Marin Alpine Trail E2 - "de-mullet"???

[MateNako]

Hey guys!

I'm thinking about buying Marin Alpine Trail E2, since it kinda seems like a bang for the buck.

Even though 27,5 is fine for me, the 2,8 (?!) width of the tyre is 100% overkill for my local trails.
Since my current analog bike is 29 both ends, which I really like, I was thinking about possibility "de-mulleting" the Marin...

I found someone that done that already and it made little change to geo - bikeradar article

Now the question is, what do I need to buy for such swap if I want to use as much parts from the existing bike.
Only wheel and tire?

 

[notaninfluencer]

wait a few weeks.....

 

[MateNako]

wait a few weeks.....

 

[MateNako]

wait a few weeks.....

tell me more

 

[Cleggy]

Only wheel and tire?

wheel and tyre yes. another rotor (with the magnet for speed sensor) too if you fancy swapping between 29er and mullet on a regular basis

 

[mxh]

Now the question is, what do I need to buy for such swap if I want to use as much parts from the existing bike

Technically, the answer is "rim, spokes and tyre' - then build your new wheel on the existing hub.

But realistically the hub isn't of great quality, so it's a good opportunity to upgrade.

and it made little change to geo

The article suggested it steepened the HA by 0.5 degrees - which you can then easily counteract by upping the fork travel to 170mm.

These two changes will also have the effect of raising the BB height slightly which could be a good thing depending on where you ride - it was for me, I was catching the motor on obstacles a fair bit, but am doing that less so now.

 

[notaninfluencer]

may.... i tell you

 

[Cleggy]

I was catching the motor on obstacles a fair bit, but am doing that less so now.

I was too so I went full 29er

Then I uprated the spring which got me curious, so I went back to mullet for testing

So far I am still mullet

 

[DharmaWheelies]

I threw a 29er on the back (2.5 f/r) and it rides much better through the terrain near where I live in the PNW. The 27.5 x 2.8 is good for relatively smooth trails (but not necessarily cornering as it slides around) but I was smashing the chainring/motor guard on obstacles and slashed the sidewall of the fat rear tire on my 3rd ride. Tried with a 27.5 x 2.6 and went back to full 29er. Bike is faster and more capable all around. It's almost as if it was built to be a 29er and Marin spec'd an oversized 27.5 at the last minute to jump on that trend.