I have a merida 29 er (6000) which has can be run as a mullet.Before I splash out on a new wheel just wondering how much different have you found it when you switched your existing set up over to mullet ?
Depends how tall you are and what kind of riding you do.
For big days out pedalling around I keep a full 29er because it's just better everywhere.
For bikeparks, Alps and winch&plummet stuff the mullet is miles better. Diving in and out of berms and switchbacks is so much easier. You don't get buzzed in the crack by the back tyre all the time.
I'm lucky to have both but at gunpoint I'd choose the mullet because I prefer razzing on tech trails than rambling around.
I do the opposite... where there's likely to be lots of braking bumps and fast gravity driven action, I go full 29er. For most UK everyday riding stuff, mullet.
Well even if there is no consensus on what it is best suited to, at least it sounds like there is a quite noticeable difference in feel
I'm tempted.
Mostly because my bike doesn't fit in uplift trailers very well. But also curiosity
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/video-mullet-vs-29er-with-the-same-geometry-which-is-faster.html
I mulleted my ebike last summer after years with it full 29. Miles better for chucking around berms and other tight turns. Can’t see myself running full 29 on a long travel full-sus again.
Nice side effect on this particular bike is that the flipchip doesn’t fully correct the geometry so I’m running the shock firmer to get the BB height where I want which makes the suspension feel better.
I don't notice it that much on corners but do much prefer it on steep terrain. Less bumbuzz and also rear wheel/axle 'rides' lower so effectively makes bike a bit slacker at crucial instances.
My Moterra SL was a mullet when I first got it - pedal strikes galore! (They mention this in the STW review, shorter cranks recommended), but I stuck a 29er on the back and haven't really felt the need for the 27.5 to go back on. May have been better for the DH park ride I did, but I suspect the pedal strikes would've been even worse there. Anyway, worth bearing in mind before you put a lickle wheel on the back.
No idea how it will affect your bike, but my experience of 29 vs mullets
My Kenevo was full 27.5, but I changed the front end to 29 and it improved it massively.
My Levo is a mullet and can't be changed - it's great and I feel no reason to change.
The Big Al is full 29 and I can't believe how capable it is for a HT
Stanton Switch9er is full 29 by default, but I've just put a 27.5 in the rear to lower the BB - feels good, but haven't ridden it in anger yet.
I've never really felt a difference in manouverability changing wheel sizes
I have a mullet bike and also 29er bikes. But I've never tried the two combinations on the same bike... I'd be interested to though.
My thoughts and understandings regarding the mullet set-up, is that the two different wheel sizes will react differently when the 'bars are turned or the bike is lent over (gyroscopic physics stuff) and this will then tend to pull the bike in to the turn more quickly. Obviously, roll-over and bum clearance are affected, but the main thing is turn-in.
Happy to learn more!
I mulleted my last bike - designed as a 29 with a flip chip which raised the BB a bit. In the high position with +10mm on the fork the BB was nigh enough to not have more pedal strikes. It was an absolute hoot to descend and jump on and felt a little more eager to tip into and pump out of berms. Properly good fun.
It was just slightly worse at everything else though.
Now I ride a bike designed around mullet and it's just miles better. You get all the smaller rear benefits for most of my riding but it does everything else better than a modified mullet does.
If mulleting can be done by retaining the geometry then it's a no brainer to give it a go. If you have to compromise elsewhere it's a harder decision.
I’ve mulletted my stumpy and it’s transformed it. So much better than as a 29er. I went up a chainring size to keep the gearing about the same. It just corners so much better. It’s far happier to be tipped into corners and then hold the line. I have no intention of going back to full 29 unless it’s on a short travel bike
Depends how tall you are and what kind of riding you do.
For big days out pedalling around I keep a full 29er because it's just better everywhere.
For bikeparks, Alps and winch&plummet stuff the mullet is miles better. Diving in and out of berms and switchbacks is so much easier. You don't get buzzed in the crack by the back tyre all the time.
I'm lucky to have both but at gunpoint I'd choose the mullet because I prefer razzing on tech trails than rambling around.
I do the opposite... where there's likely to be lots of braking bumps and fast gravity driven action, I go full 29er. For most UK everyday riding stuff, mullet.
Really interesting this one. My Levo SL (Like a Stumpy) can do both, but I've always preferred it in full 29 for my kind of riding. I was wondering about which wheelset to take to the alps this year (because ill have to buy a fresh rear tyre) and I'm leaning toward the 29. Bigger wheels definitely roll better and absorb more - and I feel this a lot. The improvements in turn in, switchbacks etc, are something I think I have felt in very fleeting moments, whereas the rolling speed I feel everywhere. I'm not particularly tall either but dont often buzz my backside.
It depends on your riding. I don't choose my bike on its ability to riding braking bumps. When I go to the Alps I prefer steeper natural terrain and off-the-map stuff. I try to avoid the flow trails.
I have a 130mm travel mullet - it's ace, I am tempted to try a full 29er at some point, but as it's happy enough bopping along on pedally rides I am in no rush to scratch that itch.
I mulleted my last bike - designed as a 29 with a flip chip which raised the BB a bit. In the high position with +10mm on the fork the BB was nigh enough to not have more pedal strikes. It was an absolute hoot to descend and jump on and felt a little more eager to tip into and pump out of berms. Properly good fun.
It was just slightly worse at everything else though.
Now I ride a bike designed around mullet and it's just miles better. You get all the smaller rear benefits for most of my riding but it does everything else better than a modified mullet does.
If mulleting can be done by retaining the geometry then it's a no brainer to give it a go. If you have to compromise elsewhere it's a harder decision.
Think the flip chip keeps bottom bracket height the same ?
I have both 29er and mullet. My 29er is for big Peaks/Lakes/ rides. My mullet is for riding the twisty stuff in the woods like Win Hill or Woburn off piste, Surrey hills etc
Think the flip chip keeps bottom bracket height the same ?
Yeah, according to the spec sheet Cannondale's geometry is the same with either rear wheel size. Weird, was definitely more pedal strike in mullet.
Just look at how many of the Friday fails are what I call the 29er kiss of death i.e. stopping the back wheel with your arse. Even tall pro's were caught out by it in the early days of 29ers. I am not saying it never happens with smaller wheels or it isn't mainly down to bad technique! If you are tall enough it's less of a problem.
Wheels on the ground riders are fine with 29. Shorter riders who like to jump and hit big drops (or more importantly are learning to) could find it beneficial.
... since when was buzzing your backside such a bad thing 🤭
I mulletted my Rail back in 2020 and didn't ride it again as a full 29er until I used the wheel to mullet my KSL the day I bought it. I only really use the Rail as a commuter now but it feels weird to me as a 29er.
Both bikes were definitely better on the steep off-piste I like to ride.
Pedal strikes were only an issue until I learnt to read the trail...
Just to be clear, you can ride anywhere on anything. Modern bikes are good like that.
There are noticeable difference in the handling if not the speed so choose whatever suits you and your favourite trails.
If I've booked an Alps trip for 2 weeks of off-piste, scaring the shit out of myself and the mullet is broken, I'm taking the 29er no questions asked. I just won't wear white trousers.
Pedal strikes were only an issue until I learnt to read the trail...
Sorry for being such a newbie 😥