Such a great test. Glad they made a video it. I did this test a few years ago and had the same results. I had a 110/120mm 29er that I built mainly for XC rides, but one day I decided to push its limits and take it on some technical downhills. It completely surprised me because it was consistently faster on the some of the more technical downhills I ride than my 150/160mm 27.5 bike. My conclusion is that it does depend on the track, but the big wheels do have a lot of advantages when it comes to speed. The 29er has noticeably better rollover resistance in technical chop and because of that it was calmer in more technical sections. I think it carries more momentum on turns possibly because of momentum it carries and the increased traction the 29er has. I won't be giving up my 27.5 though. The 27.5 still has more of a fun factor because of its more nimble feel and playfulness. Both wheel sizes are worthy, but for racing I am guessing you will see lots of pros using 29ers on race days.
At 5'9 I have never found a 29er I felt comfortable on always feel like I'm riding on top of the bike and not in it, I'm instantly comfortable on almost any 27.5 bike. Different strokes for different folks.
5' 6", same thing, when 29ers first came out I felt like I was on a mutant road bike with those 700c wheels or like I'm on a wagon. 26" and 650b are all I can really ride mountain.
@@jfrtbikgkdhjbeep9974 check out geometry cuz it will mess the geometry up. It’s better to put a 29er front wheel on a 27.5 bike than the other way around tho.
Yes great work pinkbike! I am 6'2 and got a XL trek session 9.9 29er on the way. It was hard to pick between 27.5 and 29er, but at my height I think it makes sense. If I was below 6 foot, I would have gone with 27.5
im 6'3 and run 27.5 on my operator because the long reach/short chainstay and smaller tires allows me to whip the bike. it comes down to preference dude... (rant)This 27.5 won the world cup this week, oh no a 29er won this week is pathetic. Look who's riding, not what they're riding. Fearon runs a stock operator pretty much and finishes top 7 in world cup standings
I think terrain and riding style play a big factor. I ride mostly tight, twisty mountain flow, relatively smooth. 27.5 FTW! When I travel, I’m either doing more open flow trails or rocky ledgy desert stuff…a 29’er is on it’s way. 🥰 If I could have only one, i’d stick with a mid travel 27.5, but of course I’m bias to the terrain I ride the most. I think it’s sad that manufacturers seem to be giving up on 27.5 bikes, but who knows? Maybe in 3 years we’ll all be riding mullets.
I love my 29er hardtail, but it's not as nimble as I'd like it to be sometimes. When/if I get another bike it'll probably be a full squish 27.5. But, we'll see.
I have both and can't choose which one I like more. It mostly depends on the situation. The 29er flows over stuff easier but there is also a weight penalty. Nino Schurter has been riding a 27.5 (and winning), but he could probably beat everyone no matter what he was on.
Anyone remember about 10 years ago when 29ers were all the rage? Then a couple years ago, how 27.5 and 27.5+ was all that was needed and soon 29ers felt too big to many people, would be phased out? Then designs were changed, with some bikes are 29, but you can put 27.5+ wheels on them. Now, with the Salsa Deadwood and Trek Stache we have 29+ bikes which, if you ride one, is not a gimmick, but a legit design. So what is it? What's best? There is no answer. Find your bike, test ride a bunch, and ride what works for you.
i think 185cm people and taller, praise the 29" while people below 185 (like me 178) says 27.5" has as a better fit. I think taller people just got an advantage fitting those higher bikes. The 29" offers confidence while surfing obstacles like roots and bumps without notice, where us with smaller wheels got to grip tight on the handle and get ready to be shaked. Have spend a month trying to decide between 27.5" and 29", but tonight i will order the 27.5, because i think the lower center of gravity will be more beneficial than the monstertruck-effect. I like to feel 'together as one' with the bike, or being part of the bike, or the bike being a part of me, rather than sitting on top of it. Even though i have to use the bike 6 kilometers everyday on regular road till and from work, which wakes the 29" beneficial, the choice is Cube Acid Eagle 18" / 17.5". What do you think?
Theis Nielsen im just at 6 foot and for me the 29er feels faster and pretty amazing but I know many people under 5 foot 10 could benefit from 27.5 wheels!
It won't be long until they start selling you the next great wheel size. Better handling, lighter, stronger, faster, better climbing, better downhill performance and more fun. Tighter bike geometry and great design for technical mountain riding and more efficient climbing in steep terrain. Introducing the 26" wheel set. Ha!
