Which is Better ? Mullet Vs 29er Specialized Levo SL

[@SamsBikes]

So what do we think riders? Mullet Vs 29er which is better for you?

[@BSE75]

29 er woud be my choice to go.

[@asifitmatters1]

100% Mullet!!!

[@ilarihakanen350]

maybe the take on this is, that you should invest in a emtb that has both options. Having flipschip certainly adds more range to your already do it all emtb.

[@heywood165]

I’d never noticed until this video but you seem extremely comfortable chatting away while sprinting down a trail at warp speed. Most KZbinrs go a little quiet and mention concentration when they have to try a bit and have to hit a few jumps. Well done! 😂

[@daveg8212]

Absolutely LOVE my Gen 2 Levo SL in a mullet set up!

[@SamsBikes]

me too what a beast of a ebike

[@billcarboy]

Tried mine in most configurations. Best so far is mullet in the long chain stay position, BB in high & -1 degree headset cup 👌

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks for sharing ill try that

[@brianbathgate4944]

Cracking video mate! I’ve got a full fat Levo and the mullet is awesome with that, I don’t feel the twitch with the extra weight. Mullet makes moving the extra mass much more easy too - much prefer it over the Gen2 Levo I had which was 29er. Would love an SL though and think 29er makes more sense for that. I’ve got a Trek Marlin for commuting, 29er hard tail, and it’s awesome, really fast, effortless climbing. Basically, I’d say 29er for XC, and mullet for enduro.

[@brianbathgate4944]

Ps, you should get yourself over to Scotland - would be happy to show you about :)

[@billderas3420]

Great test! For my 2023 Levo SL (Gen 2), the adjustments to go from mullet to 29er included: adjusting B-tension screw on my regular GX derailleur and having the new effective rollout number corrected using Turbo Studio at my LBS. At 200-210 lbs and being more cross-country oriented, I definitely prefer the more stable and faster 29er setup for my overall needs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (California/Nevada) and our local bike park.

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks Rider! thats why I love this 6 way Geo on the Levo SL each rider can get the perfect set up for their needs..

[@sjaan7370]

Another great video Sam, but I have to say that that is one sweet stand! I want one 😎

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks Riders and yes the Topeak Stands are amazing...

[@kevinmanzo862]

Love this video I have this bike and wanted to know thank you!

[@SamsBikes]

Glad I could help... if you can have a play this bike is amazing you can set it up perfect for your style

[@PabloOlea59]

Mate you were flying in La Pinilla with the SL!! I use to ride 29ers but I loved so much the SL in mullet setup and I’ll keep it this way, but so interesting the comparison between both setups.

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks bro... I had alot of fun and the Mullet for me....

[@Rideoak]

Thank you. Tomorrow, maybe, i will get my S-Works Kenevo SL 2.

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks rider! Good luck with the new bike

[@Rideoak]

@@SamsBikes Thank you- and your good Videos!

[@jordanmackay3568]

Bro get a dhx2 coil and get a cascade eyelet. Don't just mullet this bike without anything as the BB will be ridic low. Also get 155/160 cranks

[@bpet2237]

Can’t wait for the day the SL kenevo has a motor with power like the DJI motor. SLs are great but i would get smoked on full power rides

[@Rideoak]

@@bpet2237 It‘s my second SL 2. Before, i rode the SL. There‘s enough Power.

[@ck8843]

My kenevo is a 27.5 as is my polygon, I’ve rode my buddies mullet I really did enjoy it

[@MJKOLODZIK]

Awesome testing 👍🏻 I agree with your results--if speeds your thing, 29er for sure. I just want to live to ride another day.🤔

[@SamsBikes]

hahaha me too... I'm more of a mullet rider for sure not about the speed these days.

[@gerhardalbertus5612]

I have a a Gen 2 Levo SL. I've ridden it on 29" and 27,5" and each set up has an equal amount of pros and cons. Depends on which characteristics you prefer and the type of trails you ride.

