Biggest thing that's kept me away from 29ers is how awkward they look bunnyhopping, doing trials moves, and jumping. Long travel is kind of does the same thing, but the extra butt clearance and lower gyroscopic effect of smaller wheels is undeniable. If I was a racer it would be a different story. I was planning on racing this summer but thank god I didn't buy a race bike because not only would that have been a bad investment but racing is canceled lol.
Ive been riding mtbs for 25 years. First bike was a fully rigid, bright yellow GT Karakorum (26 inch wheels). I've likely owned 10 different mtbs over this time frame. Full suspension was #1 advancement. 29er is a very close 2nd. I am 6-4 tall and live in SE USA. Our trails are rocky, rooty, twisty and tight. The climbing is usually punchy and steep. The downhills arent very long. Its true XC country. Every time I ride I am thankful for the 29er because rows of roots and rocks that used to take very specific lines, body english and a ton of energy are generally just plowed over now. The 29er has given me the ability to ride longer and faster which means more fun.
I started with a 26 (like everyone who's been mountain biking for a while), then got a 27.5 when they became popular in 2013, then ended up with a 29er in 2016. I thought 27.5 would be right for me but the 29ers just roll over things and keep their momentum noticeably better than a 27.5. Even in climbing, I noticed I could clear bumpy/tricky climbs better, despite the extra rotating mass of a 29er. Yes, when you are going fast it is a little harder to maneuver and it's not as good for those who like to jump around and do crazy stuff but for me a 29er (with good geometry) is the better option.
I prefer 28.25 Edit: Honestly, I'm 15 and 5'9", and i like 27.5 for enduro, and 29 for xc. I think that the bigger wheels compensate for what you lack in travel, but only a bit. For trail, i think 27.5x2.35-2.6 is great, depending on you trail conditions. I live in a place where its dry and pretty loose, so a 2.6 helps with traction. But its bumpy and rocky so 29 does well there. Just depends on you preference and ride style. If you want speed and efficiency for lets say racing or you just prefer that, 29, but for fun and agility, 27.5, but i'll be racing racing enduro on 27.5 so idk.
Who would have ever thought buying a bike would raise so many questions and debate. I go with 29 simply because of what and where I ride. Helps me with the technical climbing. Which I do a lot of. As far as going downhill I have fun no matter what I'm riding.
Bought a Santa Cruz Hightower. 29er. Love it. Cannot believe how easy it makes a trail feel. However, Just had to try 27.5.... bought'em, put'em on, rode a few trails, took'em off, Went right back to 29. I'm a simple rider. No trials, just minor drops and jumps, 50 years old and in no way trying to be a trickster shredder. 29 feels right in Massachusetts for an old fart like me. Rolls over all the crap that 27.5 and 26ers can get hung up on. At 5'11 , 190lbs. A Large 2020, 29er Hightower is great
Thanks. I'm no longer a young fellow and think I'm going 29" too. I like the idea of 27.5" being a bit more agile, but will take a smoother ride overall.
27.5 is the perfect size! I love my vintage 26ers but they jar you like a earthquake, the 27.5 and 27.5+ takes that away but still makes riding fun... the problem with 29ers is they are being sold to even novice folks that fly past you only to get passed by you on your 26er in a turn... I personally don’t mind 29ers I just dislike the market pushing them onto people that don’t need to be fast yet.... bring up the safety factor of a 29er and the young folks will blast you telling you they are safer then a 27.5 or 26 but I beg to differ! Biffing on a small tire bike is not that bad because you really need to commit to speed, however a 29er is just plain fast as fuck so if you biff on a big tire you know you will be doing a uncontrolled Superman over the bars at a lot faster speed and hit the ground from a lot higher distance... I would not mind a 29er my self but I still have yet to find one that I feel I can control in flight with confidence. I have riden a couple 29ers and it’s like a hotel bed verses you own bed... sure they feel comfy but nothing beats the bed you mainly sleep in... next season I will be going full tilt and buying a 29er to add to my collection from pivot, their suspension is the only thing that is making me feel it will fit my body position and riding style. But I will NEVER stop riding 26!!!!
I have all the sizes, including 26 inch wheels. The only significant differences were max speed and turning reaction. The rollover is not that big of a deal. It really comes down to technique. Up until recently, I rode my 26 inch wheels on my old trail bike and DH bike. I hit the most technical trails and rock gardens with 26ers just fine. The biggest differences are not the wheels, but the suspension systems and the weight. Newer bikes are a lot lighter and have more capable components. I also think geometry differences really isn’t’ the that big of a deal as well. It comes down to the rider’s skill. That said, I do ride my newer 29er trail bikes most of the time. I still ride my Specialized Enduro 27.5 for bike parks. For me, it comes down to weight and the newer shocks.
The rollover does help on really steep stuff but you have a point The geometry actually does play a big part in how a bike feels and rides. (No geometry is not a replacement for skill but even a pro can't ride dh on xc bike geometry, even with more travel) If weight makes a legitimate difference then geometry should too (little changes like 0.5 degrees will have almost no noticeable improvement but when you pass 1-2 degrees then you start to notice differences
Ian Barcellos point taken. It was not my intent to compare different types of MTB, since they are sufficiently different. It was an overstatement as a “fire-for-affect”. It is roughly true though. The geo changes the industry is going through, I have seen over the course of 20 years. Generally, geo changes support the components: suspension travel and wheel size. A minor change does not make all the difference in the world and does not justify a 10-12k price tag. The bike industry is a lot like the computer industry in that respect: Make an almost insignificant incremental improvement, create a new standard around this improvement to support new wheel size/spacing or new processor socket sizes. This in-turn sells frames and new components.
