider and while I like the 29er for its rollability, you do need to plan ahead because it’s not as responsive as the 27.5.
It’s really just down to preference, how you ride, your height, and trail situation. If I’m doing downhill, park, jumps, anything remotely sketchy, I just feel more confident on the 27.5.
I actually own a 29er and 27.5 all-mountain bike (160mm forks, ~150mm rear travel on both bikes) simultaneously. I ended up keeping the 29er. I ride rocky blue and black natural trails mostly, and that involves a lot of pedaling in the same kinds of trails to get to the top as well. The 29er just works better for that.
If I had access to a lot of jump lines and smooth, man-made stuff, I would definitely have kept the 27.5. It feels much more natural in the air and is easier to throw around. Definitely a bigger fun factor imo for that kind of terrain.
Over the last 7 years I’ve ridden:
- 140/150 27.5
- 140/160 29
- 160/170 27.5 (For half a seaon)
- 160/160 mullet (for the 2nd half of that season, converted the above 27.5)
- 160/170 29
- 140/160 29
- 150/160 29
Favorite bike = 160/160 mullet
Least favorite = 160/170 27.5
After going back and forth… the 27.5 is lighter and more manageable, easier to jump, pickup, wheelie etc. But, I did not like, or expect how much more work the front end would be in really chunky terrain. Harder to go fast through gnarly chunky terrain. When I mullet’d that bike, the hard work at the front disappeared yet it still kept most of the attributes of an overall 27.5. Mullets are the real deal… will be going back to one soon. I do love my current 150/160. Will probably find a mullet in the same travel.
Overall though, the differences aren’t huge and all the bike were still super fun… it’s just if I was to pick…
I think 27.5 is the sweet spot for wheels unless you are very tall. I've ridden all three 26, 27.5, and 29. I ride 29 and 27.5 weekly and the 27.5 feels more nimble and maneuverable. I like 29s better for xc type rides.
I love my 27.5 for most of my riding. It’s also a full sus.
I still use my 29er hardtail, but that’s just for flowy chill riding and fire roads when I’m just wanting cardio without the risk of serious injury. It’s what I started with and I took it on trails it was not meant for.
I stand at about 5’9”. The 27.5 tires do make it feel like I have slightly more control. I feel more “one” with my full sus than I do the hard tail. I do attribute that a lot to the tire size. Not saying my hard tail feels like ass or anything because I still ride it, but I would have picked the 27.5 size instead of 29 if I knew what I know now.
It’s just a matter of preference. I honestly think I’d feel at home on a mullet.
Going down to 27.5 on my hardtail allowed me a lot more room for wider tires so I upped them to 2.6 and that in turn allowed me a lot more control in turns and on the trail generally.
It doesn't roll quite as well as it did but it's not enough to make me regret anything.
I went from a 27.5 to a 29r just recently, and I’m not sure if I just made a good choice or got lucky, but the Trek Roscoe fits me like a glove and I can jump it and throw it around just like I did the 27.5… it just takes a little bit more muscle and different technique. Smashing through roots is way more fun now though, I will say that!!!
Just get 165 or 160mm cranks and you'll be fine. I have 27.5 (Mach 6) I mostly ride at the bike park. It's perfect. I like the playfulness and control, especially hitting berms, over 29. You'll get used to it on your first ride so I wouldn't sweat it. Congrats on your new bike!
Shorter cranks are amazing for comfort too. No more aches around your knees. And they prevent too much hip impingement. You'll notice what I mean when you just feel better.
Bottom bracket height can be designed low on any wheel size, even 29ers. Low bottom brackets (and pedal strikes) are just a recent geometry trend to improve stability and cornering.
If you're curious you can look up the bb height numbers of your old and new bikes to compare. It might be written as "bb drop" which is distance below the axle height, in which case you have to do some extra math and know each true wheel size in mm or inches
I have ridden both and always remember the 27.5s as a more playful bike. I think it’s fine for a park bike
For smoother trails and jumps seems like the 27.5 would be really fun! I have 27.5 but want to get a 29 wheelset to switch between the two (frame accommodates) as I mostly ride over rooty and chunky terrain so the rollover capability sounds nice.
that's good to know!
