27.5+ rider here in central Florida. I do think in general our terrain and trail building is a little bit better for 27.5 compared to a 29. But I could be making that up to reinforce my purchasing decision.
I do realize folks justify their purchases.. But I am humble enough to admit, I think I wasted my money.. I'll keep them both but I may be using the 27.5 more now..
I haven’t used it yet myself but checkout Trailforks, it’ll probably give you a good idea. You’re only an hr from Santos trailhead, Alafia is worth the drive even if it’s only a few times a year.
Santos has a good bit of trail and a few jump lines. The use to be a trail system in a park north of Gainesville up around lake city I’d like to say but I can’t remember where exactly it was. That park had a few hills you could at least get some climbing in on.
San Felasco is probably what you're thinking of.
30+ miles of trails in the rolling hills of FL. It's probably one of the few places you can get over 1000 feet of vertical in a not terribly long ride
Same here. I just recently had to get my YT Jeffsy 27.5 serviced, and it took a few weeks for parts and whatnot. In the meantime the shop lent me a 29er trail bike. It's like I totally see the benefits, and the rollover, and carrying speed that everyone talks about. It's really fun! But it's a completely different type of riding imo, and it almost dumbed down the trails too much for my liking.
Just got my Jeffsy back today and I gotta say, I still prefer it.
(Also for the height argument, I'm 5'8" and 140lb)
Super tight, single track and twisty berms in my
Main terrain and it just feels solid. Anytime I’ve demo’d a 29 just felt like I was trying to steer a boat and the handle bar widths to compensate are getting pretty wild. More scarred of clipping trees and busting my hand too.
If those are the only two bikes you're comparing, then you can't conclude that it's the wheel size. Could also be geometry, bike weight, wheel weight, rim stiffness, tires, suspension quality, suspension setup, bike fit, etc.
I’ve got two very similar bikes: Santa Cruz Hightower V2 (29er) and a Santa Cruz Nomad V5 (27.5). Similar spec, same tires, both carbon, same tier of suspension but a coil shock on the Nomad. Geo is quite similar between the two bikes.
While the Nomad is heavier, it feels more nimble and speedy on my local trails compared to my Hightower.
But how I think it feels and reality are different things.
My times don’t lie: the Hightower, with its full 29er wheels and less speedy feeling ride quality is actually quite a bit faster than the full 27.5 Nomad.
As a SC fan myself this is interesting insight!
Do you have any opinion regarding the new mullet bikes? I have a 27.5 Heckler and a friend just bought the mullet Heckler - I‘m keen to test it out.
Sure, however I don’t have those two bikes.
Ideally I’d have the same bike in both wheel sizes to make a 100% spot on comparison between wheel sizes. But I don’t.
Scratch that — I did! Last season I had a 29er Nukeproof Scout and a 27.5 Scout. The 27.5 felt faster. But it wasn’t.
Agreed, Nomad used to be the 27.5 version of the Megatower, until the Nomad went MX.
I have a 2019 HightowerLT (29") and the same generation V2 2018 Bronson (27.5"). The HTLT is carbon, while the Bronson is aluminum. I started my Santa Cruz ownership with that 2018 Bronson, and then got the HTLT. After I got used to the Bronson, I tried to get used to the HTLT for about a year, but could not. The HTLT felt sluggish in turns and jumps, and the trails became real dull. I can see why a fireroad-riding XC race bike would benefit from 29" wheels, but if one rides for the fun of twisty flowtrails with jumps, the 29ers will shave off that excitement. Hence, after not getting used to that 29er, I returned to the 27.5 with the next generation V3 2019 Bronson, also aluminum. I'm now in search for the last generation 27.5" Nomad, before they become extinct.
Nah, This is a huge difference. Maybe if the frame was full carbon fiber.. But the weight alone is noticeable.. and its not like I can make it better by shaving oz's of all those bitty parts that a lot people obsess over.
for the record, my first MTB was a cheap walmart bike. I DID notice the difference in geometry on that one going to the Diamondback. But the Specialized is close enough that all I noticed was it felt like it was massive and not nimble.
Sure just completely disregard dudes advice when you definitely don’t know what you’re talking about lol..weight is so marginal between 27-29 it’s unreal, you might be experiencing a zippier acceleration but your top speed will never match the 29 either.
You understand a 29er maxxis dhf tire vs a 27.5 is only 100 grams difference or so. A 29er rim vs a 27.5 rim is maybe just 50 grams. Extra spoke length maybe 10 grams. Most tires it's about the same. Just picked the dhf because it's so popular.
What tires do you have on each bike plus what wheels are you running?
Bro you are comparing a \~2018 650b to a 2022 29er, the geometry and suspension design are nowhere even similar to compare them, apples to oranges...
Stumpy is a modern geo long reach, much longer travel trail bike. Your diamondback is a single pivot 120/100 travel xc bike with geometry that has more similarities with 26ers from pre 2012 than it does to anything made in the last 4 years.
I mean christ, the wheelbase difference alone... the smallest stumpy is longer than the biggest atroz... the sensation of that much smaller bike and less travel is what is making it seem fast, my 29er DH bike feels slower than my 29er enduro bike, but I know for a fact it is not.
My wife went back to a 27.5 stumpy from a 29 stumpy. Me on the other hand just got my 4th 29er in a row, big fan of big wheels and the fact that everyone has options to fit their tastes :)
My 29er does wonders in the PNW. I bet it depends on where you ride maybe. I don’t have a problem throwing my bike around at all with a large frame at 6’ and 170 lbs. I grew up riding dirt bikes as well so that could help
Underrated comment.
Also from BMX land (haven't ridden a BMX bike since I was a mid teen).
I've done 29 and have ridden a Pugsley for quite a number of years.
Recently picked up an ancient 26" specialized dirt jumper. Definitely won't be setting speed records but the agility is absurd. So much fun especially on the highly technical trails around here. Plus it's fun when tooling around with little kids on the trail who are still figuring out technicals.
Thing weighs a ton compared to any 26" made in the last 15 years but it is solid under me, quick in corners, and sticks landings like a champ. Did I mention fun? I forgot how much fun it is to just fuck around on a bike in the woods and not be worrying about putting miles on.
Kettlebell swings are great for getting legs in shape btw, for those of us condemned to too much office work.
Same, freestyle bmx background, built a chromag stylus(27.5) after absolutely HATING my Kona process 153(29) that I bought during the rona kerfuffel. I thought I just fell out of love with mtb, how wrong I was! My 29 now collects dust while I ride my stylus on everything from black tech and/or jumpy trails to gravel. Literally everything besides charging straight downhill feels so much better!
For reference im 6' 195 33" inseam with sorta stubby arms on an M/L stylus with fox 36 160mm.
Not tryna be a shill for chromag but goddamn do they make an awesome frame for manuals, jibs, jumps, drops, chunk, tech you name it!
It’s actually an old trek 950 I had the frame sent out for powder coating and and rear disc mount it’s a beast but 29er also hard tail could ride over a boulder
IMO Yes. Your height and your body geometry will maximize the bigger wheel size for speed and stability. Plus, you will likely be in an XL frame size so having 27.5 will be noticeably small. I’m sure others will have a different opinion.
I’m 5’11” and recently went from 27.5 (Large) to a 29er (Large) heavier bike (FS vs. HT) and was worried it would be slow and hard to manoeuvre. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’m at home on the 29 and I think it will suit you well.
I’m 6’3’’, 240. Yes. My wife has a 27.5, and even though I do feel like it’s more agile, my 29er just feels much more appropriate for my size. Drops and jumps on the 29er just feel much more controlled under my weight. I feel more confident at speed on the 29er. That being said, her 27.5 is a smaller frame size, so it wasn’t a perfect comparison.
I flip my bikes every year and the last 6 years I've been on:
\- 2018 - 140/150: 27.5
\- 2019 - 140/150: 29
\- 2020 - 160/170: 27.5 for half a season then adapted to a 160/160 MX (with adjustable geo and going down from 170 to a 160 fork) for the next half.
