PORC

Since Mofiki's last 650 B post got shredded with 29 - 26 debate Please use this to post information concerning changing over your 26" bike to a 27.5" bike. Here are a few articles i found that can start it off.

http://650bpalace.blogspot.com

http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=935

Thankx man. There's good info posted there and I've added to my favorites.

Can't wait for FS frames to start showing up.

must...stay...on...topic...


That was some good reading. It is good that some tire manufactures like Kenda are going to be supplying some sweet tires. The Panceti tire look pretty sweet also. I like the wide sizes that are available.

mofiki wrote:Thankx man. There's good info posted there and I've added to my favorites.

Can't wait for FS frames to start showing up.

FWIW. i check out the mtbr.com 650 b threads and they have a slew of bikes that work with that wheel size. One is the Cdale prophet. I cant remember the others, but when i checked a month ago they were building a D-base of bikes that already work in some way with the wheels. Good luck in your search.

You don't want to buy a prophet right now with the new C-dale bikes right around the corner. They should be released any week now.

Jason wrote:You don't want to buy a prophet right now with the new C-dale bikes right around the corner. They should be released any week now.

You're right. My next bike is going to be a Ventana.

Check out the Competitive Cyclist review of the Ventana El Bastardo. I like it but it's a just a tad pricey. I can see $3000 for a sturdy machine (built) but over $5000 ? I think we are getting close to adding a motor at that price. Even though I'm due and anxiously waiting to buy a new bike I think I'm going to wait even longer for the competition to step in and force the price down. Sorry Ventana, but even if you offered a life time no questions asked replacement warranty $2000 is just to much for most people to spend on a frame. That's not just my opinion, that's the answer I got from everyone I popped the question to.

There's a review of a 650B wheeled bike in the new Dirt Rag that came in the mail yesterday.

I built a 650b Lefty wheel and threw it on the Scalpel. I got several rides under my arse with it and it's getting better and better. It slowed down the sketchy handling that I didn't like just enough but didn't take away from the bikes ability to speed through tight turns, like you find at Bavington. I may not need a new bike because I may already have one.

Update: I trashed my 06 Scalpel and recieved a 09 Scalpel warranty replacement. I still have the 650b wheel up front. During the weeks my bike was down I used a loaner with 26" wheels. I didn't care for the ride but I was getting use to it. Once I got my bike back I felt right at home again. Without a doubt handling is better with the bigger wheel. I rode Seven Springs race course over the weekend. From as best as I could recall from racing in it in the past the 650b wheel glided over the rock gardens and some other technical spots much better. Along with the new frame design and the little extra lift of the front wheel the BB clearance is greater now so I don't have to work as hard to lauch over obstacles. Tight turns are still as easy as with a 26" wheel. I don't know what else to say about the improvements but I know I'll never go back. Hopefully one of these days I'll be able to afford a Ventana or other 650b compatible 5" travel bike.

Nice looking bike.

Please tell me you used the 29er clips to reduce the travel of the fork and checked for tire clearance with no air pressure in the fork?

Raelx wrote:Nice looking bike.

Please tell me you used the 29er clips to reduce the travel of the fork and checked for tire clearance with no air pressure in the fork?

Yes the full travel clearance was checked. No need to alter the fork. With no air in the fork, fully compressed I still had 3/4" gap at the bottom of the steertube and not even close to the downtube or my toes. The Lefty made the swap easy.

IMBAKarl wrote:

spurk wrote:Since Mofiki's last 650 B post got shredded with 29 - 26 debate Please use this to post information concerning changing over your 26" bike to a 27.5" bike.

Code name: Beckler.

Now that is one of the sweetest 650b rides I've seen to date. The owner must be real proud. I would love to take it for a spin.

I noticed the date that thread was posted, unfortunately alot of the manufactures aren't coming through yet. At Interbike there wasn't much to report about the new 650b products. They say we just aren't getting the word out and the cries for more just don't justify production. So we will most likely be stuck with the same old same old for another year.