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Is 27.5" dead?

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Is 27.5" dead?

Old 09-28-19, 02:04 AM
  #76  
bundubasha
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Giant

Giant, the biggest bike manufacturer in the world, unless I am mistaken has just announced no more 27.5 in their 2020 lineup. Just saying...
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Old 09-28-19, 08:57 AM
  #77  
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The answer is no, 27.5" isn't dead.

See the new HD4 and Warden for just a few examples.

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Old 09-28-19, 09:42 AM
  #78  
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I honestly believe 26ers are the next big thing. Most of the world rides 26ers. Most of the world are relatively shorter, smaller people. The western recreational cyclist is almost a boutique niche market for bicycles where temporary marketing fads dominate.

29ers are seriously problematic because they require 12 percent more effort to generate the same amount of torque, have higher center of gravity, enormously stretched out wheelbases that hinder maneuverability, weaker and heavier wheels and tires. It's difficult or impossible to design an effective geometry for 29 inch wheels suitable for short-to-normal-height riders. The front end is always going to be too high, the wheelbase is always going to be too long. 27.5 wheels were re-marketed to mitigate these problems while maintaining a viable but faddish business opportunity. 27.5 is the death knell for 29. Not anytime soon but eventually.

700c makes sense with skinny tires and lightweight wheels as on road bikes, but not so much as they become bulky and heavier in mtbs. I think that 26ers will eventually dominate the gravel bike market because there's no significant benefit to the skinny but heavy tubeless tires on 700c gravel bikes. 26er gravel bikes give you a wheel/tire combo that weighs about the same, has about the same size wheel/tire diameter, but gives you a lot more traction at a lot lower pressure.

There's some benefit to larger wheels on a fully rigid mountain bike but the cost/liability is significant enough to favor smaller wheels.

Last edited by Clem von Jones; 09-28-19 at 10:36 AM.
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Old 09-28-19, 09:09 PM
  #79  
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26ers can't be the next big thing. It's already been a thing! It could very well get resurrected, if the market were so inclined.
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Old 09-30-19, 07:50 AM
  #80  
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Originally Posted by bundubasha
Giant, the biggest bike manufacturer in the world, unless I am mistaken has just announced no more 27.5 in their 2020 lineup. Just saying...
I wouldn't doubt it. As I noted earlier...27.5 will go the way of 26.
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Old 09-30-19, 07:52 AM
  #81  
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Originally Posted by Clem von Jones
I honestly believe 26ers are the next big thing. Most of the world rides 26ers. Most of the world are relatively shorter, smaller people. The western recreational cyclist is almost a boutique niche market for bicycles where temporary marketing fads dominate.

29ers are seriously problematic because they require 12 percent more effort to generate the same amount of torque, have higher center of gravity, enormously stretched out wheelbases that hinder maneuverability, weaker and heavier wheels and tires. It's difficult or impossible to design an effective geometry for 29 inch wheels suitable for short-to-normal-height riders. The front end is always going to be too high, the wheelbase is always going to be too long. 27.5 wheels were re-marketed to mitigate these problems while maintaining a viable but faddish business opportunity. 27.5 is the death knell for 29. Not anytime soon but eventually.

700c makes sense with skinny tires and lightweight wheels as on road bikes, but not so much as they become bulky and heavier in mtbs. I think that 26ers will eventually dominate the gravel bike market because there's no significant benefit to the skinny but heavy tubeless tires on 700c gravel bikes. 26er gravel bikes give you a wheel/tire combo that weighs about the same, has about the same size wheel/tire diameter, but gives you a lot more traction at a lot lower pressure.

There's some benefit to larger wheels on a fully rigid mountain bike but the cost/liability is significant enough to favor smaller wheels.
Talk about uninformed and misguided. Wow.

This thread is about Mountain Bikes. Not gravel bikes.
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Old 09-30-19, 07:10 PM
  #82  
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Originally Posted by bundubasha
Giant, the biggest bike manufacturer in the world, unless I am mistaken has just announced no more 27.5 in their 2020 lineup. Just saying...
Their website shows 27.5 available in 2020 models for the Glory, Trance, Reign, Talon, Fathom, and ATX.
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Old 10-02-19, 08:38 PM
  #83  
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Recently picked up the 2020 Trek Roscoe 8. 27.5 plus (2.8" tires). Love this thing. This was a grind of a climb but the ride down was awesome.


Last edited by DocsDad; 10-02-19 at 08:41 PM.
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Old 10-04-19, 12:51 PM
  #84  
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@DocsDad what bag is that ? looks like a large saddlebag or small bike packing bag.