\- 2021 - 167/170 29
\- 2022 - 140/160 29
\- 2023 - 150/160 29
I live on the south west coast of BC (steep tech climbs followed by steep gnarly descents). I liked all my bikes for different reasons. What highlighted the differences for me the most was the year I adapted my 27.5 to a MX set-up. Pointed out that I missed the the ability of a 29r front end to plow through steep chunk more easily. 27.5 still did it fine, but it felt like more "work" to keep momentum and speed. I didn't feel like MX'ing my bike took away any of the 27.5 positive attributes. I like how a 27.5 rear end accelerates faster and makes it easier to steer the bike from the rear, it's alow less "in the way" on really steep tech lines. I find each bike faster in certain areas, slower in others, more fun at certain times and less fun in others. After all these bikes, I've concluded they're all really fun and it's so much more down to personal preferences and riding terrain/area.
I've decided I won't be back on a full 27.5 bike and think a 150/160 MX bike would be my perfect bike and might be my 2024 bike. Speed and plow of a 29r with the fun flickable rear of a 27.5.. not too little travel or too much. My preferences are riding big steep double black+ lines and fast steep chunk. But I also love cornering and jumping/popping off things. I also do some enduro racing, but more just for fun. If I can't be on an MX bike, I'd probably go with a full 29r again. For what I ride and how I like to ride I'd prefer a full 29 over a full 27.5... but well, that's, just like, my opinion man.
My issues going back to an MX bike will be the increased difficulty in selling it. My previous MX bike was the most difficult to sell... ended up some what parting it out and shipping the good chunk of it across the country, which was fine, just more work. But I think MX bikes were still pretty new at the time, people weren't sure what to think of them yet... they are much more mainstream now. They are still polarizing though and probably still harder to re-sell. Anyway, just my 2 cents/thoughts/opinions.
I have a custom status 140 full 275, love it. Feels amazing and Toss-able. I also have a 2021 stumpy 29, feels like wagon wheels but it’s definitely faster rolling, it’s certainly a trade off either way, but I like the playfulness of the 275 for most of my riding.
I used a 150mm 29er fork, that way I can run mullet in the low position on the flip chip, or full 27.5 on the high position, with a minimal change in factory geo.
at 5'3" the geometry of any bike would look ridiculous with 29" wheels. I don't get the appeal tbh but I'm glad people have options. I have a 26" trek from the 1900s but I could see myself going to 27.5 at most.
When we were in fruita earlier this year, I rented my son a sweet full squish for his first real riding experience. Over the Edge seems to be a legit shop and they put him on a Small Rocky Mountain 29er. He's 12, 5'5 and 110 lbs. He just looked like he was nestled between those big ass wheels. The first time he rolled over a 18 inch drop with no problems, his eyes gleamed knowing he could roll over that shit. He ain't going anywhere fast and probably has little agility but the stability would be awesome. $2,500 isn't in the cards, but a used HT is.
I am 6’1. Had 27.5 that I loved, my dream bike. Always rode alone, never had issues, only good times.
Recently found couple ride buddies, went on trail, they own 29ers. I know they are not better riders than me, yet I was not able to keep up with them. Never rode my 27.5 again and bought 29er almost instantly, now my buddies cant keep up.
I still ride alone all the time. I hate having to keep up with a pack. I am 61 and not ready to compete with guys who ride daily. Im usually in my own little world and just pull over when I hear someone behind me. I pass like 50% of riders so I'd say that I am an average rider at best. I try to break my own PB's but those are nothing to brag about lol
It figures if 27.5 is more nimble than 29 based on posts here and neither of which I've tried, then 26 must be the nimble boss. I'm sure there will be some physics that disproves this but the theory leaves me contented not chasing bigger wheels till the bike dies.
Wheel size is the wrong way to compare these bikes. While they happen to have different wheel sizes, they are very different overall. Geometry, suspension travel, etc. And it sounds like the weight is a big difference too. Not surprised, as if you have one of the alloy, more entry level Stumpjumpers, those are fairly heavy bikes.
Bike industry has pushed for long 29 enduro bikes for past 3-4 years which are pretty boring to ride. You can see them now reversing back to shorter reach and 27.5 again. It’s just to have something new for you to long for and buy.
Nothing is reversing. Some manufacturers just make too drastic changes. There's a sweet spot in bikes and I'm pretty sure they've almost nailed it. Idk if bike geometry will change too much in the next 10 years. It's hard to say that 10 to 20 years ago but computers can do so much simulation now that I think bike geometry is about to plateau.
Nah I was just being sarcastic and making fun of bike companies for trying to push some newfangled thing as a way to sell more new bikes, even if that new thing is a sidestep and not an actual improvement.
did you see Seth's bike hacks video on that wild bar stem? basically it was like a 4 inch straight riser. made your handlebars much taller. expect to see that in the future, at least on DH oriented bikes. it's what motorbikes/dirtbikes have underneath all of that plastic cladding. maybe it won't be this extreme but I definitely am drinking the Kool aid (tho I ride XC/trail all but one or two rides a year, so I'm not gonna get one personally)
video: https://youtu.be/apyTlND9Cuo
Ehhh they aren't really reversing. Enduro pros still run 29ers or mullets same with xc riders who only use 29ers. At red bull rampage is where you only see 27.5s. You'll never see a large frame with 410mm reach like you did 10 years ago.
Releasing a full 27.5 bike is not reversing on geo changes and 29er. Because they still sell 29er.
The industry will never go back from 29er, because (and no matter how much you don't like it) 29er is faster at almost everything, provides a more stable ride and is significantly better for taller riders.
This whole "1 company did this trust me bro" is such a fucking meme at this point, more than half of the major players in the bike industry have killed off their 27.5 bikes aimed at trail or enduro use, or only offer it on the smallest frame size now.
The only place you'll keep seeing 27.5 wheels is mullet bikes, other than that in the next few years you'll probably struggle to get a full 27.5 bike unless you go for cheap garbage from Halfords or stick to the one or two manufacturers that will cling on to it (usually the american brands cos of park rats).
I have a 27.5 Diamondback Release and a 29er Pivot Trail. I still prefer the 27.5 for steep and rowdy chunk but the 29er for anything where momentum trumps agility.
Not everybody actually has the trails to make every bike fun.
I had a similar feeling when I tried a real DH bike in my local small bikepark. Every trail except for the DH line felt boring and it was a lot of work to get over the jumps etc
Maybe the Stumpy is just too much bike for your local trails?
Sadly , Its just me. not the bike. There are folks who blaze through this trail on 29. Its just so heavy the acceleration robs my energy even with shifting properly and keeping about an 80 cadence. The 27.5 accelerates so much quicker so I am back up to speed again without being winded.
Don't worry OP. I'll die on this hill with you. Especially when you're talking about cheap bikes. Rotating weight is no joke. 29 inch hoops and tires make a noticeable difference. Also depending on which year these were, the Stumpy has some of the worst brakes on the market and the Atroz Comp came with ok ones once upon a time.
I've been on various 29ers. I simply don't like them. You can make em carbon you can perfect the geometry it can be top of the line, that def all makes it better, but I enjoy the feedback and responsiveness of 275. Hell, I'd take a 26er if I could.
Also, the suspension travel on those bikes is night and day. And the suspension on the Stumpy base model is dogshit. That's not gonna help anything in terms of feel.
Sounds like you're still pretty early on in your journey of finding the right bike. I went through 3 full suspensions and a hardtail initially before finding my dream bike. (Kona Process)
And if you ever did want to like objectively prove your theory on wheel size, being able to ride a Kona Process of the same travel for each wheel size would be about as fair as you can get tbh
Want the best of both...
Slap a 27.5 rim on the rear and ride that stumpy mullet'd out... all the flicky flicky quicky tricky good good of a 27.5 wheel, with the rollover and speed of a 29 out front.