I think you make great points about how a capable rider can ride a trail with older wheel sizes and components. On the other hand I think that geometry and wheel size can have a huge impact on the ability of bikes. That's why we're seeing extremely capable $2000 bikes. Longer slack bikes give the stability from geometey that's "free" because you don't get high end suspension components on a $2000 bike.
LōK MTB I would love to know what the capable 2k bikes are with more slack lines in your opinion? Been riding 26 hardtails for 30 years. Looking to upgrade and for a change but don’t want to spend a ton. Along the lines of what rascal said, forget 10-12 k, 5k is obscene! Its a bike. I ride in the northeast. Very hilly, nowhere near as tight and technical as the vast majority of vids I see posted from out west. Probably what you’d call more pure XC. No real demo opportunities where I live. I want full suspension and something to give me more confidence because at 49 Im still improving!
@@chucklesmcgillicuddy5925 I don't think being in the Northeast has anything to do with "tight and technical". It really comes down to who cuts the trail and what they're after,,, and what the hillside is made of. The trails here in GA can be just as creepy and gnarly as anything out West. I ride here and in SW Colorado and there are trails of all flavors in both places. I went from a Stumpjumper 29 to a KTM Lycan 272 27.5 and just last month to a Pivot Mach 5.5 27.5. I would not go back to a 29, to me they are harder to accurately point downhill through the rough, and they do not like to turn as fast as I want. For you however, if your trails are XC-ish then a 29er might be a good fit. It seems that most of the lower cost / good value bikes are from overseas, although I did see the 2019 Stumpjumper Comp Carbon 29 for $2700 on the Specialized website recently. Fwiw, when I bought Mach 5.5 I demo’ed the Revel Rascal, Pivot 429 Trail, and Pivot Switchblade, but also wanted to try the Santa Cruz Hightower and Ibis Ripley but could never get my hands on one. At that point I was still undecided about going back to a 29. The Ripley or the 429 may be up your alley as well but they’re $4000+ so maybe take a look at the Stumpy, the components are not great but it seems to be a good value.
Really think the biggest factor is how tall you are. Below 6ft, 27.5", taller than 6ft, probably 29er. After 4 years of riding a medium 2015 Demo (I'm 5'10" and yes, I have also ridden large Demo's extensively) I sold it as I jumped on a mate's 27.5" Nukeproof Dissent and I was instantly faster. This is the first time in years I have jumped on a different bike and straight away been faster. I'm getting one soon. I had a bit of a play on a couple other DH bikes including a 29er, but none came close to feeling of the Medium Nukeproof with a 445mm reach and 1240mm wheel base. Sensible numbers at my height. It's alloy, which in a DH bike feels so much better for all the same reasons you mention in this video between the Knolly and your Specialized. There's a lot of hype around different wheel sizes. The underlying marketing message behind a lot of it is there is one particular wheel size or frame material etc, that is faster for everyone, but it simply isn't the case. The only way to get to the bottom of it all is to try different bikes and try to tap into what 'feels' better, and not what the bike industry pushes each season.
I just got a 29er ( hardtail) coming from 26 , i like the 29 but i think i would go 27.5 , around here we have a lot of twisty narrow trails and steep trails . On steep trails i find myself rubbing my ass on the wheel with the 29 . Although it might just be me who needs to get used to it .
It must be really confusing for people new to the sport. I think your videos are going to help a lot of people make decisions. I personally think once a person has a certain skill level then they can probably ride anything, with a few micro adjustments to their technique. I just bought a gravel bike for riding single track. Why? Because there is a MTB park near me that I can access without a car by riding 10km on a gravel rail trail, and climbing up the side of a ski hill on an easy DH single track. Once at the top I have access to some flowy and technical double track and some easy technical blue single track. To get back down I would go down the same easy green DH single track. It is all manageable with my new bike which has 41mm tires and a front suspension. I just added some flat downhill pedals and cut the seat post down a bit. I was actually surprised that I could manage the bike on blue technical single track, but I could. I just got tired of always having to drive to go enjoy some single track riding and now this gives me another option. I couldn't see riding and climbing with my current XC bike that far just to get there. But with the gravel bike it takes me no time to get there. My point is that I am not sure it matters as much as we think.
It’s pretty simple, 27.5 is more agile and quick to respond. 29r faster, better rollover. I have a 29r now but I think I’m going back 27.5. 27.5 feels more connected and your inputs matter. On my 29r every trail feels the same....keep speed and monster truck everything. It works but it’s kind boring.
I think this is a great summary. People want to feel like they are better than they are so going fast over small obstacles and just plowing gives them that feel. But for technical riding, and picking lines, a 27.5 gives you the control. Id rather work on my skills than lie to myself about how good I am.
Sean Roberts, completely agree. Riding a 27.5 will make you a better rider as you have to choose the right line. My 29r is making me lazy. If a big root surprises me at speed I just plow over it. On the 27.5 I have to keep my head up and take the right line
First off, great video and I'm jealous you have these trails at your disposal. I'm 6'1" and tried 4 29ers, just rented the enduro 29er a few weekends ago after I saw your video about it. Unfortunately I came to the same conclusion as with the other 29ers I rode before this one. They're not for me, I just don't like them. 27.5 for me all the way. The only place I liked the enduro 29er was for hardcore bikepark stuff.
I think 29 makes all the sense in the world for enduro/dh and XC, since they’re all about blasting down and up hills respectively and rolling over whatever’s in their path. Then for the trail bikes, with just enough suspension to handle the chunky stuff but not so much that it sucks the fun out of your legs, 27.5 with a snappy geometry is the perfect combination.
