27.5 vs 29: Does it really matter?

[FastforaSlowGuy]

I’m a MTB noob. 25 years of road riding and maybe 100 miles total on trail in those years. I’m demoing some bikes and curious if those who ride a lot of trail notice a real difference between these two wheel sizes. I’m a little more comfortable mounting and dismounting the 27.5 because I’m not super tall. But I lack the skill at present to feel whether the larger wheels are rolling over stuff noticeably better. I’m sure I’ll get there but that’ll happen after i buy and get more time on trail. I’d appreciate input from others.


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[Jaybee]

For chunky terrain, I both notice and appreciate the 29” wheel. But I’m also tall enough that there aren’t any weird geometry conpromises that you sometimes find in smaller bikes. If you like 27.5, ride it. After a season or two of experience, you may try a 29 and find it fits your riding style and terrain.

[rinconryder]

If you are doing mostly cross country type riding and or have challenging, rocky terrain, 29 all the way. 27.5is good as well it better for more downhill type stuff. IMHO

[Mikej]

Seems like. 27.5 is all on sale.

[JAGI410]

29ers killed 26ers and then the 27.5ers killed the 29er and now the 29er is coming back to kill the 27.5ers.

I've owned and ridden both, and prefer 29er. There's certainly a difference in momentum when up to speed.

[ptourkin]

I ride small bikes too. I'm back to using 29ers for most trail stuff and 27.5+ in the sand where the wider tires benefit me. Keep trying both and ride what you like.

[sparky33]

The performance differences between 27.5 and 29 are subtle enough that rider size is a legit consideration wrt to which wheel diameter is best.

If you are not large and feel strongly about 27.5, then go with it.

[Tony]

YT does a good job breaking down the difference between 27.5" and 29''. I fits with my riding experience having rode both YT's 27.5 and 29'' race versions.

https://us.yt-industries.com/products/bikes/trail/

[rkhatibi]

I'm 5'6". 27.5, 140mm of travel, coupled with recent long and slack geometry works really well for me. Definitely an adjustment learning to let the bike do the work and providing more/different input in turns. That's the hardest part IMO if you're just coming back to MTB or picking it up for the first time. Worth taking a class or two or at least following a skilled friend's line till it begins to make sense. Also good to have someone help you with suspension setup as well.

fwiw I'd test or rent both. Rumor is that 29ers have caught up in geometry this year though I suspect 27.5 still makes the most sense in Sm and maybe Med sizes.

[NHAero]

I ride almost exclusively on Martha's Vineyard, where trails are not technical but are twisty, with fairly frequent deadfalls. The 29er rolls over more easily than smaller wheeled bikes, but is less agile in the twisties. Since we don't have the need for long travel rear suspension, that reason that some people choose 27.5 is not applicable. It seems that the folks making recent 27.5 purchases are going for the 2.8 - 3.0 inch tires, which begins to approach the rolling diameter of a 29 with 2.2s, and they say that is giving them more traction. But I'm not feeling traction limited running Maxxis Ikon 2.2s, so that wouldn't be a reason for 27.5 for me. I'm 5’9” and have no issue riding a 29er. One thing to watch for - there isn't consistency in sizing between manufacturers. I was looking for a used bike three years ago, either an Ibis Ripley or a Pivot 429C. The Pivot in a Small is roughly the same size as a Medium Ripley, so do look carefully at how they fit you.

[FastforaSlowGuy]

Thanks all. Sizing does seem very inconsistent. I grabbed a demo Pivot Les 29 in Medium and it’s got a much bigger stand over than a Medium 429 also by Pivot. I’ll keep trying stuff.


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[Lionel]

I am very tall and found all the 29er I had or tried feel like very big bikes that do not turn very well.