Posts
99
Joined
10/15/2012
Location
CH
Edited Date/Time
8/6/2021 11:39am
Hey Vital MTB Crowd
I have a small (well for me its a big deal) dilemma and maybe you guys can share your thoughts on it.
I am currency on a SC BRSN 2021 Model and have been riding this bike for some time now...having trouble adapting to this whole MX trend thats happening. Its just doesn't feel right having spare parts for both wheel sizes if you only have 1 bike, right?
Anyone else?
Was maybe thinking about upgrading to a full 29" (Hightower)..been riding 27.7" for a while, time for a change?
Thanks guys @ VITAL keep up the tidy work.
I have a small (well for me its a big deal) dilemma and maybe you guys can share your thoughts on it.
I am currency on a SC BRSN 2021 Model and have been riding this bike for some time now...having trouble adapting to this whole MX trend thats happening. Its just doesn't feel right having spare parts for both wheel sizes if you only have 1 bike, right?
Anyone else?
Was maybe thinking about upgrading to a full 29" (Hightower)..been riding 27.7" for a while, time for a change?
Thanks guys @ VITAL keep up the tidy work.
i'm not that tall w/ short legs. i love 29ers on most trails but really like the small wheel out back when things get steeper.
is wheel buzz a consideration for you and your trails?
The area is live in (Alps) has literally in every direction different types of trails...home trails are steep and rocky, high alpine with flowy bits - so generally both wheel sizes will work.
As an active rider, wheel buzz shouldn't be a problem.
I'm 5.6" am have been riding 27.5" for a long time, tried some 29ers and liked them too.
The current situation here in Switzerland is that due to the COVID crisis, only complete bikes are available - no frame sets, so I will have to build up a new bike anyway.
I get the benefits (on paper anyway) about the whole MX format, but I should consider just staying with one wheel size.
Tubes - You can actually use a 27.5 tube just fine in a 29 wheel (and vice versa actually), so you really only need one size of spare tube.
27.5 V3 Bronson - handling on that bike was telepathic for me, although it could be a handful when things got hectic in natural terrain, and I wanted a bit more reach.
29 - I have shortish legs, and rear wheel interactions caused some crashes. All involved rock drop offs in steep chutes, outside of those situations wheel interaction wasn't an issue, although there were many times I wanted the back end to come around quicker/easier. It's more confident than the V3 Bronson in technical terrain and when speeds pick up.
Bronson MX - unfortunately I didn't get in a full ride before breaking my hand, however initial impressions are that its easier to change directions even though the wheelbase is the same as the Smash, and the front end retains the feeling of being able to point it into rough terrain with confidence. I can't comment on how much more the rear gets hung up as I haven't had any time to tune it yet.
As for carrying one tube for mixed wheels, anyone try shortening a 29in tube by rolling it up?
@yzedf - glad to hear you had your experiences already, I will not be going full enduro - more of the likes of the Hightower...I like pedalling and the rough stuff.
I don't want things to be easier, I want to challenge myself with new stuff and maybe the change to 29 will do just that...
The biggest downside I can think of in terms of "spare parts" is not being able to swap your front tire to the back when the back tire wears out. I can't think of other spare parts that swap between front and rear wheels...
The above said, I'm 5'7" and have ridden 29ers for the last 4+ years. I attached a report I posted on an Evil forum below regarding this subject. The only downsides I mention below, but switching my bike to a MX set up cured those. Good luck.
Wreckoning V3 MX report/review: I built my medium V3 up last September/October and rode it in it's standard 29er guise until about a month + ago. Yes, it ruled, but being vertically challenged at 5'7" I did get some rear tire taint buzzes on some steeps. After the new Insurgent dropped and after reading an article about a mulleted Wrecker on NSMB I became Little Wheel (my GoT name?) curious. I always have ran it in X-Low and with my 170 Fox it puts the HA at a cool 63.5 degrees as well as lowering the bb to approximately 13.4". Had I put it in Low it would of had the same geo as it did with the 29er wheel. However, that super low ride feel kicks way too much tuchus to forgo. I had 170 cranks on it and I had to be a bit more mindful of pedal position, but then switching to 165's fixed that. So to wrap it up, Pros of going to a smaller wheel out back: It A. spins up/accelerates faster, B. has better clearance/no taint shaving due to my short legs, C. corners even better (lower bb, more flickable) and my favorite D. gets off the ground easier. Cons: None for me, but probably would not make much difference to someone over 6" tall. Some MX/Mullet bike reviews I've read say they notice the rear wheel hanging up more going down/through rough stuff, but I haven't noticed this. I guess having to build a new wheel and buying new cranks is a con, but I did it all relatively inexpensively. Lastly, the first Evil I spent any time on was a Calling which I still think is one of the most playful hooligan bikes out. Adding the Little Wheel poured some of that spice into the Wrecker stew for me. Ride on! Party.
On the Levo I used to have, I really liked the 27.5x2.8 Eddy Current rear with the 29x2.6 front. But those are heavy tires that I wouldn't want to pedal around without assist. The ebike is gone now and I'm back to 29" on a short travel trail bike. My personal feeling is now that the geometry of the bike seems to make a bigger difference in handling than wheel size.