It just kills people to admit the 29'r is faster. HAHHA! Brah! Funny how the cool kids gotta go with the flow. Test after test shows the truth. Screw the trend ride what works for your riding. The fact is, if speed is your objective 29" rips
And if making tough roots and rocks on climbs is your objective. And if being safer on downhills is your objective. And if bigger contact patch without wider wheels/tires is your objective. I can go on.
Numbers don't lie. There are some people out there that really didn't like the idea of 29ers 10yrs ago. For good reason though...geometries were pretty garbage until the SC Tallboy. So when the 27.5 was marketed as a 26" upgrade but retaining the benefits they jumped on it so they could continue to hate on 29ers....all good in fine, ride what you want, but about the only attribute that is better on the 27.5 is that they're slightly more nimble, its still giving up a lot to the benefits of the 29er. Today, if you're riding 27.5 and super wide rims along with 2.6"....you're not that far off from a 29er.
I've ordered a 29er and I'm half stoked and half worried it wont live up to my current 27.5. But then I was worried my 27.5 wouldn't be as fun as my 26 when I got it. Once I got used to riding it my riding went through the roof so I'm hoping the same is true time round. But as others have said, there are no wrong answers here. Ride more, think less.
Is the wheel size a decisive factor when choosing the bike for a taller person? I mean, if I'm 6.2 and I prefer 27.5, would an XL frame be enough or should I absolutely pick a 29er?
hmmm, testing two different objects with wheels rolling down a hill. Logically the superior bike is the one that you handle the terrain better on. Likely the one with the bigger wheels :) I only say this as I was hoping for a powered test.
This is interesting watching after they have released the remodelled 2020 Slayer. As well as after having such a successful year overall in the EWS standings with the whole team riding Instincts. I'm curious to see if they race the Slayer in the 2020 season or if they will stick with the Instincts. Remy has been rocking the slayer a lot lately!
i got a 29er after riding a 26er right off the bat i felt it smoothen the trails , it does feel faster and roll over better, but yes i do feel also that its bigger, so its not the fastest nimblest thing in tighter trails . also im not sure if its the geometry or the weight of the wheels , but its a lot harder to manual or the rear wheel lift
Good test! Though I'm super curious why the Rocky EWS riders don't ride the Slayer? After all the Slayer is built for Enduro. Is it because the team riders are smaller sized guys who don't need the extra travel or do they just prefer the Altitude? In my experience the Slayer was a better bike up and down.
Hi, great video. The feel of the trail and performance is well known in MTB nowadays. Could make a video of the same comparison in a longer, all day trail? I think 27.5 would have a better outcome.
Finally an objective test on the subject! what's fastest for the track and what works for the rider should be a no-brainer. Tire tread, gearing, damping and even tire size are changed in wrc racing based on the course. Very old concept of tuning for the course. 29ers are not gonna be on freeride bikes and 26ers aren't used xc racing anymore.
Love it. Buuuuuut, give me 6 goes at a section of trail and my later efforts are going to be a little more tuned in. Just a matter of being more intimately familiar with what's coming up so I can carry more speed through the turns. As agonizing as it sounds, I think it would be worthwhile to go back and flip the order.
At my local trail, you have to go up hill 1600feet. Takes me 1hr 15ins. 29er maybe faster coming down but try climbing on it. It all depends on the rider and how skillful he is.
We got two of these for our daughters th-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L the same size for age 6 and 9. It works very well for both girls. Gears were very easy for them to learn. Changing gears up takes some hand strength and is a bit hard, but they are learning. They did not come with water bottle holders- we actually got confused and thought the Derailler Guard was the bottle holder!! Regardless of these details, the bikes are fantastic- even our six year old who only just learned to ride bikes caught on within an hour of practice and loves it. Lightweight and easy for them to handle. All the parts are in excellent condition and the bikes are easy to assemble and very well packaged. Great choice for kids!
Neither the 27.5 or the 29 is faster. What matters is how comfortable and aggressive each bike makes you feel. I like bigger bikes so I ride a Slash 29er and I swear these 27.5 guys want to crucify me for it
Which is faster? Well, since only a minute percentage of people will be racing the clock, who cares? At the end of the day, we do it mostly for fun, so the REAL question should corellate to that! Which one was more fun? Did you enjoy monstertrucking over stuff more than you did riding the 650bs?