I love 27.5. I have them both on my hardtail and full suspension. I ride my hardtail a lot more then my full suspension. It does take the bumps as good. But it's faster more nimble and climbing ability is on a different level then full suspension bikes.
I’m not big on 29 unless it’s for more long ass days. 27.5 is more playful and nimble=more fun! My buddy doesn’t like to hit drop offs or little jumps. 29 is great for him. But I’m the opposite. I feel a little like the 29 is a little more in control of me sometimes on tech stuff.
Height would also affect the choice in my opinion. I'm 5ft7 and I prefer 650B. Not the strongest person out there so it's easier to throw that front wheel around when it's a bit smaller.
In my opinion 29er is all about speed. If you are a racer with time in your head and want to monstertruck or just fly over anything, than go with it. For all, who like to feel the feedback from the ground, who downhill rather on 180mm than on 200mm will stick with the 27.5. I also got the impression that you need a lot more body action to maneuver the 29er.
Your explanations behind your reasoning are great. Considering that you have access to the 27.5 Knolly and you have the Enduro maybe consider throwing your 29er fork on the Knolly? That way you have one more data point for your next bike purchase. I'd like to hear your take on the balance of nimble and monster truck.
i have the old knolly warden (2015) and riding front range colorado its so much fun. your assessment is spot and if i could add, the bike rewards a proactive rider.
I bought a 29er over a 27.5, and let's just say I seriously don't regret my purchase. I think for an Enduro bike, you need 29's. It's speed and agility to handle on rough terrain is crucial to beating everyone else who's racing. They also climb surprisingly well, it blew my mind how quick they climb.
Kind of funny using the world's longest 27.5 to compare wheel sizes. Geometry>wheel size. Just waiting for you to demo a trail Geo 29er and say it's the greatest thing ever.
If you're going to compare a variable such as wheel size wouldn't it be ideal to have other factors being constant? So if he's comparing the experience on a modern long slack 29er then a long slack 27.5 would make sense. If I wanted to compare a 27.5 and 26 I wouldn't compare a DH bike to a dirt jumper.
@@theshortestcharles6886 I don't see him being that interested in a shorter travel trail bike. Eric and Yuka look like they're tolerating their new Druids, but don't love them. The downside to having a bike sponsor. Not saying that those bikes are bad I just think they don't offer the performance needed on more intense trails.
Eric and Yuka are also getting used to not having 180 travel at each end. And this is Yuka's first 29er, which might be a big adjustment for someone as tiny as she is.
A trail bike may also be underbiked for north shore. The Knolly was basically designed for north shore, has the nimbleness of the 27.5 wheels, but big travel and is pretty slack to take the steep drops and huge hits on the north shore jank. North shore is some of the steepest, jankiest, most technical stuff around.
I like the idea of a more nimble bike so I went with a 27.5, and I was coming off a 26, but I think it would be cool to be able to compare it to a similar 29er back-to-back.
Still riding my first bike that’s a 27.5x2.6 hardtail. The width doesn’t have much to do with roll over, but since I’ve got tubeless set up, I run lower pressures and feel like I’ve got max grip and the softer tires give me just a little more cushion when riding tech
I really want to try 27.5, I'm just not motivated enough to eat bread and water for another 6 months....xc 29 is good. Always looking for that next holy Grail lol
Both are great and I hope 27.5 sticks around. Choose a bike for your weakness and what makes your riding more fun. I choose 29 145mm this time and don't have too radical of a head tube angle at 65.9 with a short stem so it makes it a bit easier to maneuver. I need help on Chunky stuff and pedal efficiency so I am happy. I found my goldilocks bike, I hope you do too.
I'm on the Knolly Warden so am totally unbiased when I say the Knolly Warden is the best bike ever ;) but seriously it's really good, I tried a few bikes from Kinetik (Santa Cruz, Transition, etc) and it was my absolute favourite in fit and feel
I have a Pole Stamina 180 (29") and a Canyon Spectral (27.5"). The big bike is definitely faster pretty much everywhere and can do everything the 27.5 can. The small bike can do everything the big bike can, but it gets more nervous and it's slower, but then again it bunnyhops higher, manuals easier and turns slightly better, but I can definitely live with just the 180mm bike, since it has such a good geo that it climbs good and descends insanely good.
Would you ever try a short travel 29” like an evil following or SC tall boy? I’m pretty sold on the idea that the geometry has more of an effect on the bike rather than the wheel size. I’d be interested to see your thoughts on a modern aggressive short travel 29” bike since they’re so playful and also have great rollover
I think those bikes would be great if you want to crank out many miles on chill trails, but I think vancan said he was interested in Enduro racing and a short travel trail bike is far from ideal for that type of riding.
Short travel 29er would be way underbiked on the north shore, at least on what he's riding. The stuff that he's making look easy is beyond most people's riding skills and is nearly vertical.
@@lokmtb8503 From what I've seen, the evil following is very highly represented in the north shore and for those types of trails. VanCan seems to appreciate both increased rollover for chunk, and a nimble bike, coming from a BMX background. For enduro racing it doesn't make sense, I agree, but I think a short travel 29" with progressive geometry would provide the rollover he likes as well as the playful pop he always raves about in his review of smaller bikes. I've also noticed he hasn't tried any short travel 29" (most people haven't) since it's generally assumed they're XC bikes, and think he'd be surprised by how the modern ones perform.
@@theedmanHD I dont doubt that a short travel 29er could handle a ton of the trails in BC. I live in Idaho and I have a 29er trail bike with 140 travel and a 180/165 27.5 for gnarlier Enduro / park stuff. I have ridden my 29er on some pretty crazy trails, but after getting a bigger bike I'd definitely choose that one for spicier trails.