PS I hope not I have a Jamis 650B1 and a Salsa Journeyman 650b ... I love the size!
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Old 10-06-19, 01:37 PM
  #85  
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I wish that 26 inch bikes with 135mm spacing would come back from the dead. There is nothing wrong with 26 inch wheels and 135mm rear spacing.
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Old 10-07-19, 06:07 PM
  #86  
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
I wish that 26 inch bikes with 135mm spacing would come back from the dead. There is nothing wrong with 26 inch wheels and 135mm rear spacing.
My 29" has 135mm spacing.
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Old 10-07-19, 06:09 PM
  #87  
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Mine’s alive.
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Old 10-07-19, 07:15 PM
  #88  
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I hope not. I just bought a dead bike...
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Old 10-08-19, 10:41 AM
  #89  
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
I wish that 26 inch bikes with 135mm spacing would come back from the dead. There is nothing wrong with 26 inch wheels and 135mm rear spacing.
Actually, 150mm spacing would solve a lot of problems for many bicycles, which is popular with DH bikes and old skool FR bikes. I don't think Boost offers any real advantage up front, unless you are into a fat, or mid-fat bikes. I've also been a big fan of high volume 26" wheels, but I'm 5'8" so it's just a better all round compromise for me. If I had a choice, that's what it would be, along with more modern geometry and slightly longer wheelbase than what was standard for 26. I'm a "playful" rider most of the time, and 26 offers quite a bit more control in most situations... I have to work pretty hard to throw my current bike around. As someone said, it's slightly too long and tall...
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Old 10-08-19, 12:18 PM
  #90  
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Boost is all about chain clearance for plus tires. All the stiffness and triangulation stuff may be true but it's not why they did it. Before it was a "standard," Surly was making custom cranks with a wider chain line to get around their Krampus tires.
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Old 10-08-19, 05:17 PM
  #91  
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Is it possible to use a wheel set with 135mm rear spacing in a frame with 142mm or 148mm spacing ??...Are there any adapters that make this possible ??
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Old 10-08-19, 06:22 PM
  #92  
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Is it possible to use a wheel set with 135mm rear spacing in a frame with 142mm or 148mm spacing ??...Are there any adapters that make this possible ??
142 yes. 148 I don't think so...
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Old 10-08-19, 06:27 PM
  #93  
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Originally Posted by Bandrada
142 yes.
Wouldn’t it depend on whether the 135 hub was convertible?
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Old 10-08-19, 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Kapusta
Wouldn’t it depend on whether the 135 hub was convertible?
True, but if I remember correctly many medium to high end wheel sets made a conversion kit.
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Old 10-08-19, 09:07 PM
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https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/...ts/boostinator
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Old 10-09-19, 06:51 AM
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Is this in response to the question about converting 135 to Boost?

If so, those are not for that purpose. As I am reading it, those are for converting 142x12 to 148x12 (Boost).
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Old 10-09-19, 07:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Kapusta
Is this in response to the question about converting 135 to Boost?

If so, those are not for that purpose. As I am reading it, those are for converting 142x12 to 148x12 (Boost).
Yes. You would also need the drive side end cap.
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Old 10-09-19, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
Yes. You would also need the drive side end cap.
What? Those adapters don’t work on 135 QR hubs.

Maybe we are answering different questions here. Someone asked if it was possible to convert 135mm hub to Boost (148x12).

The answer is yes.... IF the hub itself is convertible (and many mid-high end hubs are).

However, if not (such as with many shimano hubs), there are no aftermarket end cap adapters (that I know of) that will let you stick a 135 QR hub in a boost frame spacing. The ones you linked to do not do that.
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Old 10-09-19, 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by dieterpi
I have a 27.5" mtb which is starting to show its age, and I have started looking for a replacement. (without a hurry)
It might be just me, but it looks like 27.5" is going to have same fate as 26"? All the new mountainbikes seem 29"...

I'm a bit hesitant of switching to a 29'er, because of the slight loss of manoeuvrability (perhaps nothing to be worried about?)
No 27,5 forever
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Old 10-09-19, 01:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Kapusta
What? Those adapters don’t work on 135 QR hubs.

Maybe we are answering different questions here. Someone asked if it was possible to convert 135mm hub to Boost (148x12).

The answer is yes....
IF the hub itself is convertible (and many mid-high end hubs are).

However, if not (such as with many shimano hubs), there are no aftermarket end cap adapters (that I know of) that will let you stick a 135 QR hub in a boost frame spacing. The ones you linked to do not do that.
Bolded: I don't think you can go from 135 quick release to 148x12, even with a conversion T/A conversion. But, I'm pretty sure you can go from 135 through-axle to 148 with the right end caps. The "boostinator" is only good for existing 142 spacing as far as I can tell.
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