Maybe Becuase it's the most playful feeling where size I own 26 inch and 27.5 and have riden 29er and I like 26 inch the best they are lighter stiffer and it makes tight stuff great they all have pros and cons but if I had too pick one wheel size it would be 27.5 plus
i have 3x26"bikes and 3x27,5" bikes and i like ride all of this but 29" bikes don´t fitt white me. iI have test 5 diverent bikes but its´t have a Feeling about i ride a trekking bike 4 me ..... i am 1.93m tall
26 is and was always the best size. Playful, stiff, durable, lighter, oh wait try our 29 and oh ya you need a new bike lol. So here is a guy that 5 foot 2 on a small with 29 in wheels lol wut????
I'm 5'9 and love my 29er. I demoed a 27.5 and felt like I was on a kids bike. I haven't totally discounted them, perhaps a Large with a longer reach would have felt. Gotta say though, I'm excited that we now have 150, 160mm travel 29er choices.
I just need to demo one again. The one I rode was maybe too small, I'm 5'9 so on the cusp of Large from Medium. I had rented a Medium, then we hit Captain Ahab in Moab. It was a Giant Trance, which was 150mil travel IIRC. It was great for the descents, but didn't feel like it climbed as well as my 29er. Plus I kept pedal striking like crazy. Just gotta get used to it, I guess. There are two newer 27.5 bikes out that I REALLY like.
L. Voelker Dude! My buds were throwing huge airs on the penny farthings! It was MASSIVE! You haven’t table topped until you have table topped with a 92” front wheel!
Great video. I'm 5ft 8in, a smaller rider, and I've purchased a 29er. The 29er was too cumbersome for me, and switched out to the 27.5. I think it may depend on the rider height and having control on the bike. On the 27.5 I pick speed better, and pull jumps better. The 29er did have faster pick up. Thanks for your comparison.
I love my 29" Feels so great to ride on (roads) Socks up vibration and can't feel most pot holes as bad, the handling feels more sturdy didn't think all this could change going from 27" to 29" 🤯
@Neil you should make a movie showing you on the trails. Your style is so silky smooth when you are shredding the trails. It looks so effortless and makes it extremely enjoyable to watch.
Steven Chabot Some new bikes are built for 26 and 650b such as the Banshee Rune and a lot of hardtails. Shows that people here dont buy into marketing bullshit
I throw over $2000 to my 26 inch carbon bike with racing wheels. If I sell it, I will get may be 1/4th of price now. And 27.5 or 29 of that class will cost at least $3000.
It's all about you taste and likeness. I've been driving 24s ans 26s all my life. Recently a friend of mine gave me a 29er for our morning rides. Combined terrain from concrete, asphalt, dry mud, sand, and river beds. It felt soo good for me that i ordered a new bike with 29ers. Bottom line - do what you like , life is short anyway )
@@yi-vanstudenov464 or a really cheap bike if you just want to ride your bike (by no means crazy dh or tricks), but if you just want to ride your bike on a small hill, or that gravely road, or just start riding, a $500 bike will serve you well. If you live in aussie, maybe try to look for a polygon bike online. I've seen some decent bikes with good reviews there, no promotion, just a suggestion :D Of course if you can spend more, maybe you should get a Giant or GT bike. In some place you can get diamondback's bike and they are a pretty good option too ;)
I use 29er on the downhill and 27.5 on the enduro, the enduro stages in my region have a lot of tight corners and line changes, I think the 29er is clumsy, while on the downhill the 29er is perfect because it goes over everything.
I’ve ridden 26, 27.5, and 29. When I bought my 29 at the shop they told me I wouldn’t do any one section of trail faster on 29 vrs smaller wheels but overall my entire loop would be faster. This has turned out to be accurate and the best way in my opinion to describe 29 wheels
Lol that's some grade A marketing nonsense. If your going through each section at the same rate as a 27.5 inch tire on 29 inch tires then your time couldnt possibly be faster.
Incredible video GMBN! Congrats to all who worked on it .The edit was great, the music was even better, Neil's riding was on another level ( not that it wasn't before...it just seemed much more better). The bike is fantastic but too expensive for my taste and the idea of swapping wheel set's is even more. Appreciate the effort u've put in the video...keep up the great work guys :)
Way back, when 29 wheels were first introduced, I saw a prototype Trek with a 26 rear, and 29 front; a configuration I believe was too extreme, but I have never seen an attempt of engineering 27.5 rear 29 front, which seems more logical then the 26/29. Like dirt motorbikes, perhaps the smaller wheel on the rear would give more peddling response (torque), and the larger one in the front more stability for turns, or ground irregularities. I would guess a configuration like this may be more effective for trail bikes with our without rear suspension, or maybe even a fully rigid deal. Since the same frame was used for this test, and wheels swapped, it would be interesting to see a trial with both sizes on the same frame. Just a thought.
I too moved to a Turner 5.spot with 1x10 GX drive train and so far it is great! My first full suspension. It seems like more maintinence than mybold Trek, but I'm riding harder so...
@@wallygoots I'll be upgrading my drivetrain by the end of the year. They cancled the 48 mile ore 2 shore bike race id been training for so I'm no longer in a rush to swap out yet its gonna cost me a pretty penny so I figure I'll just wear down the stock. What sucks is I cant use my wolf tooth remote cause I have the left shifters and the bontrager that fit sucks hard in comparison.
