Who’s still making decent 27.5 full suss bikes?

I have occasional thoughts of getting a new bike, it would be to replace my 2017 Whyte T130S which for 90% of my riding is perfect, but sometimes I fancy something with a bit more travel – mainly for Innerleithen & the Alps. Seems to be now “Trail” bikes start at 150mm whereas 5 years ago that was into Enduro bike territory.

To satisfy my curiosity who is still making a decent 27.5 bike, probably 150mm max travel, nicely pedal able and not too heavy? I’m not sure I’m ready for a 29er, or maybe I am?

It’s all just idle musings at the moment while I’m off the bike for another 5 weeks – too much time to think!

Airdrop Edit or Filter. Bird Aether 7.

As a previous 29er hater myself, when I needed to get a new bike I took the plunge and immediately knew I’d made the right decision.

Big wheeled bikes aren’t crap anymore, like everything else the geometry has been mostly figured out now.

Not cheap, but…

Pivot Shadowcat first ride review: lightly outrageous

Or there’s loads of 29/27.5 mullet bikes.

29ers are pretty well sorted now though.

Transition?

I wouldn’t write 29er off without trying a few. I was always against the idea but then my 27.5” fork died so I went for a 29er Transition Sentinel. It’s epic fun and so fast too.

If you want to go halfway why not try a mullet bike?

Vitus Escarpe comes in both wheel sizes if you can get one in stock.

Even if full 27.5 bikes die out, it’ll be easy enough to stick a 27.5 front wheel in the front of a mullet bike and increase the fork travel 10-20mm to correct the geometry.

Propain… still rocking 29 or 27.5 in the Tyee, Alu or Carbon.

Specialised Status 140 could be worth a look – it’s a a mullet and about the travel you’re after.

Slightly shorter travel and a chunk more expensive the new Santa Cruz 5010 is a mullet.

Probably too much travel for you but the Nukeproof Mega and Transition Patrol both have mullet options.

Transition Scout? Giant Trance X (27.5 version)?

Nukeproof usually do both wheel sizes in their bikes.

I’ve got a 29er reactor, but they do it 27.5 as well.

Unless you need quite a small frame, why would you want a 27.5? These days 29 just works.

Vitus Escarpe 27 CRS Mountain Bike

On top of the suggestions thus far

These days 29 just works

Sort of. The problem I still have with 29ers is that they’re so damn fast across rough ground that you end up running heavy wheels and tyres to survive the battering (especially on something at the bigger travel end of things) and it completely kills the liveliness and flickability. Getting to the bottom as fast as possible – amazing. Winching up horrendous steepness pretty good. Noodling around on moderately challenging technical terrain, I’d rather have the ease of acceleration of the smaller wheels, thank you. Currently riding a Rocketmax and a gen V Soul, so I have both bases covered, but if it was one bike for everything, I’d be trying to lay hold of a (now out of production) 27.5 Longshot geo Flare, as that was an amazing bike for “just riding” (but too close to my Soul).

That said – if you want it for “Innerleithen and the Alps”, then 29er…

Donmt rule out a 29er or mullet without trying one.

I think nowadays biking is moving away from classing bikes bumpy the amount of travel the have like 10 years ago when XC was 80-120, Trail (All-mountain) was 130-150), Enduro 160ish, Freeride/Super Enduro 170-180, 200+ DH.

Especially as shorter travel bikes are getting much more capable geometry/strength and longer travel bikes are pedalling really well.

Orange still make a few, 5 Evo, Alpine Evo and Alpine 6.

29ers are ace but I’m currently building a 27.5 HT because they are loads of fun too!

I had the exact same requirements in March of this year. I bought an Airdrop Edit v4, it’s an amazing bike!

I tried 29ers but chose the Edit for the reasons mentioned by JonEdwards.

I wouldn’t change my decision :o)

Unless you need quite a small frame, why would you want a 27.5?

Because I don’t like them…

These days 29 just works.

It might for you ..

172cm tall here, 30″ inseam, riding a Stumpjumper Evo alloy 2022 set up mullet, it’s a good all-rounder, had 5010s and Blur TRC for 9 years prior and the Stumpy is more capable and more versatile.

It might for you ..

out of interest why? I feel like a lot of people have misconceptions about them not being “playful” or poor on technical trails but these days this is simply not true. Personally I think its more down to poor technique which makes people think this.

im currently in a similar spot my derailleur is on the way out its 11sp and most likely im going to end up with a 12sp because its all thats around.

Banshee Spitfire?
Though I’m on a Rune, it just rides like a bike. Originally a burly long travel bike, a recent crash diet means it’s a lighter long travel bike I’d happily ride all day.

I think it’s silly to say 29er wheels aren’t playful, it’s more the bike as a whole than the wheel size that makes a difference. My 29er hardtail is far more playful than my 650b full sus. It’s more likely the extra bounce and longer reach that makes the 650b bike less playful.