Cole Inman simple not everyone cares about the fastest laps some people just want a playful bike they can through around and 29ers like both the other wheel sizes have pros and cons yes they roll faster and better over rocky stuff that's a fact but it's also a fact that they are not as stiff are heavier and will not corner tight stuff as easily as a 26er or 27.5 and it all comes down too ride quality I don't like how tall and slow turning 29ers feel but I love how they ride on the street or up hills it's all about personal preference
One of the issues is, that 29er bikes often have a more conservative geometry compared to their smaller wheeled counterparts. A 29 will never be as agile as a 26, but with better geometry it can be quite close.
Not agree, take the Pole Evolink 140 for example, it is one of the longest and in the same time slackest Enduro\AM bikes currently in production, besides from 29" size wheels. What everyone said when it was presented? It won't turn in fast tight turns! It's not agile and won't climb! But what happened when the first ride was done? Considerably bigger majority of riders just felt in love with it, despite it is long+slack+29" it bursts through any trail with ease, confidence and SPEED, even under beginner riders. Maneuverability is something that depends more on rider than bike.
29 faster 27.5 agile. Depends on the course imo. Straight 29 is faster Semi tech course probably the 27.5 I like 29 but don’t ride a MTB. If I did I might pick 27.5 for better control and agility. So......???
Big elephant in the room here, not much talk about tyres... Did you know a 2.35 width 29er tyre has roughly the same contact patch as a 2.6inch width 27.5 tyre? Just going by what comes standard on these Bike on the Rocky mountain website, the 29er has 2.35 width front and 2.3 inch rear whilst the 27.5 has 2.5 and 2.4 respectively... i am not doing much math here but its clear as day that the 29er's have greater contact patch on the tyre's as opposed to what the 27.5 is running... although thats not accounting for different types of treads, some manufacturers have a wide tread variety of tyre which changes things again... Anyway my main point here is that putting wider tyres on the smaller wheeler will easily account for the difference in speed and rider feel, a rider that has more grip is going to feel more confident than the rider with less grip.... and people really should just ride what ever wheel size feels best for them.
My friend put this bike together for his son and before I knew it he was done th-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L When the son came to put it together he was surprised to see it was already done. All he had to do was take the bike to get air and be on his way. My friend did not have any major problems putting this bike together; small issue was putting one of the brakes on straight; however when the son got home he was able to fix it. The bike rides well gears move correctly; good bike for the price. Wrote review after the son took the bike. Sorry.
29er are for me a no Go. I want a fun bike to Ride. Because they handle like crap.....At least i thought so. Testing it since August made me rethink this fact. No disadvantage for me here. I Love my slash and i don‘t want a 27,5“ again. Because i dont know why i should Ride this small wheels again. And anyway haters gonna hate, Because they dont know it better.
Lots of talking but little substance. There are lots of pros and cons and I guess you can’t totally conclude in this one test. The product manager guy was hardly mentioned and his results were probably more meaningful.
It’s called progression. Some progression is marketing hype, but it ain’t the case here. YT brought out the 27.5 Jeffsy after the 29 - maybe that’s regression! :)
I still dont get how people can be such fucking idiots. Of cause they try to sell you a new bike you moron. They are a company and thats what companies do. They need to make money to make a living. And still they dont screw you over, but make better bikes every year.
This test shows, that under these circumstances 29" is probably slightly faster than 27.5". "These circumstances" implicate, that it is a downhill section, where most (probably > 90 %) of speed comes from gravity, and very little (probably < 10 %) comes from pedaling. When I go for a ride, I usually end the same place, I started, so when I go downhill on one section, I have to climb another section. For me it would be much more relevant to test, which wheel size is fastest "overall" - not only on a downhill section. It is fair enough, that you are testing only on a downhill section, but you could make it much more clear, that this is, what you are doing. As long as you are not doing this, somebody could believe, that your test results are more general, than they really are. Maybe a test covering other situations would indicate, that the advantages of 29" over 27.5" are even bigger - I don't know.
It's not the circumstances that are the problem with this "test".It's that each wheel size is tested by a different rider.That is why any comparison of times is null and void. One rider has to test both sizes on the same course.Only then you will see a real difference between wheel sizes.
Hmm...see where you're coming from, but your power isn't the only thing that affects speed on a trail. Things like fatigue are a huge factor, and this is what the pros talk about here.
There isn't a scientific method available but at least by including power data we can have no suspicions that the efforts on each run are similiar and it's not just a 29er PR piece. At least the pro teams can make a choice if they feel a particular venue suits 650 better.
