650b


badchef's picture

By badchef - Posted on 16 October 2012

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

650b has got me thinkin.most of the pros of a 26er and most. of the pros of a 29er but none of the cons of a 29er.interesting.just wandering what would happen if the 29er rider was to put 650b on his bike .how would it handle?better or worse...btw im not a 29er rider or 650b,im still a 26er

[Mod. moved to MTB gear]

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Hugor's picture

No personal experience with 650B but it might have none of the pros of the 29er and all of the cons of a 26er!

Personally I think a 69er would be great to try. I think most of the pros of the 29er are in the front wheel in terms of rolling over stuff, but most of the cons are in the rear with longer chain stays etc. A 69er (29 front, 26 rear) makes perfect sense to me except they might look a bit shit.

EDIT: to answer your question though putting 650B wheels on a 29e would drop the BB height by 3/4 of an inch.
That would mean you'd get more pedal and chainring strikes but probably corner better as your centre of gravity would be lower.
I wouldn't do it.

mxracer92's picture

i reckon ur almost on the money , but other way around with 69er .. 26 front , 29 rear
as the front wheel should hardly hit the obstacle , then u would have the roll over benifits of the 29er rear wheel , and the steering speed of the 26er .

i own both a 29er and 26er , love the way the 26er turns and love the way the 29er rolls over obstacles .. 650b is right in the middle yes , but i spose that means it doesnt excel in either steering , or roll over . just average on both

Simon's picture

Being able to throw the back end around better and ride the fork through quick tight corners would IMO be more beneficial.

I reckon 29 in front with nice short chain stays. It's the back end that you need to move around more so than the front wheel. Same in the air.

ChopStiR's picture

I ride a 69er (also known as a 96er, the 29 is on the front) and its Hard tail Single Speed with 50mm fork travel. I ride it at Yellomundee and Knapsack. I'm keen to test it out at Mt Annan.

I also ride a 26 dualy.

Personally I have trouble identifying the cons and pros. There are to many factors that play a part in a bikes performance. Like Stem length, bar width, fork travel, etc...

I love riding my 69er because of the bike it is and the fun I have riding it. Not because of any perks I can find.

Here's food for thought that I often think of:

"You can be a Jack of trades but you will be the master of none"

Example: Cricket. You have great Bowlers who can't bat, Great Batters who can't Bowl and you have All rounders who can do both but will never be the best bowler or batter.

ChopStiR's picture

I ride a 69er (also known as a 96er, the 29 is on the front) and its Hard tail Single Speed with 50mm fork travel. I ride it at Yellomundee and Knapsack. I'm keen to test it out at Mt Annan.

I also ride a 26 dualy.

Personally I have trouble identifying the cons and pros. There are to many factors that play a part in a bikes performance. Like Stem length, bar width, fork travel, etc...

I love riding my 69er because of the bike it is and the fun I have riding it. Not because of any perks I can find.

Here's food for thought that I often think of:

"You can be a Jack of trades but you will be the master of none"

Example: Cricket. You have great Bowlers who can't bat, Great Batters who can't Bowl and you have All rounders who can do both but will never be the best bowler or batter.

Pete B's picture

I also agree with Hugor, it would lower your bb too much.

I own a 26" and a 29" (both hard tails) and the height of the bb to the ground is the same on both bikes. Therefore the centre of gravity must be the same. The overall wheelbase is the same also. For me, the 29er has very few con. Rotating mass being the only one that springs to mind, but it must be quite small as I don't notice any difference.

I'd like to try a 650b, could be my N+1!

Oldernslower's picture

Ridden a 29r for awhile now. Recently I was lent a 26r while my #1 bike was in for suspension service. Rode the FS 26r a little around a nearby trail - and gave up! Could not ride the darn thing over loose, rocky rutted stuff as had got used to the ease in which a 29r handled it. Used my HT 29r instead.

But when was the last time you saw a dirt motorcycle without a larger front wheel? If designed correctly a 96r (or 97r) may be a better bike than either the 29 or 26rs. But there again all you need to to do on a MX bike is twist the grip to lighten the front end.

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