The Effect Of Wheelsize On E-MTBs | E-Bike Wheelsize

[@embn]

Have you tried different wheel sizes?

[@mikerbwind]

just bought a Levo Comp. I have been riding 27.5 and thought 29 might feel strange...and I had not liked any 29 er I had ridden previously. I was amazed that on the Levo I really did not even notice that it was a 29 er. The bike just feels right. It seems just as manoeuvrable as my 27.5 but with far better roll over and grip. I guess what I am saying is that the bike is a complete design and it all works together...suspension wheels geometry...….so I see no reason to mess with it!!

[@steveworkman8480]

29er front 27.5 rear awesome combo on my Fantic 👍

[@stevieridesscotland7031]

Great vid Steve, I've fitted 2 offset bushes to the rear shock which has lowered bb and slackened head angle by a degree while keeping my 29 front n rear on my focus jam2. This was a great mod for around £25.

[@zurri6513]

Doing some maths the other day to decide what size of chainring I use, I noticed that an inch and a half of wheel more equals two more teeth on the chainring, more or less. So, as long as the cassettes are the same, a 27.5 with a 32 will have the same gearing as a 29 with a 30.

[@RodQTNZ]

Perfect timing. I flip between two bikes in different locations. A Norco with 27.5 and Levo with 29" and much prefer the 27.5. Just changing the Levo down to 27.5 as well to see how that feels.

[@chriskros8858]

I want to try 29" . It's a pity that we live so far.

[@Gallardo6669]

I STILL RIDE MY 26".... Omg, i am so uncool and outdated, how crappy they are, i should change just because thr industy is tellibg us they wanna make more money on these sales and telling me that 26 were always bad... My 26" are way more stiff and i never het with my shoes to close to the front tire. My bike,also stays lower... But what i know, i just ride bike for 35yrs...

[@tmadden4951]

I didn't even know there was 27.5

[@BarryJTaylor]

27.5 x 2.6 front, 26 x 2.8 rear. I run 27.5 front 26 back most of the time. Been running that for about 5 years. On treadlies and ebike, but its especially good on ebikes since it enhances descent stability and control and having pedal assist negates any percieved dificulty pedalling uphill ..... plus the extra traction from running a bigger rear tyre is always a plus.

[@asmith8092]

thank you for making everything so much more crystal complicated!!!

[@RobsClips1980]

Can I ask what the difference is with regards to the torque/power delivery at the tyre contact patch of both wheel sizes. Obviously more torque is delivered at the contact patch of the 27.5 over that of the 29 for a given motor output and no doubt that will contribute to battery life and range. However, given the 29 is a more free rolling wheel than the 27.5 is it a case that the differences are negligible? I would imagine that the 27.5 would climb better given its better torque output with all things being equal???

[@slumduck63]

What about the 25 limit, wouldn't it change if i pit a 27.5 on the rear of my 29er. How much??

[@ericbeasley6322]

I think that would slow things down for you. My Pivot Shuttle was mis-configured when I got it. The system thought the wheel size was larger than it actually ways, which made my speedometer think I was doing 20mph, but I was really only doing 14. Shimano had to remote-in to my bike to change the wheel size setting, which fixed the problem. Based on this, I'm thinking that if your software thought the wheel size was larger than it actually is, that will throw off your speedometer which would effectively drop your *real* max speed limit. If my thinking here is correct, I'd suggest you have your shop change your wheel-size setting in the software once you change your rear wheel out.

[@chriskros8858]

My scott e grnius 920 is 29er but I am using 27.5 wheels. Suspention can be lifted becsuse there is special flip chip to do it when wheels are changed. As I compare between display an gps from smartphone the speed value varies ca 1-2 km/h so my bike has real assistance speed limit to 23 kph. So stupid regulation that works one way only on every road - bravo for EU government . I am not suprised that british people want brexit.

[@t.2the.o448]

Hi Embn Team, i've hot an Hybride Kato FS with 27.5 2.8 Tires Front and rear. In the front is an Fox 34 29 Fork. If i change the frontwheel in an 29. The Bottom Bracket rises ? How Much?

[@wolver1n]

im on a gaint dirt e 0.5 an XC bike but i start to enjoy riding single trails. Im from Germany and at my location we have slow trails (at least for me) with a lot of roots i struggle to get over them (i know skill can fix any thing but meanwhile i can make my rides easier). Maybe i get a new fork and a 29" wheel to get away from the 69.5 head angle.