Next video throw a 27.5 on the back of the enduro and do another comparison. I use a 27.5 on the back of my long shocked Transition Smuggler for shuttle and lift access riding.
People complain about the turning abilities of a 29er, i tried my mates 29er and didn't feel the difference was too big, thinking of switching on my next bike
Owned both but prefer the 27.5, unfortunately it’s mostly flat where I live. Coming from bmx I appreciate a bike to mess around on, If I was racing then no doubt would own a 29er
i really like the chillcoten 29er it make me want to own a 29 so i try some 29 er as much as possible and the chillcoten is the one i look forward to buy in the futur
If you want to do enduro racing, 29 wheels id say are the best. They carry so much speed. I personally like 27.5 and not looking to join a competitive race.
Who says you have to have one bike get a XC bike 29ers, and a Trail Bike 27.5. Both full suspension that's what I plan on doing. But Van Can if you want to go fast and do a little jumps what XC bike do you recommend.
my bike is a 26" lapierre spicy 516 and its from 2013, it costed about 600$ and for that price i really don't care what wheels it has, for me its all the same :)
If it gets you to the same places, having the same fun (sometimes more) then it is the perfect bike, I've properly sent the living crap out of some rat ass bikes before, was it fun? Hell yeah it was fun! Would not recommend just trying it but I really liked some of those old school beaters to the point I kinda understood their flaws.
Is 26" really dying??? I just brought a used but like new 2011 giant trance sl1, sweet bike. I used ride a niner wfo9 and that was a tank. Still fun to ride.
I'm 40, just want to survive trails like that. Better off with the roll over of a 29" or the nimbleness of the 27.5? I won't be going fast... Will be doing state park loops more than starting from the tops of hills 5'9" tall
Have you Ridden the Transition sentinel gx build 29 2020 or the Transition Scout GX build 2020 please let me know ! Would love to see you demo both bikes being one 29 & 27.5 Great vid by the way 👍👌
I think it's like buying the right skis. There's no right ski for everyone, but there's the right ski for you. Start with were you're gonna use the thing. Multiply that with what kind of terrain you wanna go on. Devide by demoing a ton of bikes and there's your answer.
Well, you already got your enduro race machine. But sounds like you're trying to convince yourself to get a second bike. I think a rowdy 27.5 like that Knolly would be a great addition to the stable, definitely keep the enduro though.
I'm starting to wonder if the whole "27.5 is more nimble, 29 is faster" mantra is something that's actually true in real life, or whether it's just something that's been repeated over and over so many times we all accept it as fact. I'm guessing many people wouldn't even notice one way or the other in a blind test.
Series name: "VanCan convinces himself 27.5 is better to justify buying another new bike" I support this endeavour though!
I'm telling u man. He's gonna get a knolly warden.
This proves the best bike for you is the one you own. Spend time on your skills and have more fun!
except if you own a road bike. Sell it and get an MTB
Try mullet! It will be the best for you and the north shore i think
Yup, stick the front end from your other bike on there.
We need to make a 28.25 wheel size for vancan
They should make a 28.25
They should make a 30.5"
I think he should try a 27.5x2.8 or 3.0 plus bike. That would be around a 28.25x2.4 diameter I think.
But then there wouldnt be as many companion videos of his to watch. Soon we will have anti gravity hover bikes to ride anyways.
I Measured My Front Wheel On My Warden Last Nite And It Was 28.5 in . At 22psi 😎
Whens the 26" video coming?
26 ain't dead
my friend with 26 can t follow me up the mountain it s great for dh but for enduro you need to be in shape
Perfect wheel size then is 28.25 :)
Biggest thing that's kept me away from 29ers is how awkward they look bunnyhopping, doing trials moves, and jumping. Long travel is kind of does the same thing, but the extra butt clearance and lower gyroscopic effect of smaller wheels is undeniable. If I was a racer it would be a different story. I was planning on racing this summer but thank god I didn't buy a race bike because not only would that have been a bad investment but racing is canceled lol.
Just purchased a 27.5" this video made me feel better about my purchase. Can't wait for her to arrive.
27.5" is the way to go!
Ive been riding mtbs for 25 years. First bike was a fully rigid, bright yellow GT Karakorum (26 inch wheels). I've likely owned 10 different mtbs over this time frame. Full suspension was #1 advancement. 29er is a very close 2nd. I am 6-4 tall and live in SE USA. Our trails are rocky, rooty, twisty and tight. The climbing is usually punchy and steep. The downhills arent very long. Its true XC country. Every time I ride I am thankful for the 29er because rows of roots and rocks that used to take very specific lines, body english and a ton of energy are generally just plowed over now. The 29er has given me the ability to ride longer and faster which means more fun.
I started with a 26 (like everyone who's been mountain biking for a while), then got a 27.5 when they became popular in 2013, then ended up with a 29er in 2016. I thought 27.5 would be right for me but the 29ers just roll over things and keep their momentum noticeably better than a 27.5. Even in climbing, I noticed I could clear bumpy/tricky climbs better, despite the extra rotating mass of a 29er. Yes, when you are going fast it is a little harder to maneuver and it's not as good for those who like to jump around and do crazy stuff but for me a 29er (with good geometry) is the better option.
I prefer 28.25
Edit: Honestly, I'm 15 and 5'9", and i like 27.5 for enduro, and 29 for xc. I think that the bigger wheels compensate for what you lack in travel, but only a bit. For trail, i think 27.5x2.35-2.6 is great, depending on you trail conditions. I live in a place where its dry and pretty loose, so a 2.6 helps with traction. But its bumpy and rocky so 29 does well there. Just depends on you preference and ride style. If you want speed and efficiency for lets say racing or you just prefer that, 29, but for fun and agility, 27.5, but i'll be racing racing enduro on 27.5 so idk.
