Mixed Wheel Vs 29" Mountain Bike Wheels | The Wheel Size Debate Still Continues
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2021
- It's been over 3 years since our last wheel size debate video, because...well, we thought it had been settled! But now a new question has arisen. How about mixed wheels? The new Orbea Rallon comes with a spare linkage in order to swap a 29er rear wheel out for a smaller 650b (or 27.5). But why would you want to do this? Is it faster? Is it more fun? How does it change the handling? Neil is putting in some laps at Bikepark Wales to find out.
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Yes, it seemed that for a moment there the bike industry had settled on making smaller size bikes with smaller wheels whilst reserving 27.5 wheels for fun, playful trail bikes. This left 29 inch wheels for race-driven disciplines like downhill, enduro and cross country. Want to go fast? Choose 29". Want to have fun? Go for 27.5". But now there's an option to have both 🤯
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I only ride uphill, so I run a TRUE mullet, 29 out the back, 26 at the front.
😅😅 classic
Mad lad 😂
Classic 69er... 🤔
I thought mountain bikers use cars or ski lifts to get uphill.
Do you shuttle the downhill portions?
Love my mullet- sits into corners faster/easier, and really helped with my jumping and manual ability vs the full 29er. Not covered in the video but the way it accelerates up techy climbs is unreal and quite often not spoken about. Only place I'd want full 29er back on is if I was riding a lot of higher speed, groomed bike park downhill where fast rock gardens or braking bumps were common- you lose the monster truck rollover feeling and the rear hangs up a bit.... But for playing and enjoying regular trail riding, mullet wins.
Great explanation/review. What bike are you running? I've heard about the better technical climbing of MX setup from others as well. That's a pretty big positive, especially since the monster truck roller over thing in rock gardens seems to be more "feel" than actual speed loss issue.
What is your bike man!?
Makes sense. I suppose there's a reason that off-road/adventure motorbikes have a big wheel up front and a smaller wheel in the back.
Saw mullets on redbull rampage. 27.5 front, 26 back. They're legit and fun.
That's how I have my old (2013) V-10 set up and it's a blast!
I do run that too on my 2004 UMF DirtKick. 26 rear, 27,5 front, 120mm fork, low rise 780mm bar, 70mm low angle stem, dropper post.
Fun bike. :) I "name" it as a "down-country/mini-trail" bike.
Remember Rampage is mostly groomed vs natural chunk and roots you might find on trails or freeriding, so Im thinking 26 rear may tend to kicked around or hung up some for most of us - no?
I‘m happy with 29. Doesn’t make a difference with my riding abilities and I can use up the half-worn front tires on the rear.
Agreed
Doing the same
Good point about extending the use of one tyre!
@Josh Allen yall wipe yet?
@Josh Allen You'll likely get you arse buzzed with the rear wheel before that! JK 😉
And I’m still having fun on the 26 ers
Me to 😂 but I do want to switch to 27,5
Me too! But I've been thinking about trying a 27.5 front. The fork I threw on my bike last year can take it so it wouldn't be terribly expensive.
I miss my Rocky Mountain Slayer 26er! I was so nimble and explosive on it.
@@agrsk8r Go for it! I run my UMF DirtKick so a while ago too. It is fun. :) Just probably will be necessary to get a lower stem/bar.
You would have a better choice in tyres as well. I was thinking about doing the same
If I have the choice I'm always picking the mullet. Ridden all wheel sizes. The main problem with the 29" rear wheel is that it's so high. So when you are hucking something you can't bring your rear as low. I've had a couple of close calls on my 29" bike as I've touched it and almost flipped over.
Bingo. I've got a short inseam, so I absolutely need all the space I can get between my ass and the rear tire. No way I'll ever buy a bike with a 29er in the rear... 27.5 is big enough
Same to me with 83 cm inseam and 175 cm height. 29 in the rear works great in fast and shaped areas. But when it becomes steep, technical and slower I have more space to move with 650b in the rear. So for a do-it-all I would go mullet or full 650b. But a 29 wheel ist rolling very well and so the mixture seems to be perfect. I've got no experiences with all mountain riding on natural trails up and downhill. Very interested in how this works?! Guess with the right geo it should work and be fun. Anyone can answer?
