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27.5

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2018 3:02 pm
by 4 1 3 0
Hi all
I posted a thread in the past asking if 26in were dead and buried. Was just wanting to follow on and ask if anyone rides 27.5 and are they any good? Just interested as there is ever so many brands and prices out there and i may be tempted in the near future to purchase one.
Thanks

Re: 27.5

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2018 5:19 pm
by mikgit
I bought a 27.5, only because you couldn't really buy a new FS...or well anything 26 and I didn;t want a 29er.
Yeah it does OK I guess, I still prefer my 26 HT for most stuff, the way it handles, fits and feels. The 27.5 is more comfortable for longer...but then it's 26 aluminium HT 71 HA, 100mm fork vs 120mm, 68 HA full suspension, so not exactly a direct comparison.
There's not really much diff between 26 and 27.5 in wheel size, it's more about the newer stuff to do with the frame (suspensiondesign, reach etc)

Re: 27.5

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2018 8:22 pm
by bychosis
I went 27.5 for my new MTB last last year. Coming from a light and agile 26” I wasn’t a fan of the 29” wheels extra weight. After trying a 27.5 back to back with a 29 in the same bike model I was sold on 27.5. I wanted a fun, nimble chuck around bike rather than a fast XC bike to roll over everything.

Re: 27.5

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 12:37 pm
by 4 1 3 0
bychosis wrote:I went 27.5 for my new MTB last last year. Coming from a light and agile 26” I wasn’t a fan of the 29” wheels extra weight. After trying a 27.5 back to back with a 29 in the same bike model I was sold on 27.5. I wanted a fun, nimble chuck around bike rather than a fast XC bike to roll over everything.
Yep i was thinking along the same lines, as I'm shortish and light weight in myself. I have a love of my old Cro-Mo Rigid MTB for gravel trails and bit of off road touring. I have an old Hybrid and it seems way big and to be honest as heavy as. Its still Aluminium with Cro-Mo forks but as heavy as hell. Got good gearing to compensate but enjoy the 26.

Re: 27.5

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:06 pm
by Duck!
Although I'm still a 26" devotee, I have ridden a few 27.5s, and I rather like them. Wheel size isn't the sole defining feature of any bike BUT bigger wheels mean bigger compromises in other aspects of the frame design in order to fit them in, which is the biggest thing against 29ers. 27.5" comes pretty close to finding the best overall compromise from a whole raft of little compromises that can have big effects.

You retain most of the agility of smaller wheels; smaller wheels are also inherently stiffer, all other component & structural factors being equal, so they handle better when thrown at corners, but on the flip side bigger wheels have a better angle of attack on an given-sized bump, so will roll over better, where little wheels will tend to get tripped up. 29" has the edge on this front, but 27.5" is also better than 26" here.

I think the best summary I read, at the tail of an article comparing the three sizes on variants of the same model bike, went along the lines of "27.5" isn't the best at anything, but it's the best for everything". Meaning that there were aspects where 26" would perfom the best but 29" would suffer, other areas where 29" would be superior and 26" would struggle, while 27.5" would consistently sit in the middle & ultimately offer the best all-round performance. And from what I've ridden, I'd have to agree.

Re: 27.5

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 12:55 pm
by 4 1 3 0
Duck! wrote:Although I'm still a 26" devotee, I have ridden a few 27.5s, and I rather like them. Wheel size isn't the sole defining feature of any bike BUT bigger wheels mean bigger compromises in other aspects of the frame design in order to fit them in, which is the biggest thing against 29ers. 27.5" comes pretty close to finding the best overall compromise from a whole raft of little compromises that can have big effects.

You retain most of the agility of smaller wheels; smaller wheels are also inherently stiffer, all other component & structural factors being equal, so they handle better when thrown at corners, but on the flip side bigger wheels have a better angle of attack on an given-sized bump, so will roll over better, where little wheels will tend to get tripped up. 29" has the edge on this front, but 27.5" is also better than 26" here.

I think the best summary I read, at the tail of an article comparing the three sizes on variants of the same model bike, went along the lines of "27.5" isn't the best at anything, but it's the best for everything". Meaning that there were aspects where 26" would perfom the best but 29" would suffer, other areas where 29" would be superior and 26" would struggle, while 27.5" would consistently sit in the middle & ultimately offer the best all-round performance. And from what I've ridden, I'd have to agree.
yep i think this sums it up well, I'm using a computer at my local library at the moment. And on my arrival i saw a Crane Aldi 29 parked in front. So as a test i TRIED to pick it up and Dam-It was heavy. Maybe even heavier that the Old 700c Hybrid i have in the shed at home. And even medium size seemed largish to me. 27.5 is looking to to me.

Re: 27.5

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:33 pm
by singlespeedscott
IMO a hardtail 29er, with 2.25 tyres, is the way to go for general XC riding. For a dual suspension, 650B with 2.8" tyres is the best choice for modern technical trail riding.