On a downhill section like this most of the speed (I guess more than 90 %) comes from gravity and probably less than 10 % from pedaling. In that case a power meter will not add much useful information.
True but if 90% is from gravity and assuming that the 29 weighs more as they do then the faster time can be more accredited to the weight than the wheel size.
I wonder if these clowns have any clue about the damage they are doing to these hiking trails. There is nothing like going for a hike with your dogs to enjoy the solitude and nature and running into these idiots trying to shave seconds off their times as they destroy the trail. Thankfully most of their generation is too busy playing video games to join them is this self absorbed foolishness. Who cares which bike is a second faster than the other. Now go back and repair the trail before it rains and washes it out completely.
27.5 = fun bike. 29 = race bike, Get both! One bike only = 27.5!
m00nchildblues why don’t people make 28
@@bestofthenavy1609 28.25" -- split the difference perfectly so no one has excuses haha
you think 27.5 would work for a guy of 6 feet (183cm)?
@ Yes definitely. I’m 6’1” and I run 27.5. It’s all personal preference though.
This only proves one thing, Thomas Vanderham should be racing the EWS ...
Such a great test. Glad they made a video it. I did this test a few years ago and had the same results. I had a 110/120mm 29er that I built mainly for XC rides, but one day I decided to push its limits and take it on some technical downhills. It completely surprised me because it was consistently faster on the some of the more technical downhills I ride than my 150/160mm 27.5 bike. My conclusion is that it does depend on the track, but the big wheels do have a lot of advantages when it comes to speed. The 29er has noticeably better rollover resistance in technical chop and because of that it was calmer in more technical sections. I think it carries more momentum on turns possibly because of momentum it carries and the increased traction the 29er has. I won't be giving up my 27.5 though. The 27.5 still has more of a fun factor because of its more nimble feel and playfulness. Both wheel sizes are worthy, but for racing I am guessing you will see lots of pros using 29ers on race days.
These guys seemed honestly curious and engaged in this test. Love it.
At 5'9 I have never found a 29er I felt comfortable on always feel like I'm riding on top of the bike and not in it, I'm instantly comfortable on almost any 27.5 bike. Different strokes for different folks.
5' 6", same thing, when 29ers first came out I felt like I was on a mutant road bike with those 700c wheels or like I'm on a wagon. 26" and 650b are all I can really ride mountain.
@@DigitalNegative 173cm Agreed
5'7.5 and exact;y the same experience in fact i thought 26 was even more fun
Same thing here!!!
Same thing here and I'm 6.2
29" in the front, 27.5" in the back ... business in the front, party in the back .... the mullet.
is that possible, if so i would like to be able to switch out sizes to adjust to terrain, activity etc...
@@jfrtbikgkdhjbeep9974 check out geometry cuz it will mess the geometry up. It’s better to put a 29er front wheel on a 27.5 bike than the other way around tho.
I demoed 6 RM bikes back to back on a demo day. kind of like these guys, it was super insightful and a great day.
and....?
It would've been interesting to see the times and impressions if they had switched back to a couple more rounds on the 27.5 after they did the 29er.
sp00n Seems legit, the more laps the faster you may go... All these tests are always in the same order...
Alternating bikes for each test. But then it may feel like the transition is to much each time.
I'd love to see a comparison that didn't focus so much on speed. There ARE other aspects that riders care about.
Yes great work pinkbike! I am 6'2 and got a XL trek session 9.9 29er on the way. It was hard to pick between 27.5 and 29er, but at my height I think it makes sense. If I was below 6 foot, I would have gone with 27.5
Andrew Lunka you’re hella rich man
im 6'3 and run 27.5 on my operator because the long reach/short chainstay and smaller tires allows me to whip the bike. it comes down to preference dude...
(rant)This 27.5 won the world cup this week, oh no a 29er won this week is pathetic. Look who's riding, not what they're riding. Fearon runs a stock operator pretty much and finishes top 7 in world cup standings
Andrew Lunka Height no longer plays a role in wether a 29er is better or not, the geometry is radically different than it was even 2 years ago.
I'm 6 and i ride BMX sometimes...
I am 6'2 and Trek Slash XL feels a little bit too little really. Thinking to findcsomething with 2-3 cm longer rich.
Rad! Of course, they're running the Altitude long shocked at 160mm and 170mm forks but still.... that was awesome!
I think terrain and riding style play a big factor.
I ride mostly tight, twisty mountain flow, relatively smooth. 27.5 FTW!
