[Closed] 27.5 plus on XC 29er

Just get a modern short travel bike and it'll take you anywhere.
Sparks been doing that since 2017. Other bikes do it well also

Not keen on the Scott Spark. Nice looking but the rear shock would be a pain when it needs servicing or cleaning. I'd rather stick to something simpler.

Most won't take a 2.8 I fear. Some will take 3" - Salsa Spearfish will.

Trek Fuel EX 8.

Gen 3 Santa Cruz Tallboy

One or both? For more trail focussed rides I would try mullet with one on the back and see what tyre will fit. This will slacken and lower the bike and give you an easier gear to boot. You will get a slacker seat tube angle, but that is probably live-with-able. If the bike has a flop-chop you can tinker with that.

Why does "Trail" require massive tyres? a 2.35" 29'er on a bike as you're describing would suit it down to the ground.

Why does “Trail” require massive tyres? a 2.35″ 29’er on a bike as you’re describing would suit it down to the ground.

Yep, I'd concur with that. I have a short-ish travel 29er full sus and a Sonder Transmitter running 650b+, the plus tyres are great for traction and Peak rubble, but the 29 x 2.4 set-up on the susser has better rollover and are lighter and more precise. I could put plus tyres on the full sus I guess, but so far I've not felt the need. I like plus tyres, but actually more for short, rocky blasts than longer rides.

I'd just buy the short travel full sus and run it as is tbh.

I want a really light sub 11kg full sus. There are a lot of Trail versions such at the Santa Cruz Blur TR, or Canyon Lux TR, but they are all quite a bit heavier. Treks Fuel is surprisingly heavy. I'm very light so don't need anything too 'burly' or with added strength. Just want a light full sus with flexibility for tyre width.

Weight really does matter when you're very light.

plus tyres are shite.

run two 29r wheelsets, skinny set with light, fast xc tyres,  wider set with heavier trail tyres + inserts.

I get wanting a light bike if you are light

But don’t get the need for plus tyres. Particularly as these are likely to be heavy with heavy rims

I have a 29er that’s just over 12kg but I’m more like a 100kg. So it’s light for me

I have thought many things about it but never wished it would take 650b plus tyres

Canyon do a sub 11kg lux tr. That would seem ideal for you.

Downcountry 2.4" tyres may be your sweet spot. Wolfpack Speed 2.4" is a 640g tyre! I've recently dallied with similar and wished I'd had more budget to throw at a 1400/1500g carbon wheelset. I'd focus on light wheels and light & fast tyres.

I have a 29er that’s just over 12kg but I’m more like a 100kg. So it’s light for me

So the bikes 12% of you. But it's 21% of me.

Canyon do a sub 11kg lux tr. That would seem ideal for you.

I looked at that but the colours are a bit off putting. Sounds silly, but I'd get fed up with the colours after a few months.

I want a really light sub 11kg full sus. There are a lot of Trail versions such at the Santa Cruz Blur TR, or Canyon Lux TR, but they are all quite a bit heavier.

The Blur definitely (and I think the Lux too) are the same frame (but different shocks and longer forks) as the dedicated race version which is world cup xc spec so frame wise you arent really going to get much lighter. XC race forks in shorter travel and light weight wheels and tyres you may be able to get away with as a lighter rider.

If you are this focussed on weight (I do understand that it is going to effect you more than me, and you wont need the level of durability that my 85kg needs) then definitely give up on the idea of 27.5 plus! I'd wager half a kilo penalty easily vs the equivalent like for like 29, and thats before you get into light and fast 29 race rubber which doesnt really exist in 27+.

For the lightweight, bike weight conscious rider with very deep pockets... (those bizzarre wheels are optional)

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/new-downcountry-and-trail-bikes-from-last/

I was quite surprised when I swapped an Ardent for a DHR2 on the back of my trail bike. It was like the brakes were dragging the whole time. So much that I thought something was wrong with the rear wheel.

I've got a 2.35 and 2.6 ikon on my rigid bike which are light and fast with enough comfort too.

