Levo Gen 3 Replace 29 front with 27.5 ?

[ZeroPete]

Hey everyone,

I got a comp carbon last week, and for various reasons I'm wondering about replacing the 29 front with a 27.5. Have any of you done this, if so with what wheel, and what are your findings ?

Thanks, Pete

 

[Bndit]

And the reasons are?

 

[Zimmerframe]

I regularly ride different bikes with 27.5 and 29, though have never swapped it on a Levo.

The 29 always used to look and feel like a wagon wheel after riding 27.5, but after doing it enough times I don't noticed it visually now - my brain's accepted it.

The 27.5 always feels a lot more flickable and manoeuvrable. But the 29 always feels like it rides up and over things easier.

You'll drop the front about 1cm changing to a 27.5, so will lose about half a degree of head angle - not sure if you'll notice that in the real world or not.

I swapped a 29 bike out yesterday to a 27.5 because the 180 forks I had to hand were 27.5. Have to say, I really enjoyed riding the bike, it was really fun. Still plan to swap it to 29er 180's and put a 29 back on it though as it's theoretically setup as a Mullet.

Looks better balanced visually with 27.5/27.5 though

 

[rzr]

the only problem i see it's a BB and the motor, they are low and they'll be almost 1cm even lower.
(wheels have 19mm radius difference)

 

[Paulquattro]

And the reasons are?

Anything like me its just more fun to ride

 

[ZeroPete]

Knowing forums, the topic will quickly degenerate into an argument why the reasons are wrong, completely ignoring the question, while the people asking for the reasons never answer the question in the first place.

But for those of you who do answer :

Thanks

 

[Doomanic]

I briefly ran my Rail as a full 27.5 and it was pretty good. However, the BB was far too low and a 29er rolls over rocks and roots far better.

 

[steve_sordy]

I have run 29/29 and 27.5/27.5, each for years at a time. I very much prefer 27.5r/29f. My arse used to get buzzed on the 29er when descending steep stuff. The mullet still rolls over stuff nicely having the 29f, but the smaller rear doesn't buzz my arse. In my experience/opinion, a smaller front wheel would be a backward step.

 

[Troutwrestler]

I run 27.5 front and rear in my Gen 3 Levo. Front tyre is a 2.8. Not a massive size difference from the outer diameter of the stock front wheel.

I have actually never tried the stock wheelset as I really like the ride with the 27.5 wheels. I previously ran them on a 2018 Levo.

 

[kneecap]

I run a 3.0 nobby nic in front on my 18 levo. might be close to 29er. Extra cush for me.

 

[seanallgire]

If you replace your air spring and go like 10mm more travel in your fork you'd pretty much end up with the geometry you started with, but I'm having a hard time thinking of a scenario where I'd rather have a 27.5 up front over the 29.

 

[steveL]

I have run 29/29 and 27.5/27.5, each for years at a time. I very much prefer 27.5r/29f. My arse used to get buzzed on the 29er when descending steep stuff. The mullet still rolls over stuff nicely having the 29f, but the smaller rear doesn't buzz my arse. In my experience/opinion, a smaller front wheel would be a backward step.

Have you tried a smaller arse?

 

[Sparkydave]

Never had full 29 - still have a 26'er lol. Had a couple of 27.5's though and just stuck a 29 on the front of my gen 1 Kenevo and it has made the bike so much better. Not sure I'd swap a 29 front out for a 27.5

 

[cozzy]

Having recently done a lot of back to back testing on my kenevo between a 27.5 and 29 front, I'm sticking with 29.
27.5 more precise in slow speed tech.
29 better at rollover and smoothing out higher speed chunk.
Both are good fun though.

 

[steve_sordy]

Have you tried a smaller arse?

Very droll, but I already have a small arse; it is longer legs that I need!

 

[boBE]

I changed my SL from 29 to 27.5 not long after getting it. 29 felt too high and slow steering, 27.5 feels much better. I do not ride anything that might be considered technical so have not had any trouble with pedal strikes. The dealer reset the wheel diameter as I was topping out at about 18.5 mph.