Mountain Bike Wheel Size Difference

Why does mountain bike wheel size matter so much.

Mountain bike wheel size difference. 27 5 29 27 5 and fat tyre wheel combinations are all commonly seen sights on the trails and in the showrooms with each option offering certain pros and cons in terms of where they re best used and for what purpose the bike is intended for. 29 x 2 0 27 5 x 2 4 29 x 2 8. 26 inch 27 5 inch often called 650b and 29 inch and put simply the size of wheel you choose will alter everything from your riding position to your riding style and how you feel on the bike. Along with the traditional adult mountain bike wheel sizes there are a host of kids bike wheel sizes too.

29ers once reserved for taller riders and cross country racing have since evolved to fit smaller frames while 27 5 mountain bikes have never looked. So which wheel size is right for you. As the saying goes the great thing about standards is that there are so many to. In some site it suggested frame size of 18 5 47 cm size.

Pop in to any modern day bike shop and you ll see bikes with multiple wheel sizes styles and positions. Ranging from 12in up to 27 5in the size of the wheels are catered to the size of the. There are three sizes of wheel predominantly in use in mountain biking. The extra stability this wheel size gives along with the increased wheelbase is often translated into lack of agility.

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. Mountain bike size chart. Not long ago mountain bikers didn t have a choice when it came to wheel sizes 26 inches was pretty much the only option.

After all the best way to test a bike technology is to take it for a ride. So make sure you look at a tire size chart and try a full suspension mountain bike for size before buying. Consider the following pros and cons of each and decide which size to test drive first. 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 also know as 650b or 29 called 29ers with traditional 26 wheels reserved for dirt jump freeride and kids bikes. Tyre options were initially a problem with 29er s history being in the xc world we were seeing fragile fast rolling tyres that weren t man enough for the job in hand if fitted to a capable trail bike. But once 29 and 27 5 inch wheels hit the market the debate amongst bikers took off and has continued ever since. Sometimes referred to as 650b the 27 5 inch wheel fits right in between the 26 and 29 inch offerings.

For standard hardtails our mountain bike size chart should be a god send. Mountain bike sizing can be affected by suspension and your tire choices.