When I travel, I’m either doing more open flow trails or rocky ledgy desert stuff…a 29’er is on it’s way. 🥰
If I could have only one, i’d stick with a mid travel 27.5, but of course I’m bias to the terrain I ride the most. I think it’s sad that manufacturers seem to be giving up on 27.5 bikes, but who knows? Maybe in 3 years we’ll all be riding mullets.
I love my 29er hardtail, but it's not as nimble as I'd like it to be sometimes. When/if I get another bike it'll probably be a full squish 27.5. But, we'll see.
Pedal Hard the new full suspension Enduro bikes ride just like a 27.5 but roll faster but are a little harder to turn but amazing bikes
Corey Troxler I'll check them out for sure!
A 29 inch hardtail will allways be more nimble than a 27,5 full sus.
TH-cam User u are 100 percent wrong
I have both and can't choose which one I like more. It mostly depends on the situation. The 29er flows over stuff easier but there is also a weight penalty. Nino Schurter has been riding a 27.5 (and winning), but he could probably beat everyone no matter what he was on.
Anyone remember about 10 years ago when 29ers were all the rage? Then a couple years ago, how 27.5 and 27.5+ was all that was needed and soon 29ers felt too big to many people, would be phased out? Then designs were changed, with some bikes are 29, but you can put 27.5+ wheels on them. Now, with the Salsa Deadwood and Trek Stache we have 29+ bikes which, if you ride one, is not a gimmick, but a legit design. So what is it? What's best?
There is no answer.
Find your bike, test ride a bunch, and ride what works for you.
The real question should be which is more fun to ride.
Although this test is interesting. We aren't all EWS Pro races so just go ride your f#cking bike! Go have fun!
i think 185cm people and taller, praise the 29" while people below 185 (like me 178) says 27.5" has as a better fit. I think taller people just got an advantage fitting those higher bikes. The 29" offers confidence while surfing obstacles like roots and bumps without notice, where us with smaller wheels got to grip tight on the handle and get ready to be shaked. Have spend a month trying to decide between 27.5" and 29", but tonight i will order the 27.5, because i think the lower center of gravity will be more beneficial than the monstertruck-effect. I like to feel 'together as one' with the bike, or being part of the bike, or the bike being a part of me, rather than sitting on top of it. Even though i have to use the bike 6 kilometers everyday on regular road till and from work, which wakes the 29" beneficial, the choice is Cube Acid Eagle 18" / 17.5". What do you think?
Theis Nielsen im just at 6 foot and for me the 29er feels faster and pretty amazing but I know many people under 5 foot 10 could benefit from 27.5 wheels!
It won't be long until they start selling you the next great wheel size. Better handling, lighter, stronger, faster, better climbing, better downhill performance and more fun. Tighter bike geometry and great design for technical mountain riding and more efficient climbing in steep terrain. Introducing the 26" wheel set. Ha!
How about repeating this with the 2020 Slayer?
I own a 27.5 and a 29. The 29 is clearly faster and rolls easier.
Acceleration , or top speed or both ? I ride my mountain bike on the road .
29 looks silly
29 amazing 27.5 too
Which is faster? The one with the faster rider.
except for the fact that the same ride is faster on the 29. Time and time again. This is MTB 2 stroke vs four stroke. lmao!
You got that right! 2 Strokes are more fun, 4 Strokes are just faster.
Seat Time except this 'two stroke' doesn't waste the equivalent oil to a bus XD
What tire size is the fastest to roll on the road? 26, 27 or 29? Flat road
Jules Bar I'm betting 26, less traction.
It just kills people to admit the 29'r is faster. HAHHA! Brah! Funny how the cool kids gotta go with the flow. Test after test shows the truth. Screw the trend ride what works for your riding. The fact is, if speed is your objective 29" rips
I thought 29er is the current trend?
And if making tough roots and rocks on climbs is your objective. And if being safer on downhills is your objective. And if bigger contact patch without wider wheels/tires is your objective. I can go on.
@Superbike373 - No it doesnt. Any mtb commuter going up against a 29'er can see the bike is faster. It's pretty obvious bud.
agree.
ok that they're faster, but are 29er as fun to ride as 27.5? that's the point
Numbers don't lie. There are some people out there that really didn't like the idea of 29ers 10yrs ago. For good reason though...geometries were pretty garbage until the SC Tallboy. So when the 27.5 was marketed as a 26" upgrade but retaining the benefits they jumped on it so they could continue to hate on 29ers....all good in fine, ride what you want, but about the only attribute that is better on the 27.5 is that they're slightly more nimble, its still giving up a lot to the benefits of the 29er. Today, if you're riding 27.5 and super wide rims along with 2.6"....you're not that far off from a 29er.
