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Currently trying to get out on the HT once a week, alongside the E-bike.
My current HT is a PP Shan with 26" wheels. The geometry isn't bad, but it feels very small (especially after I went 29 on the front of the eeb). Pootling around on my own, it's fine, but out with a mate last night on his 29'er FS, I felt rather wanting.
So, I have a set of 27.5 Lyriks, I like the look of the cheap Ragley mmmbop frame, can get a s/h set of 650b wheels etc
Or - if I'm going 29, I fancy a Stanton frame and then all the nice bits to go on it.
27.5 can be done for north of a grand, 29 will be stretching a good bit past £3k
Am I going to build a 27.5 and always be thinking I should have gone 29? The mmmbop I could start working towards building up now, the Stanton would have to wait a while. WWSTD (ultimately, I know it comes down to me, but...)
I actually think 29er makes more sense on a hardtail than 27.5 but a mate has 27.5 Nukeproof and raves about how fun it is.
If I ride my bfemax hard it’s is agile and fast feeling. However if I chill and relax on it it feels more cumbersome.
Ultimately I think you need to build the bike your heart wants more, if not you will always wonder if you should have spent the money
There's lots of cheap 29er frames, wheels and forks around. Seems like the only extra saving on a 650b frame is the fork you already have.
Why not get one of the hugely discounted 29er Ragley bikes?
Such as: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/ragley-big-wig-hardtail-bike-moss
Or a secondhand Stanton if you're set on one of them?
I have 29 and 27.5 HTs and to be honest I can barely tell the difference. The 29er is a bit better on road/gravel type going but it's all a bit marginal.
Having been keeping an eye out lately, there seems to be something of a drought on cheap 650b boost wheelsets.
Those XM1700s can still be had cheap on CRC in 27.5 last I looked
knowing you, your locale, your riding, stanton 29er
having sold my 27.5 stanton i think i'd replace it with a switch 9er
had 2 mmmbops, ok but not big enough if that makes sense for your riding mate
A 27.5” wheeled hardtail with big balloony tyres is decent - got 2.6” tyres on mine and it’s relatively comfy (for a hardtail). <br /><br />
If I was building again now I think I may go 29er for the extra rollover comfort - although I’d want to have a go on one first just to check it’s as fun as the 27.5” one. Mine manuals so easily and is really quick into / out of corners vs my full suss bike. Also happy to play ok on a pump track.
Similar to @ajantom I have a full 27.5" Orange Crush that is my midweek bike. 150mm Forks & 2.6" tyres and it's perfect for nearly everything I want.
Built a 27.5 HT this year and put 2.6 tyres on. It's a real hoot and plenty different to my 29er FS and XC HT to make it a worthy addition to the fleet. It's just the little things that make it fun like being easy to get the front end up, be just that bit quicker to change direction and the feeling that putting a little more effort in to the lines I pick brings bigger reward.
If I only had one bike it'd be a 29er but I don't think I need a longer travel 29" HT where as I do the 650b, if that makes sense?