imho 29+ is not smoother or faster than suspension or fullfat, just has more momentum and grip. I find 29+ still jarring at speed over hard ploughed fields.

Why not get the best of both worlds?

Short travel fork and 29er+

had a krampus, sold a krampus, why? i much preferred riding my short travel (100mm either end) full sus at the time,

sure the krampus had its moments, but they were few and far between, but anything over 50km and it used to destroy me, to the point i couldn’t grip the bars, the 29+ in no way replaced a suspension fork (for the riding i did, and the way i ride, i don’t like to plod, ever)

had a lauf, sold a lauf, why? i much prefer riding a 100mm front fork

sure, the lauf had its moments, but they were few and far between, ill buy a Lauf grit eaarly next year, as i see that as a sweetspot maybe, but as a replacement for a suspension fork, for myself, then no, it wasn’t for me

I’ve been rigid for a few years after loads of (29er) FS bikes

I found I went less and less travel, then finding myself locking the fork for anything but the knarliset (2% of the ride) so went fully rigid

You need to concentrate harder, pick your line etc, but for the added effort comes more payback when you get it right. Plus has just made the whole experience ten times more fun and condition adjustable

Some great plus compatable rigids now – Krampus, Stooge, Jones Plus…

Here’s a quote from dRjOn

if it helps anyone who is pondering trying a demo out, if you like messing around in the woods on a bike, a Jones may well be the perfect bike.

it can, of course, be ridden anywhere to do anything – just like any bike. no, it wont let you conquer an enduro or get the most out of the fall line trail at ski hills, but if you want to wind yourself round woodsy trails, Jeff knows a thing or two about getting your weight balanced between the wheels in such a way that you are relaxed and poised, primed to try and take those twists and turns and ups and downs with confidence.

Yes, it is rigid, and that is a *good* thing in certain scenarios. You have to be going at a fair rate to get the adrenalin flowing with 5+ inches of travel on demand, but the sh!t eating grin that is produced when you make a simple bike fly through a tight trail is attainable without going to a trail centre or the back country.

If you want to experiment I have an unused set of the rigid forks from Trek Stache 5 for sale. £70 or some kind of half decent offer.

Ps Cookeaa don’t underestimate the cost of 29plus tyres!! A winter set will hurt a lot

Weirdly even at about 13psi the tyres don’t deform that much I don’t sense much Cush it’s mainly it’s the roll over and the traction and the insane roller coaster sensation 🙂

Will it be your only bike? I’m not sure I’d have it as my only bike, but also depends where you mostly ride.

Currently got a Singular Rooster in 29+ front and rear, absolutely love it but as others have said, it will only work well on certain types of trails. Rock gardens, drops and steep stuff isn’t much fun. but woodland single track, stuff which is more gravel trail buzz and smoother moorland single track, its great and I find much more rewarding than just ploughing through with a full suspension bike.

Cost of tyres is definitely a factor too but should be able to get by with a winter set of 2.5’s and a summer set of Chronicles I think.

What the hell is a “noodly” ride?
I’m no reviewer of any sort, all I know that the Lauf’s suit my type of XC wheels on the ground, mincing down gnarly stuff style of riding, they simply “absorb the ride” as their logo says.

I have a Stooge and a Swift with 29+ fronts. I love ’em and the Stooge especially is astonishingly capable for a rigid bike.

A lot is down to the rigid fork as well, a 29+ in a nice titanium black sheep fork was lush and easily as comfortable as an 80mm-100 29er fork with out any of the maintenance hassle. Did cost more than a suspension fork as well, but hey, what price bespoke niche and beardy hipster points 🙂

Be interesting to see how my new custom ti 29+ will compare.

I recently got a Jones with a 26 3.8 nate on the front and a 29 2.3 on the rear it rides lovely. Not sure how much of that is down to the fork as the fork is something else. I’m toying with the idea of putting a 27.5 2.8 trailblazer in the rear as it should fit hopefully lol

I like the different size tyre front and rear in seems to work very well on my other bike I have a 27.5 Bridger on the front with a trailblazer on the rear I’m thinking of trying that with a 29er 2.4 on the rear.

It’s nice to have options 🙂

Have ridden both, 29+ is fine for smooth/gravel baths, not much difference between the two. When it gets bumpier I find sus fork enables me to go a bit quicker (not that much but noticeable difference). The big difference I found is you do not get as fatigue with the sus fork.

So it really depends what your after, if you want to go a bit quicker and not fatigue so much then sus fork, if not bothered by that then Plus tires can be great fun.

I have a rigid titanium 29+ – you’ll probably be disappointed if you expect one to feel like a bike with suspension forks, but if you enjoy exploring trails and blasting singletrack, it really is a very capable and stable format – I can frequently just ‘let it go’ on descents knowing that there’s nothing that’ll upset it.

Not had chance to try my wife’s (my stealth) 29+ bike as yet but I’ll let ya know.

I’m fairly committed though as I bought some carbon rims for it regardless so I have some Mulefut 29+ wheels for Sale if interested tho? :o)

Firestarter

I would recommend the 2.8×27.5 rear to go with the fat front as thats what I have on my Jones – good combination and does help to smooth out the trail ( and it matches the outside diameters of both wheels)

Last year I converted my aluminum Santa Cruz Highball to the kind of build you’re contemplating. Swapped the sus fork for a Carver carbon rigid, 50mm front rim, 3″ tire. Put a 2.35″ tire on the rear. Got the total weight down to 23 lbs.

As for the riding experience, it climbs like a dream and still feels fairly agile. I run the front tire at 12-15psi and for smooth or moderately bumpy singletrack it’s pretty effective at smoothing out the chatter. Not quite as effective as a 100mm suspension but if I want to do drops or plow through rock gardens at speed I take the other bike 🙂

Overall I like what I ended up with, but in hindsight I wish I’d just left the Highball alone and put the $$ towards buying a 27+ frame.