Definitely depends on height, riding style , and terrain
I've definitely had my 29er wipe my ass
Interesting point. I've never had this issue and I lover 29ers (wouldn't go for anything else), but I am a lanky guy, so it makes sense.
I like Neil's honesty. That he expected to prefer 29 all round and was surprised that he found he preferred mixed. I expect that his decision would be validated as he gets used to the new set up.
Spoiler alert**
Why shouldnt he honesty? Thats what the Test is about 😅
Great video, excellent insights, amazing riding!
I think we often miss the biggest issue in the wheel size debate: the size of the rider. I'm only 5'7" and 148 lbs so the 27.5 wheel size is perfect for me. Anything with a 29 is just making the bike bigger when that's not something that I want as a rider. I completely understand how the 29 is a great innovation for larger riders. I just think GBMN might think all riders are large riders that want the largest possible wheels on their bikes. BTW, Red Bull Rampage riders last week were all on 27.5 or 26/27.5 mullets.
I don‘t ride at rampage 😁
and the longest travel
Dude I’m 6”1 and 27.5 with tyres is huge, the wheel with tyres is far bigger than 27.5, 29er’s are just oversized and make the bike less utility and more ground hog. On a road bike 29er is great for speed and efficiency but on a enduro I just think 27.5 is way more fun and more than large enough for me.
I ride mullets, and the biggest reason is that it's harder for my butt to catch the rear wheel on a steep descent. There are some other minor advantages, but this is by far the biggest one. And this is why I think mullets will never fall out of vogue.
They aren't going anywhere.
Completely agree
I honestly feel like it is a height thing. I never even get close to hitting my bum on the tyre because I'm lanky. Wheel sizes will probably start to coincide with different bike sizes.
@@Bozza36 Could be, I'm 189cm and will rarely scrub a 29" back wheel. But when I do, it's at the outmost inconvenient times (very very steep sections and/or drops).
I’m on a 29er , I’ve got short legs long torso and ride a larger size frame than must people my height .
I buzz my arse a lot , but not to the point where it destroys my ride ,
But in saying that I’m probably a prime candidate for someone that is suites to a mullet , love to try one .
Mullet forever. I'm 6'3 and can ride a full 29er easily but as Neil said, the mullet feels so much better.
You should keep the wheels different, so other people on the trail notice your cool mullet.
And pump them up in the carpark so people notice your shiny track pump.
Once the Santa Cruz Bronson and the Evil Insurgent went Mullet I knew I had no choice. It was the decision I was thinking about and Santa Cruz made it for me.
I 100% love the HIGHLY IMPROVED corning of 27.5 in back with the roll over of the 29er infront!!!
I had a Trek 69er back in 2010, loved it until it got stolen from my garage
Your garage 😳 the world we live in
i love 27.5 and im never gonna change, im quiet tall with 186cm but 29 just not for me
Coming from a 29er, I have definetely noticed the same differences as you on the mullet. I feel quicker in corners with the mx wheels and that gives me much more confidence to go faster elsewhere on the trail. I also feel like the bike is easier to control in the air. Nice video.
this largely depends on bikes. I have a 27.5 Tues and a Meta AM 29 and I ride the same bike park (mountain creek) and frequently I set PRs on the Meta on tracks that are very corner heavy.
I'm also 5'7"
Just picked up the newest issue of MTB Action where they test mix wheels from Mullet Cycles. After getting back into the sport after almost 20yrs this was a new concept to me and was asking myself, “why?” Thank you for this video and also thank you to everyone leaving comments. It was hugely informative and my question was answered.
Screw the wheel sizes, I want that mini ratchet set👀
Anyone able to ID the rachet set?
@@traildogisla I think it's from topeak, looks like they do some nice tidy little sets
Neil,
Great video, there’s a time and a place for both! I find the mullet on my specialize levo during winter time is confidence inducing. During the summertime I don’t mind running 20 Niners. Coming from a background of downhill racing on snow skis, Enduro motorcycle racing, I really like charging downhill. The Mullet works for me!
