We all knew it was coming and some of the biggest in the biz are proving it to be true. While 26ers may still have a following and be arguably better for certain purposes (DH, dirt jumping, kids bikes), Scott, Trek, Santa Cruz and now Cannondale and Specialized are offering 27.5 bikes for the upcoming 2015 model year. The never-ending treadmill of bicycle “standards” continues forward, much to the chagrin of 26er fans everywhere. At the end of the day, 27.5 or 650b (however you slice it) is a great platform for trail bikes and has a lot to offer. Here’s what Specialized and Cannondale are bringing to market.
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon Evo 650b
Yes, it’s a mouthful, but a Stumpjumper rolling on ‘tweener wheels just feels right. At 150mm travel front and rear, this bike is built to slay any trail and comes in at $6500. They are also offering 650b in an aluminum version at a more wallet-friendly $3400.
Learn More: Visit Specialized.com
Cannondale Jekyll 27.5 Carbon Team
Cannondale Jekyll 27.5 was built under the direction of current Enduro World Champion, Jerome Clementz and the rest of the OverMountain crew. The new Jekyll features 160mm travel that can be reduced to 95mm on-the-fly, thanks to the Fox DYAD rear shock. It also sports the new Lefty SuperMax fork that claims to be simpler and stiffer than traditional forks on the market.
Learn More: Visit Cannondale.com
Cannondale Trigger 27.5 Carbon Team
Cannondale Trigger 27.5 now sits alongside the Trigger 29 and offers more travel than the big-wheeled counterpart. With 140mm full travel in the rear, the Fox DYAD can further reduce the travel to 85mm for long grinds. These will also feature the new Left SuperMax, which aims to quiet all the naysayers when it comes to delivering a stiff and smooth long-travel fork.
Learn More: Visit Cannondale.com
