Clarity on 27.5" Levo (2020)

[DuncanDoughnuts]

I would like to try running my Levo with 27.5" wheels ... front and back .. so not a mullet.

Anyone try this ?

Will up the fork to 160 (Lyric)
Run the bike in high position
Run some MM 2.6 tires.

Good idea or not ?

 

[Mondfuchs]

I will build my bike quite the same

 

[NGreen]

The 2020 shouldn’t be any different than the 2019 in the way the wheels fit. Lots of people including myself are running 27.5 wheels on their levos.

 

[MEDUIX]

I've been one year running my 2019 Levo with 27,5x2.8 wheels. Flip-chip high and 170mm fork. I like it so much...until I tried 29"x2.6 front and back, flip-chip low and 170mm fork...and like it much more than 27,5+.

The bike feels more agile with the 29ers, is faster and more lively...due to the narrower tires I suppose. With the 27,5 setup there were some issues with the crank clearance to the ground even in the high flipchip.
The 27,5+ feels better in the tight turns of course and a tad better in the really rough stuff...I loved the sensation of having such a big tire (Eddy Current 2.8) in front of me.

But when you get used to 29...I prefer it rather than 27,5.

 

[escrs]

On my 2020 Expert I'm running Hope Fortus 30 27.5 wheels, flip chip in the high position, 160mm FOX 36's and a 157mm FOX X2 on the rear, running a Maxxis DHF 2.5WT front tyre and a Maxxis DHR2 2.4WT on the rear

Also running a set of Hope 155mm crank arms, no pedal strike issues, bike has loads of mud clearance on the rear

The bike is much more agile in the twisty stuff with the 27.5 wheels, ive a set of DT Swiss 29ers for summer use, i found 29er's in winter left virtually no mud clearance once a mud guard was fiited

 

[MEDUIX]

On my 2020 Expert I'm running Hope Fortus 30 27.5 wheels, flip chip in the high position, 160mm FOX 36's and a 157mm FOX X2 on the rear, running a Maxxis DHF 2.5WT front tyre and a Maxxis DHR2 2.4WT on the rear

Also running a set of Hope 155mm crank arms, no pedal strike issues, bike has loads of mud clearance on the rear

The bike is much more agile in the twisty stuff with the 27.5 wheels, ive a set of DT Swiss 29ers for summer use, i found 29er's in winter left virtually no mud clearance once a mud guard was fiited

The mud clearance of the 29ers is true...but not a big problem for me here in Barcelona
I didn't try the 27,5 in such a narrow size, only in 2.8 and probably this is the reason I find the 29x2,6 much more agile.
In my opinion the Turbo Levo with 27,5 and narrow tires is too much low, even using shorter cranks you will have the BB too near to the ground. This may be good for cornering but very dangerous for the motor and battery.

 

[escrs]

Motor and battery are fine, its not dangerous, your not going to punch a hole in them!

On my bike, don't think Ive ever hit them and i ride real rocky, rooty conditions, the motor housing and the plastic bash plate a quite strong plus i have a Berkshire Cycles metal bash plate fitted so that takes any hard knocks

 

[Richiechester]

Just bought a levo frame and motor and starting the build from scratch was thinking of fitting 27.5 wheels and 155 cranks. What size hub is the levo at the rear ?

 

[dpdsurf]

2019 expert
160mm fork
Fox dhx2 coil shock

I have played around with 27.5 w/ 2.8 Maxxis dhf/dhr tires. I won't go into the details because there's plenty of info out there comparing 29 to 27 and all the basic points hold true for the Levo. Ultimately I did not like the 27 in front, other than for jumps. The mullet setup was much better. Not that it matters but lap times don't lie and mine are better as a full 29. I am back to running 29 front and rear full time with the rear shock in the high position. This bike was designed around 29 IMO with the longer chainstays to accommodate. I would be interested in trying a purpose built mullet.