We have reviewed a few mountain bikes in various articles, such as the best in categories of under 200, under 300, and under 500. However, what we haven’t covered there are the best bikes by size. That is why we have written this article about the best 27.5 inch mountain bike choices of 2024.
As with all mountain bikes, there are quite a few things that you need to consider when you are buying one. One of those is the size of them. In the past, the two most standard mountain bike wheel sizes were twenty-nine inches, and twenty-six. However, they were often too large or too small for some people.
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Best 27.5 Inch Mountain Bikes
That is where the 27.5 inch mountain bikes came along. They’re a compromise between the two sizes that were already available, and they were greatly received. So much so that the 26-inch variant actually became almost set aside from the standard, and moved into being the exclusive possession of dirt jump bikes, free ride, and children’s bikes.
The debate is still open to which is the best size for your wheels. And to be honest, that all depends on what you are planning to do with the bike. However, we will go into that further in a future article. In this article, we are going to focus solely on the 27.5 bikes.
Hardtail
One of the best hardtail mountain bikes out there is the Diamondback Sync’r. Diamondback has been a massive contender in the mountain bike realms for a long time, and it is no different today.
I will not go into the whys of their status, as I am sure you are aware of how large they are. What I will do is talk about the bike!
Features
While you may think that a hardtail is not for you, if you have not tried the Sync’r, then you do not know what you are missing. Straight out of the box, this may be one of the best 27.5 inch mountain bikes that money can buy.
It is a mountain bike that is more than capable of tackling almost anything that you throw at it. Whether you want a bike for just around town, or if you are looking at trailing or downhill courses, this bike WILL produce results that you are happy with every time.
The progressive geometry of the frame provides you with a lot more room to move about and also enhances the precision of riding. That may be a little bit of a downside for the people who would rather be a bit more upright, but we did not find it to be an issue. Let’s not forget that this is a mountain bike that is for all-round use.
- Lightweight. – 6066 aluminum hardtail frame is light at only 49.4 pounds.
- Progressive geometry. – This new style of frame lends itself to improved riding abilities.
- Diamondback AL35 Wheelset. – Aerodynamic and lightweight wheels are an upgrade that you do not need when you already have the AL35’s.
- RockShox Recon RL Forks. – Very smooth, 140mm travel shocks take out all but the largest of bumps in the road.
- Nice gear change. – Shimano SLX 1×11 drivetrain gives smooth and accurate shifting every time.
- Cable fasteners broke. – We recommend using cable ties instead of the provided clips, as they broke quite quickly.
Final Verdict
Having a hardtail mountain bike is not frowned upon as much now as when full suspension first hit the market. And for a good reason. They are great all-round mountain bikes, and this one proves it. Although full suspension may be better if you are doing a lot of off-road biking, the Sync’r will not disappoint you.
It is also one of the better 27.5 inch mountain bikes that you can buy. However, if you ever do want to change them for 29ers, this can accommodate them.
Full-Suspension
If the hardtail bike above is not convincing you about being the best 27.5 inch mountain bike, then perhaps this one will? As I said in that section, people get automatically drawn to the full suspension variants of many mountain bikes. Now, that could be because they are the newest style, or it could just be for comfort on the trails.
Either way, Diamondback has done it again.
Features
The absolute first thing that I would say that is a downside to any full-suspension mountain bike is that when you are pedaling, a lot of the force transfers into the rear suspension. I know a lot of you reading this may know this, but when you usually pedal on a full-suspension bike, you tend to “bob” up and down.
With the Diamondback Release 1, this was the first thing that they thought of changing. They have incorporated their Level Link suspension system that completely isolates the drivetrain from the suspension. That means that you can accelerate with the effortlessness of a hardtail, but still keep the comfort and abilities of a full-suspension bike.
The wheels that come with this bike are the 27.5 inch, Diamondback Blanchard wheels that come with tubes installed, but they are compatible with tubeless tires for higher traction and comfort IF you feel the need. But, to be honest, we did not think that it was needed.
There is a lifetime warranty on the frame, so long as it is the original owner that owns it. However, that does not include the SR Suntour forks. The main reason for that, I presume, is that SR Suntour does allow the end-user to maintain them themselves, while companies such as Rockshox do not.
- Lightweight. – The aluminum frame is super light at only 32.4 pounds.
- Progressive geometry. – This new style of frame lends itself to improved riding abilities.
- Large volume rear shock. – The significant volume rear shock has an excellent 130mm travel and increased handling capabilities than smaller capacity shocks.
- Level Link drivetrain. – That allows you to accelerate like you would on a hardtail while keeping the rear suspension.
- Warranty and pedals included. – A lifetime warranty on your frame should relieve any worries that you may have. It also comes with steel pedals, which is not as common as you would like to see.
- Tubeless rims, but tubed tires. – I would have liked to see this bike come with tubeless tires, but that is a minor issue.
- Lower standard forks than the Rockshox. – Although the forks supplied are more than adequate, I still would have preferred to see the RockShox Recon. Although the SR Suntour do have 10mm more travel.
Final Verdict
If you are looking for a top-end, 27.5 inch mountain bike with full suspension, then this may be the one to get. It will perform slightly better on the trails than the hard-tail, but that depends if you are going to use it to its potential.
Electric
Electric mountain bikes are the new addition to the bike range. Although they are not that new in reality, they are certainly getting more mainstream. That is why we have included the NCM Prague. You may well be a little apprehensive about buying an electric mountain bike for off-road, but you really shouldn’t be.
NCM is a German manufacturer, and we all know what sort of quality they provide you. The NCM Prague is no different.
The first thing that we need to look at is the electrics. The kit that you receive with the mountain bike is all-inclusive. A 350W rear-drive motor connected to a 468W/h battery has enough power to keep you going for up to 40+ miles (depending on weight and terrain). Not only will it get you that far, but it can also do it at up to 20 MPH! However, you do need to think about how you are going to use the bike. If you are heavier, you will not get the same results as someone who is very light.
One of the best things that the electric mountain bike is good for is to help you get up some of the tougher hills. With the pedal-assist feature, you still have to try, but the battery will last you a lot longer when you only use it for assistance.
NCM is one of the biggest e-bike brands in Europe, and I am sure that you will see why, with this bike!
- Motor assistance. – Of course, the best part of an e-bike is that you get help from a motor when you need it, or total motor if you want to have a rest.
- Great quality electrics. – As you would expect from a German company, all of the electrics in this bike are high quality.
- Pretty light. – You have to look at the reality; this is an e-bike. It is heavier than a standard MTB, but it is still light in comparison at 55lbs.
- High-end components. – There are a lot of e-bike companies that will not look at using some of the higher-end parts. However, NCM does use Shimano, Suntour, and Tektro.
- Water-resistant. – The water-resistance of the bike is a bit of a downfall if you ask me. While it is rainproof, I am not sure if I would take it anywhere that there was a risk of full submersion.
Final Verdict
If you are looking for an electric 27.5 inch mountain bike, then this is undoubtedly the way to go. The Germans have had the upper hand in technology in Europe for a while, and this bike proves it. If you are thinking of going very seriously off-road, though, I would still suggest the full suspension, Diamondback Release 1.
Conclusion
All three of the best 27.5 inch mountain bike reviews that we have done in this article are great. However, I think, as with anything, you have to look at what you are going to use them for. If you have a long commute to work and want to do fair weather off-roading, then the NCM is probably your best choice.
If you do a lot of town riding with some more severe off-roading, then I would suggest the Diamondback Hardtail Sync’r. However, if you want some serious offroading machinery able to tackle anything you throw at it, then go for the Diamondback Release 1.