Bang on riding and video production, thanks Neil & team. I would love to see a comparison with the shorter riders to see if 29" hinders them much. Being 5'6" (167cm) I've always wondered if 29" would be too much of a hindrance for me on small-frame bikes (hitting my toes on the front wheel perhaps).
Hi there, Actually, question to Neil: In this video you have focused on the time and speed adventages of using different wheel sizes, but what are your impressions in case of agility and maneuverability on steep and narrow technical sections, hairpins etc. I'll be grateful for your opinion Regards Mateusz
Choosing tires is a personal choice because it depends for your ride style and your tastes, if you prefer have big wheels or small ones. It is very choice. I have 26 but I love 27.5, for me 29 are too much bigger. I don't like them.
Just went from 27.5 to 29. For me it was a great transition. I like the ability to roll over obstacles with more ease and overall improve my speed/lap times.. There is a pretty big reduction in the ability to shred through corners. Just had a wreck last week trying to handle corners the same way I did 26.5 wheels. I've seen the guys that really like to shred sticking with 27.5.. So if you prefer XC, touring, moderate trail riding I think 29 inch wheels will go a long way to help improve your experience like it did for me.
26 inchers have been at the top of the class even till this time. Nothing beats the weight to performance ratio. You don't need to roll over obstacles if you can just fly over them on 26 inch because of the power and responsive nature of smaller wheels. Theres a reason why a 10 year old XC bike is still lighter then a 2018 top tier bike.
Lap times dont lie. They also control where the industry goes. If people werent riding larger wheels with faster times in comps then youd never see them at the consumer level to this degree. So for us regular consumers it just depends on what type of riding you do and what you want out of your bike.
Still riding my 15 year old Orange Sub Five on 26". It works. I rode a brand new Specialized FSR (?) in Whistler this summer. On the valley trails it was fantastic. Everything seemed easier. That had 27,5. I'd love to ride one back to back with my Orange.
90% of the test on this channel is about going downhill, what about how the bikes does feel going upwards or flat. We do not all live in the hilly places of this world... Please start a XC channel, or do more stuff about XC. Otherwise great work.
Right-0n niberdoom! That's where skills and joys of dirt biking go unnoticed and unappreciated. Sometimes I think it's because showing 'video' of the runs LOOKS better showing downhill riders. Just a better attraction and visual. You're so right; we need to see more than downhill show-off. ~JSV
My 26 Scott is great, an old bruiser, but great. However, I’ve just bought a YT Jeffsy 29er and now the 26 is my winter/salty road-to-the-trails bike....so it’s semi retired...sort of.
Shawn Z Savage at the time I found it to be the best value bike with the highest spec for the money that I had and also the highest rated trail bike within the price bracket I was looking at. Also, at the time it had the steepest head angle for tackling the downhill sections to the local trails. Nowadays the head angle debate rages but the new Jeffsy has a steeper angle than the one I have, so presumably it’s better for the downhill sections. I’d definitely recommend it without hesitation and I can tell you that I’ve found myself wanting to go riding a hell of a lot more often!
Phil Wise wow thanks man for the info! I was thinking the same thing, a huge part is they are such a good value for the money and it’s a really nice looking bike! Appreciate the info 👌🏻👍🏻🙏🏻 take care! Happy riding
Shawn Z Savage thanks, I’ll do my best! 👀😂 Hope you get all you hope for in your new bike, whatever it turns out to be. Top tip if you want it - take your time when looking. It took me 2yes to save for the bike and in that time I looked around at different possibilities a hell of a lot, still settled on the YT. Good luck.
Phil Wise for sure it will take me about the same time to save up. Have a mongoose right now so it’s going to be a huge difference once I get that! Definitely will keep looking 👍🏻 hoping to get into racing at some point. Sub to my channel and you’ll see in the future 😁
Thanks for this. I just bought a genius. I’m very new to riding so all this is good info. Glad to know I can swap wheels. Overall I love this bike on rocky terrain.
My XC bike is a 29er and my trail bike is 27.5. XC bike is a hard tail. Trail bike is full squish. And I have got to admit that I wouldn't have it any other way atm. The next trail bike might get bigger wheels and my next XC bike will probably have a short travel rear shock but as we are all aware I am recovering from a serious, nearly life changing, injury and having the 2 very different bikes has helped loads because one is all about the pedalling and the other is all about moving around on it.
I have a bike that has a 29er on the front and 27.5 on the back and oh boy.... It's so hard especially on the mountainous parts but on the flats, it's so amazing.
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess specially on down hill push the bike on back giving you more lighter front and control on the back it change the frame geometry is like you do claiming and you want a 26 on front with a 29 ....you get push over the handlebar and change the body position ...something like that....plus a 29 in front will roll faster over minor bumps because of bigger wheel and dont get dip in to holes like 27.5,26 and the list continue, back wheel is a follower so if is smaller and quick will go better in cornering ....bla bla bla long theory .....bet thing is try :)))))
@@jorimgentiloso5388 I never get why they do 29 on the front. I rode my friends 29 and the cornering was terrible and he even told me he wished he had a 27.5
26 is best in climbing but slower than a 27.5 in speed. 27.5 is better in climbing than a 29 and faster than a 26. smaller circmuference = faster rotation. 29 is faster in flat surfaces poor in climbing. more circumference = faster speed. In the end the difference is not that noticeable anyway, choose what you like and enjoy the bike.
Really? Is there really a debate about wheel size? Choose your ride, and go and have some fun, its down to your own preference, 29" just feels too big for me, but, for some, lt's perfect. So, try before you buy, then just go have some fun, which is really, what it's all about.