I love 29ers once you get up to speed nothing can stop you and thay roll over stuff so well!!
"Nothing can stop you..."
*laughs in 90 degree turn onto wooden bridge*
I love the 29ers got my first bike a month and a half ago and it's a 29er, so happy with my choice.
Who would have ever thought buying a bike would raise so many questions and debate. I go with 29 simply because of what and where I ride. Helps me with the technical climbing. Which I do a lot of. As far as going downhill I have fun no matter what I'm riding.
I ride 26 lol and I have never had 29 pr 27.5, but I think I would prefer 27.5
Bought a Santa Cruz Hightower. 29er.
Love it. Cannot believe how easy it makes a trail feel. However,
Just had to try 27.5.... bought'em, put'em on, rode a few trails, took'em off, Went right back to 29.
I'm a simple rider. No trials, just minor drops and jumps, 50 years old and in no way trying to be a trickster shredder.
29 feels right in Massachusetts for an old fart like me. Rolls over all the crap that 27.5 and 26ers can get hung up on. At 5'11 , 190lbs. A Large 2020, 29er Hightower is great
Thanks. I'm no longer a young fellow and think I'm going 29" too. I like the idea of 27.5" being a bit more agile, but will take a smoother ride overall.
Maybe try a Forbidden Druid in a mullet configuration? Could be a great option👍
27.5 is the perfect size! I love my vintage 26ers but they jar you like a earthquake, the 27.5 and 27.5+ takes that away but still makes riding fun... the problem with 29ers is they are being sold to even novice folks that fly past you only to get passed by you on your 26er in a turn... I personally don’t mind 29ers I just dislike the market pushing them onto people that don’t need to be fast yet.... bring up the safety factor of a 29er and the young folks will blast you telling you they are safer then a 27.5 or 26 but I beg to differ! Biffing on a small tire bike is not that bad because you really need to commit to speed, however a 29er is just plain fast as fuck so if you biff on a big tire you know you will be doing a uncontrolled Superman over the bars at a lot faster speed and hit the ground from a lot higher distance... I would not mind a 29er my self but I still have yet to find one that I feel I can control in flight with confidence. I have riden a couple 29ers and it’s like a hotel bed verses you own bed... sure they feel comfy but nothing beats the bed you mainly sleep in... next season I will be going full tilt and buying a 29er to add to my collection from pivot, their suspension is the only thing that is making me feel it will fit my body position and riding style. But I will NEVER stop riding 26!!!!
I have all the sizes, including 26 inch wheels. The only significant differences were max speed and turning reaction. The rollover is not that big of a deal. It really comes down to technique. Up until recently, I rode my 26 inch wheels on my old trail bike and DH bike. I hit the most technical trails and rock gardens with 26ers just fine. The biggest differences are not the wheels, but the suspension systems and the weight. Newer bikes are a lot lighter and have more capable components. I also think geometry differences really isn’t’ the that big of a deal as well. It comes down to the rider’s skill. That said, I do ride my newer 29er trail bikes most of the time. I still ride my Specialized Enduro 27.5 for bike parks. For me, it comes down to weight and the newer shocks.
The rollover does help on really steep stuff but you have a point
The geometry actually does play a big part in how a bike feels and rides. (No geometry is not a replacement for skill but even a pro can't ride dh on xc bike geometry, even with more travel)
If weight makes a legitimate difference then geometry should too (little changes like 0.5 degrees will have almost no noticeable improvement but when you pass 1-2 degrees then you start to notice differences
Ian Barcellos point taken. It was not my intent to compare different types of MTB, since they are sufficiently different. It was an overstatement as a “fire-for-affect”. It is roughly true though. The geo changes the industry is going through, I have seen over the course of 20 years. Generally, geo changes support the components: suspension travel and wheel size. A minor change does not make all the difference in the world and does not justify a 10-12k price tag. The bike industry is a lot like the computer industry in that respect: Make an almost insignificant incremental improvement, create a new standard around this improvement to support new wheel size/spacing or new processor socket sizes. This in-turn sells frames and new components.
I think you make great points about how a capable rider can ride a trail with older wheel sizes and components. On the other hand I think that geometry and wheel size can have a huge impact on the ability of bikes. That's why we're seeing extremely capable $2000 bikes. Longer slack bikes give the stability from geometey that's "free" because you don't get high end suspension components on a $2000 bike.
LōK MTB I would love to know what the capable 2k bikes are with more slack lines in your opinion? Been riding 26 hardtails for 30 years. Looking to upgrade and for a change but don’t want to spend a ton. Along the lines of what rascal said, forget 10-12 k, 5k is obscene! Its a bike. I ride in the northeast. Very hilly, nowhere near as tight and technical as the vast majority of vids I see posted from out west. Probably what you’d call more pure XC. No real demo opportunities where I live. I want full suspension and something to give me more confidence because at 49 Im still improving!
@@chucklesmcgillicuddy5925 I don't think being in the Northeast has anything to do with "tight and technical". It really comes down to who cuts the trail and what they're after,,, and what the hillside is made of. The trails here in GA can be just as creepy and gnarly as anything out West. I ride here and in SW Colorado and there are trails of all flavors in both places.