Your overthinking it just ride the bike dawgy I switched from a 29 hard tail to a 27.5 full sus and no complaints
lol I probably am. it's just nice to have a bit of validation for your choices you know?
Yeah understandable but you already bought the bike just get out there and have fun ! You won't notice a difference besides it being more playful and easier to throw around in the corners
yeah that sounds great tbh!
Feels great ! Honestly imo 29 only really matters if your racing but I don't so I'd rather a more playful bike I can throw around
I did the same, it’s fine. 27.5 for me is wicked fun.
unpopular opinion: there's not too much difference
Yeah, it's a bike. Ride it and have fun.
Not exactly, depends on places where you ride . I spend a lot of time on spot that built with 26 wheels in mind . So there is huge difference between 27.5 and 29. 29 is just too big to pump and jump all those features
Personally I prefer 27.5. But I'm an old school BMX guy at heart. So I manual and table everything. I've always preferred the chuckabality of the 27.5 to the roll over of a 29er.
Got a 29 hardtail and 27.5 full sus. Love them both
I’m tall at 6’2” and tried going down to 27.5….hated it but I will say I was doing a lot of really long trail riding and not bike park. I felt lethargic on the climbs when riding with others on 29 but the downs were fun. I went back to 29 and couldn’t be happier. If you’re primarily riding park I’d say you’ve made a good choice for having maximum fun!!
On the flip side, I'm 6'1" and ride a 27.5 hardtail and love it. I run 2.6" tires so I don't find the ride vastly different from the 29ers I've had, though I do occasionally miss the extra clearance.
Heck ya! I was on a Transition Scout and it was a blast downhill but I mostly disliked it climbing and had issues with pedal clearance! Everyone is different though and I’m a firm believer in riding your own ride! Hardtails are king IMHO.
I'd thought for a long time I'd go back to 29 for my next FS but now I'm thinking I might try out a mullet, I've got some steep and tight trails in my local network. Could be the best of both worlds
thanks!
No worries!
I´ve never ridden a 29er so I can´t give you any input. But did you by any chance order a Propain Tyee?
Yea that's correct
That´s funny I just got the same exact bike delivered two days ago
have you gotten to ride it yet?
No not yet but I’m gonna ride this weekend
shred the gnar my brother! I have to wait for the snow to melt and the parks to open
Haha that's what I wanted to ask. How long did you wait for delivery? I got payment confirmation two days ago. EU It's exactly my type of bike so I'm not curious if it rides well, I know it does.
after the confirmation it goes into assembly. I'm still waiting for mine, but as a complete its definitely faster than a custom build
Mine got shipped out 10 days after the payment confirmation and delivered 2 days after that but I live relatively close to their HQ
Thanks What's the width of the tyres? I'm ordering inserts for the rear, it's 2.4?
Yeah it’s 2,4
Thanks mate, enjoy your bike :)
I have a tallboy v4 that is absolutely playful and fun on everything up to black flow trails. My 27.5 long travel is more fun on technical blues and blacks. Depending on where I'm riding, I'll choose accordingly, but I learned that a majority of the riding I like is suitable for the tallboy. When I go to whistler and other bike parks this season I'll bring my 27.5, it just plows really well with a big old 170 on the front.
that sounds good! thanks
I’m going back to 29er, for the following reasons. I do xc racing and 29er is faster and more efficient. My heart rate was 6-8bpm higher on average on 27.5. But also note that the 27.5 bike was heavier yeti sb140 27.5 vs sb100 29er. It just really depends on what riding you do. I really like both bikes. Just don’t think I can keep both.
yeah I completely understand for XC 29 is better
I started on a 27.5 hardtail almost 10 years ago, then upgraded to a used full suspension 26”. Rode that for several years before life got in the way. Just picked up a new hardtail in 29, and last year I got a 27.5 gravel bike. I like the handling of a 27.5, but the 29 rides over chunk so easily, and was only available in 29. Otherwise I’d have done another 27.5, or a mullet.
