27.5 or 29

[Chugachjed]

I've been riding my burner since it was new in 2014, I'm thinking its time to upgrade to a newer more modern geo bike. Everything in MTB media/forums currently would suggest that it's nigh impossible to even survive going down a trail on 27.5" wheels. I had a 29er before, long enough ago that 27.5 wasn't a thing yet, I sold it because the wheels available weren't strong enough laterally and I was taco'ing wheels riding corners in flow trails. I'm sure the new 29er tech is vastly superior and I know that the wheels are more than strong enough for an old fat guy to make it down anything.

I guess my question is, if I'm happy with the 27.5's I've been riding, is there really any reason to switch to a 29er?

[toast2266]

Smaller wheels turn better and accelerate more quickly. Bigger wheels are more stable and plow through chunder better. That's really all there is to it.

I think, as much as anything, the strong trend towards 29ers is because trails have generally gotten straighter and more on camber over the years. Partly because that's how new trails are being built, and partly because lots of use over the years tends to bed in old trails to make them more on camber and straighter. And because of that cambering and straightening, the downsides of 29's are reduced, and the advantages of a 27.5 are minimized.

Among the people I mostly ride with, the only ones on 27.5's are people that are either fairly short (5'5" or less), or have a strong preference towards a whippy, turny bike (mostly younger guys who are trying to throw tricks on jumps). A handful are on mullets (27.5 rear / 29 front) to try to get the best of both worlds, but I'm not convinced they've succeeded in that goal.

To more directly answer your question: if your trails are slow, turny, and involve a lot of dramatic slowing down and speeding up, you might prefer the 27.5. If they're faster, flowier, or just straight-ish and chunky, a 29er will probably treat you better.

[XXX-er]

since 2014 I think the seat tube got steeper, the head tube got slacker and the 1x with single chain rings became a great thing

I had a Yeti 5.5 with 29/29 and now I got the Bullit with 29/ 27 mullet,

I like the Bullit with mullet > the Yeti with 29/29 cuz it turns better due to different wheel arcs apparently

and of course the 85 nm's of E-motor makes me the anti-christ

[EWG]

Toast laid it out well for you. As a data point, I'm on a 27.5 and really like it, but I mostly ride techy trails in the rockies, value tight radius turning ability, am no longer super concerned about pegging the speed right to the edge on flats, and am comfortable blasting straight through rocky crap and high speed on pretty much anything, so the larger wheels aren't getting me too much.

Plenty of happy, skilled people on the same trails on 29s too of course.

[XXX-er]

riding 29/27 even with longer WB/ slacker head angles than was popular 5 yrs ago

I personaly find it easier than ever to just ride/ bank over everything

but the mullet was a game changer for me

[panchosdad]

I've been on a 27.5 for a while after not liking an earlier 29er, and am now looking for a 29. Foremost reason is the ability to pedal through chunk on the bigger wheels. Demoed one on a Gooseberry trip last week and it was pretty obvious when it came to getting up chunky climbs. The 27.5 is a lot of fun on smoother playful terrain but I value being able to stay on the bike when it starts getting rough.

[Chugachjed]

I'm afraid to try a modern 29er. If I do I may need to sell guns/guitars/skis to buy one. I'm trying to convince myself that a 27.5 frame would be perfect and then I can just swap my parts. I'm mostly riding in Spokane for now, the trails are somewhere between techy and flowy. Other than being old and riding like a grandpa to avoid another concussion/injury I don't feel like my wheels are stopping me from riding any steep, rough, chunky shit.

The koolaid is so tempting though.

[Huskier]

A/B mullet vs 29er within 10mm of each other in every dimension, and 0.5 lbs. I could make the 29 corner "close enough" as well as the mullet with some extra muscle and nerve. Cleared more gaps on the mullet, but felt the rear getting "caught up" more.

[One (+) Sentence]

I'm afraid to try a modern 29er. If I do I may need to sell guns/guitars/skis to buy one. I'm trying to convince myself that a 27.5 frame would be perfect and then I can just swap my parts. I'm mostly riding in Spokane for now, the trails are somewhere between techy and flowy. Other than being old and riding like a grandpa to avoid another concussion/injury I don't feel like my wheels are stopping me from riding any steep, rough, chunky shit.

The koolaid is so tempting though.

More science than Kool-Aid. Does your current 2014 bike have Boost axle spacing? Otherwise, budget in a new wheelset with your frame swap.