I've ordered a 29er and I'm half stoked and half worried it wont live up to my current 27.5. But then I was worried my 27.5 wouldn't be as fun as my 26 when I got it. Once I got used to riding it my riding went through the roof so I'm hoping the same is true time round.
But as others have said, there are no wrong answers here. Ride more, think less.
Is the wheel size a decisive factor when choosing the bike for a taller person?
I mean, if I'm 6.2 and I prefer 27.5, would an XL frame be enough or should I absolutely pick a 29er?
hmmm, testing two different objects with wheels rolling down a hill. Logically the superior bike is the one that you handle the terrain better on. Likely the one with the bigger wheels :)
I only say this as I was hoping for a powered test.
This is interesting watching after they have released the remodelled 2020 Slayer. As well as after having such a successful year overall in the EWS standings with the whole team riding Instincts. I'm curious to see if they race the Slayer in the 2020 season or if they will stick with the Instincts. Remy has been rocking the slayer a lot lately!
Now test out plus 27.5 vs plus 29 against the regular 29
Inconclusive until you do the test again but 29er first and swap to the 27.5!
i got a 29er after riding a 26er right off the bat i felt it smoothen the trails , it does feel faster and roll over better, but yes i do feel also that its bigger, so its not the fastest nimblest thing in tighter trails . also im not sure if its the geometry or the weight of the wheels , but its a lot harder to manual or the rear wheel lift
I feel the same. Find 29er's less playful and harder to pop around on. But they pedal and roll better.
Good test! Though I'm super curious why the Rocky EWS riders don't ride the Slayer? After all the Slayer is built for Enduro. Is it because the team riders are smaller sized guys who don't need the extra travel or do they just prefer the Altitude? In my experience the Slayer was a better bike up and down.
Good thing for the 29" you guys used a downhill course.
Hi, great video. The feel of the trail and performance is well known in MTB nowadays. Could make a video of the same comparison in a longer, all day trail? I think 27.5 would have a better outcome.
Finally an objective test on the subject! what's fastest for the track and what works for the rider should be a no-brainer. Tire tread, gearing, damping and even tire size are changed in wrc racing based on the course. Very old concept of tuning for the course. 29ers are not gonna be on freeride bikes and 26ers aren't used xc racing anymore.
Love it.
Buuuuuut, give me 6 goes at a section of trail and my later efforts are going to be a little more tuned in. Just a matter of being more intimately familiar with what's coming up so I can carry more speed through the turns. As agonizing as it sounds, I think it would be worthwhile to go back and flip the order.
Came here to say the same thing.
How does 27.5+ compare to more standard size 29x2.3?
I'd be interested to see their times on the slayer..
what about the slayr?
By thoughts too
At my local trail, you have to go up hill 1600feet. Takes me 1hr 15ins. 29er maybe faster coming down but try climbing on it. It all depends on the rider and how skillful he is.
I got a Scott navajo 27,5 inch, very nice bike !
Im 29er riders ..and a im still love it
Why no slayer??
Now.....Go uphill! Let's see those times.
Laps... not so much.
Fuck riding uphill. Thats all yours mate
That was my exact reaction
I am newbie to mtb. Which is smooth to run? Which is thicker and heavier? 27 or 29?
Are the bikes the same weight?
What about climbing? Which is better then?
I think 29er beacause the larger wheel the better traction
Jonito Baltar Depends. For non technical stuff 29. for technical and narrow stuff smaller wheels are better
Never had any issues on 29er in tight and technical uphill sections, still faster than 27.5 for sure.
Never had any problems neither .
will 26 inch ever come back??
Fast is not all, my old small wheel mtb is very difficult to ride and i love the intensity that small wheel gives.
We got two of these for our daughters th-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L the same size for age 6 and 9. It works very well for both girls. Gears were very easy for them to learn. Changing gears up takes some hand strength and is a bit hard, but they are learning. They did not come with water bottle holders- we actually got confused and thought the Derailler Guard was the bottle holder!! Regardless of these details, the bikes are fantastic- even our six year old who only just learned to ride bikes caught on within an hour of practice and loves it. Lightweight and easy for them to handle. All the parts are in excellent condition and the bikes are easy to assemble and very well packaged. Great choice for kids!
