27.5 vs. 29er Mountain Bikes – Which To Choose
Russell Franklin - November 12, 2022Do you prefer mountain bikes with 27.5- or 29-inch wheels? Here’s what you need to know about 27.5″ vs. 29″.
All it takes to start a war is one and a half inches. That’s the difference in diameter between 27.5″ and 29″ wheels. It can have an impact on mountain bike purchases, turn friends into foes, and stoke online debates.
Main Differences: 27.5 Inch Mountain Bike Wheels
If you haven’t figured it out by now, the wheel’s diameter, which is measured in inches, is 27.5, making it significantly smaller than a 29er wheel. The bike rides, handles, and more have all changed as a result of the change in wheel size.
The 27.5 wheel has a well-earned reputation for being a superb balance of speed and agility. The bike is simpler to manoeuvre, accelerate, and turn because the 27.5 wheel is smaller than a 29, but larger than a 26. It’s actually simpler to do with a smaller wheel size, though none of this precludes doing it on a 29er. By shortening the chain stay, creating a shorter stem, and improving the rear suspension for responsiveness, bikes made for the 27.5 wheel size take advantage of the characteristics of this size.
Please note that a lot of bikes are built to work with either wheel size. It’s crucial to consult Bikes Palm Beach before making that decision and converting the bike.
Main Differences: 29 Inch Mountain Bike Wheels
After reading the last paragraph, you might be thinking, “why would If 27.5 really is the best, I’ll take anything.” The 29er can shatter your paradigm in this situation. However, for riders who prioritize speed above all else, the 29er is where it’s at. Some riders find the most enjoyment whipping the bike around and popping wheelies.
The 29er wheel has a larger contact patch with the ground due to its larger diameter. When moving quickly, the 29er also rolls quite a bit faster. Although a 29-inch wheel accelerates more slowly than a 27.5-inch wheel, it can maintain speed because a 29-inch wheel has more sophisticated rollover capabilities. Due to the larger contact patch with the ground, this trait is also helpful when navigating difficult terrain. When all of these advantages are combined, a fast mountain bike is the result. The options are plentiful whether you’re racing XC or enduro.
27.5 Vs. 29er Mountain Bikes: Acceleration
27.5 in. wheels have faster acceleration while 29ers are more efficient on longer rides.
Larger wheels slow down more slowly than smaller wheels do. The distribution of the wheel’s weight is primarily to blame for this. Larger wheels have a higher rotational mass and slower acceleration as a result of the weight of the spokes, rims, tubes, and tires being farther from the wheel’s center. A rolling object will roll more quickly and easily if the rotational mass is reduced.
27.5″: Faster acceleration is often cited as one of the biggest benefits of a 27.5″ wheel when compared to a 29″ wheel. Wheels that accelerate fastergive a bike a snappy, responsive feel that many riders desire.
29″: Wheels that accelerate slowertake longer to get up to speed, possibly giving the bike an unresponsive feel. Larger wheels, however, are actually more effective for longer rides than smaller wheels because they need less effort to maintain their momentum once they reach top speed.
27.5 Vs. 29er Mountain Bikes: Traction
Because of their greater surface area (aka “contact patch”), 29 in. wheels have better traction (when comparing comparable tires).
27.5 in.: Thesewheels provide very good traction and are good for most purposes. Your choice of wheel size may ultimately depend more on factors like acceleration, weight, and fit.
29 in.: Thesewheels, with their larger contact patch,may be your best choiceif grip on slippery rocks and roots is a top priority.
27.5 Vs. 29er Mountain Bikes: Attack Angle
29ers roll over objects more easily.
The angle created when a round wheel contacts a square object is known as the attack angle. The wheel can roll over the object more easily, so a shallower angle is preferable.
27.5 in. wheelsdon’t roll over objects as easily as 29ers, but they are still very capable. If you plan to ride mostly on smooth trails, consider that. 5 in. wheels will serve you just fine.
29 in. wheels have a slightly shallower attack angle than 27.5 in. wheels, making them better at rolling up and over any logs, roots and rocks that you’ll encounter on the trail. Larger wheels give many riders more confidence.
27.5 Vs. 29er Mountain Bikes: Weight
27.5 in. wheels are lighter.
A heavier wheel cannot be avoided; it is a simple fact. Bikes with wheels that measure 29 inches can weigh up to 2 lbs. more than bikes with 27.5 in. wheels due to more wheel material and more tire rubber.
Your bike’s weight may or may not matter a lot, depending on the type of riding you do.
If you’re a casual rider: Between 27.5 in. and 27.5 in. wheels and 29 in. wheels may not be your biggest concern. Traction and attack angle may be more important to you.
If you’re competitive or go on long-distance cross-country rides: You’ll probably be trying to lose weight. Although it’s not the only option, choosing a smaller wheel can help you lighten your load. Frames, handlebars, seatposts, and rims made of ultralight carbon fiber are also options.
Another excellent way to lighten up your wheels is to set them up tubeless. In addition to reducing the weight of the bike overall, tubeless wheels also accelerate more quickly due to their lower rotational mass. They also have the added advantage of allowing for lower tire pressure for improved traction.
27.5 Vs. 29er Mountain Bikes: Maneuverability (frame Flex)
27.5 in. bikes are more maneuverable.
Due to the longer frame that comes with the larger wheel size, a 29-inch bike is more flexible. This may make a bike feel harder to control in tight turns.
