Mullet pedal strikes.

[Jeffers]

I changed my 2018 Levo with 2 X 27.5 to a 29er front to ride it mullet. Love the way it rides, but pedal strikes are soo easy with only slight inclination of angle, or slightly off camber grades. Has anyone tried a shorter crank arm, if so what - and if - the pedal cadence is increased it’s presumably better motor efficiency wise? (Although I guess you have to increase cadence anyway, because the crank arms are shorter, to stay on the same output)! Be pleased to hear any feedback.

 

[RickBullotta]

Hmmm...that's odd. Should be the opposite. What tire sizes are you running front and rear? Usually a 29er is going to sit up taller.

The Bike Lab - Mullet Bikes Explained: Mixed Wheel Size MTB. — Biker's Edge (bebikes.com)

 

[Neeko DeVinchi]

Are you still running the stock travel setup (150 up front/135 out back)?

Do you find the front wheel rising when climbing up steep sections?

I have ran my levo 2018 comp both as 27.5 and 29er but never mullet. I've done it on my Kenevo 2019 Expert.

 

[Doug Stampfer]

great article. I can't see how the OP is getting more pedal strikes - if he was dropping the rear down a size then yes. I measured a 40mm difference in tyre size dropping from a 29 to 27.5 on the rear.

 

[urastus]

Usually a 29er is going to sit up taller

and put more weight on the rear?

 

[RickBullotta]

and put more weight on the rear?

A little. But the BB height almost always rises even under sag. The mullet isn’t the cause of more pedal strikes unless it’s because it made the bike so awesome that the OP is riding more gnar! ??

 

[Wiltshire Warrior]

Maybe the slacker HA is shifting his weight back so perhaps an extra 10-20 PSI (rear shock) or a volume spacer would help?

 

[RustyIron]

Your BB Height on that bike is adequate. Pedal strikes happen. It's part of riding a mountain bike. If it bothers you, install crank protectors.

 

[Jeffers]

Hmmm...that's odd. Should be the opposite. What tire sizes are you running front and rear? Usually a 29er is going to sit up taller.

The Bike Lab - Mullet Bikes Explained: Mixed Wheel Size MTB. — Biker's Edge (bebikes.com)

Hi and thanks for the comment, I did take tyres down from the Butcher 2.8” that were originally spec’d. I am running 2.4 on the back and 2.5 on the front. But 27.5 pre mullet, was already a 2.6”.

 

[Jeffers]

Are you still running the stock travel setup (150 up front/135 out back)?

Do you find the front wheel rising when climbing up steep sections?

I have ran my levo 2018 comp both as 27.5 and 29er but never mullet. I've done it on my Kenevo 2019 Expert.

Thanks, 1. yes original 150/135 back. I do want to upgrade front shock to either a lyric 160 or upgrade the internals. No idea what angle to buy if changing.
2. No problem on the steeps.
3. surprised to hear you went to 29er on the back and it fitted ok!?

 

[Jeffers]

Maybe the slacker HA is shifting his weight back so perhaps an extra 10-20 PSI (rear shock) or a volume spacer would help?

Thanks will Give it a go.

 

[Jeffers]

Hmmm...that's odd. Should be the opposite. What tire sizes are you running front and rear? Usually a 29er is going to sit up taller.

The Bike Lab - Mullet Bikes Explained: Mixed Wheel Size MTB. — Biker's Edge (bebikes.com)

Thanks, I have 2.5 front and 2.4 rear.

 

[Neeko DeVinchi]

Thanks, 1. yes original 150/135 back. I do want to upgrade front shock to either a lyric 160 or upgrade the internals. No idea what angle to buy if changing.
2. No problem on the steeps.
3. surprised to hear you went to 29er on the back and it fitted ok!?

Fair play.
Yes, the Gen One Levos can support 29ers front and rear. Granted, you can't run something big like a 2.6 but up to a 2.35/2.4 is fine.
When I tested the Michelin E Wilds in 29, I used a 2.4 front and rear on a roval traverse wheelset and there was enough clearance.
I will say this, in a 29er configuration, I ran a 150mm travel fork. Anything bigger and the bb height becomes monstrously unworkable for a trail bike ??

 

[Jeffers]

Fair play.
Yes, the Gen One Levos can support 29ers front and rear. Granted, you can't run something big like a 2.6 but up to a 2.35/2.4 is fine.
When I tested the Michelin E Wilds in 29, I used a 2.4 front and rear on a roval traverse wheelset and there was enough clearance.
I will say this, in a 29er configuration, I ran a 150mm travel fork. Anything bigger and the bb height becomes monstrously unworkable for a trail bike ??

Thanks for that. Interesting with the rear taking a 29er, but love the downhill feel of the mullet,the rear is v manoeuvrable in tighter spots. Climbs just as well. When u say unworkable you mean too low?
Have you upgraded forks on Levo gen 1. If so what spec?

 

[Gary]

 

[Doomanic]

Hold on. If you raise the front and get more pedal strikes, does that mean you need longer cranks to compensate for the longer forks???