long travel wagon wheelers

who has them, who likes them, who's demo'd them and is thinking about getting one. which do you like and why. what are the drawbacks even for those you like. 

i demo'd a Marin Wolf Ridge in late summer. i wanted to like it, my buddy sure does (waiting for his to arrive) but i didn't. i'm sensitive to seat angle and reach and really adjusted to a certain fit, and this one was much different. yes there was some pixie dust with the pedalling platform as advertised but i just didn't jive with it. 

last weekend in the monsoons, i demo'd a Norco Range 29. impressive all around. definitely sleepy and wandery on an xc ride but with enough tech thrown in for good measure it was still fun. incredible climbing traction, cleaned all the tough bits on my route. made for serious high speed descending with stunning stability and plush rear traction. i'd still prefer a bit steeper STA (xl bike) but it was manageable and probably perfect for many guys. 

i'm keen to get on any one that i can at this point. Wreck, Sent, E29, all of them and see how they differ. very cool bikes.

sorry

Pole 158?

I drank the turquoise coolaid and bought a Yeti 5.5 last june, I love the bike,  29 wheels roll over everything, I like the fox 36, I thot the longer WB with big wheels would be cumbersome but its not the case

Just ordered an XL Orbea Rallon 29 after a demo ride, to complement my XL Smuggler for alpine/resort/gnar riding.

(Sold both my 27.5 Strive and Reign after the first couple of rides on my Smuggler)

The orbea has an even steeper effective sta compared to the Smuggler, lot more travel and slacker hta, but the same reach. Felt awesome on the shortish demo ride. 

The smuggler can do a lot, only area I really would like more cush is for bigger jumps and long alpine trails. Just for the added comfort, my wrists are acting up now and then.

Only real downside I’ve came across: you need some really, really demanding trails to not feel overbiked. Or to fit some quick rear tire, to add some sketch.

For tall people they are a revelation though. I don’t have trouble navigating really tight stuff, as the added confidence because of a great body position and added traction enables me to lean the bike more. In fact I seem to clear a lot of tight and steep stuff easier compared to the smaller bikes I’ve owned before.

Kona has the new Process 153 29er as well now .I chatted with Spence at VMB . He recently spent some time on the new design .And stated it is a way better climber and all around bike when compared to the 153 27.5 . I have been offered a killer deal on a Process 29er frame set . So I am debating on building a bigger travel 29er to replace my soon to be forsale Kona167 , that,s been replaced by my Django 29er :).

Oh and I second what XXX_er stated about the 36 and switching to the 29" wheels.

I don't want to derail the thread, but I have a related question: At what height does the big wheels begin to be a problem for shorter riders?

I am 170cm (about 5'7") and I have only ridden 20" and 26" wheels in my life. The new Instinct BC ticks pretty much all the boxes for me, but I am afraid I may be a bit short.

Anybody has an idea on this? Thanks!

well I am just a small AZN man (5'8" & shrinking ) and Yeti only makes the 5.5 in medium/ large/ x large

SO obviously if you are short you don't deserve to live.

Fortunately Yeti recommends the medium for 5'7" to 5'11" and it fits just right IMO

I did ride the shops Large Demo before buying, it felt pretty long but it still rode pretty good

Posted by: FlipSide

I don't want to derail the thread, but I have a related question: At what height does the big wheels begin to be a problem for shorter riders?

I am 170cm (about 5'7") and I have only ridden 20" and 26" wheels in my life. The new Instinct BC ticks pretty much all the boxes for me, but I am afraid I may be a bit short.

Anybody has an idea on this? Thanks!

i don't think there's a clear delineation regarding size and 29ers but i would think they start making more sense around 5 10 and up. however, one of the local supershredders races a R29 and he's an inch shorter than you. he is very strong and can muscle any bike around. he did say that since his inseam is only 29" it can be a bit of an issue when getting off the back of the bike. he buzzes his junk a lot apparently.

I have a 30" inseam and its not been a problem ...suggest you try one

The newer geometry is quite good for the most part across the board. I'm 5'8" and 31" inseam. Found the old Rootdown in M/L to fit well but just a bit short in standover. The new 2017 geometry fixes this and I'm happy in a M now

I'm ~175cm and on a MOJO G16 29

The Scott and Whyte above have my interest piqued...as well as the Transition Sentinal, Wolf Ridge and the Orbea Rallon and the new Knolly (even if it is not a LT). Would love to throw a leg over them. I have been riding my Banshee Prime for about 4 years now, great friggin bike with nothing wrong with it...just feeling the pull towards the new super bikes.

I have been keeping this spreadsheet of 29ers that interest me...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-gbMiY245cyiSocA0abzRZBhU32NWmjlvpp38O1gABc/edit?usp=sharing

**All measurements are for the largest size bike...usually in the steep setting.