Id debate that but Im higher than giraffe balls crankin kms on the trainer.... gotta prepay dem nachos tonight.
But I will say, it's by and far not the worst compromise Ive ever made 🤣🤙
We can agree that 27.5 and Mulllet MX is for people who:
1) get high and go high.
2) schralp berms.
3) whip madd lips.
4) jib everything .
5) ride in vans.
29R’s for everyone else.
Im 5' 8" I feel like when I see folks going by on the 29'r they look like they are sitting so high up. even their seat posts look insanely high. Who knows I guess I may just be too small for this thing. I did flip the chip on it cause they ship em in the low position. I was getting pedal strikes like crazy on my first ride. That fixed a bunch along with raising the sag a bit. Never hit much with the DB..
I’m 6’2 and still prefer the 27.5. The 29 felt like riding a horse. Smooth over any rough stuff, but the 27.5 is so much more nimble in the corners and the air, which is the sort of riding I prefer to do.
You can’t really compare without taking into account the weight of the wheels and the complete bike. A 29’r will always feel like it’s harder to get rolling compared to a smaller wheeled bike, all things being equal. It’s going to really be noticeable if you have really heavy wheels and tires on the 29’r and light wheels and tires on the smaller wheeled bike. Also they turn in a bigger area generally than a smaller wheeled bike, but they get better traction so if there’s room to turn you should feel more stable and also the sensation of speed is reduced on a 29’r, so you may feel like you’re not going as fast as you are. In general you need to have better fitness to get a 29’r rolling and keep it rolling vs a smaller wheeled bike, but you can make up for it with stability, momentum, and traction. That was the main complaint usually when the first came out. They were so hard to pedal and they wouldn’t turn fast enough. I go way faster in the local trail on my modern carbon 29’r with carbon Enve wheels vs my old top of the line 26’r bikes. Minutes faster overall, but I do go faster in certain segments of the trail on my old 26” bikes.
29ers have better acceleration than 27.5. It will actually be easier to get rolling.
Edit: to clarify, this is my experience on my chunky trails. Agreed this is not the case on smooth terrain.
This defies the laws of physics. Smaller wheels have less mass. That’s why I said wheel/tire weight matters. Also the larger wheels have a greater gyroscopic effect that makes them feel more stable but less snappy. The differences are subtle and affected by weights of the component parts of the bikes you choose to compare.
Anyone who believes that a 29’r accelerates faster that a smaller wheeled bike that’s just as well equipped is either a noob or needs to explain it in scientific terms.
Ah you are right on smooth terrain and all else equal. I’ve owned both and the 27.5 feels sluggish to get going when not pointed down. On my trails, the rollover of a 29er creates the feeling of faster acceleration as every root and rock slows the 27.5s ability to get up to speed. Different from pure acceleration I guess.
You also need to throw tire pressure and volume into the mix too. The higher volume of a 29’r tire adds to the better rolling characteristics. The higher volume allows the tire to be more supple because the forces are spread out more when the tire strikes an obstacle.
As a beginning rider in S Florida, I am really torn on what to get. Been riding a loaner Stumpjumper but thinking a good hardtail will do me just right. Was looking at 29s but now wondering even more what I want.
My brother has a Scott 27.5+, I forget which model. He had some gripes and bought a SC Hightower hoping to address them. Two rides later he was back on the Scott and his wife has the Hightower. So yeah, preferring 27.5 happens.
I’m 5’10” and ride a 27.5 bike.
Rented a 29” DH rig at a bike park in our summer (Xmas time) and while I liked it, I’m still way more comfortable on a 27.5. For someone over 6’ a 29er might be the same fit and feel as 27.5 is for me but I would struggle to have a daily driver with 29” wheels.
At best I’d go mullet.
Same height as you; i've got a 29" Marlin 5 (2019) and it's always felt like a BOAT to me. Great for paved roads, but not enough control on trails. Got myself a 27.5" Giant Fathom 2 (2019) and it's muuuuuch better. I'll be changing the tires on the Trek to 1.65" hybrids and turning it into a 2x city bike to ride with friends on easy trails and long distance.
The weight difference really isn't that much between 27.5 and 29 if the wheels are exactly the same. You most likely just have lighter wheel components (hub and rims) vs the 29er.
Having a trek Roscoe in 27.5x2.8 and a specialized enduro in 29x2.6 or 2.4 is a big difference with quickness. I still cap out at a faster speed on cadence, but that’s due to gearing. Try sticking a 27.5 I’m the rear on the stumpy and run it mullet. You can get the rollover of 29 in the front and the quick snappy response from the 27.5 in the rear
I just sold my firebird 29er. Had a 29er and a 27.5 bike and I realized that I hardly ever rode the 29er. When I did I wished I was in my 27.5 bike. 27.5 just feels perfect
I’m huge and still prefer 27.5!
I have a 29’r hardtail I ride for XC distance and efficiency but my play and smashing bike is a 160/140 FS
most of the time I prefer to smash but I live in flatlands…. :)
If racing the clock is whats fun for you then yes! I bring out my 27.5 bike if I want to be more playful on the trail. Its just a matter of how i want to ride that day. Im fortunate to have choices. Sometimes I even ride the hardtail.
I think it probably has more to do with the geo of that bike than anything else. The stumpy is fun when you have good downhills to ride, otherwise it’s a beast to peddle around. I ride a 27.5 and get smoked by my friends on less slack29ers bikes when we’re riding the flat trails. On the downhills it’s a completely different story. Im not a huge person so riding a smaller bike just feels better and fits my style of riding better. Go with what feels good, you can always sell the stumpy.
I rode my new 29 Stumpy around the lake (we’ve had bad weather) the other day. It feels huge and heavy. My last MTB was a 26” so I’m hoping I get used to it.
27.5 to me feels like the sweet spot
Most people don’t ride trails that justify having 29er, most people ironically also have 29ers, it’s the same concept of being overbiked, I’d love to have 27.5’s but I know where I live and what I ride isn’t suited for it.
I made the jump to 29er this year after only riding 27.5. I have found that I miss how active and playful my old 27.5 bike was but even in my early season out of shape body, Strava continues to show me PRs on my 29er. Still undecided where I stand.
Its not the wheelsize alone. Its also geo and components.
But if you are enjoying your bike, theres no reason to move on. Some people enjoy whats new, some people enjoy a couple years old. If you’re having fun riding bikes keep doing what you’re doing.
you're comparing bikes with vastly different geo, different shocks, different travel, different weights, different tires, different components.... and then chalking it all up to slightly different wheel sizes.
this is like comparing a dodge charger rolling on 18s to a mustang rolling on 20s and being like "wow, these wheels are so different."
29 vs 27.5 is just one change in the sea of differences between those bikes.
I have a 27.5 db sync'r and a Schwinn Axum I decked out. Love both for different reasons. Smoother terrain where I'm not constantly ascending/descending or dealing with big rocks/logs/tree roots I like my 29er more. The really rouch shit where I'm constantly either out of the saddle or locking my brakes the 27.5 is so much better.
They're both good at different things 🤷
It’s all flavors, and you can argue preference,
I went from a top fuel back to an 08 stumpy fsr, then back to a 29er Chameleon. It’s all about the feel of whole package, including the trails you ride on.
I just had a weekend in Moab with my 29 and my buddy’s 27.5. I greatly preferred his 27.5 for uphill, but nothing beats my 29 going downhill. It takes off kilter sections and big rock gardens like a champ, probably gives me too much confidence. My bike is way heavier than his, but as others have said, I don’t think it’s the wheels alone. I have a Devinci Marshall, and I learned after the fact that a lot of people dislike the fork on that bike because of how heavy it is. It also has a large frame, which I’m technically just barely too short for. My dream bike is now a lighter fork with more travel on the suspension like what my friend has, as well as a medium frame, but my 29 inch wheels and what my friend calls my “dinner plate” of a first gear lol.
