In our Tech Q&A series, we tackle cycling queries – big or small, complex or simple – with insights from the BikeRadar team and trusted industry experts. Next up, a reader wants to know if a bike with very specific requirements exists…
My first electric mountain bike had 27.5in wheels front and rear, which I loved. I bought a new one two years ago with a mullet setup [29in front, 27.5in rear] and I find it less manoeuvrable and confidence-inspiring.
Are there any mid-to top-spec eMTBs with 27.5in wheels front and rear, ideally with a Bosch motor? For reference, I’m 170cm tall, weigh 63kg and I’m not a technical, downhill-focused rider.
Andrew Bywater from Tewin, Hertfordshire
This was an exciting question to answer – we really had to do some digging to find something that would suit your niche request.
In short, the answer to your question is 'not really'. Very few brands are selling mountain bikes with 27.5in wheels front and rear these days, electric or otherwise.
Of the ones that are on sale, most tend to be focused on slopestyle-type riding, such as the Transition Bottlerocket. This bike has a low-slung frame with a dirt-jump influence, but it’s not electric.
Many bikes have moved to either 29in wheels front and rear or a mullet setup (where a 29in front wheel is paired with a 27.5in rear). As such, you might have more luck looking for older, discontinued models.
Otherwise, we found two models that might fit the bill.
First up is the Transition Relay, which has 27.5in wheels and a Fazua motor – not the Bosch unit you’re looking for.
You could also look at Canyon’s Neuron:ON AL. The German brand offers its smaller-sized bikes with 27.5in wheels and the Neuron:ON AL CCLTV model has a Bosch Performance Line CX motor.
Bearing in mind you’re 170cm tall, you’d likely be a size small, but double-check the that because the brand’s sizing isn’t for everyone.
This question has got us thinking, though – 27.5in wheels have gone out of fashion in the mountain bike world, apart from a mullet-wheel scenario. They are hugely in the minority now, which is staggering considering how many more options there were only three or four years ago.