Oh finally some reasonable comment! :D This whole discussion is just rubbish, diversity is good for everybody and bikes should be about fun. I've 29er because i'm 6'4
Makes sense to me, I personally feel better on a 29"! I tested a 27.5 expecting it to be a perfect blend of what I liked about my old 26" and what I love on the 29. Not the case! So that confirms it for me. I really like the new 29" bikes for what I ride. I always say ride what you're comfortable with. I think it's great we have options.
I think its only applicable if your bike can take both or you are in the market for a new stead, as its clear that they each score points on different terrain. Im 5'11" and feel the 27.5 is right for me however Neil is 5.10 and is more excited by the 29. I still found it interesting. I also prefer the smaller wheel when doing things like skinnys.
I switched over to 27.5 back in 2007 with purchase of Giant Trance 27.5 2. Just bought Santa Cruz Tallboy 29 and sold by 27.5 to a friend who was on a 26 Santa Cruz Blur LT. He took my 27.5 on our usual trail ride and immediately felt the difference. We have noticed his improvement in the last two months. I am loving the way my 29er rolls over obstacles and carries speed. I would never go back to a 26 wheel. The 27.5 does handle tight turns and is quicker to maneuver but I am faster on the decent and on the flats on my 29er. Being a full suspension I can lock it and ride and climb like a hard tail. My only regret is not keeping the 27.5 so I could switch depending on where I happen to be riding. I wonder how many of those people making negative comments have actually trail ridden a 27.5 or 29er?. I talking about really putting it through test on advanced trails like those in this video. Just Saying!
The whole video I was trying to work out how the geometry could be different by changing wheels, but then you mentioned "flip the chip". Would have loved you to explain that a bit more.
A lot of them do but that's because they're doing flips and rotations on smooth jumps, same reason dirt jump bikes still use smaller wheels. You can't buy the bike off the shelf/website with that configuration because it's only applicable for people doing 720s over enormous gaps
I just got a Cube MTB 29er, it's naturally heavier than most bikes but rides like an absolute dream and has much more grip than most mtbs. I dont mind the extra weight as I like a good fitness challenge, and use my bike more for leisure and endurance/long distance trails rather than for technical routes, jumps etc.
Hi since you have the two sets, you could try 27back, 29front. On enduro motorbikes diff wherlsize is almost a standard. Would be interesting to compare. less weight, more grip on the back, advantage on the front on rough terrain.
honestly a bike from Walmart is better than no bike, just tune it the best it can be. I'm searching for the best $1000 bike for myself at the moment but currently ride a $150 full suspension walmart 29er (coil spring obv), and I go out and ride it about 3 times a week. Also, a good brand for budget is usually schwinn. There's a bike for all situations and budgets.
Look, if you are going to properly debate type sizes, you have to use the same tyre on both wheels. If you are only comparing the size, then that is the only independent variable you can have...Bar that, really interesting video!
I've got 26 in the front and 29 in the back. Awesome, it rides like a dragster. I've also attached a empty plastic bottle between the frame rubbing the back wheel for a really cool motorbike sound.
I used to have a giant talon 2 with 29 inch wheels but now i have just upgraded to a giant trance 3 with 27.5 wheels and about the same specs as your bike and it feels more smooth
I'm 183cm and I ride 26er also, it's good enough for me and taller people would fit onna 26er too. It's more above the saddle height and stem adjustment than the wheel size
Can that really be done? I've been thinking about it but I'm having doubts if it's still consistent with the way mtb's were designed-considering geometry and physics.
i currently have a hardtail rock hopper on 29"s and a stumpjumper on 27.5's, i noticed you didn't mention anything about swapping out the handle bars with the tires. its it necessary? i was told at my local bike shop that the 29" requires a wider handle bar to help turn the bigger wheels but i find a bit too wide on some of my local trails where you come close to clipping trees on both sides of the handle bars.
I don't know what it is but I can't get comfortable on a 27.5 or a 29er guess I'm just so use to 26 inch everything else feels odd, currently riding a Giant Pistol 2 on Hutchinson Bulldog Airlites 26X2.1 and been real happy with them.
This is pseudo science! Those slightly bigger wheels won't roll over obstacles easier. Calculate the angles of attack. Also how is a 2. 6 " tyre is big but a 2.4" tyre narrow? And with one run of each setup you cannot come to any conclusion. If you rode several times with the same bike there would probably be more deviation than one second. How was the time even measured?
Also the tyres should be of the same making (casing, thread etc.) and the same width and pressure. Or maybe have different widths and pressures but than it should make sense and you should make several tests to determine what change has which effect. So you need at least two otherwise identical bikes and several days with good (same) weather conditions.
I have had a 9 year break from mtbs. Last bike was a Marin Mount Vision 5.8. Just bought a Trek Fuel ex5 (29) and am amazed at how much has changed in that time. It seems like all the things that were supposed to make mountain bikes fast and agile e.g. small wheels, steep frame angles etc have been thrown out the window. Only managed one firepath ride so far as weather is abysmal. Feels a lot more sure footed but doesn't feel as fast but that might be because it doesn't feel as sketchy as the Marin. I would say though that the front end weighs a ton. Nearly put my back out when I went to lift the front over a log. Perhaps with 29 hoops you just ride into and over everything.
doesnt matter what u ride so long as you are stoked everytime you come home to look at your beautiful bike
Got my old dream bike last year, a 2011 26` AM bike. It ain't the fastest but I f**king love riding it!
