Today I try to answer the age old question... Which is better? Until today I genuinely didnt know myself, as a big 27.5 inch fan can a day on the 29s change my mind?? Filmed by CA Greenwood
I am old. MTB I rode started with 24 inch. Then 26 inch. And mullet 24.....26. Then 26 inch for life . Then 27 .5 inch. So we muleted that too. 26.....27.5 inch. 27.5 for life. Now I have a 29er . Giant mullet 27.5 ....... 29er. Now I just bought my 46 bike . A new 2020 FOCUS. JAM. 29ER. OF ITS GOT WHEELS WE WILL MAKE IT GO FAST. WITH NO FLEX. . Love your content. high there Chris .
That force you were feeling on the 29" whip wasn't centrifugal or centrifugal, it was actually the gyroscopic effect keeping the wheel travelling straight.
27.5 in the front with 26 in the back ...rode 26, 27.5 and 29 and I think that this is the best ballance for the average Joe, who wants to have fun and not worry about either rigidity or roll. We're not racers, we're freeriders, at best.
This is literally subjective based on every individual. Height, strength, agility, athleticism. How can you claim one thing will work for every average Joe?
I dont know why everyone when comparing 27.5 to 29 forgets to mention the MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT and that is the WEIGHT of the wheelset. Every 100 grams saved on moving parts is very noticeable.
Solid Nature With Chris! Really rounds out the videos nicely. 27.5 for me all the way. I’m not a big dude. But I like to throw the bike around as much as possible.
27.5 is the golden middle between 26" and 29" and for me the best ones! 29" are sluggish, heavy and nowhere near as light and stable as 27.5! In addition, at 29" the body's center of gravity is much too high!
Just passing through for all the 26"comments. Get a bike made in the last decade guys 😋 I think we all know by now that it really doesn't make much difference unless you are racing. You ride what you can get and you get used to whatever that is. I could ride 26" again quite happily if I had no other option.
I've compared 29 and 26, and the 26 are much more nimble and fun. The 29 feel heavy and lumbering in comparison. Probably better for downhill, but that's not my type of riding.
Thanks a lot for the effort to make this video, I think when it´s all said and done, 29 is a tiny bit faster and might have slightly more grip here and there. But 27.5 is a lot more fun overall, and that´s what counts in the end.....I am still on 26" though..:-)
Fun fact: you can still find awesome bikes on 26" for nothing, bikes that used to cost thousands and buy a bargain and enjoy life. 26 is still awesome people, if you actually care about having fun and healthy life, mentally and physically. 27.5, 29 are part of the normal evolution of trying to make things better, but this doesn't make 26 junk.
@@HollowPointBlank giant trance jr. 26, new mtb full suspension bike with 26" wheels. I was referring to secondary market in my comments. Someone that knows MTBs can help you find something awesome in good form. Some santa cruz bike with fox front and rear with 26" wheels.
i started with a 26" ... got swayed into a 29" purely by trends, really didnt like it , its heavy and cumbersome , now im on 27.5 and i really love how lively it is
@@hb7030 i dunno the physics of it man , but i tried all 3 and it is heavier , its harder for me to pop the front up , and then there is the cornering which feels longer slower . im sure you tried all 3 right ?
I’ve got a 29er, a 27.5 and a mullet bike. I only rode 27.5 if I’m going to a jump heavy location like BMCC or bull track. There it excels. Otherwise a 29 inch front wheel is a must! You get used to putting more energy in to the bike for turning and whipping. And it’s faster, no doubt in my mind. When I get on my 27.5 on normal trails, it feels like it doesn’t want to roll. I do like my mullet, but it’s an eeb, so hard to compare to my 29er side by side
I think it's all about frame size. I have seen a 27.5 bike that looks big enough to be like 29 because of the frame.. mine is 27.5 but the frame is 15 and it looks small like 26.. total control!
Every comparison video I've ever watched, the modern 29" is always faster. Older 29ers would probably struggle, but frame geometry has come a long way in the past 10 years. I don't know where the 26" guys come from, that's like saying a 94' Corvette is better than a 2021 C8. I still have a 26" 2008 Gary Fisher and I only ride it occasionally to have a good laugh. It's not just the tire size, the geometry of 26" tired mountain bikes is so ancient. Everything from head angles to seat post angles to reach, modern 29" and 27.5" frames are just so much better in nearly every way. A 26" is more tossable, but you will be slower on almost any trail.