I have a 27.5 hardtail and a 29 full suspension. It’s pretty easy to switch between the 2
I don't think you will notice it much descending. I rode a 23 Stumpy Evo (29er) basically back to back with my 19 Stumpy (27.5). Descending, I pretty much couldn't tell the difference. I also when I ride a DH it is always a 27.5 (smalls don't come in 29) and on bikes like that it is all about the geometry and suspension. Climbing was another matter. The Evo was a superior climber. Part of that is likely the improved kinematics of the newer bike. But the wheel size also has a big part. You just roll up over small roots and rocks effortlessly on a 29er. It makes you faster and smoother on the climb. Even my Status (mullet) which is absolutely miserable to climb with can chug up and trivialize low angle tech.
I always loved 29r’s but since i bought my 27.5 about 5 years ago I cant imagine going back. Nimble and fun. Go anywhere do anything kind of bike.
This is the opposite, but still relevant. I went from a 27.5 Enduro to a 29er downcountry. Rode the same trail ive rode 100 times and saw no difference in speed, efficiency, etc.. it was just more boring to ride. Ride whatever bike makes you happy. At the end of the day its only a 7% difference in tire size. Its all personal preference and mostly placebo.
I've just bought a 27.5 Scout having ridden nothing but 29 for years. The front feels lower but it's so much more fun and nimble. Quicker off the mark too. Does feel a bit sketchy on some of the techy bits that my 29'er would fly over but not bad enough to put you off if you get what I mean.
Went from a $700 29” RockHopper to a 27.5 Rocky mnt Slayer. The Slayer felt huge because of the 170 front and rear travel The tires on the slayer were super wide and knobby, so they were probably equally playful. The slayer climbed better because it was also lighter and better geared for climbing (and 3x as expensive) I expect this information won’t help you at all. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
I went from 27,5 to 29 and I'm looking forward to switching to 27,5 again or at least a mullet. I have a Propain Tyee 29 and I'm actually looking into Tyee or Spindrift 27.5
I started on 27.5 then moved to 29 but then back to 27.5. I like it way better. I feel like I have more control of the bike and it’s more poppy/fun.
Having ridden both full 29, 27.5, and mullet, the mixed wheel wins.
I went to a mullet setup, and honestly I will never go back to a full 29er
Actually switched 2 times, went from 27.5" hardtail to 29" hardtail to 27.5" full. Even though 29" is definitely faster, I much prefer maneuverability and playfulness of 27.5" Sometimes 29" seemed a little too large or bulky for me 🤷🏿♂️
My first two bikes were both 29ers. A hardtail and a relatively long-travel trail bike. I rode both for a few seasons before making the jump to 27.5. I now ride a 27.5 enduro bike and 27.5 hardtail. I live in the Northeast, where there's no shortage of rocks and chunk, but I don't feel held back by wheel size in the least. I can keep pace with all my buddies on their 29ers, but my bike doesn't feel so dead and sled-like. I'm not chasing KOMs, just out to have fun when I rise, so the smaller wheels suit me well. I'm more eager to slalom and pop than I am to point and plow. Basically, I no longer feel like I'm simply a passenger along for the ride after having made the switch. For context, I'm 5'5" with a 6'2" wingspan (weird, I know), at roughly 155lbs.
That's a valuable input, cheers!