[skaredshtles]

I'm afraid to try a modern 29er. If I do I may need to sell guns/guitars/skis to buy one. I'm trying to convince myself that a 27.5 frame would be perfect and then I can just swap my parts

Your decision might be easier once you start looking into the incompatibility of bike shit from 2014 to 2023.

[JayPowHound]

Guess it's time to move on from my 15 yo 26er? Lol..

[skaredshtles]

Guess it's time to move on from my 15 yo 26er? Lol..

TBH, I'd probably still be riding my 2010 Reign 26'er if it wasn't for the fact that it had a straight steerer tube and finding a decent fork just got harder and harder as the years went by...

[JayPowHound]

^^ too funny, I'm on a Reign as well!

[skaredshtles]

^^ too funny, I'm on a Reign as well!

I'm currently on a 2018 Trance Advanced... which is fairly similar to the old Reign.

[Buzzworthy]

Guess it's time to move on from my 15 yo 26er? Lol..

I feel seen haha

[Velomayniac]

Has anyone here tried 32” wheels yet?

[jackattack]

Has anyone here tried 32” wheels yet?

https://www.dirtysixer.com/

[skaredshtles]

https://www.dirtysixer.com/

Go big or go home.

[BCMtnHound]

Guess it's time to move on from my 15 yo 26er? Lol..

Ha! Still on my ‘08 spec enduro.

[JayPowHound]

Has anyone here tried 32” wheels yet?

How about 36"?

[TBS]

Smaller wheels turn better and accelerate more quickly. Bigger wheels are more stable and plow through chunder better. That's really all there is to it.

I think, as much as anything, the strong trend towards 29ers is because trails have generally gotten straighter and more on camber over the years. Partly because that's how new trails are being built, and partly because lots of use over the years tends to bed in old trails to make them more on camber and straighter. And because of that cambering and straightening, the downsides of 29's are reduced, and the advantages of a 27.5 are minimized.

Among the people I mostly ride with, the only ones on 27.5's are people that are either fairly short (5'5" or less), or have a strong preference towards a whippy, turny bike (mostly younger guys who are trying to throw tricks on jumps). A handful are on mullets (27.5 rear / 29 front) to try to get the best of both worlds, but I'm not convinced they've succeeded in that goal.

To more directly answer your question: if your trails are slow, turny, and involve a lot of dramatic slowing down and speeding up, you might prefer the 27.5. If they're faster, flowier, or just straight-ish and chunky, a 29er will probably treat you better.

Great summary
I would add that 27.5 (which I’m on) has, other things equal, about 3/4” less ground clearance than 29. Which means you are a little more prone to vector-changing pedal strikes in rocky terrain.

And for equivalent components, 29 will weigh a hair more

[Iwantmy2dollars]

I'm riding both, I'm older too. Mid 60s - Grew up in the days of Gary Fisher when the advent of 2.1 rubber was a major suspension upgrade :-}

They both have their place and advantages as already mentioned. Your size should also be a consideration. If your shorter than 5 9, I'd stick with 27. The 29s are bigger more cumbersome. Not like years ago when they first showed up but they are bigger, less agile

[Eluder]

Ha! Still on my ‘08 spec enduro.

Loved that bike once I got the specialized suspension off it.

[jackstraw]

I have a '05 26er, '19 27.5, '16 29er, and a '22 mullet. Don't buy a 26er. Any of the other three wheel size offerings you cannot lose imo. They're all super fun. Just find a shiny red one and buy it.

[One (+) Sentence]

Great summary
I would add that 27.5 (which I’m on) has, other things equal, about 3/4” less ground clearance than 29. Which means you are a little more prone to vector-changing pedal strikes in rocky terrain.

And for equivalent components, 29 will weigh a hair more

Hmmm, I’m not sure about this. BB height off the ground should be about the same - every modern bike, regardless of wheel size, is designed to basically be as low to the ground as possible while still having reasonable clearance to avoid pedal strikes. 29ers will have more BB drop and give a more planted “between the wheels” feel. 27.5” with less BB drop will be easier to get the front wheel off the ground.

29-27.5 = 1.5” divided by 2 does equal 3/4”. But it doesn’t quite work that way. I guess this would be true if someone simply installed 27.5” wheels on a bike designed around 29”.

Yes, all other things equal, a 29er will weigh more.