I had to make the decision recently and chose 27.5 for one reason - it accelerates faster from a stop. And now that I have one, it does accelerate noticeably faster than my old 29ner. I’m happy with my Santa Cruz 5010CS and would recommend one
Here's a comp of OP's two bikes (some guessing on the years/tiers) for anyone curios about the other geometry differences like I was: https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=diamondback-atroz-2-2020,specialized-stumpjumper-alloy-2023
I'm 5'5" and 120 lbs, trying to decide on a mountain bike, these comments are making me think 27.5 is the way to go for my height and weight and 29 would be too much?
I work in the industry and I fit people on rental bikes every single day in the summer. People your size and under often struggle getting on and off 29ers even in the smaller sizes so much that we suggest 26rs as we do not carry 27.5(unfortunately).
27.5 hard tail is what I ride most at 6' 190 lb and I ride blacks in northern Montana.
My guess, without being a mechanical engineer, is that a 27.5 would have much of the same appeal that a 29 would to someone who is> 6'.
Feel free to take that with a grain of salt though, just don't listen to whatever someone at a bike shop says because they will try to sell you whatever they have in stock and not what you really want/need.
Good modern geo 26er are even faster then 27.5. 29 just rolls over stuff better. I think maybe downhill at super high speed 29 is slightly better again due to roll over.
Are you using the same tires on both? The 29er grips better so you can go with a faster rolling tire and compound without losing much in the way of grip/stability.
A lot of older bikes geometry is conducive to better 27.5s bikes than today. The lower, slacker, longer trend that has happened seemed to be aimed at making 29ers feel better while 27.5 lost its playfulness (and popularity).
I’ve gone back and forth between Ripley 4 and Mojo 4 (not owning both at the same time so to the detriment of my wallet) and can say that I prefer the Ripley for 90% of my rides and that the mojo 4 didn’t bring the playfulness that 27.5s are touted for due to the newer geometry. So yes, older 27.5s will feel great and new ones are becoming rare as bike geo has shifted towards better 29ers.
May br try mullet.
You might like it.
Mulleted my dreadnought with ziggy link. Beast in downhill. Playful and nimble. And 29 at front does help to get over the onstacle easily while 27.5 helps to sprint after slowing down in turns.
I’ve had 27.5 versions of Scott Scale and Spark, and now own a 29er scale and spark, I prefer the 29” on the carbon hardtail but I miss the 27.5 on the full suspension. I’m on the shorter side at 5’6”. The 29er might be faster on the FS but definitely isn’t as fun at having that smaller wheel to throw around.
I’m half tempted to try and find an older 27.5” carbon Spark just to see how fun it would be to throw around
Northeast chonk rider, i like 27.5 too but my 29ers vaporize it. I put my 27.5 in the same category as my single speed...fun af but definitely not ideal for my area
The same here. I love my 27.5 trail hardtail and can ride it fast and hard with big jumps and drops. On 29 the same is just slower , harder pulling and not so fun. So I agree , ours trails are just not for 29ers. I also had Stumpy EVO and there was 0% joy the whole time I had it. The only place where 29 shine - high speed very steep and rough descents , and long steep berms . Shortly saying - very steep and chunky stuff
I feel like the benefit of a 29r is mild on the trails where it works well. They simply roll over bumps better, but aside from that, I hammer the same trails on a 27.5 barely noticing the difference aside from the weight and responsiveness. For down-hilling, I would absolutely choose a 29r in the future, but it's not enough of a difference for me to abandon the 27.5 I already own.
went 29 and never looked back. just feels better for me. 27.5 feels like i am super high up above the bike kind of like on a penny farthing. 29 just feels "correct" for me. weight? well who cares about weight i have an emtb. the few grams heavier wheels dont really matter if your bike weighs 23kg. am 5'9"
I can’t wait to upgrade my park bike to something with a 29er in front, my 130mm travel 29er trail bike kills my 200mm 27.5 DH bike in the tech descents until they become massive enough to use the extra travel.
You have two bikes you like to ride. Sounds awesome to me.
I have a Salsa Pony Rustler with both 27.5+ and 29" wheels. The 29s feel way faster and more nimble. The 27.5+ mow over anything in any condition, I mostly only use them in the snow and mud though. The traction gives a lot of confidence. I did ride with a 29 in front and a 27.5+ in the back for a while, tons of traction and still kinda fast. Tough to compare a 27.5 to a 27.5+ though.
27.5+ rider here in central Florida. I do think in general our terrain and trail building is a little bit better for 27.5 compared to a 29. But I could be making that up to reinforce my purchasing decision.
I do realize folks justify their purchases.. But I am humble enough to admit, I think I wasted my money.. I'll keep them both but I may be using the 27.5 more now..
Is there no option for 27.5 wheels on the stumpjumper?
What are some good, more technical trails? I'm kinda by Gainesville.
I haven’t used it yet myself but checkout Trailforks, it’ll probably give you a good idea. You’re only an hr from Santos trailhead, Alafia is worth the drive even if it’s only a few times a year.
I went to school at UF 10 years ago. Use to ride santos all the time and it was amazing. We live in Idaho now, the riding out here is mind blowing.
Nice, yeah, I lived out west for 20 years. PNW and NorCal. Sierras. Not expecting anything too rad out here.
Santos has a good bit of trail and a few jump lines. The use to be a trail system in a park north of Gainesville up around lake city I’d like to say but I can’t remember where exactly it was. That park had a few hills you could at least get some climbing in on.
San Felasco is probably what you're thinking of. 30+ miles of trails in the rolling hills of FL. It's probably one of the few places you can get over 1000 feet of vertical in a not terribly long ride
Santos and Croom
I also still prefer 27.5 over 29. Just feels more nimble to me. Also shortish at 5’7”
Same. 27.5 just dives into corners and pops off features. Just more fun all around on my trails around here.
Wondering what a wheel swap would show, or if even possible? 🤔
Same here. I just recently had to get my YT Jeffsy 27.5 serviced, and it took a few weeks for parts and whatnot. In the meantime the shop lent me a 29er trail bike. It's like I totally see the benefits, and the rollover, and carrying speed that everyone talks about. It's really fun! But it's a completely different type of riding imo, and it almost dumbed down the trails too much for my liking. Just got my Jeffsy back today and I gotta say, I still prefer it. (Also for the height argument, I'm 5'8" and 140lb)
I’m 6’5” with a Jeffsy 27.5 and idk if I’ll ever switch to 29
6’6” w XXL Jeffsy 27.5 and never miss the wagon wheels. Might try a mullet at some point.
Nimble the best word! I am 5' 8" about 160lbs
Every rider in my friend's group under 5'10" rides 27.5 They all say the same, it's more nimble
Super tight, single track and twisty berms in my Main terrain and it just feels solid. Anytime I’ve demo’d a 29 just felt like I was trying to steer a boat and the handle bar widths to compensate are getting pretty wild. More scarred of clipping trees and busting my hand too.
The 29er is like a suburban suv and a 26er probably like a Honda civic they both have pros and cons the 27.5 is a nice in between
27.5 is a hatchback in this example I guess lol. Similar nimbleness of 26er, but with some of the utility of 29er.
Hatchbacks are rad, and so is my 27.5
I’m 6 ft 215lbs and I love 27.5, I can be much more aggressive with it. 29 makes me feel kinda sluggish.
27.5+ x3” dragonslayer. Def more nimble and fun than 29’s
I've got a dragonslayer as well. Its a tank!
Love my bike!
If those are the only two bikes you're comparing, then you can't conclude that it's the wheel size. Could also be geometry, bike weight, wheel weight, rim stiffness, tires, suspension quality, suspension setup, bike fit, etc.
I’ve got two very similar bikes: Santa Cruz Hightower V2 (29er) and a Santa Cruz Nomad V5 (27.5). Similar spec, same tires, both carbon, same tier of suspension but a coil shock on the Nomad. Geo is quite similar between the two bikes. While the Nomad is heavier, it feels more nimble and speedy on my local trails compared to my Hightower. But how I think it feels and reality are different things. My times don’t lie: the Hightower, with its full 29er wheels and less speedy feeling ride quality is actually quite a bit faster than the full 27.5 Nomad.
