Hi everyone looking for opinions: 27.5 or 29er E-Bike?

[lucacocomazzi]

Hi Everyone

My first post here, I currently ride a 2017 Specialized Enduro 29/27.5+ comp and I'm looking to buy a E-mtb.

I've put my eyes on different E-bikes already, the new Levo Comp, The new Kenevo Comp, the Meta Power 29 or 27.5 and the Giant Trance E+.

What size wheel you guys think is best for E-mtb?? Could you share your experience.

Thanks all

Luca

 

[All Mountain Coaching]

It doesn't change just because you've a motor, if you prefer 29 wheels on a normal bike, chances are it'll be the same with an ebike.

 

[craig landau]

buy a 29 if your doing a mix of road and fire trails , or stay with 27.5 if you want to beat around the bush ,

 

[lucacocomazzi]

Thanks for the answers. When I ride the Enduro I usually take it to trail centers, or local woods. On 27.5 I feel more nimble and agile, and all I want to do when I ride is throw the wherever I can. When I ride 29 it feels more stable on high speed but less confident on jumps, will that come down with practice and just riding it more ?

 

[jerry]

I think, first, you should say whether you're thinking about the regular 27,5 or the "plus" variant - this will probably be as important an influence as the size.

 

[magnil]

I run 29 on my analogue bike and 29 front/27,5 rear on my Levo. Like it better than 29 rear.

 

[Gary]

less confident on jumps, will that come down with practice and just riding it more ?

I'm guessing from this comment you're not all that experience at jumping?
29ers are actually more stable jumpers too.
Unless something is set-up all wrong on the 29ers you've jumped or they didn't fit you the lack of jumping confidence is down to you rather than the wheelsize.
Stability is good on big flat out jumps but robs the bike of some maeouverabilty on steeper/tighter jumps. Trick wise, depending on your preferred style a 29er will whip just as well as a smaller wheeled bike but can take slightly more effort to table or spin. This is why all dirtjump bikes still run 26x2.2ish tyres. and a lot of slopstyle riders use 26x2.5 tyres on their 200mm DH bikes to hit 80ft gaps and trick them.

I can't stand the handling traits* of 29, 27.5plus or 26" fatbike or wheels/tyres. (infact I still prefer 26" for most riding) but I can still jump any of them absolutely fine

*with 29ers it's mainly how they turn and their lack of agility I dislike, Plus/Fat have these traits too but also have a less direct, less connected/ less supportive feel almost like a sogginess to the tyres which also results in even poorer acceleration/agility.

 

[lucacocomazzi]

I think, first, you should say whether you're thinking about the regular 27,5 or the "plus" variant - this will probably be as important an influence as the size.

I'm running 2.8 at the front and 2.6 at the rear, so I'll call it plus variant

 

[Gary]

Don't see anything stopping you running 2.8f, 2.6r on either wheel size

 

[lucacocomazzi]

I'm guessing from this comment you're not all that experience at jumping?
29ers are actually more stable jumpers too.
Unless something is set-up all wrong on the 29ers you've jumped or they didn't fit you the lack of jumping confidence is down to you rather than the wheelsize.
Stability is good on big flat out jumps but robs the bike of some maeouverabilty on steeper/tighter jumps. Trick wise, depending on your preferred style a 29er will whip just as well as a smaller wheeled bike but can take slightly more effort to table or spin. This is why all dirtjump bikes still run 26x2.2ish tyres. and a lot of slopstyle riders use 26x2.5 tyres on their 200mm DH bikes to hit 80ft gaps and trick them.

I can't stand the handling traits* of 29, 27.5plus or 26" fatbike or wheels/tyres. (infact I still prefer 26" for most riding) but I can still jump any of them absolutely fine

*with 29ers it's mainly how they turn and their lack of agility I dislike, Plus/Fat have these traits too but also have a less direct, less connected/ less supportive feel almost like a sogginess to the tyres which also results in even poorer acceleration/agility.

I haven't jumped much in my 2 and half years mountain biking, only small stuff that you barely manage to scrape a whip off it, mainly tables top to be honest.

If I would buy a Levo 2019, I can always stick a pair of 27.5 with 2.6 tyres hoping to don't lower the BB too much.. I will consider to book a demo ride just to give my self the idea on how the Levo 29 feels like.

Thanks for the comment, full of good infos.

 

[Kernow]

I haven't jumped much in my 2 and half years mountain biking, only small stuff that you barely manage to scrape a whip off it, mainly tables top to be honest.

If I would buy a Levo 2019, I can always stick a pair of 27.5 with 2.6 tyres hoping to don't lower the BB too much.. I will consider to book a demo ride just to give my self the idea on how the Levo 29 feels like.

Thanks for the comment, full of good infos.

I think it’s fair to say you could use 27.5 plus on any 29er it’s just specialised that advertise it more than the rest
Scott have thier flip chip in the rear linkage to readjust to smaller wheel geo but That seems uneccesary to me but looks like a good ebike if your set on the dealer big name built in battery option
I notice the new vitus 29er Escarpe non e is now advertised to use both wheel sizes .

Most of the racers I know have gone back to 29er with their latest bikes , and i have yet to meet one who feels the need for a second set of wheels in 27.5

I always preferred 29er on normal bikes , but didn’t have the choice when I bought my Meta last year , I like to believe the smaller wheel make the heavier ebike easier to throw about , but Iam probably just kidding myself , would love to try the new 29 meta , that’s still top of my list for value , I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another commencal , but would struggle with the wheel size choice now, built in battery is the deal breaker for me with lots of bikes for many reasons