29er is the beast
And for the guys, what's the "fun machine" between them?
Slayer is the most fun :)
Neither the 27.5 or the 29 is faster. What matters is how comfortable and aggressive each bike makes you feel. I like bigger bikes so I ride a Slash 29er and I swear these 27.5 guys want to crucify me for it
I want that solid blue instinct so bad
Which is faster? Well, since only a minute percentage of people will be racing the clock, who cares?
At the end of the day, we do it mostly for fun, so the REAL question should corellate to that!
Which one was more fun? Did you enjoy monstertrucking over stuff more than you did riding the 650bs?
I still don't understand how people can put "nimble" and "playful" above better climbing and better rollover that 29ers have.
Cole Inman simple not everyone cares about the fastest laps some people just want a playful bike they can through around and 29ers like both the other wheel sizes have pros and cons yes they roll faster and better over rocky stuff that's a fact but it's also a fact that they are not as stiff are heavier and will not corner tight stuff as easily as a 26er or 27.5 and it all comes down too ride quality I don't like how tall and slow turning 29ers feel but I love how they ride on the street or up hills it's all about personal preference
One of the issues is, that 29er bikes often have a more conservative geometry compared to their smaller wheeled counterparts. A 29 will never be as agile as a 26, but with better geometry it can be quite close.
Not agree, take the Pole Evolink 140 for example, it is one of the longest and in the same time slackest Enduro\AM bikes currently in production, besides from 29" size wheels. What everyone said when it was presented? It won't turn in fast tight turns! It's not agile and won't climb! But what happened when the first ride was done? Considerably bigger majority of riders just felt in love with it, despite it is long+slack+29" it bursts through any trail with ease, confidence and SPEED, even under beginner riders. Maneuverability is something that depends more on rider than bike.
Some of us just want to have fun
26"...duh.
Me 26" coz im 165 cm tall and ride for healthy not sport
29 faster
27.5 agile.
Depends on the course imo.
Straight 29 is faster
Semi tech course probably the 27.5
I like 29 but don’t ride a MTB.
If I did I might pick 27.5 for better control and agility.
So......???
For my money, 29" is for hardtail application only.
Instinc and altitude don't have the same travel !
Big elephant in the room here, not much talk about tyres... Did you know a 2.35 width 29er tyre has roughly the same contact patch as a 2.6inch width 27.5 tyre? Just going by what comes standard on these Bike on the Rocky mountain website, the 29er has 2.35 width front and 2.3 inch rear whilst the 27.5 has 2.5 and 2.4 respectively... i am not doing much math here but its clear as day that the 29er's have greater contact patch on the tyre's as opposed to what the 27.5 is running... although thats not accounting for different types of treads, some manufacturers have a wide tread variety of tyre which changes things again... Anyway my main point here is that putting wider tyres on the smaller wheeler will easily account for the difference in speed and rider feel, a rider that has more grip is going to feel more confident than the rider with less grip.... and people really should just ride what ever wheel size feels best for them.
Yeah but there's more weight in the wheel anyway so It'd counteract the grip levels between the two sizes
My friend put this bike together for his son and before I knew it he was done th-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L When the son came to put it together he was surprised to see it was already done. All he had to do was take the bike to get air and be on his way. My friend did not have any major problems putting this bike together; small issue was putting one of the brakes on straight; however when the son got home he was able to fix it. The bike rides well gears move correctly; good bike for the price. Wrote review after the son took the bike. Sorry.
NOBODY is on a slayer?
Meanwhile.... Richie Rude is winning on a 27.5 Yeti SB165
27.5 👍🏻
29 in front, 27.5 in back
If only enduro 29 bikes were cheaper
29er are for me a no Go. I want a fun bike to Ride. Because they handle like crap.....At least i thought so. Testing it since August made me rethink this fact. No disadvantage for me here. I Love my slash and i don‘t want a 27,5“ again. Because i dont know why i should Ride this small wheels again. And anyway haters gonna hate, Because they dont know it better.
Like it a lot
27.5 plus
29 is obviously faster.
some times to much choice is just f~#king annoying especally when your about to spend 5 grand.
29er>everything
It depends on your height I guess
It depends on pretty much everything. Your height, riding style, terrain, strength...
Mullet it ?!
I’m not a pro and I know the answer to this question.
Lots of talking but little substance. There are lots of pros and cons and I guess you can’t totally conclude in this one test. The product manager guy was hardly mentioned and his results were probably more meaningful.
