Levo Gen 3 Looking for definitive answer regarding 29" rear wheel/tire on 2022 Levo

[RickBullotta]

I'm considering buying a Levo frame and swapping over components from my Orbea. My question is whether a 29" wheel with a 2.4" tire (Rekon or Forekaster) will fit the Levo. I have a 27.5" wheel also, but ideally I'd like to run 29/29 as I like a slightly higher BB for the stuff we ride around here.

Has anyone done a 29er rear setup and did you stick with it?

 

[ruppia]

I think this could be the right post:

Convert back to full 29' - EMTB Forums

Fell free to ask what missed

 

[RickBullotta]

I think this could be the right post:

Convert back to full 29' - EMTB Forums

Fell free to ask what missed

Thanks! I think I'll stick with the stock mullet setup for now. I was originally going to buy just the frame and re-use the parts from my Orbea Rise, but now I'm going to buy a full Levo bike and sell the Rise.

 

[Pauliemon]

If you're talking about a new Gen 3 Levo I don't believe a 29 will fit.

 

[ebikerider]

If you're talking about a new Gen 3 Levo I don't believe a 29 will fit.

I know it will fit for sure in the low chainstay setting. Even the 29x2.6 Eliminator fits but there is only about 5mm of clearance. The 2.3 Butcher gives more clearance. Just wanted to put some fact here in case someone else wants to try it.

 

[Pauliemon]

I know it will fit for sure in the low chainstay setting. Even the 29x2.6 Eliminator fits but there is only about 5mm of clearance. The 2.3 Butcher gives more clearance. Just wanted to put some fact here in case someone else wants to try it.

Interesting, how did it preform on the trail?

 

[ruppia]

If you're talking about a new Gen 3 Levo I don't believe a 29 will fit.

Absolutely, it fit

 

[ruppia]

I know it will fit for sure in the low chainstay setting. Even the 29x2.6 Eliminator fits but there is only about 5mm of clearance. The 2.3 Butcher gives more clearance. Just wanted to put some fact here in case someone else wants to try it.

29x2.6 will not fit. No clearence at all

 

[Pauliemon]

I put a 29 2.3 on in the high position and it spins. Clearance is almost nil. To me that doesn't say "fit". Has anyone tried this? My concern is Specialized increased shock shaft travel 2.5mm. I assume because of the 27.5 rear wheel. My advise would be deflate the shock and see where the wheel ends up.

 

[ebikerider]

29x2.6 will not fit. No clearence at all

The Eliminator 29x2.6 fits my S4 Gen 3 Levo back end in the low setting with approximtely 5mm of clearance.

 

[ebikerider]

I put a 29 2.3 on in the high position and it spins. Clearance is almost nil. To me that doesn't say "fit". Has anyone tried this? My concern is Specialized increased shock shaft travel 2.5mm. I assume because of the 27.5 rear wheel. My advise would be deflate the shock and see where the wheel ends up.

Just ridden my bike with a 29x2.3 Butcher T9 rear on the low setting with the standard X2 shock and the fork at 170 travel. Clearance is not an issue.

Bike feels balanced and has more grip than with the 27.5. I found with the 27.5 rear it had some less than ideal traits...felt like it made the front tuck more and the back was always on the edge of grip, especially in high mode (this is coming off a Kenevo SL BTW that just felt right as far as grip and bike balance were concerned). Changing to low helped as it lengthened the chainstays but the tail happy sliding was still there albeit reduced. Now it feels balanced and the back end isn't letting go as I load it in the middle of a corner and only lets go when I want it to so now I have my confidence back. 29" wheel is staying for now.

 

[ruppia]

The Eliminator 29x2.6 fits my S4 Gen 3 Levo back end in the low setting with approximtely 5mm of clearance.

On S3 didn't fit. Do you think there is different measure on rear triangle ?

 

[ebikerider]

On S3 didn't fit. Do you think there is different measure on rear triangle ?

Did you put it in low?

 

[ruppia]

Did you put it in low?

Off course, in High impossible also for 29x2.4

 

[Pauliemon]

Just ridden my bike with a 29x2.3 Butcher T9 rear on the low setting with the standard X2 shock and the fork at 170 travel. Clearance is not an issue.

