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Why are 27.5in wheels popular for e-bikes?

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Why are 27.5in wheels popular for e-bikes?

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Old 11-14-22, 01:19 PM
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Fandomii
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Why are 27.5in wheels popular for e-bikes?

Hey all, I keep seeing 27.5in (650b) wheels on most high end e-bikes I’m looking at.

Are smaller wheels better for commuting than larger 29 (700c) ones?
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Old 11-14-22, 02:21 PM
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It’s fashion. Doesn’t mean anything on the ground. 20” to 29” all work depending on intended use.
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Old 11-14-22, 02:25 PM
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tyrion
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Commuter e-bikes tend towards fatter tires, and those fatter tires in 700c might cause toe overlap problems in smaller frame sizes.

IMO the ideal solution would be 26" rims for small sizes, 650b for medium sizes, and 700c for large sizes, but it's less expensive to just go with the medium size rim for all frame sizes.
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Old 11-14-22, 03:03 PM
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There is a currently some good 650B tires out there and it is a popular size again.It is what it is in the end. I like the idea of a slightly smaller tire and being able to run something wider but if you build the frame around the smaller tire then it doesn't really matter.

tyrion Riese and Müller does that for their Nevo which is their step through bike, they have a smaller size that uses 26" wheels and it is a nice option for shorter riders or folks needing an easier entry bike.
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