If you regularly ride tight, twisty trails, you might prefer the feel of a 27.5 in. bike. 27.5 in. wheels retain a lot of the snappy feel of the original 26 in. size, while maintaining many of the benefits that come with a larger wheel.
29ers roll over obstacles more easily, so you may find you don’t miss the snappy feel of smaller wheels, as you’re able to go up and over rocks and roots rather than trying to quickly maneuver around them.
27.5 Vs. 29er Mountain Bikes: Fit
29ers are often better suited to taller riders.
The geometry of a bike frame is significantly more affected by the larger 29 in. wheels than by the 27.5 in. wheels. Those who are shorter than five feet, in particular, may find it challenging because of this. 6 in.) to find a 29er that fits well. If you can, test drive both wheel sizes.
taller riders, especially those over 6 feet. tall, may prefer the feel of a bike with 29 in. wheels. But a bicycle with 27.5 in. wheels can also fit tall riders well, so decide where your priorities are related to acceleration, traction, attack angle and weight first.
Does Height Affect Wheel Size?
In general, no; if you’ve been told otherwise, you’ve been misinformed. There isn’t a precise measurement that dictates whether you should be riding a 27.5- or 29-inch mountain bike. Unless you are exceptionally tall or short, height shouldn’t be a concern. The choice of wheel size should depend on your riding style and how it feels to you for the vast majority of us mountain bikers out there.
Which Mtb Wheel Is Superior, 27.5 Or 29 Inches?
The nimble qualities of 27.5-inch wheels essentially produce a playful and responsive bike, perfect for freestyle mountain bikers where manoeuvrability is of the utmost importance. The ultimate partner for high speed and control, a 29er tire is ideal for mountain bike racers looking to push the boundaries of their sport thanks to its stable characteristics.
In light of this, it should come as no surprise that there is no single, unambiguous solution to the argument between 27.5 and 29 inch wheels. Each has a purpose, and which size is best for you will ultimately depend on your riding style and preferred trails.
With more and more riders adopting 29er tires, the mountain biking industry is clearly moving in that direction. Heck, some manufacturers practically no longer produce their 27.5 inch models.
But is this merely a fad? Do people really just change because it’s the hip thing to do?
Even though manufacturers are clearly emphasizing 29ers, 27.5 wheels are unquestionably still relevant. The smaller wheel still has a sizable following, and it is one that isn’t leaving anytime soon!
I can only advise you to make an honest choice. A 29er will most likely be the best option for you if you enjoy fast, gnarly descents where stability and control are paramount. The smaller 27.5-inch wheel, on the other hand, might be your match if you want to shred the park with your friends, sending huge jumps and slapping berms.
Which Wheel Size Should You Purchase?
It does appear that 29-inch wheels will be more prevalent on the bike shop floor than 27.5-inch wheels. In fact, 29-inch wheels are the fastest on everything from hardtails to downhill bikes because geometry and bike design have gotten so good and sophisticated.
However, smaller frame sizes frequently come with 27.5-inch wheels, while larger frame sizes typically come with 29-inch wheels. A longer bike can be very difficult for larger riders to maneuver, while smaller riders might prefer a bike with a smaller wheel size for a more proportional ride.
The trail feel and playfulness of the smaller wheel size is another benefit. The 27.5-inch wheel can help you navigate trail features like tight berms, numerous switchbacks, and tight turns around trees that are common on some types of terrain. The 27.5-inch wheels can also be more entertaining if you enjoy throwing the bike around off jumps.
We’d always suggest a 29er for cross-country riders because of how quickly and effectively they can cover a lot of distance. The advantage of a 29er for trail or enduro riders is speed and stability at high speeds. On high-speed maneuvers as well as in rough rock gardens or root areas, the rider will feel more in control.
Simply put, a 27.5-inch bike has a snappier trail feel while a 29er offers more speed, efficiency, and stability. In other words, unless you are particularly tall or short, the choice of wheel size largely depends on the trail you ride and how you personally like the ride to feel.
The Future Of Mountain Bike Wheel Sizes
I wouldn’t be surprised if bigger wheels start to become commonplace if history is any indication of what the future will bring.
Despite my reservations, I think this could work.
A bigger wheel size will undoubtedly perform even better than a 29er at high speeds, but where do we draw the line?
Monster trucking is great for getting over obstacles, but there has to be a limit where the drawbacks become too great and interfere with the rider experience.
I’d like to believe that this isn’t the way things are going and that the mullet will be the mountain bike of the future. A single bike that is excellent for everything makes perfect sense to me as a mountain biker who enjoys all facets of riding.
Final Thoughts
What lies ahead? Based on current trends, I think in the coming years we’ll continue to have a decent selection of 27.5″, 29″, and mullet mountain bikes. However, 27.5″ will become a more niche wheel size while 29″ and mullet bikes will become the “standard.” The good news for pure 27.5″ lovers is that this might decrease the prices and increase availability (pandemic bike shortage anyone?) for pre-owned 27.5″ bikes and 27.5″ specific components like forks, wheels, and tires.
Currently, I do all of my riding on 29″ bikes. For trail riding in general and cross-country racing, I have a mid-travel quiver-killer bike. My enduro race bike is also a 29″ bike, but based on the results As I watch professional downhill racing, I’m genuinely interested in trying a mullet setup.
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