What the Mulét?
Lately we have had a solid number of Taniwha Muléts heading out the door. It’s for good reason but it has also become more apparent not everybody knows why they should be looking at a Mulét as their next weapon of choice.
Mixed wheels aren’t anything new and Rob had been running a 29er front on his Taniwha since it first rolled into the forest. We have actually sold multiple Mulét set ups over the years but only now with the relaxing of UCI rules and some big names winning races has it become more widely accepted, hence why we now offer it as stock option also.
Rob with his Taniwha Mulét long before UCI rule changes
For us the advantages were immediately obvious, but to others it seemed a bit weird and out of the ordinary. So why should you consider a Mulét for your next trail slayer?
Lets start with handling. This aspect it biased towards 27.5s. 29ers are great for rolling over stuff and maintaining momentum, but as soon as you want to change the direction of this momentum, it’s harder. This is where the 27.5 comes in to it’s element. It’s easier to change this momentum making the bike handle better around corners and tight sections. Having a smaller back wheel also allows us to keep the chainstays short which has a big effect on handling. It makes the bike easier to manual and makes for a more poppy and playful chassis.
Next up the is the 29er biased aspect, momentum. Bigger wheels find it easier to roll over bumps. Imagine a skateboard wheel vs a monster truck wheel trying to roll over a pebble. I don’t need to explain the outcome. The difference in diameter between a 27.5 and 29 is obviously not so drastic but it still has a slight effect. This effect is most important in the front wheel as it is in front of the center of gravity and is essentially being ‘pushed’ over obstacles. The back wheel being behind the center of gravity get ‘pulled’ over obstacles making it’s size and rollover ability much less apparent. You can see what I’m getting at, having more rollover in the front is where it is critical, not the back.
Acceleration is another factor that comes into the equation. Smaller wheel = easier to accelerate. As your legs are driving the back wheel, not the front, it makes sense to have this wheel the one that is smaller and easier to accelerate.
Another talking point surrounding the Mulét is geometry. Having a larger front wheel slackens out the head angle by a degree (dependent on fork length) giving you more confidence when things get rough, fast or steep. This isn’t for everyone but it definitely is for people who ride trail or enduro aggressively.
So when you add all of these aspects together it makes a hell of a lot of sense to have a Mulét set up. Motorbikes have had mixed wheel sizes for decades. If you are still unsure on Muléts or need more information have a look at our video below. Also feel free to fire us a question or check out the Taniwha Mulét page.
Not enough roller over bro