[@cktg]

Why does the Head Angle change when you change from 29"front/rear to 27.5" 2.8 Tires? It should just lower the Bottom Bracket or am i wrong?

[@WE-vd8ux]

Just a question about personal preferences: Which combo do you guys from EMBN prefer? ;)

[@1975supermike]

Which emtbs disengage the motor when you change gear and which dont?

[@juxtarepublic6106]

It makes sense.... Trail / Motocross (Motor) Bikes use a larger front than rear wheel config. to absorb the hits. I do find my 29er a bit of a horse (tall) in the tight single track stuff, so to drop the mass a few inches may help with slow stability. From MotoX / BMX experience, I don't like less rake (Steering Angle) as it does give the front a lazier feel and the 27.5 in the rear will actively lengthen the chainstay which I'm also not a fan of.... gives the bike a longer wheelbase feel, even though you have mathematically shortened it.

[@JohnRushworth]

My 2015 Moustache is 29 front and 27.5 rear, both with 2.35 as standard. I’ve gone from 25mm rims to 30mm for more air volume and a more ideal fit for my Magic Marys. My question is; the standard head angle is 68.5, so what would the effect be of using 1.5 degree offset head bearings to get it a bit slacker? Do you think it would drop the BB by much?

[@embn]

If you choose to go a little slacker it wont affect the BB drop noticeably.

[@allsport5030]

Great vid steve. My moustaush samadie full sus . works a treat 29/27 an its 2014

[@001PeteK]

Is a shop bought bike with 29in better then a shop bought bike with 27.5in...and is there any difference between hardtail and full sus with these tyre sizes...?

[@supervelomantrek7015]

So....at the end why change wheel size ?

[@vert_n_dirt]

Good stuff. Fairly comprehensive. I’m curious though when you say by putting a 27.5 on the rear of a 29 that you’ll go from 67 to 65 degree head angle. I was under the impression that the difference was half an inch in axle height? By adding 10mm to fork travel you lose .4 degree off the head angle so you’d need to add 50mm(2 inches)travel on your fork to lose 2 degrees(67-65). My math might be off but that figures a 27.5 rear wheel from a 29 would take .6 degrees off your head angle

[@243wull]

Steve, how would the geometry on a Levo be affected if you were to fit a Bike Yoke link and run a regular shock ?

[@johnf3326]

Love to upsize the 2.6 tyres on my Trek Rail 5 to 2.8 but these are rare as hen's teeth. Plenty of 3.0 but I doubt they would fit

[@chargeriderepeat7024]

Ive got a 24 on the back..I'll get my coat.

[@ianbray4300]

On my powerplay what if the forks and wheel was changed so 29fork and 29wheel would that affect the geometry much?

[@Shacko117]

Did you use the flip chip in the turbo levo?

[@paulbaker7675]

Gotta love marketing... You all go and stick some 27.5 wheels on your 29er designed bike, just let me go down the trail first as your gonna slow me up!

[@rexvaughn986]

Is there any effect on range with 29 vs 27.5?

[@grantadamson3478]

Yes there will be an affect on range. You will change the gearing and depending on the type of riding you may reduce the range moving from 27.5 to 29. It takes more energy to get moving on the 29 from a standstill. But once up and running the difference should be minimal. But constant start stop riding might compromise range with the larger 29. imo.

[@crush1221]

Anyone put a 29 upfront on a kenevo?

[@jblair9926]

Trust the bike manufacturers r&d team and leave the wheel size alone.

[@_rhapsodist]

agreed

[@vert_n_dirt]

jeff blair if they have it so dialed, why do every manufacture make changes to their bikes year after year? Once companies started shortening stems it took them 20 yrsto dial them in. They added rear suspension and it took them another 10 years to shorten them to appropriate length. They feed us by piece meal. Just fit your bike for you from the get go. There’s a formula

[@jblair9926]

Vert N Dirt they change every year to sell bikes (new model new year) your missing the point that the average mtb rider just hasn’t got the resources the bike manufacturers have or the years of know how. Just like when you see a Mercedes Benz and compare it to a plastic winged large wheeled noisy home custom car.

[@Scoey2912]

@@vert_n_dirt I'll bet the next levo the bring out will have a 27.5 on the rear ,its not the best on tight corners.

[@vert_n_dirt]

Paul Schofield that’s a good bet. I hadn’t thought of that.Seems to be working for Finn and Loic

[@adammccarthy2157]

Better recalibrate your ebike or the setting will be off

[@Abadak]

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