What’s old is new again. Mixed wheel sizes had some popularity in the mid-80s. My first “real” MTB was an C’dale SM700 with a 26”Fx24”R.
Depends on the bike and terrain. I've been mixing wheel sizes for years. Currently have a Vendetta with a 650b x 2.8 and 29 x 2.6 front. I sometimes use the same combo in my Hightower. Both give massive traction and greater protection from water bars and riding through rock. Both take a b+ or 29 wheel.
I have 1000 miles on my mulleted Ibis Mojo HD5 and I love it. Corners quicker than a 29er, easier to move the back wheel around, more butt to wheel clearance, and I feel it's easier to pop the front end of the bike up. Doesn't feel like the back wheel is getting held up on chunkier terrain at all. No complaints yet and I plan on getting another mullet for my next bike! Can't wait until the bike industry starts to embrace mixed wheel sizes a bit more.
Yay another mojo enthusiast. I picked up a ridden hard but solid mojo SL and am rebuilding and painting it the way I want it. I'm strongly considering putting a 29er up front and mulleting her out. I'm mostly targeting downhill and aggressive trail riding wand want a snappy feel but figured the 29 tire and fork would be more forgiving on my back and give me better front end grip in corners. Any other recommendation considering the DW link on the mojos to take into account?
I have 2007 Trek 69er SS that I absolutely love and will never get rid of, because it’s like riding a bmx bike it handles amazing and is really fun to climb with! The original mullet bike!!
I’m an old motocross racer. The mixed wheel and eagle grip shift have me feeling like the old days. I’m also 5’9” with kinda short legs so getting rid of the tire buzz, the improved handling on steep rock rolls, cornering and jumping improvements all work for me.
Me too Andy
I’ve been running my liteville 301 with 27.5 x 2.6 DHF front and 26 x 2.8 DHR and loving it!
Love the 80s "montage" sound track on the Mullet section :D
Nice to see that Neil agrees with mullet wheels!
I run an old UMF DirtKick frame from 2004 as a mullet.
Tapered 120mm fork for 27,5" front wheel, 26" rear wheel, 780mm low rise bar, 70mm low angle stem, dropper post.
For my 178cm and 72kg it is a fun bike, both up-, and downhill.
The thing with going mullet on a 29er? Unless you change the rear triangle? You won't get the main benefits of the small wheel in back.... a short chainstay...
If your going mullet? You really should just be adding a big wheel and fork to a 27.5 bike
I ordered a Guerilla Gravity mullet Megatrail. Should be shipping out any day now. Can't wait to ride it.
Well done mate and thank you very much for the informative video. BTW, great riding! Would like to see the bike comparison between and Orbea E bike versus the Specialized equivalent.
Please do a comparison of a 27.5 frame bike and testing it out in mullet form since it now raises the BB and slackens.
I understand people are upset over another wheel set up, but the more time you spend on a mullet the better it feels. It takes time to get comfortable with the different wheel sizes but once you get it dialed in you'll love it .
Great video Neil especially as I am just about to try a mullet set up on a 2017 Trek Slash which I want purely for uplift venues . After watching this review I'm quietly confident my experimenting will be a pleasant surprise.
I've been riding a mixed wheel bike for almost a year now. At 5'8" in the gnar I really appreciate the smaller wheel back there.... for most riders, it's more about moving from a 27" bike up to a mixed wheel bike rather than riders on 29er's mover down to mixed wheels....
That's exactly the position I'm in. I'm the same height and debating whether to go full 29. I ride the tech/gnar of the North Shore.
Love it!! Mullet is the future.... I love my new bronson and I am really glad to hear you echo my own thoughts on ride feel.
Love my mullet, defo feel I’m able to get my rear end out that much more.ride a Specialised status nice and slack with crazy short chain stay.
Loving my Status!
I have the Status 160 and absolutely love the bike. The short chainstay makes the bike so maneuverable and playful. The smaller rear wheel accelerates quicker than a 29 and stops faster as well. Very fun bike!