Bike feels balanced and has more grip than with the 27.5. I found with the 27.5 rear it had some less than ideal traits...felt like it made the front tuck more and the back was always on the edge of grip, especially in high mode (this is coming off a Kenevo SL BTW that just felt right as far as grip and bike balance were concerned). Changing to low helped as it lengthened the chainstays but the tail happy sliding was still there albeit reduced. Now it feels balanced and the back end isn't letting go as I load it in the middle of a corner and only lets go when I want it to so now I have my confidence back. 29" wheel is staying for now.

Thanks for the report. Good stuff

 

[ebikeZA]

I'm considering buying a Levo frame and swapping over components from my Orbea. My question is whether a 29" wheel with a 2.4" tire (Rekon or Forekaster) will fit the Levo. I have a 27.5" wheel also, but ideally I'd like to run 29/29 as I like a slightly higher BB for the stuff we ride around here.

Has anyone done a 29er rear setup and did you stick with it?

According to my bike shop (specialised concept store) some of the guys they are selling 2022 levo are running 29er on the back to gain extra speed for the multi day stage races ... but max you can go it 2.4 on the back. Not sure if they changed any of the geo settings.

 

[ebikerider]

With the 29er rear wheel should it in theory increase the assistance limit or reduce it or stay the same?

Mine is cutting out at exactly 25kmh (GPS confirmed) with the 29 wheel…I need to refit the smaller wheel to compare.

 

[ebikeZA]

With the 29er rear wheel it will increase the speed cut out....
Unless the new TCU uses GPS to cut the Assistence (dont think so)

 

[ebikerider]

With the 29er rear wheel it will increase the speed cut out....
Unless the new TCU uses GPS to cut the Assistence (dont think so)

I thought so too but after testing both wheels I get the opposite. 29x2.4 tyre cuts off at 25kmh, 27.5x2.6 tyre cuts out at 26kmh. My friend on a Gen 3 Levo uses a 27.5x2.4 rear and cut out is 28kmh. Mission control is set at 2195mm.

 

[ebikeZA]

I thought so too but after testing both wheels I get the opposite. 29x2.4 tyre cuts off at 25kmh, 27.5x2.6 tyre cuts out at 26kmh. My friend on a Gen 3 Levo uses a 27.5x2.4 rear and cut out is 28kmh. Mission control is set at 2195mm.

that is strange..
on my gen2 when I run 27'5 my cut out is way lower than when I run it with 29er... I have set my wheels size to 2000mm

 

[Redders473]

Did we ever get to the to bottom of what offers more assistance 29 or 27.7 ??

And Will a 29.2x4 tyre fit ??

 

[ebikerider]

Did we ever get to the to bottom of what offers more assistance 29 or 27.7 ??

And Will a 29.2x4 tyre fit ??

Yes

 

[Redders473]

Yes

Cheers mate and does it give more assistance before cut off

 

[Redders473]

That's the clearance with a spesh cannibal 2.4 on. Maybe 5mm of clearance probably couldn't run it for a British winter

 

[ebikerider]

That's the clearance with a spesh cannibal 2.4 on. Maybe 5mm of clearance probably couldn't run it for a British winter

Are you liking the Cannibal?

 

[Redders473]

Are you liking the Cannibal?

Yeah they are are really good but i only use them for race season as the T9 compound doesn't last very long on a ebike. If they was T7 be amazing

 

[pocii]

max tire sizes are listed in the manual

 

[BruceJR]

max tire sizes are listed in the manual

You do know this thread is about running a 29” wheel in the rear instead of the OEM 27.5” wheel? As such the limits in the manual will not be accurate since the location of the tire in the frame will be different. It’s been widely reported that you need to run narrower tires than what can be achieved with a 27.5” wheel.

That said, I do not think there is a “definitive” size due the variables of each tire model for a specified width and or rim width as well as tire pressure. 2.5” High Roller on 30i rim is working for me but there is not enough clearance for a mud guard so I still run the 27.5. Maybe in summer I’ll try it on the trail.

 

[Murch]

Just upgraded from a S-Works Gen 2 to a Carbon Gen 3 upgraded with same suspension as the S-Works and the first thing I noticed is how the back end is lacking grip in high-speed corners, it's just too easy for it to step out. Glad I found this thread as its good to know I can switch to 29er and it will get that to go away.

 

[Redders473]

I ran mine other day in full 29 but there was to much mud. You can hear it buzzing the rubber guard, i would only do it in the dry but i generally liked it.