Fuel EX 8 27.5 and it’s amazing! Just so curious about what 29ers would feel like on the trail
Daniel Miller I ride a fuel ex 7 2017 and it converts I like 29ers but I’d like a 27.5 set because I like to do jumps.
Fall in love with bike more each day.
Same with me
It's funny how the vid is about 27.5 vs 29 but the whole comment section is people defending 26
Just so you remember it's not dead! 😉
Maybe Becuase it's the most playful feeling where size I own 26 inch and 27.5 and have riden 29er and I like 26 inch the best they are lighter stiffer and it makes tight stuff great they all have pros and cons but if I had too pick one wheel size it would be 27.5 plus
i have 3x26"bikes and 3x27,5" bikes and i like ride all of this but 29" bikes don´t fitt white me. iI have test 5 diverent bikes but its´t have a Feeling about i ride a trekking bike 4 me ..... i am 1.93m tall
Will Mockel ahaha ikr
26 is and was always the best size. Playful, stiff, durable, lighter, oh wait try our 29 and oh ya you need a new bike lol. So here is a guy that 5 foot 2 on a small with 29 in wheels lol wut????
Had a 29 for 7 years. Now have 27.5 for 2 years, still loving and riding it much more than I ever did 29er. But I ride strictly for fun, no racing.
Imagine how much fun you'd have with a 26 🤣
@@steves186 hahahhaha
@@brathersadda9436 that's a good one mate
How tall are you?
Can't wait for the 50" vs 54.5"
All the comments will be about the 49”
Isn't that a penny-farthing?
How about the 6 inch !!!! lol.
fuck you 544" is the best, you get the highest rollover
@@rex9003 🤣😂
Everybody gangsta till the 26" shows up.
Lmao
i have a 28"
@@Egir53 And you fucking love it, right?! LOL
What about the 6'4" guy who comes in whipping around a 20" bmx? 🤣
@@jmw708 You should be in prison for solicitation of murder.
As a 6’4” sized human, 29ers feel more normal, so wheel size is somewhat proportional to rider size. On 26” I feel like a circus bear!
Great point David (we'd love to see that)!
I like how you had to qualify yourself as a human. Like we were going to think you were a lizard or something hahaha
I'm 5'9 and love my 29er. I demoed a 27.5 and felt like I was on a kids bike. I haven't totally discounted them, perhaps a Large with a longer reach would have felt. Gotta say though, I'm excited that we now have 150, 160mm travel 29er choices.
Michael Smith i'm 6'2 and 27.5 still fits me😂😂
I just need to demo one again. The one I rode was maybe too small, I'm 5'9 so on the cusp of Large from Medium. I had rented a Medium, then we hit Captain Ahab in Moab. It was a Giant Trance, which was 150mil travel IIRC. It was great for the descents, but didn't feel like it climbed as well as my 29er. Plus I kept pedal striking like crazy. Just gotta get used to it, I guess. There are two newer 27.5 bikes out that I REALLY like.
Two years ago the debate was '26vs27,5'. Soon we will be sending on penny farthings😂
Next debate will be 29" vs 36"
Loi Angelo 36” vs penny farthing
L. Voelker
Dude! My buds were throwing huge airs on the penny farthings! It was MASSIVE! You haven’t table topped until you have table topped with a 92” front wheel!
ummm, my name is earthlungs, not farthings...
B
27,5 for me. It matches my low skill level better. Keep it light, small, nimble and simple.
Great video. I'm 5ft 8in, a smaller rider, and I've purchased a 29er. The 29er was too cumbersome for me, and switched out to the 27.5. I think it may depend on the rider height and having control on the bike. On the 27.5 I pick speed better, and pull jumps better. The 29er did have faster pick up. Thanks for your comparison.
How tf 5'8 small?
@Geraldevo it's below average for a man
100% agreed. I'm 5'9 and 29er just feels too large. 27.5 makes me a racer Lol
Between 1.87kgs for the 27.5" and the 2.12kgs for the 29", it's not a 25g difference as you said but 250g
And the 29" wheel set used a smaller tire too
oh boy, that bugged me too!
@@d4rkside_europe564 I don't think a bigger 29er tyre would fit on that bike.
I don't think it was a great comparison.
He's American
I love my 29"
Feels so great to ride on (roads)
Socks up vibration and can't feel most pot holes as bad, the handling feels more sturdy didn't think all this could change going from 27" to 29" 🤯
29" work best for me. I'm never afraid of pot holes and it grips really well.
@Neil you should make a movie showing you on the trails. Your style is so silky smooth when you are shredding the trails. It looks so effortless and makes it extremely enjoyable to watch.
I've discovered from this comment section that a good portion of your audience haven't bought a new bike in many years
Steven Chabot Some new bikes are built for 26 and 650b such as the Banshee Rune and a lot of hardtails.
Shows that people here dont buy into marketing bullshit
Of course there's no NEED but If you were to buy an new bike there's no reason not to get a 27.5 or 29.
My Spark LTD 08" (under 9 kilo) still fast as hell.
😂😂 very true, and this is certainly more a video for those considering a bike
I throw over $2000 to my 26 inch carbon bike with racing wheels. If I sell it, I will get may be 1/4th of price now. And 27.5 or 29 of that class will cost at least $3000.
I love my steel 26 hardtail!
2011 Norco Bigfoot 26 is the favourite out of my 3 mountain bikes.
Hard tail is much better than full suspension imo
It's all about you taste and likeness. I've been driving 24s ans 26s all my life. Recently a friend of mine gave me a 29er for our morning rides. Combined terrain from concrete, asphalt, dry mud, sand, and river beds. It felt soo good for me that i ordered a new bike with 29ers.