I went from a Stumpjumper 29 to a KTM Lycan 272 27.5 and just last month to a Pivot Mach 5.5 27.5. I would not go back to a 29, to me they are harder to accurately point downhill through the rough, and they do not like to turn as fast as I want. For you however, if your trails are XC-ish then a 29er might be a good fit. It seems that most of the lower cost / good value bikes are from overseas, although I did see the 2019 Stumpjumper Comp Carbon 29 for $2700 on the Specialized website recently. Fwiw, when I bought Mach 5.5 I demo’ed the Revel Rascal, Pivot 429 Trail, and Pivot Switchblade, but also wanted to try the Santa Cruz Hightower and Ibis Ripley but could never get my hands on one. At that point I was still undecided about going back to a 29. The Ripley or the 429 may be up your alley as well but they’re $4000+ so maybe take a look at the Stumpy, the components are not great but it seems to be a good value.
Really think the biggest factor is how tall you are. Below 6ft, 27.5", taller than 6ft, probably 29er.
After 4 years of riding a medium 2015 Demo (I'm 5'10" and yes, I have also ridden large Demo's extensively) I sold it as I jumped on a mate's 27.5" Nukeproof Dissent and I was instantly faster. This is the first time in years I have jumped on a different bike and straight away been faster. I'm getting one soon. I had a bit of a play on a couple other DH bikes including a 29er, but none came close to feeling of the Medium Nukeproof with a 445mm reach and 1240mm wheel base. Sensible numbers at my height. It's alloy, which in a DH bike feels so much better for all the same reasons you mention in this video between the Knolly and your Specialized.
There's a lot of hype around different wheel sizes. The underlying marketing message behind a lot of it is there is one particular wheel size or frame material etc, that is faster for everyone, but it simply isn't the case. The only way to get to the bottom of it all is to try different bikes and try to tap into what 'feels' better, and not what the bike industry pushes each season.
I just got a 29er ( hardtail) coming from 26 , i like the 29 but i think i would go 27.5 , around here we have a lot of twisty narrow trails and steep trails . On steep trails i find myself rubbing my ass on the wheel with the 29 . Although it might just be me who needs to get used to it .
I currently ride a 27.5 and having come off 29er i do miss the momentum a 29er holds. So the answer for me is to own both.
It must be really confusing for people new to the sport. I think your videos are going to help a lot of people make decisions. I personally think once a person has a certain skill level then they can probably ride anything, with a few micro adjustments to their technique. I just bought a gravel bike for riding single track. Why? Because there is a MTB park near me that I can access without a car by riding 10km on a gravel rail trail, and climbing up the side of a ski hill on an easy DH single track. Once at the top I have access to some flowy and technical double track and some easy technical blue single track. To get back down I would go down the same easy green DH single track. It is all manageable with my new bike which has 41mm tires and a front suspension. I just added some flat downhill pedals and cut the seat post down a bit. I was actually surprised that I could manage the bike on blue technical single track, but I could. I just got tired of always having to drive to go enjoy some single track riding and now this gives me another option. I couldn't see riding and climbing with my current XC bike that far just to get there. But with the gravel bike it takes me no time to get there. My point is that I am not sure it matters as much as we think.
I do dh racing and I think 27.5 is the best wheel size absolutely love it not a 29 fan
My dude go back to 27.5 it actually looks way more nimble and im guessing its not only looks but the feel as well 😂💪🏼
It’s pretty simple, 27.5 is more agile and quick to respond. 29r faster, better rollover. I have a 29r now but I think I’m going back 27.5. 27.5 feels more connected and your inputs matter. On my 29r every trail feels the same....keep speed and monster truck everything. It works but it’s kind boring.
I think this is a great summary. People want to feel like they are better than they are so going fast over small obstacles and just plowing gives them that feel. But for technical riding, and picking lines, a 27.5 gives you the control. Id rather work on my skills than lie to myself about how good I am.
Sean Roberts, completely agree. Riding a 27.5 will make you a better rider as you have to choose the right line. My 29r is making me lazy. If a big root surprises me at speed I just plow over it. On the 27.5 I have to keep my head up and take the right line
Well said. 🙂👍
First off, great video and I'm jealous you have these trails at your disposal. I'm 6'1" and tried 4 29ers, just rented the enduro 29er a few weekends ago after I saw your video about it. Unfortunately I came to the same conclusion as with the other 29ers I rode before this one. They're not for me, I just don't like them. 27.5 for me all the way. The only place I liked the enduro 29er was for hardcore bikepark stuff.
I think 29 makes all the sense in the world for enduro/dh and XC, since they’re all about blasting down and up hills respectively and rolling over whatever’s in their path. Then for the trail bikes, with just enough suspension to handle the chunky stuff but not so much that it sucks the fun out of your legs, 27.5 with a snappy geometry is the perfect combination.
I love 27.5. I have them both on my hardtail and full suspension. I ride my hardtail a lot more then my full suspension. It does take the bumps as good. But it's faster more nimble and climbing ability is on a different level then full suspension bikes.
My 26HT Is A DragRacer IT HOOKS 2.35 Rear 😎
I’m not big on 29 unless it’s for more long ass days.
27.5 is more playful and nimble=more fun!
My buddy doesn’t like to hit drop offs or little jumps. 29 is great for him. But I’m the opposite. I feel a little like the 29 is a little more in control of me sometimes on tech stuff.
Height would also affect the choice in my opinion. I'm 5ft7 and I prefer 650B. Not the strongest person out there so it's easier to throw that front wheel around when it's a bit smaller.
In my opinion 29er is all about speed. If you are a racer with time in your head and want to monstertruck or just fly over anything, than go with it. For all, who like to feel the feedback from the ground, who downhill rather on 180mm than on 200mm will stick with the 27.5. I also got the impression that you need a lot more body action to maneuver the 29er.
