29er MTN Bikes, your opinions...

Does anyone own a 29er mountain bike? Or at least has ridden one a couple of times? I'm specifically talking about a hardtail but any incite would be a appreciated.


I'm a pretty big dude too, so if you felt like it was “too much vehicle to handle” (in Hank Hills voice, if anyone remembers that episode) that might not be as much of an issue, in fact that's one of the things that's drawing me to the 29ers. I'm about 6-4 @ 205

THX

 

I have never ridden a 29 and I have never seen one on the trails. They are not popular here in the North Shore/ Whislter area that I ride. But I know the have a strong cult following in other places.

 

There's nothing finer than a 29er..

I got a 29er this year and love it compared to a 26. I'm 5' 10" and 175lbs.
they roll over rocks easier and perform real well. you will notice they don't turn as tight as a 26 but I only notice that on real tight switchbacks. Mine is a full suspended Kona Hea Hea 29 But have ridden a hardtail 29er and liked it more than one of my my hardtail 26s as well..

 

To each his own. I will stick with my old school non hip 26" wheels. They work fine for me, and my next bike will have 26" wheels. I say go test ride one to see if you like them, but don't take someone else's word for what you need. If you do you may be upset in the end.

 

Tussery is right don't take other peoples opinions when buying a bike go test ride, rent what ever you can do before purchasing. Some shops will knock the price of there rentals off the purchase price when you rent from them. Get them out in the dirt where you are planning to ride not just in the stores parking lot.

 

I looked into them. I was looking at a Gary Fisher Rig. I'm not sure whether it's worth it or not. Bigger wheels = slower handling and weaker wheels (same amount of spokes on more real estate). It all depends on what works for you. I think I'm sticking with my 26". I'll take the bumps vs. taco'n a wheel.

 

I love my 29er.

 

Sick bike. Wanna sell? lol

 

Definitely go for a 29er at your height. I'm also 6'4" 205lbs. These bikes just fit people like us better. I have a 26in Turner 5-spot and a 29er Niner steel hard tail single speed. With the big wheels you can roll a lot more stuff on the trail with ease. Personally my 29er is my favorite bike. I hardly ride the Turner at all anymore.

 

well i have a bad ass full suspension bike that costs more than most peoples cheep cars and a $800 gary fisher 29er that I bought on closeout. Lets just say I havent ridden my full suspension in over a year!

29ers are faster and smoother!

 

The only thing that bugs me now is the 29er mentality and the market starting to chose for me that I am going to have a 29er hardtail in a couple of years. I don't want one I don't like the way big tires and wheels feel.

 

After riding and racing 26" mountain bikes for the past 20+ years I finally bought a Gary Fisher Paragon (I still have a 26" Paragon too) 29er and after some training rides and a couple of races I love it! It rolls through stuff that would have slowed me down on my 26" bike, handles like a dream, and allows me to maintain speed through all types of terrain.

With new fork and frame geometry they turn just as quick and handle the tight and technical stuff just as well as the 26" bikes. I'm loving mine and am sold on the 29er.

 

I have owned an OnOne Scandal, Surly Karate Monkey, Misfit Psycles Dissent, Kona HeiHei, Salsa Big Mama and my newest as of yesterday a Salsa Dos Niner. Been solely 29er since about 07 and couldn't imagine going back. Once a customer decides to take the plunge and spend around $700 we start talking 29ers. I will be building up a Vassago Jabberwocky single speed 29er next week. I used to go crazy w/ my trucks, but now its the bikes.

The niners roll over stuff so much easier than a 26" wheel. When riding rocky singletrack you ust point and shoot rather than picking that "perfect" line. There are downsides to the design: lighter wheels are flexy, some bikes slow speed climbing outright blows and it takes a little more to spin them up. But when it comes to east coast singletrack and riding logs, there is no equal.

 

Bought my first 29er 4yrs ago and never looked back. Now I own a Niner ONE9 full rigid singlespeed with Niner carbon fork and a Pivot 429 full susp. Waiting on my Niner Air9 carbon to come in and will be building that up with Sram XX and a set of King/Edge carbon wheels. I am 5'8" like how I sit in the bike and not on top of the bike. Yeah it may not be for everybody but I think I have only run into maybe 2-3 guys who didn't like it and went back to 26ers and that's out of hundreds of people I have run into over the years. Give it a try and I am almost positive you wont look back. Later!

 

29er are sick. Almost all the sponsored riders I know around here are switching to them. I wish I would have rode one before I bought mine or I would have gotten one.

 

The only reason Mtn Bikes had 26" wheels to begin with was because the old cruisers had 26" wheels. It has now been proven by companies and individuals that 29" wheels are far superior...my two cents ....

 

Yeah whatever you want to believe. I don't think either 29" wheels or 26" wheels are better. It is all about what you feel comfortable on. I don't feel comfortable on the big wheeled wonders, and will be sticking with 26". Of course market choice will probably change that.

 

I agree its all feel some like the 26 and some the 29. I ride a 26 full suspension but love the 29ers but I am tall. I feel that the market wont get rid of the 26 because smaller people cant ride a 29er.

 

Specialized, Giant, and Scott have practically killed their aluminum 26" hard tail lines in this years lineup. It is only a matter of time until you can't find a decent aluminum hardtail that isn't a 29er.

 

Oh yeah I forgot about the hardtails. That will suck for everyone that rides those you could always get a full suspension and lock out the rear. I can lock out front and rear when Im riding around town or on a paved trail with my GF so I have no suspension.