@@SkylarRace completely agree such a do it all bike status squad
@@mtbmadness3442 lol there’s lots of us here I guess… the value is unbeatable
@@mtbmadness3442 I love my Status 160 too. Immediately swapped the Butchers for Assegai / DHR II though :D
Super grateful y'all keep working in that muck on our behalf. Cheers.
Fantastic video!
I have a mullet and it is my choice. I love not dealing with tire-in-crack.
Surprising result! I actually went the other way and decided to stay 29'er after testing. I'm only 177cm with a big bike too, 2021 Trek Slash M/L. The mullet (w/mino chip in high) was fun but the increased pedal strikes and some looser moments scared me. As a one-bike-guy the scales tipped towards honing my skills on the smooth/flowy/efficient style of 29er and just focussing on that. I've still got the little wheel though. It's a different skill which makes switching between them fun if I get the time.
Agreed. I'm the same height and tend to hover over the back wheel (clearance has been an issue) but I like the "steam roller" effect of the large wheel up front. 👍
I converted my 2021 YT Jeffsy 29'er to a mullet setup. Bike rides mostly the same but I have nearly crashed bad from back tire butt hits when it was a 29'er. Also makes your bike look cool and 27.5 wheels are stronger haha.
Ride moolay setup on my Banshee Phantom V3... Rear dropouts allow BB to be raised/lowered. I enjoy how it rides.
I built a 26/27.5 mullet and everyone that rides it really likes it
I've learned so much of of you guys
I’ve been running mullet for 6 months. I love steep slow technical tracks and mullet gives me the ability to get inside the bike behind the bars more and not hit my bum on the rear tyre. It does everything else you can do, so for an all round experience, I love it. But horses for courses if you have the money to have spare wheels and setups laying around though.
I agree, that feeling of being more inside the bike is real.
Yeah!! I've only got one ride in on my bike after throwing a 27.5 on the rear, but I was so surprised! I much prefer a 29er to a 27.5 even though I'm really short, but the mullet setup was a gem! Zippy and roomy in the rear with the rollover and speed in the front that I've gotten used to. For someone my size, this might be just the ticket. I'm anxious to put some more miles on it.
How is it going ?
@@camwells9726 I really liked it! I’ve put the 29 rear back on because the 27.5 wheel belongs on my other bike (my 29er wheelset is much nicer - carbon with a better hub, etc). I definitely think I’ll be looking at a mullet when it comes time to replace this bike. It just makes sense for my size and style.
@@Squirrel_Rides I’ve never tried one , but in my dimensions I’m probably a prime example of someone suited , short legs long torso , that rides a big frame to get the reach I like .
178 cm on a large frame , in theory a mullet should make the overall ride more agile and feel not so big ?
@@camwells9726 sounds reasonable! The Downtime Podcast did a great episode last year about wheel sizes - worth a listen :)
@@Squirrel_Rides ok thanks for the heads up , will have a listen , cheers
There was a mullet bike back in the 90s called the big hit. It was a 26/24 combo.
I have went from 26 to 29. I have ridden a 27 (non boost) bike from my mate a couple of times. To be honest, I love my 29 setup really and I will stick to it.
I remember when you talked about the benefits of the 27.5+... which I barely see today on bikes. Let's see if this time you nail it.
Back in the mid '80s, Cannondale made bikes with 26 on the front and 24 on the back, Does anybody still have one of those?
At 8:07, that's some retro 80's "working at it" music! LOL
I miss a time comparison between the two options, I know it's 2 seconds difference but what were the total times?
Personally I'm on the tall side (186cm) so I will pretty much stick with 29", that is until 30.5" is released in 2023.
30.5" wheels rock. Use them on my tractor.
@@legalize.brokkoli old or small tractor?
@@viljosavolainen2286 both :)
I reckon the speed difference will depend on what you’re riding. Smaller wheels will be better on acceleration, bigger will carry more momentum through rough areas, probably
I'm with you, I feel like I'll always go for the biggest wheels available.
I've got a 27.5 wheel being built for my Switchblade V2 currently. I'm super excited for the mullet
I would like to have a comparison of how the two pedal uphill. I know going down the mullet would be more fun, but if I can't get back up without any weirdness then that's a dealbreaker
I have the 2021 Meta AM and I'm going to buy the 2022 Meta SX frame and swap all my parts. Cant wait to see how it compared to the AM.