Bought my dad a new Optic and rode it probably a half mile on a mellow trail. I can say in confidence that my next bike will have at minimum a 29" front wheel. Haven't decided on the rear as of now. I'm not too hung up on the MX vs. full 29" thing yet. I'm 5-7 with normal or slightly long legs and do not feel any concern about tire buzz with a 29. If it came down to it and the bike with the correct geo that I was set on buying had a option between MX or full 29" I'd probably give the MX a shot. But if the bike I wanted was 29" only then I wouldn't hesitate.
I m 170cms, 27.5 for 3 years, and I m on a medium Sentinel for one year now. I love the bigger wheels, and although I miss the 27.5 on more slower technical trails, I will never go back. For us, shorter fellas, the rear tyre touching the ass on the steeper stuff, is a problem, but with me it only happened a couple of times in the beginning, then I adapted.
If I were you, I would ride the bike for a couple of months more. Try a diferent stem or a diferent handlebar rise before you spend money on the Hightower. As an example, on my personal case, ( Transition Sentinel) I ve started and insisted for a long time with a 40mm stem, 15mm spacers underneath: bike was good but not amazing! I was thinking about selling the bike but before that I tried a 35mm stem with a 5mm spacer underneath and it was an instant success! Your bike is good, maybe it’s just a set up thing for you.
I remember you from mtbr (hell belly). We both had Banshee Rune and I always liked your posts, some good insights you had.
You’re on Evil bikes now? Great looking bikes, that’s for sure!
Anyway, ride on man 🤘🏻
Ps: sorry for the off-topic guys
Regarding "scaring" myself..trust me when I say the trails here are rad...I did spice it up thought and built a Comic BFE 27.5 Hardtail and that thing was awesome...sold it because it was either the Bronson or that.
I never thought there would be so much rider input in this forum, but its good to hear that no everyone has the same experiences.
Its a tough decision - maybe I should try something new and just go with it.
To each their own on wheel size preference, but in my opinion, combining the small rear wheel with modern long/low/slack geometry, and short chainstays (gasp!) of my particular MX bike you really do get the best of both wheel sizes. For me the advantage of a MX bike over a full 29er is supposed to be nimbleness, quickness, and flickability. I don't race - I ride to get sideways, hit jumps, (attempt to) manual/wheelie as much as possible, and hoot and holler with my buddies. If you are similarly riding to have fun and not to win Enduro events, I'd tend to say why not tinker with the setup some more? Perhaps it was a suspension tuning or fitment issue, or just not enough time on a different feeling setup to get comfortable?
Is my current setup the best climbing or fastest trail bike I've ever ridden downhill? Definitely not. But after about six months of riding time, it's definitely the most fun bike I've ever ridden - and isn't having fun the main reason we're all doing this?
It really is a personal preference thing so no hard feelings if you just don't jive with the feel of a mullet. If you are building a race rig, feel free to ignore these points, although there has to be some merit to MX setups with a good chunk of the WC and some EWS teams running them too. I'll let someone else argue which setup is fastest though...
I have decided to stick with 27.5 inch wheels and move towards the 5010 from Santa Cruz and install a Cascade Link fpr the full 150mm front / 140mm rear...will be the right bike for the riding I still plan to do.
Stay healthy out there and take care
So it depends on the rider in the end . In my opinion, a capable rider on a 27.5 will shred. But if you want to race, then yeah 29ers go further and a tad faster. But they’re not as much fun, especially if you’re shorter
I know a lot of guys who do that on the regular.
I've a full 27.5 trail bike & a full 29er DH bike. I get my ass eaten by that rear wheel on the DH bike when I try to toss it around. You also get sketchy when you hit a shelf or shelves or rock or root and need to make a turn afterwards with the big wheel.
That last part makes a 29er rear the worst case scenario for someone with short legs like me. I'm 5'10" with a super long torso and stumpy legs. Can't get far enough back on a 29 rear to not risk endo or at least the sensation.
Sure long DH & trail bikes now try to push you into the middle to keep you from having to get rear wheel bias, but damn that's really where all the fun is...being able to drop your heels and get that hard cut or last second save.
I finally finished my bike, and it has been awesome to ride...
He's the full spec:
Frame: Santa Cruz 5010 CC V3 Medium Loosely Blue
Fork: Fox Factory 36 Grip 2 VVC 150mm
Shock: Fox Factory DPX2 mit Roller Bearing Kit, 210x55 - Cascade Components V4 Link
Shifters, Cassette, Cranks: Shimano XT M8100 12 Speed
Chainring Burgtec Thick Thin 32T
Chainguide: Shimano XTR
Brakes: Shimano XTR M9000 203 / 203mm
Bars: Burgtec Ride Wide Josh Bryceland 30mm Rise mit ODI Longneck
Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK3 35mm
Headset: Chris King Dropset
Sattelstütze: OneUp Components 125mm mit WolfTooth Remote
Seat: Fabric Scoop Camo
Pedals: Burgtec Penthouse MK5
Wheels: DT Swiss EX1501 Spline 30mm
Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF DH & Maxxis Minion DHR DH
Extras: OneUp EDC Tool & Pump / EDC Strap
WolfTooth Encase System
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