I put plus wheels with minions on my Whippet and couldn't believe the mud patches that I was able to clear. Far superior to my fat bike.
None of that front washing out that normal tyres ( Bonty muds excluded) do when entering mud at speed.
Yes they are slower but they'll be going back on when the mud comes back.
My friend was on slim minions and walking.

why on earth do you want to fit 2.8 tyres?
Are you lacking grip , or riding 10/10 all the time?

In a few years time we will look at the mega wide tyre trend in the same way we did elevated chain stays ....

Weight really does matter when you’re very light.

So why do you want to put clonking great 2.8" wide drag merchants where it matters most?

run two 29r wheelsets, skinny set with light, fast xc tyres, wider set with heavier trail tyres + inserts.

This is the sensible answer. Heavy yet flimsy plus tyres with heavy, wide rims is not

i once tried 27.5+ on my chameleon, hit a wet winter grassy corner, and decided it wasnt the setup for me.. wide tyres on front are rubbish, i ride the chamelein 29er and mainly mullet its great for mud and rolls pretty fast.

if you want to go fast offroad get a gravel bike, with Plus road tyres 700x48mm ;0)

or as others say two sets of 29er wheels

The ideas was really just to see if it would be possible to make a more racey XC bike more versatile as an option for more bumpy/rocky rides. Im looking to replace my 130mm 27.5 trail bike with a much lighter 29er 100/120mm XC bike.

Quite tempted by a 100mm XC full sus, but want the option to make it a little more capable. 2 29er wheelsets as suggested above sounds a very good idea. Might even look into increasing the forks to 120mm.

This was kind of my point. Being that many xc race bikes are 120mm now, you don't even need to concern yourself with making them trail ready, they already are.

Being that many xc race bikes are 120mm now

Can only think of Scott's spark. Unless you mean the TR versions but they often have more burly frames which puts me off.

A 29 x 2.35 Vittoria Mezcal has good volume and rolls like a fast xc tyre with plenty of grip.

The 2.6 Mezcal doesn't give much of a better ride on rocks and isn't as good in the mud.

The ideas was really just to see if it would be possible to make a more racey XC bike more versatile as an option for more bumpy/rocky rides.

You have watched some recent World Cup level XC to see just what these here light weight modern XC bikes are capable of haven't you?

TR versions but they often have more burly frames which puts me off.

Do they? I'm pretty sure that they use a slightly longer stroke shock and a 120mm airshaft in the forks on exactly the same frame?
Norco Revolver, Santacruz Blur, BMC fourstroke

You have watched some recent World Cup level XC

That may be the rider rather than the bike

@cynic-al agreed, but the bike isn't the weak link, so if the OP wants a fast, light "trail capable" 100mm XC bike then there's really no need to beef one up woth huge tyres and rims.

@steve_b77 that appears to be Schrödinger's reply right there

That may be the rider rather than the bike

Exactly, watch a CX race and see what those CX bikes are capable off. Give that same bike to an average cyclist and it won't seem quite as capable all of a sudden...

The larger tyres wouldn't be on all the time. It's just as an option for added comfort for trail centers etc.

A light bike with the option to fit larger tyres, for me, is better than a heavier trail bike with the option to fit lighter tyres.

Do they? I’m pretty sure that they use a slightly longer stroke shock and a 120mm airshaft in the forks on exactly the same frame?
Norco Revolver, Santacruz Blur, BMC fourstroke

This is really good to know, and I was hoping that was the case. Opens up more options with the current stock issues.

Exactly, watch a CX race and see what those CX bikes are capable off. Give that same bike to an average cyclist and it won’t seem quite as capable all of a sudden…

Watch any professional using their tools correctly and you'll soon realise you're* pretty mediocre in comparison.

Give that bike to the average cyclist and they'll stick as big a tyre as possible on it, sling 160mm discs on, add a 40t rear cassette and flip the stem up so it's pointing skywards 😉

*you're in the general term, not just you @kerley

I have a Blur TR and can confirm it has the standard frame but with 120mm forks and dropper post. I run mine with SC carbon wheels and 29x2.25 tyres. Never felt the need for wider tyres and am happy riding local trails, Cannock Chase and Welsh train centres.