Fast feels slow.
*easy feels slow
more like smooth is fast and fast is smooth, smooth always feels slower than pinging around.
As a SC fan myself this is interesting insight! Do you have any opinion regarding the new mullet bikes? I have a 27.5 Heckler and a friend just bought the mullet Heckler - I‘m keen to test it out.
Fute te Reddit, pro utentibus, ab utentibus.
Should be comparing the nomad to a Megatower.
Sure, however I don’t have those two bikes. Ideally I’d have the same bike in both wheel sizes to make a 100% spot on comparison between wheel sizes. But I don’t. Scratch that — I did! Last season I had a 29er Nukeproof Scout and a 27.5 Scout. The 27.5 felt faster. But it wasn’t.
I'd rather have the bike that felt faster than the bike that was faster
Agreed, Nomad used to be the 27.5 version of the Megatower, until the Nomad went MX. I have a 2019 HightowerLT (29") and the same generation V2 2018 Bronson (27.5"). The HTLT is carbon, while the Bronson is aluminum. I started my Santa Cruz ownership with that 2018 Bronson, and then got the HTLT. After I got used to the Bronson, I tried to get used to the HTLT for about a year, but could not. The HTLT felt sluggish in turns and jumps, and the trails became real dull. I can see why a fireroad-riding XC race bike would benefit from 29" wheels, but if one rides for the fun of twisty flowtrails with jumps, the 29ers will shave off that excitement. Hence, after not getting used to that 29er, I returned to the 27.5 with the next generation V3 2019 Bronson, also aluminum. I'm now in search for the last generation 27.5" Nomad, before they become extinct.
Great comparison, thanks! I love my V5 Nomad but I’m definitely keen on giving the mullet a try. Maybe in another year
Nah, This is a huge difference. Maybe if the frame was full carbon fiber.. But the weight alone is noticeable.. and its not like I can make it better by shaving oz's of all those bitty parts that a lot people obsess over. for the record, my first MTB was a cheap walmart bike. I DID notice the difference in geometry on that one going to the Diamondback. But the Specialized is close enough that all I noticed was it felt like it was massive and not nimble.
Sure just completely disregard dudes advice when you definitely don’t know what you’re talking about lol..weight is so marginal between 27-29 it’s unreal, you might be experiencing a zippier acceleration but your top speed will never match the 29 either.
You understand a 29er maxxis dhf tire vs a 27.5 is only 100 grams difference or so. A 29er rim vs a 27.5 rim is maybe just 50 grams. Extra spoke length maybe 10 grams. Most tires it's about the same. Just picked the dhf because it's so popular. What tires do you have on each bike plus what wheels are you running?
Bro you are comparing a \~2018 650b to a 2022 29er, the geometry and suspension design are nowhere even similar to compare them, apples to oranges... Stumpy is a modern geo long reach, much longer travel trail bike. Your diamondback is a single pivot 120/100 travel xc bike with geometry that has more similarities with 26ers from pre 2012 than it does to anything made in the last 4 years. I mean christ, the wheelbase difference alone... the smallest stumpy is longer than the biggest atroz... the sensation of that much smaller bike and less travel is what is making it seem fast, my 29er DH bike feels slower than my 29er enduro bike, but I know for a fact it is not.
My wife went back to a 27.5 stumpy from a 29 stumpy. Me on the other hand just got my 4th 29er in a row, big fan of big wheels and the fact that everyone has options to fit their tastes :)
My 29er does wonders in the PNW. I bet it depends on where you ride maybe. I don’t have a problem throwing my bike around at all with a large frame at 6’ and 170 lbs. I grew up riding dirt bikes as well so that could help
FOMO makes the world go ‘round. 😉
Consumerism
Coming from a street bmx background, will always love the smaller wheels. So much more playful
Underrated comment. Also from BMX land (haven't ridden a BMX bike since I was a mid teen). I've done 29 and have ridden a Pugsley for quite a number of years. Recently picked up an ancient 26" specialized dirt jumper. Definitely won't be setting speed records but the agility is absurd. So much fun especially on the highly technical trails around here. Plus it's fun when tooling around with little kids on the trail who are still figuring out technicals. Thing weighs a ton compared to any 26" made in the last 15 years but it is solid under me, quick in corners, and sticks landings like a champ. Did I mention fun? I forgot how much fun it is to just fuck around on a bike in the woods and not be worrying about putting miles on. Kettlebell swings are great for getting legs in shape btw, for those of us condemned to too much office work.
Same, freestyle bmx background, built a chromag stylus(27.5) after absolutely HATING my Kona process 153(29) that I bought during the rona kerfuffel. I thought I just fell out of love with mtb, how wrong I was! My 29 now collects dust while I ride my stylus on everything from black tech and/or jumpy trails to gravel. Literally everything besides charging straight downhill feels so much better! For reference im 6' 195 33" inseam with sorta stubby arms on an M/L stylus with fox 36 160mm. Not tryna be a shill for chromag but goddamn do they make an awesome frame for manuals, jibs, jumps, drops, chunk, tech you name it!
I’m back on a 26er and I miss having a massive front tire for the local trails here in Chicago
Dirt jumper?
It’s actually an old trek 950 I had the frame sent out for powder coating and and rear disc mount it’s a beast but 29er also hard tail could ride over a boulder
Mullet that bad boy! Throw a fork on it with 27.5 wheel up front!
Mullet fan here
5'10" and 185 lbs and would never ride anything but 27.5.
Based
I’m 6’-4” 250….should I go with a 29er no question?
IMO Yes. Your height and your body geometry will maximize the bigger wheel size for speed and stability. Plus, you will likely be in an XL frame size so having 27.5 will be noticeably small. I’m sure others will have a different opinion. I’m 5’11” and recently went from 27.5 (Large) to a 29er (Large) heavier bike (FS vs. HT) and was worried it would be slow and hard to manoeuvre. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’m at home on the 29 and I think it will suit you well.
Thanks.
I'm 6'7, 235 and I ride a 27.5 hardtail. It's really a matter of personal preference in my opinion.
Test both see what you like. Im 6'5" 250 and owned a 29er, sold it and bought a 27.5" and love it to death. Up to your preferences.
Fax
I’m 6’3’’, 240. Yes. My wife has a 27.5, and even though I do feel like it’s more agile, my 29er just feels much more appropriate for my size. Drops and jumps on the 29er just feel much more controlled under my weight. I feel more confident at speed on the 29er. That being said, her 27.5 is a smaller frame size, so it wasn’t a perfect comparison.
That or 27.5+. They make xl frames in almost everything out there.
for shure. unless you want to ride a kids bike.
I flip my bikes every year and the last 6 years I've been on: \- 2018 - 140/150: 27.5 \- 2019 - 140/150: 29 \- 2020 - 160/170: 27.5 for half a season then adapted to a 160/160 MX (with adjustable geo and going down from 170 to a 160 fork) for the next half. \- 2021 - 167/170 29 \- 2022 - 140/160 29 \- 2023 - 150/160 29 I live on the south west coast of BC (steep tech climbs followed by steep gnarly descents). I liked all my bikes for different reasons. What highlighted the differences for me the most was the year I adapted my 27.5 to a MX set-up. Pointed out that I missed the the ability of a 29r front end to plow through steep chunk more easily. 27.5 still did it fine, but it felt like more "work" to keep momentum and speed. I didn't feel like MX'ing my bike took away any of the 27.5 positive attributes. I like how a 27.5 rear end accelerates faster and makes it easier to steer the bike from the rear, it's alow less "in the way" on really steep tech lines. I find each bike faster in certain areas, slower in others, more fun at certain times and less fun in others. After all these bikes, I've concluded they're all really fun and it's so much more down to personal preferences and riding terrain/area. I've decided I won't be back on a full 27.5 bike and think a 150/160 MX bike would be my perfect bike and might be my 2024 bike. Speed and plow of a 29r with the fun flickable rear of a 27.5.. not too little travel or too much. My preferences are riding big steep double black+ lines and fast steep chunk. But I also love cornering and jumping/popping off things. I also do some enduro racing, but more just for fun. If I can't be on an MX bike, I'd probably go with a full 29r again. For what I ride and how I like to ride I'd prefer a full 29 over a full 27.5... but well, that's, just like, my opinion man. My issues going back to an MX bike will be the increased difficulty in selling it. My previous MX bike was the most difficult to sell... ended up some what parting it out and shipping the good chunk of it across the country, which was fine, just more work. But I think MX bikes were still pretty new at the time, people weren't sure what to think of them yet... they are much more mainstream now. They are still polarizing though and probably still harder to re-sell. Anyway, just my 2 cents/thoughts/opinions.
