Mountain Bike Wheel Size 26 Or 29

27 5 also know as 650b or 29 called 29ers with traditional 26 wheels reserved for dirt jump freeride and kids bikes.

Mountain bike wheel size 26 or 29.

Most mountain bikes today are offered in one of two wheel sizes. This can result in a bike that feels harder to handle in tight turns. If you regularly ride tight twisty trails you might prefer the feel of a 27 5 in. But have no fear the new mountain bike wheel sizes are better in every aspect described above compared to the trusty 26er.

The latest forks wheels and tires are no longer available for the 26er wheel size so one must upgrade to either 27 5 or 29. 26 mountain bikes have for decades been the standard size for most mountain bikes. Sometimes referred to as 650b the 27 5 inch wheel fits right in between the 26 and 29 inch offerings. If you haven t shopped for a bike in quite a while chances are your last mountain bike had 26 wheels.

Bike frames are measured from the middle of their bottom bracket to the end of their seat tube. And right behind those big 29ers are wheels of yet another size. 29 x 2 0. If all three have a 15 frame there will be a height difference between them due to their wheel size.

That wheel size has mostly been abandoned and is now seeing duty in kids bikes and dirt jump bikes. In mountain biking choosing a wheel size is akin to choosing a sports team. In terms of mountain bike wheels 650b is a standard 27 5 wheel and 700c is a standard 29 wheel. These size labels come from an old french sizing standard which we ll cover in more detail in the french sizing section.

We ll now just refer to the 26 tire as the size dedicated to walmart bikes. This all started to change around 2010 when 29er mountain bikes came onto the market and even more recently in 2013 when 27 5 mountain bikes also became a. While 26 inch wheels are still considered the standard for mountain bikes 29 inch wheels are fast on their heels. As of 2016 the 26 wheel is seeing its way to the remember when category.

There are advocates for both 26 inch and 29 inch wheels and the debate continues in manufacturing and competitive arenas. Mountains bikes now come in three different wheel sizes. These widely used measurements refer to the tire s diameter and are typically paired with a tire width in inches when written out i e. 27 5 wheels have essentially taken over that market to the point that you rarely even find a 26 tire on a long travel bike.

Bike is more flexible due to the elongation of the frame that comes with the larger wheel size.