[@SamsBikes]

totally agree..

[@Dylan-Rowley]

Great video dude! Despite them being completely different bikes & brands, my YT Capra (MX) and Cube Two 15 (29) exhibit similar characteristics that you described to the Levo. The Capra is playful but skiddish at high speed. The Cube, despite being a DH bike, accelerates incredibly quickly, you fight to manoeuvre it in corners at speed, but if it's a wide open berm, the 29" wheels track well. I think it's up to the rider to adapt but it's great a lot of bikes are coming with flip chips now so you can change around depending on terrain. It'll be something I'll definitely be looking for in my next bike so I can take advantage of both. p.s - dude you are hauling down those trails!

[@SamsBikes]

Yo Dylan thanks for the comment.... Definitely there is no perfect set up but there is a perfect set up for each rider you just need to play around with it and in 2024 i feel most highend bikes should be mullet or 29 compatible. I was Hauling haha not bad for an old man on a trail bike now I need a DH to keep up with you haha

[@ryankelly6392]

I just purchased the santa cruz v10.8 it only comes in the full 29er. I've only ever had 27.5 so will be interested to see what its like, I'm more get down the mountain as fast as possible than popping off things

[@SamsBikes]

Let me know how you get on both are great but different

[@leonbeale7105]

Nice work Sam I've been waiting for this since you promised it when you first got the bike! I've been riding mine with ohlins coil rear in the mullet short Cs and feels great, I've been wondering how the 29 would feel but it's and expensive experiment. So would you recommend the expense of the experiment!?

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mate.... if you can borrow a wheel off a friend or buy a cheap wheel second hand and give it ago its really interesting and really worth trying it.

[@thim8009]

Best test I did is when I had my Gen 2 levo and turned it into a mullet. Not a huge difference, but I did like it as a mullet better.

[@jbss7382]

@SamsBikes Great topic Mind if I ask please the make of the bike stand? Just getting my 1st enike so need a decent bike stand Thanks Jono

[@SamsBikes]

Yo Jono thanks for the kind words mate... the bike stand is a Topeak PREPSTAND® eUP PRO its bloody amazing

[@johngraham6506]

Great video. I came from a 27.5+ (3.0 wheels) on a hardtail. When I bought my Turbo Levo with 29" wheels. I have put my 27.5" from my old bike and interesting to see how it feels. My questions are, I have left the 3.0" wheel on the back. * Thoughts on going with that big of a rear wheel? I always have loved the 'cushion' and how much you can lean the bike and still have contact. * On my old bike I used to run my pressure at 14.5. Thoughts on pressure on my ebike? Do I need to go higher because the bike itself weighs more Almost all of my riding is tight, single trail, rocky, and I am near 60 years old, so I don't like the idea of broken bones! I.e. - Speed but not too much speed! Again, great video! I just subscribed.

[@jakerivets2249]

The word you're looking for is "versus". "Verse" is a line of poetry.

[@blackstone3469]

Yeah freedom on two wheels! go for it!

[@SamsBikes]

totally

[@kevinmanzo862]

I need that topeak tool kit. Gonna order that now

[@SamsBikes]

Sweet Kevin its sooooo good let me know how you get on.

[@jordanmackay3568]

Mullets shouldn't reduce the cs length. If you have a small rear wheel why make the bike less stable. Long cs and mullet is 100% the best

[@SamsBikes]

Really I might need to try that

[@topheavy7616]

Short chainstay is where the fun is at!

[@jordanmackay3568]

@@topheavy7616 I agree. But balance is important. 435 chainstay on 500+ reach feels shocking. Kinematics determine a bikes fun factor

[@topheavy7616]

@@jordanmackay3568 I guess it comes down to what you enjoy. My Process has a super short 425mm cs. It’s like riding a wriggling Salmon. But I love it. 🙂

[@testtesttesttesttest884]

Everyone I know believes the best config is long with small wheel. Even the Pinkbike reviewer did that.