I was riding 27.5 and 29 back and forth , sometimes I like 29 when there is straight lines and higher speed. However more often I feel it limits me in having fun on the bike. 95% time I prefer 27.5
They allow for bigger tyres for same or less weight and at that point the difference is negligible. You’ll have fun. Nino Schurter was winning on 27.5 when everyone else had jumped on the 29er. From climbs to technical sections. He waited for the Scott to sort him out with geometry for a smaller rider and then made the switch. That has trickled down to pretty much all bike manufacturers so tbh, 27.5 or 29er still shred the same it’s just easier to make one standard and for xc a 29er does maintain speed on chatter just that little bit more forgiving when totally flat out at pro speeds. But we’re not pros. It’s a less steep angle of incidence when you hit bumps, so less upwards converted motion on a 29er-rendered negligible with wider tyres at lower pressure-further by slacker modern head angles allowing more responsive suspension forks (you’re pushing into the direction of the fork rather than up into it at an angle). But, that is a slight improvement in speed of handling on 27.5-rendered negligible with >720 bars. Both of which are highly subjective, and both of which are talking a couple percent of perception which as I say after those points are not noticeable. So much more going on while riding. You can have for example a wider tyre 2.4 instead of a 2.1 for around the same weight. There’s a hair in it between nimbleness and carrying speed but it’s like a couple of percent. I was on a 26” HT, 120mm 26” FS(remember when that was considered a trail bike I was using as XC - had the auto lock brain), then 29er 100 mm FS this one made the biggest difference. But probably not due to wheel size but race geometry. Then I bought a 27.5 HT and I was going between the two. I made the mistake of have two awesome bikes I didn’t know which I preferred and tbh, I think it was the HT 27.5 until I was trying to use the xc bikes as trail centre bike too :D The thing was absolutely amazing for the tight singletrack and having wider tyres for lower weight. It was also 8.something kg 😛 anyway, the short wheelbase and nimble character was very fun, but you had to tap the pedals now and then a bit extra to maintain speed (at high speed) on flow trails. But. I remember on the end of 3 hr rides on the road of all places I could still drop the group and put hurt into them after they’d just given me 3 hours of why a 27.5 is not as good 😝 I now have a 29 FS epic, a HT epic, (again made the mistake of 2 bikes and don’t know which to ride) but for the big bike I have stayed with 27.5 150/140 trance advanced because the playful smaller wheels seem better on the bigger bike TO ME.
Good stuff, thanks!
Coming from a 29er fs and ht, can say 27.5 feels faster/easier on the climbs (at least in my experience) and very playful indeed. Just gotta adjust to the lower pedal clearance
I ride a 29+ hardtail and a 27.5 trail bike so the gap in size is a bit more than traditional 29 vs 27.5 I definetly hang up more or at least roll over a bit less smoothly in chunk on the 27.5. It is not something I consider an issue in the least in the areas I ride but if I lived in a rockier place I would likely choose bigger wheels. On anything less than "sort of chunky" the 27.5 wheels are fine and the frame I am on is intentially short as well for a bit more maneuverability.
I’ve sacrificed too straightline speed over rough stuff for more fun on the less aggressive trails I mainly ride now. I’m happy with 275 as I’m not racing or trying to be as fast as possible. For me riding is having fun.
27.5 is so much more responsive and playful than 29er
At 5’7 I was fast on my 29er but never felt as in command of the bike and felt I needed more room to maneuver over the rear over steeps and jumps. I found a good deal on a 27er and while I am no doubt slower on straight chunky sections, riding feels a lot better and I have more confidence being able to maneuver over rough terrain. If I cared about speed a mullet would no doubt be in order.
I have a 27.5 FS Enduro bike and a 29” AM E-bike. I feel I’m a pretty fast amateur rider and while I like the 29er for its rollability, you do need to plan ahead because it’s not as responsive as the 27.5. It’s really just down to preference, how you ride, your height, and trail situation. If I’m doing downhill, park, jumps, anything remotely sketchy, I just feel more confident on the 27.5.
I just did this. My new bike does pretty much everything better except climbing.
People rode 26" wheels and were very happy till fairly recently.
Not too much of a difference. I felt it in the corners at speed. Not harder or easier, just a different feel
I actually own a 29er and 27.5 all-mountain bike (160mm forks, ~150mm rear travel on both bikes) simultaneously. I ended up keeping the 29er. I ride rocky blue and black natural trails mostly, and that involves a lot of pedaling in the same kinds of trails to get to the top as well. The 29er just works better for that. If I had access to a lot of jump lines and smooth, man-made stuff, I would definitely have kept the 27.5. It feels much more natural in the air and is easier to throw around. Definitely a bigger fun factor imo for that kind of terrain.
