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Can I put 27.5 on a 29er?

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Can I put 27.5 on a 29er?

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flag GnarleyCharley
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Posted: Aug 16, 2025 at 10:04 Quote
I've tried 29ers and mullets, but for me and my riding style 27.5" front and back is my comfort zone. My buddy has the same preference and I'm trying to help him find a bike but there are very few options for full 27.5 bikes these days.
I'm wondering if he should buy a mullet with adjustable geometry such as a Bronson or something similar and throw a 27.5 wheel up front.
Are mullet bikes designed so specifically to 29 inch front wheels that swapping to a 27.5 will negatively affect handling and performance?
flag muddytreker
Posted: Aug 16, 2025 at 11:16 Quote
I wouldnt hesitate as you suggest if I was in your shoes,
am happily riding a 27.5 frame and wheels with a 29er fork at 160mm travel up front.

Back in the day 120mm stem 26" wheels full rigid was what we did all sorts on,
yould be supprised what you can get away with outwith what the media and industry
dictate to yah.
flag Cpembo6
Posted: Aug 18, 2025 at 0:08 Quote
I did this once with a mullet bike. From memory, my 29er front wheel was being rpaired, and I wanted to ride so I put in a spare 27.5" wheel.
It was terrible! Too steep HA. And kept smashing pedals becuase the BB was too low. Perhaps it would have been better if I increased the fork travel to keep the BB and HA the same. It was also a 51 offset 29er fork which I think impacted the handling. You might not have that issue with more modern bikes becuase 51 offset is virtually dead (with the possible exception of XC).
flag bishj80
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Posted: Dec 16, 2025 at 9:44 Quote
Yeah, I feel that. A lot of brands kinda abandoned full 27.5 even though plenty of riders still prefer how they feel.

You’re not crazy for thinking about the mullet + 27.5 front idea either. I’ve seen a few people do it, but it really depends on how the bike’s geo was designed. Some mullets are pretty tuned around that 29 up front.

Curious what kind of terrain he rides most—more tech and tight stuff or faster, open trails?
flag Pacho00
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Posted: Dec 17, 2025 at 10:58 Quote
Swapping a 27.5" front wheel into a bike designed around a 29" front will change the handling. it usually lowers the front end and steepens the head angle, which can make the bike feel twitchier and less stable at speed. Mullet bikes are optimized around the geometry of a 29" front, so dropping to 27.5" isn’t ideal unless the frame/bike has adjustable geometry and enough tire clearance.

If he really loves the feel of a full 27.5", a bike that comes stock in that size (or one with adjustable geometry that supports both) is generally a better bet than shoehorning a smaller wheel into a 29er-oriented frame.
flag los36
Posted: Dec 17, 2025 at 12:30 Quote
If you really want to do it right, you get a fork that is at least 10mm longer (ideally 20mm) and run that with the 27.5. That will keep the geometry close to stock and keep the pedals off the floor.
In the case of the Bronson, you'd probably need a Fox 38 or ZEB at 170-80mm.

I've tried to mullet an HD5 (full 27.5 bike) and adding the SHORTER 29er fork was part of the deal. The result was totally rideable and pretty good, although I went back to full 27.5.
flag drua
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Posted: Dec 19, 2025 at 14:05 Quote
muddytreker wrote:
I wouldnt hesitate as you suggest if I was in your shoes,
am happily riding a 27.5 frame and wheels with a 29er fork at 160mm travel up front.

Back in the day 120mm stem 26" wheels full rigid was what we did all sorts on,
yould be supprised what you can get away with outwith what the media and industry
dictate to yah.

100% this^^ millimeters are very small, it takes quite a few of them to make a large difference
flag safetymeeting
Posted: Dec 20, 2025 at 16:52 Quote
Shameless plug, for any 27.5 purists out there: I am selling my 2021 V3 Bronson, full 27.5, on Pinkbike. It’s a very good bike, with high end upgrades, and loads of new parts, in great condition, and has been consistently well maintained.

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/4093188/

Cheers
flag mountainmomentum
O+
Posted: Dec 20, 2025 at 20:33 Quote
Yeah, you can put 27.5 wheels in a 29er bike if the frame/fork clearance allows it, but it won’t magically turn the bike into a proper 27.5 rig. If your buddy picks a mullet-friendly bike like a Bronson with adjustable geometry, sticking a 27.5 in the front can work and will make the front end feel smaller and more playful, but it also slackens the head angle, raises the BB, and shortens the effective wheelbase. That changes the handling in ways that aren’t always better; sometimes it just feels weird.

Basically, swapping to 27.5 up front on a 29er/mullet bike is fine for fun trails and playful feel, but you lose some roll-over speed and stability that the 29er front wheel was designed for. If he really wants 27.5 all the time, a dedicated 27.5 bike is still the better fit, mullet swaps are more of a fun compromise than a perfect solution.
flag lookseasyfromhere
Posted: Dec 21, 2025 at 7:28 Quote
GnarleyCharley wrote:
My buddy has the same preference and I'm trying to help him find a bike but there are very few options for full 27.5 bikes these days.

What brands have you looked at? Banshee has the Spitfire (135mm) and Rune (160mm) that are both f/r 27.5.

Edit: I looked at the date of op's post too late. Bet I'm not getting a response to my question.
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