All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Intense still makes 27.5.

https://intensecycles.com/products/2021-primer-275?variant=31754879041559

 

I have 2 pairs of those and like them a good bit. Pockets are a little wonky, but fits my big Samsung S20+ so it ahould fit just about anything.

 

Yess!!! Such a cool bike, been super curious to how it rides. Enjoy buddy, looks like the perfect bike for you!

I use ski socks regularly. Plenty comfy with the ability to just roll them down if I get too warm.

Great to hear. Just pulled the trigger.

 

Prana Stretch Zion pants are great if you dont want DH pants. And they have a snap on the inside of the pant leg if you wanna roll up chainside like a weirdo

 

Have you tried dirt bike stores as well?

 

Crazy high standover. I wonder if they will actually make them, good market now if they do. Some companies had shown 27.5, but then bagged those models.

 

hey if you want a 29 go for it. I do like them and they have their purpose. I just have my preferences.

plenty still makes 27.5 bikes. They’re just getting less common which is sad. I’m still rocking my 26 that thing can fling and fly and it’s a blast. Whenever I go out with my coworkers they all ride 29s and just like to go fast, I like to fly like an eagle

 

They do make them. I have the 29’er version.

 

Nice. I meant the 27.5 version. Soon a glut of 29's! Bike business is loony.

 

They do make the 27.5 version, always have.

 

I hope they keep making them. Point being that a ton of other companies planned some 27.5" bikes for 2021 and suddenly changed plans. Monday I will contact Intense.

 

Agreed. Just buy some last year dirt bike gear, it’s cheaper and possibly made stronger anyways. Idk if MTB pant have the natural knee bend in them, but MX pants are set up to always be in attack position, from someone who used to wear them 2 days on the weekend all day it’s not an issue.

 

Oh, sorry, I wasn’t aware of that. If you go on the site - link I posted you can pick different build options at different price points.

 

I'm a 27.5 lover, so while your opening sentence stung a little there is definitely some truth to your statement. In an effort to further bottom lines and stockholder profits, some companies have done away with 27.5. I was recently listening to a podcast with Yeti's owner from last year about how he wished 27.5 would go away because it would make his life easier as a business owner. Weeks/months after that podcast they released their new SB4 and SB65 (27.5).

Unfortunately, the bike industry and bike media are joined at the hip. I follow the industry/media very closely as a hobby and it becomes very clear after a while how closely entangled their relationship really is. You can see nearly identical marketing and messaging campaigns being pushed from manufacturers to media outlets (Bike Mag(RIP) and Pinkbike) then regurgitated to us. It generally follows the same line of messaging "29ers are so good these days why would you ever want a 27.5 bike" and so forth. There are a few rebels out there that still produce quality articles and reviews (NSMB.com and VITALMTB.com). To be clear none of the quality media outlets dislike 29ers at all, in fact they love them. However, they love 27.5 bikes too. Even Bike Mag, before they were shut down, were coming back around to 27.5 bikes (watch their youtube channel).

I apologize for my mini sermon but be your own judge. Don't listen to some folks who are getting paid by manufacturers to plagiarize manufacturer marketing department in their reviews. Remember, these are the same people that said plus bikes were amazing now they openly laugh in their video reviews about that fad.

Check out the intro to this video. It includes a clip from their goodbye 2019 video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN_SDx5fZ1I

 

Excellent post. Really does match my experiences.

 

There’s a simple reason to all that. Bike designers are getting better. They’re learning all sorts of fun tricks with geometry and suspension design, all mated to some seriously impressive damper/spring shocks and forks.
Wheel size has now simply become a question of intended purpose. 29ers are fast, plain and simple. Bike design can now compensate for the previous 29er lack of playfulness. That’s why modern wagon wheelers are still snappy and super quick.
27.5 is more nimble and allows for some additional rear clearance. Most 27.5 bikes are now marketed toward “freeride” bikes that aren’t generally as fast as 29ers.
If I were buying a DH/Freeride rig that wasn’t on the clock, it would be 27.5. Trail bike? No doubt 29. My riding style and terrain suits it.
I am a bit mix-sized curious though. I’m 5’9” and all my shorts have tire rash on the backside from getting my ass buzzed by the bigger wheel on steep stuff.
All in all, different tools for different jobs. And in case my post sounds “29er4life” it’s not. I do hope we keep getting fresh 27.5 designs, and purpose built mix-sized, and lighter ebikes. Cause bikes are fun.

 

Indeed, bikes are fun!

 

What do you guys think about the Cannondale lefty fork

 

It’s a McPherson strut from a car. Never cared for it on a bike platform. But, I’ve never used one so what do I know.

Read up on it here: https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/cannondale-lefty-fork-explained-330076

 

I have had one in the past and it was a great fork. With that being said, I wouldn’t buy one today due to interoperability issues with swapping wheelsets. Would I take one for free? Yes