Your explanations behind your reasoning are great. Considering that you have access to the 27.5 Knolly and you have the Enduro maybe consider throwing your 29er fork on the Knolly? That way you have one more data point for your next bike purchase. I'd like to hear your take on the balance of nimble and monster truck.
i have the old knolly warden (2015) and riding front range colorado its so much fun. your assessment is spot and if i could add, the bike rewards a proactive rider.
I bought a 29er over a 27.5, and let's just say I seriously don't regret my purchase. I think for an Enduro bike, you need 29's. It's speed and agility to handle on rough terrain is crucial to beating everyone else who's racing. They also climb surprisingly well, it blew my mind how quick they climb.
Both. Tallboy for cross country and a Transition Patrol for park and jumpy downhill rooty rocky stuff .
Kind of funny using the world's longest 27.5 to compare wheel sizes. Geometry>wheel size. Just waiting for you to demo a trail Geo 29er and say it's the greatest thing ever.
If you're going to compare a variable such as wheel size wouldn't it be ideal to have other factors being constant? So if he's comparing the experience on a modern long slack 29er then a long slack 27.5 would make sense. If I wanted to compare a 27.5 and 26 I wouldn't compare a DH bike to a dirt jumper.
Wait till he tries the Offering or the Druid
@@theshortestcharles6886 I don't see him being that interested in a shorter travel trail bike. Eric and Yuka look like they're tolerating their new Druids, but don't love them. The downside to having a bike sponsor. Not saying that those bikes are bad I just think they don't offer the performance needed on more intense trails.
Eric and Yuka are also getting used to not having 180 travel at each end. And this is Yuka's first 29er, which might be a big adjustment for someone as tiny as she is.
A trail bike may also be underbiked for north shore. The Knolly was basically designed for north shore, has the nimbleness of the 27.5 wheels, but big travel and is pretty slack to take the steep drops and huge hits on the north shore jank. North shore is some of the steepest, jankiest, most technical stuff around.
I have 2 2015 knolly’s and their absolutely insane I love them and can’t stop riding them. Apparently they changed the frame geometry
I like the idea of a more nimble bike so I went with a 27.5, and I was coming off a 26, but I think it would be cool to be able to compare it to a similar 29er back-to-back.
Still riding my first bike that’s a 27.5x2.6 hardtail. The width doesn’t have much to do with roll over, but since I’ve got tubeless set up, I run lower pressures and feel like I’ve got max grip and the softer tires give me just a little more cushion when riding tech
I really want to try 27.5, I'm just not motivated enough to eat bread and water for another 6 months....xc 29 is good. Always looking for that next holy Grail lol
I really love how you are doing this compare.
Both are great and I hope 27.5 sticks around. Choose a bike for your weakness and what makes your riding more fun. I choose 29 145mm this time and don't have too radical of a head tube angle at 65.9 with a short stem so it makes it a bit easier to maneuver. I need help on Chunky stuff and pedal efficiency so I am happy. I found my goldilocks bike, I hope you do too.
Dude, I don't know how do you know where the trail is with all those fallen trees and logs around. 😂
I own 27.5 but have demoed, and loved, a 29er.
I want to have both. It just depends on the mood of the day as to which I would select to ride.
I'm on the Knolly Warden so am totally unbiased when I say the Knolly Warden is the best bike ever ;) but seriously it's really good, I tried a few bikes from Kinetik (Santa Cruz, Transition, etc) and it was my absolute favourite in fit and feel
I have a Pole Stamina 180 (29") and a Canyon Spectral (27.5"). The big bike is definitely faster pretty much everywhere and can do everything the 27.5 can. The small bike can do everything the big bike can, but it gets more nervous and it's slower, but then again it bunnyhops higher, manuals easier and turns slightly better, but I can definitely live with just the 180mm bike, since it has such a good geo that it climbs good and descends insanely good.
Would you ever try a short travel 29” like an evil following or SC tall boy? I’m pretty sold on the idea that the geometry has more of an effect on the bike rather than the wheel size. I’d be interested to see your thoughts on a modern aggressive short travel 29” bike since they’re so playful and also have great rollover
I think those bikes would be great if you want to crank out many miles on chill trails, but I think vancan said he was interested in Enduro racing and a short travel trail bike is far from ideal for that type of riding.
Short travel 29er would be way underbiked on the north shore, at least on what he's riding. The stuff that he's making look easy is beyond most people's riding skills and is nearly vertical.
@@lokmtb8503 From what I've seen, the evil following is very highly represented in the north shore and for those types of trails. VanCan seems to appreciate both increased rollover for chunk, and a nimble bike, coming from a BMX background. For enduro racing it doesn't make sense, I agree, but I think a short travel 29" with progressive geometry would provide the rollover he likes as well as the playful pop he always raves about in his review of smaller bikes. I've also noticed he hasn't tried any short travel 29" (most people haven't) since it's generally assumed they're XC bikes, and think he'd be surprised by how the modern ones perform.
@@theedmanHD I dont doubt that a short travel 29er could handle a ton of the trails in BC. I live in Idaho and I have a 29er trail bike with 140 travel and a 180/165 27.5 for gnarlier Enduro / park stuff. I have ridden my 29er on some pretty crazy trails, but after getting a bigger bike I'd definitely choose that one for spicier trails.
Next video throw a 27.5 on the back of the enduro and do another comparison. I use a 27.5 on the back of my long shocked Transition Smuggler for shuttle and lift access riding.
Cant you just buy a 29er and another set of 27.5 wheels ? That way you can swap out depending on your trail preference at the time.