Bottom line - do what you like , life is short anyway )
I don’t even have a bike why am i watching this
Snicker Doodle you can get a entry level hardtail for under 1000$
@@yi-vanstudenov464 I lol when I hear 1000 b/c I grew up with walmart bikes and never imagined a bike would cost that much...
Rob Shala proper full suspension bikes cost around 2500$-10000+ dollars
@@yi-vanstudenov464 or a really cheap bike if you just want to ride your bike (by no means crazy dh or tricks), but if you just want to ride your bike on a small hill, or that gravely road, or just start riding, a $500 bike will serve you well.
If you live in aussie, maybe try to look for a polygon bike online. I've seen some decent bikes with good reviews there, no promotion, just a suggestion :D
Of course if you can spend more, maybe you should get a Giant or GT bike. In some place you can get diamondback's bike and they are a pretty good option too ;)
Illya Laurette yeah gt bikes are a serious bang for the buck.
I just realized that the whole world, despite being metric, uses the American standard for wheels. Interesting how industry works...
British imperial standard mate 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Also phone display size. 6.4 inch smartphone.
And TVs
@@The44kGaming And cocks. Mines 10 inch monster
@@bruceli9094 So what are you going to about it?
Editing was on point!
I have 26. Love it. And just ordered new raceking 2.2 folding.
Was ridding 26” for years, love my 29” would never go down wheel size, too easy to roll over stuff.
I use 29er on the downhill and 27.5 on the enduro, the enduro stages in my region have a lot of tight corners and line changes, I think the 29er is clumsy, while on the downhill the 29er is perfect because it goes over everything.
There's no law sayings you can only have one bike you know
Neil... 1870g is not 50g lighter than 2120g it’s 250g lighter so 500g total!!!
r/neildidmath
How did that even get through editing?
Clearly much effort was put into making of this video. I can't believe you let a slip up like this through quality control.
Because he's British :) . Trying to use both imperial and metric systems, they get a bit confused sometimes.
tgfedi maths is neither imperial nor metric, maths is just maths :)
Oh no......You just started WW3
quick everyone hide your 26"
Hide? We're here to fight!
It's as bad as water bottle vs camel pac
Coca-cola is better
Still riding my 26" Lapierre after more than 8 years ..
I have my 26” carbon Specialized Epic full XTR for the past 15 years and very happy with the 23 pounder.
I’ve ridden 26, 27.5, and 29. When I bought my 29 at the shop they told me I wouldn’t do any one section of trail faster on 29 vrs smaller wheels but overall my entire loop would be faster. This has turned out to be accurate and the best way in my opinion to describe 29 wheels
If no sections of the trail are faster, how do you have a faster time.....
Lol that's some grade A marketing nonsense. If your going through each section at the same rate as a 27.5 inch tire on 29 inch tires then your time couldnt possibly be faster.
@@neilsonchain1526exactly 😂 math don't lie.
500 grams heavier, not 50grams
Metric is hard. :)
Abcd you need a maths lesson
Rip my boy rich :'(
I did immediately, but yet another spot the mistake comment probably isn't useful!
Give him a break; he's had a British education!
Incredible video GMBN! Congrats to all who worked on it .The edit was great, the music was even better, Neil's riding was on another level ( not that it wasn't before...it just seemed much more better). The bike is fantastic but too expensive for my taste and the idea of swapping wheel set's is even more. Appreciate the effort u've put in the video...keep up the great work guys :)
Cheers Grizzly! We're glad you enjoyed it :)
I’m 7’4” and 24 inch wheels are perfect for me
What the, your 7’4’’ that’s awesome
@@Potato-gn4di I’ve actually just grown 2 feet in the past 2 weeks now I am 9’4 and I have moved down to 20 inch wheels
haha liying.
@@joyalpatel6000 I’m not
bruh how could you say your 9'4 when the tallest man in the world is 8'11?
Way back, when 29 wheels were first introduced, I saw a prototype Trek with a 26 rear, and 29 front; a configuration I believe was too extreme, but I have never seen an attempt of engineering 27.5 rear 29 front, which seems more logical then the 26/29. Like dirt motorbikes, perhaps the smaller wheel on the rear would give more peddling response (torque), and the larger one in the front more stability for turns, or ground irregularities. I would guess a configuration like this may be more effective for trail bikes with our without rear suspension, or maybe even a fully rigid deal. Since the same frame was used for this test, and wheels swapped, it would be interesting to see a trial with both sizes on the same frame. Just a thought.
www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-gear/beauty-or-the-beast-trek-69er-single-speed/
You need to use the same tire size for a true comparison test!
Damn after reading the comments apparently I'm a relic still rocking 26 on my trek 6500.
Me too: Trek 7000 But ready for modern trail bike.
Hey. I also got a Trek 6500. Thinking about upgrading though to full suspension and 27.5
@@wallygoots I moved on to a new 2019 reliegh talus 4 29er. I've given it a bunch of upgrades but I love the bike
I too moved to a Turner 5.spot with 1x10 GX drive train and so far it is great! My first full suspension. It seems like more maintinence than mybold Trek, but I'm riding harder so...
@@wallygoots I'll be upgrading my drivetrain by the end of the year. They cancled the 48 mile ore 2 shore bike race id been training for so I'm no longer in a rush to swap out yet its gonna cost me a pretty penny so I figure I'll just wear down the stock. What sucks is I cant use my wolf tooth remote cause I have the left shifters and the bontrager that fit sucks hard in comparison.