I have two I play with... 29/27.5 HT Rockhopper and a 27.5/26 ST Rockhopper both are fun I grew up on mullets back when MTBs were just coming around. Remember the moded road bike frames that were the start of the MTBs?
I ride a 26er but want to eventually upgrade forks to the Fox 38s and have the 27.5 up front. Gonna be an expensive upgrade but sounds like it'll be worth it after your review! Thanks!
Uhmmm your gonna put a 1,000$ fork on a 500$ bike with geometry meant for 26's. Not to intelligent if you ask me
@@msawyer110 no ones asking you, no ever asks internet comment trolls like you to chime in with your stupid uninformed opinions. You don't know my bike or setup, so take your negativity elsewhere. I paid $500 for new forks to make my 2014 Yeti SB66 into a mullet and I shred on it harder than you could ever dream of doing yourself.. so stay in your lane shooting guns, playing airplane and call of duty video games, and leave the mountain biking to those that actually ride.
27.5 x 2.60 actually works quite well!
2.4 in back 2.5 I. Front I where it’s at
Yes my mullet is sick on downhill trails and ultimate control in turns with 2,6 back ,but in technical uphills trails i need way to more efort to stick with my dudes.......but i dont care because when down they just cant see me!
Loving my Pivot Mach 6 mullet! Neil…you looked more stylish flicking the mullet around. It just seemed more effortless for you.
My franken bike was made by accident, and happy to hear your report.
Thanks for this video, after reading the history of how the 29 came to be I always thought the 275 was a marketing idea and fad…… now im about to buy a 2019 bronson… I seem to have more fun on 275s and should be capable for the 2 events per year in my area
Agreed, 275 are still super fun!
Agreed. I just went for a 29 in Reign to the 27.5 2019 Bronson and it's the most fun I've had in so long
@@tomt6767 good to hear, I just bought it this morning!!!!
When I was a kid (in the mid-late 70's), the thing to do was to put the rear wheel from a Raleigh Chopper on a road bike frame and replace the drop bars with "cow horn" or T-bar handlebars. The original mullet. :)
Excellent video as always from Neil. Makes sense to have a mullet for his height. I am 6’4”, 193cm so a mullet is not for me, I have never buzzed the back tyre. Full marks to Orbea for giving the choice. The Rallon with 160/170mm looks a top bike, nice and plush for trail riding and up for Enduro.
Nice one Neil. I'm the same height as you and I find I have more room with the 27.5 on the rear. I don't believe the bike in itself is faster, just makes me more confident.
Really should have had a 27.5 front as well for a complete comparison.
that exists th-cam.com/video/OmX7sQloVpU/w-d-xo.html
None of this is remotely scientific and just baseless opinion video filler for a channel.
True story: there was never anything wrong with 26" wheels.
I like running a 29" front on my 27.5 hardtail if I'm riding somewhere steep because it slacks the front end. Nice thing is I can only ride one bike at a time so I just grab my full squish front wheel and go.
Another video on this topic. For me and some of these tests the Mullet's are the best of both, rear corners better and spins up faster. Mullet or MX should be an option through flip chips on every 29er bike. I was bummed when Norco didn't give that option on the new Range virtual high pivot/idler. Maybe someone will make a new linkage for it.
I'm 6ft 2" and I totally agree with what someone else said in the comments regarding rider size. 29ers are the best for someone like myself, but my favourite bike that I own is actually a 650B due to its amazing handling characteristics. The mullet is something I will definitely have to try. I do have a Chinese 20 x 4.0 electric bike as well with fat boy tires, but that's merely for leisure.
WOW, what a test track, they have it dialed, no DUST.
Thanks for the video, great content.
