Plus sized tyres are the opinion divider of the moment. Some say that a 650b wheel with a wide rim and a huge, 2.8-3in tyre brings incredible benefits, with tired marketing terms like ‘game-changer’ being thrown around and hashtagged with impunity.
Meanwhile, the prospect of yet another wheel size rolling onto the scene has had many up in arms. People are asking, quite reasonably, “do we really need this?†– and few seem to have much of an idea what are they for.
Recently, however, Orbea invited BikeRadar out to the Pyrenees to experience its take on the concept. There, we had the opportunity to ride the Basque builder's new 27.5+ bike on the technical terrain which will make up the penultimate round of the Enduro World Series this year. We even got to ride the fat-tyred steed on the same trails as some more traditional trail bikes, providing some intriguing comparative insights.
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Orbea’s take on the 27.5+ concept is to take a simple, affordable hardtail and make it more capable and more fun. Orbea suggests relatively few people will be tempted to invest heavily in the big tyre concept until somebody wins a major race sporting a set. So, rather than making a full on, expensive race machine, it set out to produce a relatively entry-level machine, intended to be versatile and great fun on the trails. Enter the Loki.
Related: Trail Tech – exploring 27.5+
The Loki is a slack trail hardtail, equipped with a 120mm fork; it can accept both 29in and 27.5+ wheels. With prices starting at £1039 ($1,499 in the US; see table below for further info), Orbea claims the bike could be well suited to relative novices looking for a capable hardtail, while offering a fun character for more advanced riders too.
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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