I really like Neil's style! its really interesting that what he felt didn't reflected in the time, it was the other way around!
Love the videos guys!
SHOOTOUT TO THE EDITORS! The color grade, the zoom and edit was on point!
more vids guys!
Cheers Francis! Loving the feedback :)
Francis Orate Agreed. It was awesome.
Terrific 27.5" and 29" side-by-side wheel comparison review video. Great information! Thank you!
standup grinder here and rode 29'r for around eight years....now three years into a 27.5+... love it, never. going. back.
Bang on riding and video production, thanks Neil & team. I would love to see a comparison with the shorter riders to see if 29" hinders them much. Being 5'6" (167cm) I've always wondered if 29" would be too much of a hindrance for me on small-frame bikes (hitting my toes on the front wheel perhaps).
Hi there,
Actually, question to Neil:
In this video you have focused on the time and speed adventages of using different wheel sizes, but what are your impressions in case of agility and maneuverability on steep and narrow technical sections, hairpins etc.
I'll be grateful for your opinion
Regards
Mateusz
Hey there friend, for all these ride attributes which add the whole fun, you need a 26!
I'm still using 26 🤘
This is one of the best videos I've seen on TH-cam very well done.
I stick to 26 " just upgrade parts and it depend on knee and enjoy more fun!
Choosing tires is a personal choice because it depends for your ride style and your tastes, if you prefer have big wheels or small ones. It is very choice.
I have 26 but I love 27.5, for me 29 are too much bigger. I don't like them.
my Mnt bike has 27.5+ and I love it. Super smooth ride. I don't care if its popular or not .....
This is a sick video, possibly my favorite by you guys
Just went from 27.5 to 29. For me it was a great transition. I like the ability to roll over obstacles with more ease and overall improve my speed/lap times.. There is a pretty big reduction in the ability to shred through corners. Just had a wreck last week trying to handle corners the same way I did 26.5 wheels. I've seen the guys that really like to shred sticking with 27.5.. So if you prefer XC, touring, moderate trail riding I think 29 inch wheels will go a long way to help improve your experience like it did for me.
You have to do it again with the same tire model and width.
Comment section: I am irrationally attached to the wheel size I happen to own!
😂
Exactly....we are creatures of habit.....big beautiful creatures of habit.
Dude! I ride BMX down Mont Saint Anne. Where's your check for my whip? Lol.
Well aren't you silly. I'm attached because that's the size of all my spare wheels and tyres.
We all know My Wheel Size is the best...
26" for life!
Nice!!
27.5" for life!
20 for life🤣🤣🤣
I love the way this video was shot. It looks like it has been filtered? maybe a new lens. I don't know but I like it
Cheers Jesus!
Colour grading
26 inchers have been at the top of the class even till this time. Nothing beats the weight to performance ratio. You don't need to roll over obstacles if you can just fly over them on 26 inch because of the power and responsive nature of smaller wheels. Theres a reason why a 10 year old XC bike is still lighter then a 2018 top tier bike.
Lap times dont lie. They also control where the industry goes. If people werent riding larger wheels with faster times in comps then youd never see them at the consumer level to this degree. So for us regular consumers it just depends on what type of riding you do and what you want out of your bike.
Still riding my 15 year old Orange Sub Five on 26". It works. I rode a brand new Specialized FSR (?) in Whistler this summer. On the valley trails it was fantastic. Everything seemed easier. That had 27,5. I'd love to ride one back to back with my Orange.
90% of the test on this channel is about going downhill, what about how the bikes does feel going upwards or flat. We do not all live in the hilly places of this world...
Please start a XC channel, or do more stuff about XC. Otherwise great work.
29 crushes on climbs, especially with flip chip geometry.
That's a really good point. The inertia to counter to get a 26" going is less.
niberdoom, you now have found your opportunity to start your xc channel. Why wait when you can start now?
That's couse XC sucks!
Right-0n niberdoom! That's where skills and joys of dirt biking go unnoticed and unappreciated.
Sometimes I think it's because showing 'video' of the runs LOOKS better showing downhill riders. Just a better attraction and visual. You're so right; we need to see more than downhill show-off.
~JSV
My 26 Scott is great, an old bruiser, but great. However, I’ve just bought a YT Jeffsy 29er and now the 26 is my winter/salty road-to-the-trails bike....so it’s semi retired...sort of.
Thinking about buying a it jeffsey! How do you like yours?
Shawn Z Savage at the time I found it to be the best value bike with the highest spec for the money that I had and also the highest rated trail bike within the price bracket I was looking at. Also, at the time it had the steepest head angle for tackling the downhill sections to the local trails. Nowadays the head angle debate rages but the new Jeffsy has a steeper angle than the one I have, so presumably it’s better for the downhill sections. I’d definitely recommend it without hesitation and I can tell you that I’ve found myself wanting to go riding a hell of a lot more often!
Phil Wise wow thanks man for the info! I was thinking the same thing, a huge part is they are such a good value for the money and it’s a really nice looking bike! Appreciate the info 👌🏻👍🏻🙏🏻 take care! Happy riding
Shawn Z Savage thanks, I’ll do my best! 👀😂 Hope you get all you hope for in your new bike, whatever it turns out to be. Top tip if you want it - take your time when looking. It took me 2yes to save for the bike and in that time I looked around at different possibilities a hell of a lot, still settled on the YT. Good luck.
