Conclusion
Unlike the hairdo, mullet bikes aren’t just a passing trend. And while 29ers may ultimately be faster for racing, we’re convinced that the benefits of the smaller rear wheel for e-bikes and shorter riders in general will guarantee that mixed wheel size bikes are here to stay. If anything, it’s the pure 27.5in bikes whose days may be numbered.
And just as we’re seeing more and more brands adopting size-specific stays, to better balance weight distribution across a broad range of sizes, the logical next step would be to have size-specific wheels. So rather than having one bike in five sizes with mixed wheels like the Bronson, while simultaneously offering the Hightower with 5mm less travel and 29in wheels, Santa Cruz could quite easily combine both platforms, where the larger sizes are pure 29ers and the smaller sizes run mixed wheels. There could even be some overlap in the middle where the size M or L are available in both options. And the same is true of the other bikes in this test. Doing so would simplify the overwhelming range of options and may even keep pricing more competitive. That said, most brands seem hellbent on expanding their ranges rather than consolidating them in the belief that more choice is better. That, or they are simply hedging their bets while the market decides which combinations of wheel sizes becomes dominant.
There’s also an argument for not throwing 27.5in bikes under the bus of progress. On the very smallest frame sizes, retaining a 27.5in front wheel helps to reduce toe overlap with the tyre, stops the height of the front end from getting too tall, and ultimately the smaller wheel saves weight; all genuine advantages for smaller riders on smaller bikes.
How things evolve remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, mullet bikes will play an increasingly bigger role in bike design. How can we be so confident? Well, they occupy the middle ground and that’s where the vast majority of riders are, especially if we look at a single metric... rider height.
Also the majority of mountain bikers don’t race, and if they do, the social aspect of the event is every bit as important as the final result. So the party element of the smaller rear wheel will definitely have a seat at this roundtable.
And while it would be easy to assume the current shift in wheel size is just another exercise in obsolescence, we don’t buy into that argument. That’s not to say there won’t be casualties, but you don’t need a crystal ball to predict a scenario where the XS bikes are 27.5in, the size small and medium are mullet and the large and XL are 29ers. And while that’s not a universal truth as we can’t see any XC racers choosing to revert to a smaller rear wheel, if the ride quality of the bikes in this test is anything to go by, mullet bikes will be sticking around for the foreseeable future.