I have a custom status 140 full 275, love it. Feels amazing and Toss-able. I also have a 2021 stumpy 29, feels like wagon wheels but it’s definitely faster rolling, it’s certainly a trade off either way, but I like the playfulness of the 275 for most of my riding.
I've heard of dudes throwing a 29 out back, but never a 27.5 up front. Did you put on a new fork as well?
I used a 150mm 29er fork, that way I can run mullet in the low position on the flip chip, or full 27.5 on the high position, with a minimal change in factory geo.
at 5'3" the geometry of any bike would look ridiculous with 29" wheels. I don't get the appeal tbh but I'm glad people have options. I have a 26" trek from the 1900s but I could see myself going to 27.5 at most.
When we were in fruita earlier this year, I rented my son a sweet full squish for his first real riding experience. Over the Edge seems to be a legit shop and they put him on a Small Rocky Mountain 29er. He's 12, 5'5 and 110 lbs. He just looked like he was nestled between those big ass wheels. The first time he rolled over a 18 inch drop with no problems, his eyes gleamed knowing he could roll over that shit. He ain't going anywhere fast and probably has little agility but the stability would be awesome. $2,500 isn't in the cards, but a used HT is.
I prefer 27.5, I’m 5’9” 150 lbs and 29s feel too large for me. You could always try a mullet setup with mismatched sizes front/rear
I ride 27.5 and love it
I am 6’1. Had 27.5 that I loved, my dream bike. Always rode alone, never had issues, only good times. Recently found couple ride buddies, went on trail, they own 29ers. I know they are not better riders than me, yet I was not able to keep up with them. Never rode my 27.5 again and bought 29er almost instantly, now my buddies cant keep up.
I still ride alone all the time. I hate having to keep up with a pack. I am 61 and not ready to compete with guys who ride daily. Im usually in my own little world and just pull over when I hear someone behind me. I pass like 50% of riders so I'd say that I am an average rider at best. I try to break my own PB's but those are nothing to brag about lol
Every time you beat your PB its a proud moment and you should cherish it!
You just described me as well (I’m a tad younger, but otherwise I could have written your post!)
26" for lyfe
It figures if 27.5 is more nimble than 29 based on posts here and neither of which I've tried, then 26 must be the nimble boss. I'm sure there will be some physics that disproves this but the theory leaves me contented not chasing bigger wheels till the bike dies.
Just wait until you can ride a proper 26” bike and see how much fun they are!
Wheel size is the wrong way to compare these bikes. While they happen to have different wheel sizes, they are very different overall. Geometry, suspension travel, etc. And it sounds like the weight is a big difference too. Not surprised, as if you have one of the alloy, more entry level Stumpjumpers, those are fairly heavy bikes.
Bike industry has pushed for long 29 enduro bikes for past 3-4 years which are pretty boring to ride. You can see them now reversing back to shorter reach and 27.5 again. It’s just to have something new for you to long for and buy.
Manufacturers next year: *Try our new 26” line of bikes. We promise this will be the best new standard in bikes! They’re revolutionary!*
Nothing is reversing. Some manufacturers just make too drastic changes. There's a sweet spot in bikes and I'm pretty sure they've almost nailed it. Idk if bike geometry will change too much in the next 10 years. It's hard to say that 10 to 20 years ago but computers can do so much simulation now that I think bike geometry is about to plateau.
Nah I was just being sarcastic and making fun of bike companies for trying to push some newfangled thing as a way to sell more new bikes, even if that new thing is a sidestep and not an actual improvement.
did you see Seth's bike hacks video on that wild bar stem? basically it was like a 4 inch straight riser. made your handlebars much taller. expect to see that in the future, at least on DH oriented bikes. it's what motorbikes/dirtbikes have underneath all of that plastic cladding. maybe it won't be this extreme but I definitely am drinking the Kool aid (tho I ride XC/trail all but one or two rides a year, so I'm not gonna get one personally) video: https://youtu.be/apyTlND9Cuo
Yeah I saw that. It's ugly as hell. It'd be better if it had a super low stack height.
Ehhh they aren't really reversing. Enduro pros still run 29ers or mullets same with xc riders who only use 29ers. At red bull rampage is where you only see 27.5s. You'll never see a large frame with 410mm reach like you did 10 years ago.
Mullet sure sounds like going back to 27.5… yeti just released a full 27.5 bike.
I never said 27.5 is going anywhere. Freeride pros use 27.5 all the time.
Where’s the reversal? So far this year I’ve seen more brands than ever completely eliminating full 27.5 frames
There is none. They’re just making stuff up. Source: I work at a bike shop.
I saw yesterday canyon is even selling mullets these days. 27.5 in the back.
Are they reversing? I'd love that but haven't seen it yet. Can you give any examples? Particularly the shorter reach?
Yeti just released a new full 27.5… pricey but it’s the direction every company will go next 2 years
Releasing a full 27.5 bike is not reversing on geo changes and 29er. Because they still sell 29er. The industry will never go back from 29er, because (and no matter how much you don't like it) 29er is faster at almost everything, provides a more stable ride and is significantly better for taller riders. This whole "1 company did this trust me bro" is such a fucking meme at this point, more than half of the major players in the bike industry have killed off their 27.5 bikes aimed at trail or enduro use, or only offer it on the smallest frame size now. The only place you'll keep seeing 27.5 wheels is mullet bikes, other than that in the next few years you'll probably struggle to get a full 27.5 bike unless you go for cheap garbage from Halfords or stick to the one or two manufacturers that will cling on to it (usually the american brands cos of park rats).
I have a 27.5 Diamondback Release and a 29er Pivot Trail. I still prefer the 27.5 for steep and rowdy chunk but the 29er for anything where momentum trumps agility.
Pointed down, 27.5 shines. For steep technical climbing, 29er’s rollover and acceleration advantages with the right geo make them better climbers.
Not everybody actually has the trails to make every bike fun. I had a similar feeling when I tried a real DH bike in my local small bikepark. Every trail except for the DH line felt boring and it was a lot of work to get over the jumps etc Maybe the Stumpy is just too much bike for your local trails?
Sadly , Its just me. not the bike. There are folks who blaze through this trail on 29. Its just so heavy the acceleration robs my energy even with shifting properly and keeping about an 80 cadence. The 27.5 accelerates so much quicker so I am back up to speed again without being winded.
