• For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.

Looking for a new E mountain bike. What's with the different wheel sizes on the front/rear?

coskigirl

coskigirl

Skiing the powder
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
4,638
Location
Evergreen, CO
Since I live minutes from great trails in Evergreen but continue to struggle with my asthma during climbing, I've decided that I'd like to get an electric mountain bike. I'm very drawn to Liv bikes since this would be my 4th bike from them and I've been quite happy with all of them but I'm open to others. I'm honestly, not sure on budget. Until 3 weeks ago I'd go to my dad for these kinds of questions but now that I can't do that, I'm turning to my next best resource.

One of the things I'm not familiar with that I've started seeing is that some bikes have a 29" front wheel with a 27.5" rear. Why?

Open to other input of things to look for as I research and buy.
 
robertc3

robertc3

Out on the slopes
Skier
Joined
Sep 12, 2017
Posts
517
Location
Kenmore, WA
The 29" front is for added traction, stability, and ease of rolling obstacles. The 27.5" in the rear makes the bike quicker and some would say more fun. I am not sure how much that applies to something with the weight of an eMTB. I will let the eMTB owners chime in on what you should look for and what you should budget.
 
cantunamunch

cantunamunch

Meh
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
22,206
Location
Lukey's boat
e-mullets!

robertc3 said:
The 27.5" in the rear makes the bike quicker and some would say more fun. I am not sure how much that applies to something with the weight of an eMTB.
Click to expand...

Also, arguably, the rear wheel will be stronger - not a bad thing if you'll be putting significantly more than ordinary leg power through it.
 
SlideWright

SlideWright

aka Alpinord
Industry Insider
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 24, 2015
Posts
664
Location
Upside down in the San Juans
coskigirl said:
One of the things I'm not familiar with that I've started seeing is that some bikes have a 29" front wheel with a 27.5" rear. Why?
Click to expand...
Around here it's called a 'mullet' set up. ogwink A larger front is less nimble than a smaller wheel on single tracks, but rolls over stuff better as stated.

A friend changed out his wife's Pivot Shuttle to this set up. I'm not clear if it really makes a huge difference for her handling and climbing other than boosting her confidence. YMMV. She had a big wreck on her regular mountain bike and the bigger front can now handle more variables better. She's still dealing with PTSD from the crash.

A local shop owner wonders if it's simply yet another trend that will fade over time.:huh:
 
Last edited:
scott43

scott43

So much better than a pro
Skier
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
13,769
Location
Great White North
When I switched from 26 to 29 I felt the 29er was much more difficult to manhandle in tight stuff. Maybe that's because I'm on a 15" frame. I get the 29er is faster bit, yeah it rolls faster and offers more traction, but for me the 26 was more agile. Pick your poison..
 
cantunamunch

cantunamunch

Meh
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
22,206
Location
Lukey's boat
Tony S said:
Pink skis for anyone are fully proven at this point
Click to expand...

Exactly :)

I think someone might have just gone sour on 96ers a long time ago :)

1711675934879.png




carverbikes.com

Original 96'er - Carver Bikes

Original 96'er
carverbikes.com carverbikes.com
 
Tom K.

Tom K.

Skier Ordinaire
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Dec 20, 2015
Posts
8,480
coskigirl said:
I'm very drawn to Liv bikes since this would be my 4th bike from them and I've been quite happy with all of them but I'm open to others.
Click to expand...

Mrs. K had the previous Liv, and now has the new, top end version and loves it.

www.liv-cycling.com

Intrigue X Advanced E+ EL 1 20MPH (2023) | Women bike | Liv Cycling US

www.liv-cycling.com www.liv-cycling.com

Not cheap. The "value" buy is the next model down. Note that Giant/Liv has started some aggressive price cutting on some models. Not sure if it will happen on this model, though.

coskigirl said:
One of the things I'm not familiar with that I've started seeing is that some bikes have a 29" front wheel with a 27.5" rear. Why?
Click to expand...

Mrs. K's first Liv, in size XS, was 27.5+ at both ends, and she loved it. Plus, they seem to have all but disappeared from the places I ride.

The new one has the 29" front wheel, and she liked it, but did not quite bond with it fully. For kicks, I slapped the old 27.5+ wheel on her new bike, and everything clicked for her 5'2" size.

cantunamunch said:
Anyone else here ride skinny features
Click to expand...

Been there, done that, lived to tell the tale. No more skinnies for me!
 
cantunamunch

cantunamunch

Meh
Skier
Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
22,206
Location
Lukey's boat
Tom K. said:
The new one has the 29" front wheel, and she liked it, but did not quite bond with it fully. For kicks, I slapped the old 27.5+ wheel on her new bike, and everything clicked for her 5'2
Click to expand...

I was going to ask about that. E-bikes kinda make it hard to see frame size adaptations on the geo charts. On analog Treks or Speshes it's trivial to spot.

Or do e-LIVs just chop some dimensions down and hope the rest works for the 5'2" like it does for the 6' 1" rider?
 
Tony S

Tony S

I have a confusion to make ...
Skier
Team Gathermeister
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 14, 2015
Posts
12,943
Location
Maine
cantunamunch said:
Anyone else here ride skinny features and find smaller wheels way more intuitively accurate?
Click to expand...
I will occasionally ride low-consequence skinnies - half logs, the wide side of a 2 x 6; not trials stuff. Don't have a sense of how I do on them with big vs. small wheels because I've been on a 29er for 15 years at this point.
 
wooglin

wooglin

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Jan 27, 2020
Posts
1,490
Location
Center of the Civilized World
You must log in or register to reply here.

Sponsor

Staff online

Members online

... and 69 more.
Total: 3,421 (members: 119, guests: 2,499,robots: 803)
Top