What about 27.5+, which can be good at rolling over things?
People complain about the turning abilities of a 29er, i tried my mates 29er and didn't feel the difference was too big, thinking of switching on my next bike
Owned both but prefer the 27.5, unfortunately it’s mostly flat where I live. Coming from bmx I appreciate a bike to mess around on, If I was racing then no doubt would own a 29er
Yup, back and forth on wheel size? Try the mullet!
i really like the chillcoten 29er it make me want to own a 29 so i try some 29 er as much as possible and the chillcoten is the one i look forward to buy in the futur
If you want to do enduro racing, 29 wheels id say are the best. They carry so much speed. I personally like 27.5 and not looking to join a competitive race.
Who says you have to have one bike get a XC bike 29ers, and a Trail Bike 27.5. Both full suspension that's what I plan on doing. But Van Can if you want to go fast and do a little jumps what XC bike do you recommend.
my bike is a 26" lapierre spicy 516 and its from 2013, it costed about 600$ and for that price i really don't care what wheels it has, for me its all the same :)
I agree it's better to have an old shitty bike than no bike at all.
If it gets you to the same places, having the same fun (sometimes more) then it is the perfect bike, I've properly sent the living crap out of some rat ass bikes before, was it fun? Hell yeah it was fun! Would not recommend just trying it but I really liked some of those old school beaters to the point I kinda understood their flaws.
You have any thoughts on transition bikes? I’ve been looking at the new sentinel. Seems like a pretty awesome bike
Oh those trails look heavenly!!!!
next video: Does VanCan think we should have any tires on our bikes??
No tires is the ultimate tubeless experience.
What's the braking sound, sounds like water container?
Is 26" really dying??? I just brought a used but like new 2011 giant trance sl1, sweet bike. I used ride a niner wfo9 and that was a tank. Still fun to ride.
I have a 27.5 stumpy and thinking of making a mullet out of it down the road
Now you got to do a mullet video! Put the knolly rear on the enduro
Nick Morrison No... you gotta but the Enduro front on the Knolly! Geo works better that way.... 😉
Defo go mullet, is the best of both !
Nick: Which one do you own vs. which one do you wanna own.
Me: Laughs on 26" wheels
You have such great rides near you. It must have taken you many runs to dial them in the way you tear into them. Great video.
27.5 for life. #freerideordie
Mega looking Trails ! To be fair it sounds like the Enduro is just to big a bike for you ? Maybe a short to Mid travel 29er ?
can you check out some pedals? They're called supacaz smash dh and they're composite flat pedals.
I'm 40, just want to survive trails like that. Better off with the roll over of a 29" or the nimbleness of the 27.5? I won't be going fast... Will be doing state park loops more than starting from the tops of hills
5'9" tall
i honestly feel like it would be better to pick a wheel size based off of your height.
27.5
27.5+
Can you do a video on how do you film, edit and export? will help a lot of people, your videos look mint 👀
Is that brake sound normal? I just started hearing on my 3weeks old bike w/ sram code r brake set getting on my head when im riding
I think (as you propaly heard very often) a mullet Bike would be perfect
Bruh I’m on 26
My dh bike is still on 26 and i love it .
Have you Ridden the Transition sentinel gx build 29 2020 or the Transition Scout GX build 2020 please let me know ! Would love to see you demo both bikes being one 29 & 27.5
Great vid by the way 👍👌
Not yet!
I think it's like buying the right skis. There's no right ski for everyone, but there's the right ski for you.
Start with were you're gonna use the thing. Multiply that with what kind of terrain you wanna go on. Devide by demoing a ton of bikes and there's your answer.
i have a 2008 demo 8 and im riding 26 inch, i dont have any problems:D
I know where this is going, you are going to get a 28.25' bike
wtf
How do like spank wheels ?
Some one should make 28inch wheels just for van can
27.5" for me :)
Are you using a gimble to make that shot so steady?
Nope. Hero 8 on my chin bar
Im 176 cm, 5’9 in height, y’all think I should get a L sized 2018 Giant Glory 27,5 or look for something else ?
My friend has a L giant glory and he is 5’10 and he loves it
26" isn't too small! For Pete's Sake...we all rode 26" bikes for decades now suddenly we question this? Get on your damn bike and ride!!
Any more pedal strikes with the 27.5? Thanks!
Not that I noticed
The obvious and best choice given your local is yet to be contumplated, 27.5 single speed rigid.
I own 29ers and love them but want to try 27.5
Sorry, I only ride 26." Great trails out here in Nor Ca!
love your vids! keep it up
Why can’t you get into that enduro race scene on the 27.5?
Well, you already got your enduro race machine. But sounds like you're trying to convince yourself to get a second bike. I think a rowdy 27.5 like that Knolly would be a great addition to the stable, definitely keep the enduro though.
@vancan are you using insta 360 cameras on all of your videos?
For me a 27.5 is perfect.
I'm starting to wonder if the whole "27.5 is more nimble, 29 is faster" mantra is something that's actually true in real life, or whether it's just something that's been repeated over and over so many times we all accept it as fact.
I'm guessing many people wouldn't even notice one way or the other in a blind test.
GT force mullet setup
Hey man, I really enjoy your videos, I’m looking at the 27.5 Commencal Mets am v4.2 and id like to know if y’all think it would be a good buy
It’s hard for me to see how once inch and a half is better for bike park and jumping and everything else 27.5 is where it’s at
Me: *sees title* ‘this guy can’t frickin make his mind up’
Plus this debate is about 2 years too late, usually I love the content from this channel but this stuff just makes me make my eyes roll
@@mathias3068 same, if he goes further with this debate then I'm going to leave