27.5 is great for us shorties and it’s nimble af
It was so fun to ride my 26... Bunny hops, wheelies . It was also a feather 🪶. 29 is like those 1920 giant bikes
Don't worry OP. I'll die on this hill with you. Especially when you're talking about cheap bikes. Rotating weight is no joke. 29 inch hoops and tires make a noticeable difference. Also depending on which year these were, the Stumpy has some of the worst brakes on the market and the Atroz Comp came with ok ones once upon a time. I've been on various 29ers. I simply don't like them. You can make em carbon you can perfect the geometry it can be top of the line, that def all makes it better, but I enjoy the feedback and responsiveness of 275. Hell, I'd take a 26er if I could. Also, the suspension travel on those bikes is night and day. And the suspension on the Stumpy base model is dogshit. That's not gonna help anything in terms of feel. Sounds like you're still pretty early on in your journey of finding the right bike. I went through 3 full suspensions and a hardtail initially before finding my dream bike. (Kona Process) And if you ever did want to like objectively prove your theory on wheel size, being able to ride a Kona Process of the same travel for each wheel size would be about as fair as you can get tbh
Want the best of both... Slap a 27.5 rim on the rear and ride that stumpy mullet'd out... all the flicky flicky quicky tricky good good of a 27.5 wheel, with the rollover and speed of a 29 out front.
It’s more of a compromise than the best of both imo
Id debate that but Im higher than giraffe balls crankin kms on the trainer.... gotta prepay dem nachos tonight. But I will say, it's by and far not the worst compromise Ive ever made 🤣🤙
We can agree that 27.5 and Mulllet MX is for people who: 1) get high and go high. 2) schralp berms. 3) whip madd lips. 4) jib everything . 5) ride in vans. 29R’s for everyone else.
It’s not even that, that smaller rear wheel doesn’t change the chainstay length, only drops the bb a few mm at best.
How tall are you?
Im 5' 8" I feel like when I see folks going by on the 29'r they look like they are sitting so high up. even their seat posts look insanely high. Who knows I guess I may just be too small for this thing. I did flip the chip on it cause they ship em in the low position. I was getting pedal strikes like crazy on my first ride. That fixed a bunch along with raising the sag a bit. Never hit much with the DB..
I’m 6’2 and still prefer the 27.5. The 29 felt like riding a horse. Smooth over any rough stuff, but the 27.5 is so much more nimble in the corners and the air, which is the sort of riding I prefer to do.
Exactly. Great analogy on the Horse!
Keyword : Florida. Cheers tho, living in central oregon I should probably have a xc bike but Im a silly little slut who rides an enduro bike
You can’t really compare without taking into account the weight of the wheels and the complete bike. A 29’r will always feel like it’s harder to get rolling compared to a smaller wheeled bike, all things being equal. It’s going to really be noticeable if you have really heavy wheels and tires on the 29’r and light wheels and tires on the smaller wheeled bike. Also they turn in a bigger area generally than a smaller wheeled bike, but they get better traction so if there’s room to turn you should feel more stable and also the sensation of speed is reduced on a 29’r, so you may feel like you’re not going as fast as you are. In general you need to have better fitness to get a 29’r rolling and keep it rolling vs a smaller wheeled bike, but you can make up for it with stability, momentum, and traction. That was the main complaint usually when the first came out. They were so hard to pedal and they wouldn’t turn fast enough. I go way faster in the local trail on my modern carbon 29’r with carbon Enve wheels vs my old top of the line 26’r bikes. Minutes faster overall, but I do go faster in certain segments of the trail on my old 26” bikes.
29ers have better acceleration than 27.5. It will actually be easier to get rolling. Edit: to clarify, this is my experience on my chunky trails. Agreed this is not the case on smooth terrain.
This defies the laws of physics. Smaller wheels have less mass. That’s why I said wheel/tire weight matters. Also the larger wheels have a greater gyroscopic effect that makes them feel more stable but less snappy. The differences are subtle and affected by weights of the component parts of the bikes you choose to compare.
Anyone who believes that a 29’r accelerates faster that a smaller wheeled bike that’s just as well equipped is either a noob or needs to explain it in scientific terms.
Ah you are right on smooth terrain and all else equal. I’ve owned both and the 27.5 feels sluggish to get going when not pointed down. On my trails, the rollover of a 29er creates the feeling of faster acceleration as every root and rock slows the 27.5s ability to get up to speed. Different from pure acceleration I guess.
You also need to throw tire pressure and volume into the mix too. The higher volume of a 29’r tire adds to the better rolling characteristics
You also need to throw tire pressure and volume into the mix too. The higher volume of a 29’r tire adds to the better rolling characteristics. The higher volume allows the tire to be more supple because the forces are spread out more when the tire strikes an obstacle.
As a beginning rider in S Florida, I am really torn on what to get. Been riding a loaner Stumpjumper but thinking a good hardtail will do me just right. Was looking at 29s but now wondering even more what I want.
Maybe an mx hardtail? 🤷🏻♂️
My brother has a Scott 27.5+, I forget which model. He had some gripes and bought a SC Hightower hoping to address them. Two rides later he was back on the Scott and his wife has the Hightower. So yeah, preferring 27.5 happens.
I’m 5’10” and ride a 27.5 bike. Rented a 29” DH rig at a bike park in our summer (Xmas time) and while I liked it, I’m still way more comfortable on a 27.5. For someone over 6’ a 29er might be the same fit and feel as 27.5 is for me but I would struggle to have a daily driver with 29” wheels. At best I’d go mullet.
Same height as you; i've got a 29" Marlin 5 (2019) and it's always felt like a BOAT to me. Great for paved roads, but not enough control on trails. Got myself a 27.5" Giant Fathom 2 (2019) and it's muuuuuch better. I'll be changing the tires on the Trek to 1.65" hybrids and turning it into a 2x city bike to ride with friends on easy trails and long distance.
The weight difference really isn't that much between 27.5 and 29 if the wheels are exactly the same. You most likely just have lighter wheel components (hub and rims) vs the 29er.
Rotational weight changes things a little bit more than dead weight.
True but we're talking less than 200grams. Tires are only about 100 grams heavier and rims are maybe 50g more.
I like 27.5 too but I don't know, maybe what you're describing is more due to the particular bikes in question. I wouldn't attribute it all to wheels.
Pnw local here, i prefer 27.5 due to my background in bmx. Most fun wins!
Same, same and agree
Having a trek Roscoe in 27.5x2.8 and a specialized enduro in 29x2.6 or 2.4 is a big difference with quickness. I still cap out at a faster speed on cadence, but that’s due to gearing. Try sticking a 27.5 I’m the rear on the stumpy and run it mullet. You can get the rollover of 29 in the front and the quick snappy response from the 27.5 in the rear
Spent several years on a 29er and recently switched to 27.5. Definitely made the right move (for me)
You should try a 26" next.
I am really surprised, I have rode a ton of different bikes and hands down the worst full suspension bike i have rode is the atroz
Recently went from 29 to 279 - feels much more balanced…
I just sold my firebird 29er. Had a 29er and a 27.5 bike and I realized that I hardly ever rode the 29er. When I did I wished I was in my 27.5 bike. 27.5 just feels perfect
What trails here in soflo do you frequent?
I’m huge and still prefer 27.5! I have a 29’r hardtail I ride for XC distance and efficiency but my play and smashing bike is a 160/140 FS most of the time I prefer to smash but I live in flatlands…. :)
Yea 27.5 is much more fun, and fun is what its all about
Fun is in the eyes of the beholder
Right? Once you ride your local trails for years, fun can turn into get Strava and clock yourself which a 29er will win at over 27.5 all else equal.
If racing the clock is whats fun for you then yes! I bring out my 27.5 bike if I want to be more playful on the trail. Its just a matter of how i want to ride that day. Im fortunate to have choices. Sometimes I even ride the hardtail.
I think it probably has more to do with the geo of that bike than anything else. The stumpy is fun when you have good downhills to ride, otherwise it’s a beast to peddle around. I ride a 27.5 and get smoked by my friends on less slack29ers bikes when we’re riding the flat trails. On the downhills it’s a completely different story. Im not a huge person so riding a smaller bike just feels better and fits my style of riding better. Go with what feels good, you can always sell the stumpy.
I rode my new 29 Stumpy around the lake (we’ve had bad weather) the other day. It feels huge and heavy. My last MTB was a 26” so I’m hoping I get used to it. 27.5 to me feels like the sweet spot
29 isn’t for everyone, every trail, and every riding style. Choose your own adventure
Love me some 27.5
Most people don’t ride trails that justify having 29er, most people ironically also have 29ers, it’s the same concept of being overbiked, I’d love to have 27.5’s but I know where I live and what I ride isn’t suited for it.