Did the whole Kokopelli solo/unsupported recently. On a 97' Fischer Big Sur with a Niner fork and 27.5+ front end on it, Mini Mullet. It kicked ass on it;s second burly bike packing trip. It's a riot on day rides as well. Cheers
Why you think 26" are still the best? Could you explain that? In my opinion 27.5 is the best as it combines the advantages of both sizes 26" and 29" without the disadvantages that only come with extremes. 27.5 is the golden middle and for me the optimal wheel.
How good are you!...wish I was able to do 50% of what you can at that speed. Very good evaluation Sam a couple of things I hadn't thought about, 29'er on the technical even. Your judgements were a proven great video.
For those 1% which actually do racing, those 2 seconds will mean a lot. For all others, 29er is heavier and weaker bike. Smother ride? Sure. But MTB is to go down the stairs. What smoothness we are talking about? Who wants smooth ride should take road bike and go on asphalt.
Glovo rider here, with e-bike. On my Riese Mueller with 29 wheel on the rear, the bike accelerates harder but overall travels with 3km more with the same battery ( 59 versus 56 ). Also it shakes me a little less on bumps and this is better for food transportation. I use 27.5 in the front for better control but because Schwalbe doesn't makes Winter Marathon for 27.5, I will switch to 29 also in front, sacrificing control...otherwise I would stick with smaller wheel on the front.
For offroad, for fun and all that, I would use 27.5, maybe 29 if only doing XC marathon, but for having fun, doing jumps, 27.5. You can mix 29 in front and 27.5 in the back.
I just got my first 29 and have a 27 and a 26. I like the 26 but the travel on the front forks is much less than the 27 or 29. I like the 26 for general trail work but for downhill, I like the stretched out offset of the forks and front wheel and more fork travel found on 27's & the 29ers. IMO
I think for racing 29 is quicker but then these bikes are very specific in use ie quick up a hill or quick down a hill with no compromises. I think for trail use if you want something that can bomb down and climb 27.5 might be better. I think they're just a jack of all trades as the wheels are just lighter and tougher/stiffer (for the weight), so you can't run heavier casings with out a massive weight penalty. I just can't see that bigger heavier wheels are quicker up hill if you're gonna prioritize descending. I own a 29 hardtail Nukeproof scout and a 27.5 Stanton FS. Pedaling across town to the trails and on mellow climbs/trails my mates 27.5 is no doubt quicker in places. I think I long travel 29 would just kill a trail and be a bit boring.
Done this test when the first 29 wheel was out then and you could get 27.5 wheel on the same bike spec on the Giant Trance. I tried both bikes same spec where I ride and yes the 29 was faster but in tight forest where I ride it was a wagon wheel and not as flickable unless a berm was there to use so I have used 27.5 since and will not use a 29. I still use 27.5 so spare wheels and tyres are all the same.
Fun fact: you can still find awesome bikes on 26" for nothing, bikes that used to cost thousands. Buy a bargain and enjoy life. 26 is still awesome, people, if you actually care about having fun and healthy life, mentally and physically. 27.5, 29 are part of the normal evolution of trying to make things better, but this doesn't make 26 junk.
Been riding 26 for years just braught 29 bike probaly end up getting some 27.5 aswell best both worlds and keeping my good old 26 beast wheelie machine
Unfortunately, it depends! If the uphill is SMOOTH and WINDY (like sharp switchbacks), the 27.5 will be faster uphill, as it's more maneuverable at low speeds, weighs less, and doesn't need to roll over rocks or roots (if smooth). If the uphill is straight and rough, the 29 will be faster. In this case, the 29 will not get hung up on roots and rocks, and doesn't have to make sharp turns (if straight). I'm tall, but my preference is 27.5 as it's more maneuverable and enjoyable. I ride my enduro bike mostly for fun, and I'm not a serious racer.
I have a 27.5 and sometimes ride my son’s 29er. I noticed that I can climb steep long hills way better on my 27.5 and the 29er feels like it carries momentum better through the trails but, at the end of my ride, I feel way more exhausted after riding the 29er? Kinda the opposite of what I was expecting between the two bikes? Maybe I’ll mullet my 27.5 and see how it feels lol! Good video btw