Phil Wise for sure it will take me about the same time to save up. Have a mongoose right now so it’s going to be a huge difference once I get that! Definitely will keep looking 👍🏻 hoping to get into racing at some point. Sub to my channel and you’ll see in the future 😁
Thanks for this. I just bought a genius. I’m very new to riding so all this is good info. Glad to know I can swap wheels. Overall I love this bike on rocky terrain.
Never ending debate. Just try it yourself and pick up what is better for YOU!
My XC bike is a 29er and my trail bike is 27.5. XC bike is a hard tail. Trail bike is full squish. And I have got to admit that I wouldn't have it any other way atm. The next trail bike might get bigger wheels and my next XC bike will probably have a short travel rear shock but as we are all aware I am recovering from a serious, nearly life changing, injury and having the 2 very different bikes has helped loads because one is all about the pedalling and the other is all about moving around on it.
27.5 i started on 27.5 and when i tried 29 it just felt heavy and im not used to it. So im staying with 27.5
I would be interested to see how you think it feels with a 29er on the front and a 27.5 on the back
I have a bike that has a 29er on the front and 27.5 on the back and oh boy.... It's so hard especially on the mountainous parts but on the flats, it's so amazing.
@@jorimgentiloso5388 why do you have bigger wheels on the front?
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess don't know I already had the bigger wheels when I bought the bike ahahahaahah
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess specially on down hill push the bike on back giving you more lighter front and control on the back it change the frame geometry is like you do claiming and you want a 26 on front with a 29 ....you get push over the handlebar and change the body position ...something like that....plus a 29 in front will roll faster over minor bumps because of bigger wheel and dont get dip in to holes like 27.5,26 and the list continue, back wheel is a follower so if is smaller and quick will go better in cornering ....bla bla bla long theory .....bet thing is try :)))))
@@jorimgentiloso5388 I never get why they do 29 on the front. I rode my friends 29 and the cornering was terrible and he even told me he wished he had a 27.5
I was trying so hard to figure out why wheel size would change so much in the bikes geometry, then I made it to 5:00 minutes and then it made sense
I'm 6' 5" so obviously the choice is easy
24" for lyfe!!!🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Walk?
XD
😂
I think u should go for 3"
can you do a video comparing the climbing capability of 27.5 vs 29?
26 is best in climbing but slower than a 27.5 in speed.
27.5 is better in climbing than a 29 and faster than a 26.
smaller circmuference = faster rotation.
29 is faster in flat surfaces poor in climbing. more circumference = faster speed.
In the end the difference is not that noticeable anyway, choose what you like and enjoy the bike.
Really? Is there really a debate about wheel size? Choose your ride, and go and have some fun, its down to your own preference, 29" just feels too big for me, but, for some, lt's perfect. So, try before you buy, then just go have some fun, which is really, what it's all about.
how tall are you? and what you have ridden so far?
Oh finally some reasonable comment! :D This whole discussion is just rubbish, diversity is good for everybody and bikes should be about fun. I've 29er because i'm 6'4
Makes sense to me, I personally feel better on a 29"! I tested a 27.5 expecting it to be a perfect blend of what I liked about my old 26" and what I love on the 29. Not the case! So that confirms it for me. I really like the new 29" bikes for what I ride. I always say ride what you're comfortable with. I think it's great we have options.
Ding ding hit the nail on the head
I think its only applicable if your bike can take both or you are in the market for a new stead, as its clear that they each score points on different terrain. Im 5'11" and feel the 27.5 is right for me however Neil is 5.10 and is more excited by the 29. I still found it interesting. I also prefer the smaller wheel when doing things like skinnys.
great cinematography and music !
I switched over to 27.5 back in 2007 with purchase of Giant Trance 27.5 2. Just bought Santa Cruz Tallboy 29 and sold by 27.5 to a friend who was on a 26 Santa Cruz Blur LT. He took my 27.5 on our usual trail ride and immediately felt the difference. We have noticed his improvement in the last two months. I am loving the way my 29er rolls over obstacles and carries speed. I would never go back to a 26 wheel. The 27.5 does handle tight turns and is quicker to maneuver but I am faster on the decent and on the flats on my 29er. Being a full suspension I can lock it and ride and climb like a hard tail. My only regret is not keeping the 27.5 so I could switch depending on where I happen to be riding. I wonder how many of those people making negative comments have actually trail ridden a 27.5 or 29er?. I talking about really putting it through test on advanced trails like those in this video. Just Saying!
The whole video I was trying to work out how the geometry could be different by changing wheels, but then you mentioned "flip the chip". Would have loved you to explain that a bit more.
26 or 650B for me. Give em 29ers to the racers, 27.5 is more versitile and 26 oc the most fun.
Which one is better?
Answer: Yes!
Why do you guys always forget about the 26". Its a beast machine !
Dom T its fast n playful but nowadays used in dj and kids bikes only.. so unless ur gonna buy a used bike its not that relevant
You can't even get a 26" FS bike anymore, no one's made one for years. It's a dead wheel size
Steven Chabot Didn't you see the pro bike check, one of the biggest freeriders and he still rides 26" wheels
A lot of them do but that's because they're doing flips and rotations on smooth jumps, same reason dirt jump bikes still use smaller wheels. You can't buy the bike off the shelf/website with that configuration because it's only applicable for people doing 720s over enormous gaps
The 2017 Kona stinky is 26"
I just got a Cube MTB 29er, it's naturally heavier than most bikes but rides like an absolute dream and has much more grip than most mtbs.