The problem I still have with 29ers is that they’re so damn fast across rough ground that you end up running heavy wheels and tyres to survive the battering

Does this survive closer examination?
What is it that makes them fast across rough ground?
Is it that the larger circ rolls over stuff better and, dare I say it, smooths the ride?
Ie reduces the battering

Surely for the average rider the top speed is dictated by the battering transmitted through the bike to the rider. Which would be the same for a rider on a 650b as it would be for a 29er going a tad faster.

No?

Yeti SB140?

Does this survive closer examination?

My thought too.

If you believed this, then the logical conclusion is stick to a 26“ so you have to ride slower and avoid battering the bike. Or just use your brakes to slow down a bit and enjoy the smoother ride.

The problem I still have with 29ers is that they’re so damn fast across rough ground that you end up running heavy wheels and tyres to survive the battering (especially on something at the bigger travel end of things) and it completely kills the liveliness and flickability

Mavic xa elite

Cheers all, seems like there’s a few about still, I’ll check them out. I’m in no rush so hopefully next year will be able to get to a couple of demos to have a ride.

That said – if you want it for “Innerleithen and the Alps”, then 29er…

Yes but trying to pedal more and use uplift less unless it’s on holiday and that’s only for a fortnight every year. My T130 has just coped very well in France, and a couple of days in Switzerland. I feel like it’s the fork that lets it down and that’s about to get an upgrade.

The only times I’ve ridden 29ers properly have been e-bikes, so not a fair comparison, but they did feel a bit tank like at first although admittedly something you get used to pretty quickly.

In my head what I want is something a little bit more capable without going full enduro and flattening the tamer trails.

I know the answer is to ride some 🙂

Nukeproof usually do both wheel sizes in their bikes.

Does look like they love the little wheels 🙂
Reactor looks interesting.

I’m a short arse and stubbornly stuck to 26” wheels until last year, largely because I didn’t want to ride a gate, little people shouldn’t ride 29ers, etc, etc. I’m now on a Spesh Stumpjumper and loving it. I can flick it around tighter trails no problem, and it possibly climbs better than the 26” Yeti ASR5 it replaced.

Surely for the average rider the top speed is dictated by the battering transmitted through the bike to the rider. Which would be the same for a rider on a 650b as it would be for a 29er going a tad faster.

Agree. On a nice smooth road my top speeds are approximately: Road bike 35kph, Gravel bike 30kph, MTB 25kph. Move to a heathland fire road type thing (bit of grass, bumpy, small ruts and potholes): Road bike 10kph, Gravel bike 20kph, MTB 25kph. That’s got absolutely nothing to do with wheel size or weight!

Think my next bike will be a 29er simply as that’s clearly the direction the industry is moving. I currently ride a 650B Enduro, but rented a 29er Hightower for a couple of days, and honestly i couldn’t tell you if it was vastly different anyway.

If you want something a little more capable but without making life too easy then I don’t think wheel size is the issue. You’re better off buying a trail bike rather than an enduro bike. Or even buy a hardtail, I ride my hardtail on more tame trails exactly because my full sus can just plough through and over virtually everything.

Scott Genius, run it as a 27.5+ or a 29er, you get to choose.

27.5+ isn’t appealing to me either. Tbh I thought it was more or less dismissed as a fad and not really a thing anymore?

Mullet? There’s loads of them around.

I like my 29 hardtail and haven’t found it be less fun that previous bikes. But I do also like my brother’s Commencal Meta HT which is 27.5 and equally fun (just a bit harsher but then they are a rather stiff frame).

Last years Santa Cruze Nomad was 27.5 and supposedly fun and capable.

Mullet? There’s loads of them around.

definitely not ruled out 👍

Bird Aether 7 has caught my attention now, and I’ve spent my time today watching as many videos as I can find about it… 🤔

The problem with video reviews is that they’re all made by professional Choobers who need to keep the constant supply of free bikes coming. They’re never going to heavily criticise anything.

Don’t get me wrong I watch way too many bike videos on YouTube but I don’t trust them for objective reviews.

Oh I know, I’ve never watched a bad review 😁 I’ve just watched one where the guy was riding with Bird themselves, he’s never going to say that he’s not loving it. Also though it’s probably not easy to find an actual bad bike these days.

I do fully intend to ride anything that I’m considering buying. Well I did until I just spotted an Aether frame for sale.

I’d be after this if it was the Aether 9…http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284984215105

Perfect for you though.

Also Airdrop just put some bikes in the sale on their website.

Shh, don’t put that on here I’ve already messaged him 😉

Without riding one I’m concerned the L might be too long and I’d really want an ML.

Sorry too late to edit! I’ve got ebay alerts set for Bird Aether. That one’s actually in my old home town so if it was a 29er I’d be collecting it on Saturday morning.

Good luck though hope you get sorted.