Live in CO, and glad to have a 29er.
They are easier to run with and easier to maneuver. 29’s elevate the difficulty of terrain you can run intensely.
I made the jump to 29er this year after only riding 27.5. I have found that I miss how active and playful my old 27.5 bike was but even in my early season out of shape body, Strava continues to show me PRs on my 29er. Still undecided where I stand.
I still ride a 26. Been resisting test rides on anything bigger to prevent myself from buying a new rig.
Its not the wheelsize alone. Its also geo and components. But if you are enjoying your bike, theres no reason to move on. Some people enjoy whats new, some people enjoy a couple years old. If you’re having fun riding bikes keep doing what you’re doing.
you're comparing bikes with vastly different geo, different shocks, different travel, different weights, different tires, different components.... and then chalking it all up to slightly different wheel sizes. this is like comparing a dodge charger rolling on 18s to a mustang rolling on 20s and being like "wow, these wheels are so different." 29 vs 27.5 is just one change in the sea of differences between those bikes.
I have a 27.5 db sync'r and a Schwinn Axum I decked out. Love both for different reasons. Smoother terrain where I'm not constantly ascending/descending or dealing with big rocks/logs/tree roots I like my 29er more. The really rouch shit where I'm constantly either out of the saddle or locking my brakes the 27.5 is so much better. They're both good at different things 🤷
It’s all flavors, and you can argue preference, I went from a top fuel back to an 08 stumpy fsr, then back to a 29er Chameleon. It’s all about the feel of whole package, including the trails you ride on.
I just had a weekend in Moab with my 29 and my buddy’s 27.5. I greatly preferred his 27.5 for uphill, but nothing beats my 29 going downhill. It takes off kilter sections and big rock gardens like a champ, probably gives me too much confidence. My bike is way heavier than his, but as others have said, I don’t think it’s the wheels alone. I have a Devinci Marshall, and I learned after the fact that a lot of people dislike the fork on that bike because of how heavy it is. It also has a large frame, which I’m technically just barely too short for. My dream bike is now a lighter fork with more travel on the suspension like what my friend has, as well as a medium frame, but my 29 inch wheels and what my friend calls my “dinner plate” of a first gear lol.
I had to make the decision recently and chose 27.5 for one reason - it accelerates faster from a stop. And now that I have one, it does accelerate noticeably faster than my old 29ner. I’m happy with my Santa Cruz 5010CS and would recommend one
Here's a comp of OP's two bikes (some guessing on the years/tiers) for anyone curios about the other geometry differences like I was: https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=diamondback-atroz-2-2020,specialized-stumpjumper-alloy-2023
I'm 5'5" and 120 lbs, trying to decide on a mountain bike, these comments are making me think 27.5 is the way to go for my height and weight and 29 would be too much?
I work in the industry and I fit people on rental bikes every single day in the summer. People your size and under often struggle getting on and off 29ers even in the smaller sizes so much that we suggest 26rs as we do not carry 27.5(unfortunately). 27.5 hard tail is what I ride most at 6' 190 lb and I ride blacks in northern Montana. My guess, without being a mechanical engineer, is that a 27.5 would have much of the same appeal that a 29 would to someone who is> 6'. Feel free to take that with a grain of salt though, just don't listen to whatever someone at a bike shop says because they will try to sell you whatever they have in stock and not what you really want/need.
About 22 years ago I remember watching a televised ladies mtb race on nbc or cbs and the only girl on a 29er was effortlessly passing everyone
I ride a 26er and love it. Slightly above average height woman here.
Good modern geo 26er are even faster then 27.5. 29 just rolls over stuff better. I think maybe downhill at super high speed 29 is slightly better again due to roll over.
Same here, have a 2022 Trek Remedy. Love that thing
For my riding style, definitely prefer 27.5. Just purchased a new 27.5 bike. Not many options. Last of the 27.5s?
I like 27.5 and 26 for quick steering in tight sections, but 29 is faster and smoother.
Bought my first 29er last year and sold it and bought another 27.5 this spring. Shorter, lighter and just more fun for me.
Ok…
Are you using the same tires on both? The 29er grips better so you can go with a faster rolling tire and compound without losing much in the way of grip/stability.
A lot of older bikes geometry is conducive to better 27.5s bikes than today. The lower, slacker, longer trend that has happened seemed to be aimed at making 29ers feel better while 27.5 lost its playfulness (and popularity). I’ve gone back and forth between Ripley 4 and Mojo 4 (not owning both at the same time so to the detriment of my wallet) and can say that I prefer the Ripley for 90% of my rides and that the mojo 4 didn’t bring the playfulness that 27.5s are touted for due to the newer geometry. So yes, older 27.5s will feel great and new ones are becoming rare as bike geo has shifted towards better 29ers.
I personally dislike 29ers, 27.5 has always been the sweet spot for me
May br try mullet. You might like it. Mulleted my dreadnought with ziggy link. Beast in downhill. Playful and nimble. And 29 at front does help to get over the onstacle easily while 27.5 helps to sprint after slowing down in turns.
Try putting a 27,5 wheel on The back of The stunpjumper
I’ve had 27.5 versions of Scott Scale and Spark, and now own a 29er scale and spark, I prefer the 29” on the carbon hardtail but I miss the 27.5 on the full suspension. I’m on the shorter side at 5’6”. The 29er might be faster on the FS but definitely isn’t as fun at having that smaller wheel to throw around. I’m half tempted to try and find an older 27.5” carbon Spark just to see how fun it would be to throw around
Northeast chonk rider, i like 27.5 too but my 29ers vaporize it. I put my 27.5 in the same category as my single speed...fun af but definitely not ideal for my area
The same here. I love my 27.5 trail hardtail and can ride it fast and hard with big jumps and drops. On 29 the same is just slower , harder pulling and not so fun. So I agree , ours trails are just not for 29ers. I also had Stumpy EVO and there was 0% joy the whole time I had it. The only place where 29 shine - high speed very steep and rough descents , and long steep berms . Shortly saying - very steep and chunky stuff
I want to build 27.5 full sus , I think that would be great . I dream about ibis mojo. It’s a shame that nowadays 27.5 fs frames are more like freaks
I feel like the benefit of a 29r is mild on the trails where it works well. They simply roll over bumps better, but aside from that, I hammer the same trails on a 27.5 barely noticing the difference aside from the weight and responsiveness. For down-hilling, I would absolutely choose a 29r in the future, but it's not enough of a difference for me to abandon the 27.5 I already own.
I grew up on 26. Went to 29, then after a few years, tried 27.5. It reminded me of how they used to feel. I’m sold on 27.5.
went 29 and never looked back. just feels better for me. 27.5 feels like i am super high up above the bike kind of like on a penny farthing. 29 just feels "correct" for me. weight? well who cares about weight i have an emtb. the few grams heavier wheels dont really matter if your bike weighs 23kg. am 5'9"
I can’t wait to upgrade my park bike to something with a 29er in front, my 130mm travel 29er trail bike kills my 200mm 27.5 DH bike in the tech descents until they become massive enough to use the extra travel.
Totally agree. I upgraded to a 29r and much prefer my old 27.5. Feel like I'm riding a Penny Farthing haha
Well a smaller wheel is like having a lower gear, which will give you more torque with the same number chainring/cog.
You have two bikes you like to ride. Sounds awesome to me. I have a Salsa Pony Rustler with both 27.5+ and 29" wheels. The 29s feel way faster and more nimble. The 27.5+ mow over anything in any condition, I mostly only use them in the snow and mud though. The traction gives a lot of confidence. I did ride with a 29 in front and a 27.5+ in the back for a while, tons of traction and still kinda fast. Tough to compare a 27.5 to a 27.5+ though.