Twas apparent from the beginning the bias already determined the outcome.
I love dh bikes
Who here still prefers 26"?
I'd buy a 2018 26" bike
Me I have too 26inch bikes and a 27.5 bike like both I have riden some 29ers not a huge fan of how they feel but they all have their pros and cons
My aluminium full suspension 26'' bike weighs 10.2 kilo why would I want a carbon 29er that weighs 12.7 kilo?
I buy 26" coz im 165 cm tall
Needs more turns. Hahaha
29" for XC and 27,5" for People that don`t like to pedal
And next they'll sell you 31" inch bike and tell your it's faster than 29ers, too bad you'll have to buy a new bike. Who might that benefit? HMMMM....
Think of the low rolling resistance though...and the stability at top speed!
and tall people
Like any sports, the most important is stability before abilty. Because you will be more faster when you are stable. Stability is the most important !
It’s called progression. Some progression is marketing hype, but it ain’t the case here. YT brought out the 27.5 Jeffsy after the 29 - maybe that’s regression! :)
I still dont get how people can be such fucking idiots. Of cause they try to sell you a new bike you moron. They are a company and thats what companies do. They need to make money to make a living. And still they dont screw you over, but make better bikes every year.
So you're telling me they took two laps and the 2nd laps were faster.... *scratches chin. Maybe try the other way around before making a conclusion?
That's not how a comparison is done....
They did say that it's not the only test they're going to do, but as an initial base test this is pretty solid.
This test shows, that under these circumstances 29" is probably slightly faster than 27.5". "These circumstances" implicate, that it is a downhill section, where most (probably > 90 %) of speed comes from gravity, and very little (probably < 10 %) comes from pedaling. When I go for a ride, I usually end the same place, I started, so when I go downhill on one section, I have to climb another section. For me it would be much more relevant to test, which wheel size is fastest "overall" - not only on a downhill section. It is fair enough, that you are testing only on a downhill section, but you could make it much more clear, that this is, what you are doing. As long as you are not doing this, somebody could believe, that your test results are more general, than they really are. Maybe a test covering other situations would indicate, that the advantages of 29" over 27.5" are even bigger - I don't know.
It's not the circumstances that are the problem with this "test".It's that each wheel size is tested by a different rider.That is why any comparison of times is null and void. One rider has to test both sizes on the same course.Only then you will see a real difference between wheel sizes.
They all tested both bikes, did you watch the video? @@Powerhugful
This was so awkward
short guys ride 27.5" they hate 29" because they cant fit in them.. they need to grow up!
#26aintdead ... sorry i just had to 😍
Yes it is unfortunately.
26 inch wont die in the foreseeable future. Dirtjumpers and slopestyle rides use them and wont stop.
Unless they have power meters and keep the power consistent then this is pointless.
Hmm...see where you're coming from, but your power isn't the only thing that affects speed on a trail. Things like fatigue are a huge factor, and this is what the pros talk about here.
There isn't a scientific method available but at least by including power data we can have no suspicions that the efforts on each run are similiar and it's not just a 29er PR piece. At least the pro teams can make a choice if they feel a particular venue suits 650 better.
On a downhill section like this most of the speed (I guess more than 90 %) comes from gravity and probably less than 10 % from pedaling. In that case a power meter will not add much useful information.
True but if 90% is from gravity and assuming that the 29 weighs more as they do then the faster time can be more accredited to the weight than the wheel size.
27.5 makes you a better rider, 29 makes you a faster rider.
this video is so biased towards 29ers haven’t we seen what sam hill can do on a 27.5 in the EWS
This video wasnt made as a test for you, it was made by racers for racers.
yaaaawwwwn 😪
you all talk too much
No way!!! So unexpected...way to kill one of your models...
2nd
You'll get there next time...
Somethings fishy here
1st !
like if 29ers dont belong in dh
I wonder if these clowns have any clue about the damage they are doing to these hiking trails. There is nothing like going for a hike with your dogs to enjoy the solitude and nature and running into these idiots trying to shave seconds off their times as they destroy the trail. Thankfully most of their generation is too busy playing video games to join them is this self absorbed foolishness. Who cares which bike is a second faster than the other. Now go back and repair the trail before it rains and washes it out completely.
Chance1957 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
The Rhins Ranger 🖕🏼
Hahahaha you touch my talala
And the award for gayest comment on youtube goes to.................