I dont mind the extra weight as I like a good fitness challenge, and use my bike more for leisure and endurance/long distance trails rather than for technical routes, jumps etc.
Excellent comparison that helps the experienced and novice alike, thanks for sharing
Love them both depending on the type of ride I'm doing. Having 2 pairs is smart!😉
I got a used 27.5 but I'm getting a 29 error in a month. I think my 27.5 might have a 26er on the back. rip
Kitty kat is back to attack
Very cool test. Interesting that the clock showed the exact opposite of what the rider felt...... Neil was hauling azz!!
Any 26 inch riders?
MarkoBre MB heree😂🙋
Some good deals on 26ers with modern geometry. Look for some 2012 Intense, Santa Cruz or any 125mm full suspension bikes.
MarkoBre MB yep I ride a slalom bike 26 inch ftw
MarkoBre MB Yess
Here
Hi since you have the two sets, you could try 27back, 29front. On enduro motorbikes diff wherlsize is almost a standard. Would be interesting to compare. less weight, more grip on the back, advantage on the front on rough terrain.
You should try to run a 27.5 in the back and a 29er in front. Sure you would love the traction but also the control and feel of it
Isn’t this why they came out with 27.5 so you get the best of both!
Wouldn't a proper comparison require both sets of tires to be the same width?
What are you thoughts on running a 29er up front, and a 27.5 on the rear (or vice versa?)
Don Dornbrack I could see the reason in 27.5 on the back and 29 on the front but not really the other way around
I have a 20 year old specialized Stump jumper with rim brakes. Never had an issue. Going strong.
26" - I still love to ride my 1996 Breezer Lightning!❤
27,5" for lyfe.
Looking forward to start my biking life someday but not financially stable this is one of my dreams 😊 This is really helpful 💖
honestly a bike from Walmart is better than no bike, just tune it the best it can be. I'm searching for the best $1000 bike for myself at the moment but currently ride a $150 full suspension walmart 29er (coil spring obv), and I go out and ride it about 3 times a week.
Also, a good brand for budget is usually schwinn. There's a bike for all situations and budgets.
26" all the way.
It's 2021 and still on My 26 in
And loving it
Same
Look, if you are going to properly debate type sizes, you have to use the same tyre on both wheels. If you are only comparing the size, then that is the only independent variable you can have...Bar that, really interesting video!
Me and da boiz chillin with 26' :')
#AskGMBN Wouldn't it be more accurate to choose the same tire width for the test?
No, 27.5 main use nowadays is to fit wider tires.
I've got 26 in the front and 29 in the back.
Awesome, it rides like a dragster.
I've also attached a empty plastic bottle between the frame rubbing the back wheel for a really cool motorbike sound.
I used to have a giant talon 2 with 29 inch wheels but now i have just upgraded to a giant trance 3 with 27.5 wheels and about the same specs as your bike and it feels more smooth
Just bought a huffy 27.5 as my first mountain bike and it’s so fun
I'm 1.88m and have a 26" fully. :D
I'm 183cm and I ride 26er also, it's good enough for me and taller people would fit onna 26er too. It's more above the saddle height and stem adjustment than the wheel size
The magic really happens with the 29” on front and 26” in the back
Can that really be done? I've been thinking about it but I'm having doubts if it's still consistent with the way mtb's were designed-considering geometry and physics.
No one:
That one 36 inch wheel bike: just wait a couple years boys I'll be popular
i currently have a hardtail rock hopper on 29"s and a stumpjumper on 27.5's, i noticed you didn't mention anything about swapping out the handle bars with the tires. its it necessary? i was told at my local bike shop that the 29" requires a wider handle bar to help turn the bigger wheels but i find a bit too wide on some of my local trails where you come close to clipping trees on both sides of the handle bars.
I don't know what it is but I can't get comfortable on a 27.5 or a 29er guess I'm just so use to 26 inch everything else feels odd, currently riding a Giant Pistol 2 on Hutchinson Bulldog Airlites 26X2.1 and been real happy with them.
I am 1,85
27.5 or 29
27.5 is where it’s at for Texas Trails in my humble opinion. Cheers guys and gals
This is pseudo science! Those slightly bigger wheels won't roll over obstacles easier. Calculate the angles of attack. Also how is a 2. 6 " tyre is big but a 2.4" tyre narrow? And with one run of each setup you cannot come to any conclusion. If you rode several times with the same bike there would probably be more deviation than one second. How was the time even measured?
Also the tyres should be of the same making (casing, thread etc.) and the same width and pressure. Or maybe have different widths and pressures but than it should make sense and you should make several tests to determine what change has which effect.
So you need at least two otherwise identical bikes and several days with good (same) weather conditions.
It's all fun and games until pilgrim shows up with his 16"
This is by far the best comparison I have ever seen. Thank you. I think I go for 29"
I have had a 9 year break from mtbs. Last bike was a Marin Mount Vision 5.8. Just bought a Trek Fuel ex5 (29) and am amazed at how much has changed in that time. It seems like all the things that were supposed to make mountain bikes fast and agile e.g. small wheels, steep frame angles etc have been thrown out the window.
Only managed one firepath ride so far as weather is abysmal. Feels a lot more sure footed but doesn't feel as fast but that might be because it doesn't feel as sketchy as the Marin. I would say though that the front end weighs a ton. Nearly put my back out when I went to lift the front over a log. Perhaps with 29 hoops you just ride into and over everything.
29 for the last three years, never going back, fast and smooth
29ers are super cool, just kidding they're super gay. That's why I'm fast, way faster than you.