I'm a noob, for now just a 29er in stock please :)
Obviously not a fad considering this is the 3rr or 4th video GMBN has done on them spanning over a 2 year period.. they're here to stay and they're great fun 🤘
I used to focus on the downhill more, riding dual 27.5+ e-bike tires on an enduro bike going down super rough trails. My bike then got stolen, and as a replacement I got a trek fuel, a 29er light trail/dc bike. I LOVE the 29ers front AND rear, it just climbs so much faster! I find that with correct body positioning and balance transfer, the 29er rear performs fine for me.
Last year I converted my 29er to mullet which suits my 5'4" height much better especially on dh or very steep trails 😋
Still here on a 26" bike and only ever ridden on 26" wheels! Lol
Havnt tried it yet, but I ride a 29er and a 27.5 depending on my mood. I just like both wheel sizes
I ride my genius mullet, love it, just makes me feel more in control...but am i imagining it? I'm a shortarse so a 29 rear smashes my backside going down steep drops / chutes (bad riding style?), but more importantly there is more mud clearance to the frame (and where I live it seems to be constantly muddy).
I love my Stumpy Evo that can run both 29” and mullet. I enjoy the smaller rear wheel and space to move around the back when sending it downhill and in the bike park. Prefer the 29” front and back when pedalling on my local trails.
Hi, what Stumpy Evo do you have that can be full 29 or mullet?
I have a 2012 HT Stumpy Evo, and I don't know enough to know if it would be worth trying a mullet setup, I can't imagine there's much I could change besides the rear wheel, but I guess that would lower my BB a bit?
I played with 297 set up an a number of bikes, the only one it worked really well on was the Specialized Enduro with the WRP mullet link, that bike was amazing with that change.
Being a 26" rider, its sad to see 26" being eased out of the sport. I was recently shopping for tyres and i either couldn't get the tyres i wanted because they didnt offer 26 or they were out of stock.
maaan same. needed tyres recently for my xc 26".. found maxxis pace tyres that were being sold 2 for $50 at a city bike rental place lol they did the job
This is a real fear for me since I just put on my last two tires on my 26 Mtb. I stocked up on tires years ago when the push to kill 26 was going on. I might need to see if I can do the same again.
They might be out of stock because more people than expected are buying them. They seem to disapear very quickly online anyway.
@@yanduval7172, yeah, part of the reason I think is because the manufacturers just aren't making half as many 26" tyres any more because demand is dwindling. A lot of tyre models I was looking at didn't even have 26" as an option - it was either 27.5 or 29, and the ones that did have 26" as an option were out of stock.
I mean I found some, but it wasn't easy and they weren't the tyres i wanted.
I think 26" will gradually become the new 24" Lol
Waiting for 28.25" and 29.75" wheel sizes which will be revealed in 2022. Can't wait for all that marketing hype.
The 28.25" sounds promising. Can't wait to try it with the new 27.75" on the rear, that will come out in 2023.
I'm waiting for a 32" front wheel, seriously.
Typo? I think you mean the 35.0098”
Now that Santa Cruz bought Cannondale, we can expect 2-3 new wheel and a dozen new BB standards.
@@davidxin5805 I prefer the Cannondale 35.0092. They spin up nicely.
was your seat fully up when you did the first piece to camera with 27.5 on?
I'm on a 29er hardtail.. truth be told I would have 27.5" but this was basically the only bike I could find in my area that fit me! And I'm impulsive and wanted to get riding immediately. No regrets. I'll go 27.5 or mullet when I get a full sus next year! 🤘
You can Mullet old 29er geo hardtails to get new better geo!
My 2020 Motobecane HAL Eagle has 3 three options.
I set up the bike 27+ for fun. 29 for speed. I use mullet mode additionally when the wild need arises.
back in the late 90s people used their 26 inch wheels in front and 24 inch wheels in the rear. it was the only way to rake it out
and what happens if you put the 27.5 sus link in and then put on a 29 wheel, do you get less HTA and higher BB?
I love this discussion and to get some real-feel feedback from a pro.
Is there anything to a video about settling in on 27.5+ rear wheel and 29er up front?
That’s my setup on an aggressive hardtail. I’m having a blast with it.