[@Magic_Vince]

Seems to me the Mullet is the clear winner here!

[@bpet2237]

On my Decoy i put 27 front and rear… i notice way more of a change with 27 front than when running mullet. So much more playful.

[@SamsBikes]

Yep I did the same

[@bpet2237]

@@SamsBikes nice what about what about on the Levo? you prefer mullet?

[@vrriedo9827]

I drive a Specialized SumpJumper Evo Mullet and I am verry happy, but i am just 163cm tall

[@kevinmanzo862]

I wanna switch me Levo SL to 29 with those tires which version are they so many choices on their site. For dry desert slippery conditions

[@SamsBikes]

Hey Kevin I'm running Magic Marry Ultra Soft 29X2.4 in the Super Trail casing and on the back a Tack Chan Ultra Soft 29x2.4 with Super Gravity casing

[@PelicanIslandLabs]

Doesn't this comparison change depending on rider size? I would expect small-medium sized riders would likely prefer the mullet and vice-versa with large riders.

[@jameslines9794]

I think short chainstays do make a bike playful but for an ebike i believe a longer chainstay is better as an all round setup for climbing and descending . A long reach and short CS feels odd and un balanced. My bike 490 reach and 456 CS thats mx setup and it feels better than my old bike with a 440 CS and 29er. Personal experiences i guess

[@craigsimons5111]

So mullets for 0-40 years old 29 for 40 and up cause our old brains can’t keep up. Haha. 😂

[@SamsBikes]

Maybe haha I’m pushing 44 years and I still love the mullet

[@wgnwheels333]

29 29 for me

[@iBeaver1973]

was that guy in the green vest, slowing you down? seems so... :-P

[@SamsBikes]

haha thats my mate on a DH bike

[@benjmuller1523]

The additional weight of the e-bike already gives more than enough stability, making Mullet best ever on e-bikes with trail and downhill character! With the 29er, I often end up with my back on the rear wheel. Not funny at all.

[@SamsBikes]

I agree but on the Levo SL you dont get the 29er in you butt to bad I have had much worse

[@klstrucker930419]

Isn't levo sl 29er from factory? I remember I tested levo sl full 29er vs full power levo mullet. The full power levo felt more nimble.

[@SamsBikes]

No it’s mullet from stock!

[@testtesttesttesttest884]

Low mode at shock, long in chainstay, -1 at headset, and mullet. The short chainstay with mullet feels off with that reach.

[@troymortimer3487]

wonder why every pro on the e-edr is running mullet. yet for the purists on Edr are all running full 29?

[@SamsBikes]

I think its because the Ebike is heavier and the Mullet make them easier to handle.

[@51im]

Mullets definitely looks better

[@SamsBikes]

I agree..

[@hansol710]

Am i only one who 29 seems like zero handling bus? i wanna buy 27 enduro but iam also old and low skilled, i have 27 trail, but when i try 29 i got feeling like driving bus i need 10 meter to turn on road

[@spiral99able]

Lets settle this once and for all ......28.25.. 😂

[@SamsBikes]

Haha 🤣 don’t joke it might happen

[@mintsauce101]

It’s all garbage, for 99% of all riders they will notice zero difference (but justify their decision by making up some kind of bs). MTBers are so sucked in by the latest “trend” they will believe anything! 26” wheels are and have always been the sweet spot, lower flex, lighter, more controllable, oh and cheaper.

[@SamsBikes]

Haha wow 🤩 each to their own

[@asifitmatters1]

You must be joking… €900 for a bike stand???? Why are you “recommending” such products??? It’s like recommending getting a chauffeur and a butler, obviously it’s great to have them, but 99.99999% of the world can’t afford them. It just makes you appear either totally arrogant or completely out of touch.

[@SamsBikes]

Sorry maybe you’re right, I just love this stand maybe it’s more designed for smaller bike shops.

[@MJKOLODZIK]

@@SamsBikes Stands will save $$$ in the long run since I can now do almost complete maintenance myself.😊