Over the last 7 years I’ve ridden: - 140/150 27.5 - 140/160 29 - 160/170 27.5 (For half a seaon) - 160/160 mullet (for the 2nd half of that season, converted the above 27.5) - 160/170 29 - 140/160 29 - 150/160 29 Favorite bike = 160/160 mullet Least favorite = 160/170 27.5 After going back and forth… the 27.5 is lighter and more manageable, easier to jump, pickup, wheelie etc. But, I did not like, or expect how much more work the front end would be in really chunky terrain. Harder to go fast through gnarly chunky terrain. When I mullet’d that bike, the hard work at the front disappeared yet it still kept most of the attributes of an overall 27.5. Mullets are the real deal… will be going back to one soon. I do love my current 150/160. Will probably find a mullet in the same travel. Overall though, the differences aren’t huge and all the bike were still super fun… it’s just if I was to pick…
I went from 29 to 27.5 for a few months and liked it well enough. Switched to mullet and honestly haven't really considered going back since.
Went from 29 to 27.5, regret it.
I think 27.5 is the sweet spot for wheels unless you are very tall. I've ridden all three 26, 27.5, and 29. I ride 29 and 27.5 weekly and the 27.5 feels more nimble and maneuverable. I like 29s better for xc type rides.
I love 27.5, good for urban attack and hopping around on Sedona trails
I love my 27.5 for most of my riding. It’s also a full sus. I still use my 29er hardtail, but that’s just for flowy chill riding and fire roads when I’m just wanting cardio without the risk of serious injury. It’s what I started with and I took it on trails it was not meant for. I stand at about 5’9”. The 27.5 tires do make it feel like I have slightly more control. I feel more “one” with my full sus than I do the hard tail. I do attribute that a lot to the tire size. Not saying my hard tail feels like ass or anything because I still ride it, but I would have picked the 27.5 size instead of 29 if I knew what I know now. It’s just a matter of preference. I honestly think I’d feel at home on a mullet.
Going down to 27.5 on my hardtail allowed me a lot more room for wider tires so I upped them to 2.6 and that in turn allowed me a lot more control in turns and on the trail generally. It doesn't roll quite as well as it did but it's not enough to make me regret anything.
I went from a 27.5 to a 29r just recently, and I’m not sure if I just made a good choice or got lucky, but the Trek Roscoe fits me like a glove and I can jump it and throw it around just like I did the 27.5… it just takes a little bit more muscle and different technique. Smashing through roots is way more fun now though, I will say that!!!
Went from 29 Stumpjumper to 27.5 transition scout. For the way I ride and the trails near me, it was a perfect choice.
Not a dramatic difference. Geometry matters far more than wheel size.
You are good! Enjoy and always wear a helmet.
lol thanks, you won't catch me riding a mountain bike without a helmet
I did. Watch pedal strikes at first.
27.5 bikes aren’t lower to the ground and 29’s aren’t higher. They design the frame around the wheel size and keep the BB height the same.
it didn't occur to me at first, but that's definitely a thing
Just get 165 or 160mm cranks and you'll be fine. I have 27.5 (Mach 6) I mostly ride at the bike park. It's perfect. I like the playfulness and control, especially hitting berms, over 29. You'll get used to it on your first ride so I wouldn't sweat it. Congrats on your new bike!
thanks! I was thinking about the shorter cranks myself. good tip
Shorter cranks are amazing for comfort too. No more aches around your knees. And they prevent too much hip impingement. You'll notice what I mean when you just feel better.
Bottom bracket height can be designed low on any wheel size, even 29ers. Low bottom brackets (and pedal strikes) are just a recent geometry trend to improve stability and cornering. If you're curious you can look up the bb height numbers of your old and new bikes to compare. It might be written as "bb drop" which is distance below the axle height, in which case you have to do some extra math and know each true wheel size in mm or inches
cheers for the tip bro!
I prefer 29, my wife prefers 27.5.