In motorbikes/motorcycle world an equivalent configuration had been used since ages, it is the rule in MX/END bikes using a combination of 21" front and 19 or 18" rear, not the same wheel size in each end, so myself coming from and still practising motocross and enduro I find quite interesting this comparative, also when buying a new bicycle the first thing I do is to change brake levers side, that is putting front brake lever in the right side like my MX bike.
I have not yet driven it with the mixed wheels. But I am thinking a little further on the practical side. If you ride tubles for the longer trips then you already have to carry two different inner tubes. I find that a bit tricky.
Tallboy 3, 29 front 27x2.8 out back ftw!
27.5 front 26 rear on my silly bike. 26 on play bike ..I'm waiting for 33 😆😆
a few ppl needed Neil's explanation as to how it feels as it's a mind field which is best .each to your own big up to Blake for the wheel hire
On a 27.5+ hardtail I'm finding 29x2.2 on the front and a wider 27.5x2.6 on the back gives me more traction and adds a bit of comfort too. I can run a less gnarly tyre on the back which seems faster and it seems to have slackened off the head angle a tad too...
I am 6'2 with long arms and legs, so I naturally have more room with my full 29er. I prefer the look of a full 29er as well on my XL frame. I am not that big into jumps and whips anyway.
One thing I never see mentioned in any of these comparison videos is the acceleration advantage and low-end torque advantage. I come from the dirt bike side where, as everyone knows, all of our rear rims are smaller (and wider) than our front rims - this is mostly due to mechanical advantage due to motor input. However, there are differences within disciplines which would fall in line with bicycle advantages. All (full size) dirt bikes use 21 inch front rims but, for MX track racing the standard is a 19 inch rear rim, and for "off-road" racing (hare-scramble, hare and hound, enduro, etc.) an 18 inch rim is standard. Off-road drops to 18" because it is generally not as 'wide open throttle' (wot) as MX is. The smaller rim helps with spooling speed back up quicker when coming out of slow speed scenarios (tight turns, tight trees, large rock gardens). It also helps with maintaining engine rpm at slower speeds reducing engine stall.
Interestingly, there is also a similar application in skateboarding. Ramp skaters (especially vert skaters) use larger wheels because they have noticeably higher top end speeds. However, street skaters need smaller wheels b/c smaller wheels accelerate faster and many times there isn't much run-up room before the 'obstacle' (a handrail, for instance). So, the smaller wheels help in pushing up to speed easier and faster in the smaller space. There are also center-of-gravity/weight considerations but that isn't relative here.
Likewise on a mountain bike, you would get a (however small) acceleration advantage and some lower end torque advantage that partially contributes to the maneuverability that everyone notices. The acceleration advantage may, in fact, be the reason that time differences are so similar between the two set-ups. 29 may be faster overall, but 27.5 pedals back up to speed faster.
mullet for the win im tap rider at 6ft2 and just prefer the mullet bike feel its quick and flickable i just love it can not fault it
Tried a 29er fork and front wheel a mate lent me to test if I wanted to mullet my bike. Rode it for 2 weeks, staying on 27.5.
I have a hardtail with 27.5+ (Orbea Loki -2017), but I will give it a try a mullet with 29"x2.5 at front, and see how it goes.
I have a canyon neuron mullet, small frames come with a 29" fork, and like it but it a bit of a pain carrying different spare tubes when out on a big ride
You can carry a 29 one and fold it inside the tire in case you'll need it on the back. Motocross school never fails 😉
@@MassimilianoPerrella Many thanks, I didn't think that would work as soon as you inflated the tyre.
@@stuartdavis7922 depending on the wheel or the tire it could... it would be nice to try (in a garage, not on a trail) :-)
Most e-mtb are coming with mixed wheels (MX) now just like dirt bikes and motorcycles have been forever. The smaller rear wheel accelerates quicker and makes the bike feel more playful.
Dirt and trials motorcycles have been mullets for decades as you say. Admittedly part of that is related to getting sufficient rear suspension compression on a heavy two wheeler. I can't help but think that mullet Downhill MTB's will stay around for a long while as reducing the likelihood of the MTB rider buzzing their rear end on a steep section or a drop is a desirable characteristic.
Still surprised how much smaller the 27.5 compared to 29er is.