New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
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New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby bychosis » Sat Oct 28, 2017 9:07 pm
Of course the wheel size thing is another factor in any decision. Trek only do the fuel ex in 29 and remedy in 27.5. Giant seem to be running 27.5 on most, specialised have the camber on 29 and stumpy on27.5 or 29. Others have any size wheel available and chuck in 27.5+ to further complicate.
What’s your experience? Bike shop today suggested the the fuel ex 29 was THE bike for local trails (glenrock, Awaba), but I’m not convinced on 29” for being agile. Second shop seemed to think I’d enjoy 27.5, or even 27.5+ more.
Thanks in advance.
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby Duck! » Sat Oct 28, 2017 9:49 pm
I'm yet to find a 29er that makes me go "wow"; the ones I've ridden have ranged from dreadful to kind of OK.The 27.5s that I've ridden have been very well-rounded packages, although the climbing, in major part due to the slack front ends, has suffered compared to my trusty 26", because they get vague & floaty.
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby Usernoname » Sun Oct 29, 2017 7:47 am
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby bychosis » Sun Oct 29, 2017 7:53 am
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby trailgumby » Sun Oct 29, 2017 5:43 pm
There is a lot of development going on with geometry that addresses most of the traditional moans about 29ers and nimbleness, to the point where they're even running 29er Downhill bikes at some tracks on the World Cup circuit now. Recent comment from an importer on a local All Mountain FB page on the Northern Beaches stated that his biggest enquiry rate is for 150mm travel 29ers.
No-one really wants 27.5, according to him. Maybe that's a local phenomenon, maybe not.
My view is that 29ers will always offer more efficient rolling due to a smoother axle path, and it has just taken a bit of time for designers to catch up and make the geometry more engaging to ride. The test ride I did on the Trek Fuel EX9.8 at Old Man's Valley was brilliant. A very engaging and capable ride.
For those who want super nimble and "exciting", they can always stay with 26", or even go down to 20" BMX!
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby Mugglechops » Wed Nov 01, 2017 1:49 pm
The only thing I would go to is a 27.5plus after riding 2 plus hardtails.
I still have one 26er but that's a Fatbike so it doesn't count...
I only ride rigid bikes these days so can't comment on suspension versions.
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby bychosis » Wed Nov 01, 2017 3:32 pm
Last attempt at test riding or at least test sitting was a failure. One shop only had the Fuel in medium and a single Remedy in Large so couldn't compare. Second shop was busy and I was able to hop onto an XL 27.5 Norco which funnily enough was a little big but not enough time to test another.
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby Mububban » Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:32 pm
I did see some Youtube reviews of the Fuel EX 7 29er that raved about how good it was and how well it handledtrailgumby wrote:There is a lot of development going on with geometry that addresses most of the traditional moans about 29ers and nimbleness
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby bychosis » Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:47 pm
Yeah, I've seen some of those too which is confounding my decision. Then I also read a review on the Remedy 27.5 yesterday saying it was just more chuckable/agile than the 29er Fuel or even Slash 29er. Ultimately I guess either is a great bike and it'll come down to throwing a leg over.Mububban wrote:I did see some Youtube reviews of the Fuel EX 7 29er that raved about how good it was and how well it handledtrailgumby wrote:There is a lot of development going on with geometry that addresses most of the traditional moans about 29ers and nimbleness
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby Calvin27 » Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:56 pm
- If you are medium or smaller go for the 27.5. No questions.
- If you are L or XL, try it out, but most would go for the 29.
Personally a 27.5 is ideal for me (I'm a M/L to confuse things). But take this option only if you care squat for times and just wanna have fun.
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby defy1 » Mon Nov 06, 2017 1:50 pm
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby TheReality » Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:58 pm
I rode my mates 29r Fuel ex and I reckon mine was more fun to ride.
Trek in Brisbane do demo bikes you can loan, maybe they can do the same where you are.
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby bychosis » Mon Nov 06, 2017 9:32 pm
As for test rides, still waiting. I had a plan to visit some shops today and was half way to the first this morning when the preschool rang and told me junior was crook, so that curtailed my plans for another week or so.
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby rangersac » Tue Nov 07, 2017 10:15 am
Now that I've said all that, at the end of the day given you are coming off a 2009 XC 26er, anything you ride (provided it isn't a Kmart/ Aldi bike!) is going to feel amazing given the changes in geometry and suspension improvements
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby Cardy George » Tue Nov 07, 2017 1:57 pm
That's what I was told too when I asked the biggest (probably the most expensive too) shop in Adelaide about a month ago. They also said for where I live (flat and sandy) they wouldn't sell me anything but a 29er. Horses for courses.....rangersac wrote:Now that I've said all that, at the end of the day given you are coming off a 2009 XC 26er, anything you ride (provided it isn't a Kmart/ Aldi bike!) is going to feel amazing given the changes in geometry and suspension improvements
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Thu Nov 09, 2017 2:22 pm
That bike shop is misguided...plenty of punters at the club are still running 26" and the split between 27.5 and 29 is pretty even. Probably because the Coomie track allows all sorts of things to be run successfully even in the tight spots. Away from the track...you are more at risk of being over damped than having the wrong wheel size.Cardy George wrote:That's what I was told too when I asked the biggest (probably the most expensive too) shop in Adelaide about a month ago. They also said for where I live (flat and sandy) they wouldn't sell me anything but a 29er. Horses for courses.....
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby bychosis » Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:39 am
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby Calvin27 » Wed Dec 06, 2017 9:29 am
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby Cardy George » Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:17 am
A 27.5 what?bychosis wrote:After a carpark test ride back to back on a 27.5 and 29er that were otherwise the same I've ordered a 27.5. 2 more sleeps!
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby trailgumby » Wed Dec 06, 2017 6:19 pm
Cardy George wrote:A 27.5 what?bychosis wrote:After a carpark test ride back to back on a 27.5 and 29er that were otherwise the same I've ordered a 27.5. 2 more sleeps!
That 27.5 thing. You know...
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby find_bruce » Wed Dec 06, 2017 6:31 pm
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby bychosis » Wed Dec 06, 2017 8:00 pm
Loading.... 84%.Cardy George wrote:A 27.5 what?
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby Cardy George » Thu Dec 07, 2017 12:22 pm
bychosis wrote:Loading.... 84%.Cardy George wrote:A 27.5 what?
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby bychosis » Fri Dec 08, 2017 3:52 pm
'17 Remedy 8. (Little bit excited, I haven't purchased a new complete bike this century)
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Re: New bike decisions. 27.5 or 29?
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Fri Dec 08, 2017 4:13 pm
is nicebychosis wrote:New bike arrival!
'17 Remedy 8. (Little bit excited, I haven't purchased a new complete bike this century)
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