[Closed] 26" bargains stopping me from 650b'ing it..am I in the wrong mindset?

The bike market is changing the 650b push on new bikes has been faster than most would have believed. Does having 650b wheels make a bike better? Depends on the bike. It's possible to make a crap bike with a new fangled wheel size just as it was possible to make one with 26".

Still from today if I was shopping for a new bike I'd be looking for the best deal for my budget.

You can still buy decent rims for 26" bikes, you can still buy decent tyres. If it ever looks desperate you could buy a couple of rims and a couple of extra tyres but in 2 years that isn't that likely. The majority of bikes out there are still 26".

Your only big ticket risk is the fork but even if you couldn't get spares you could easily fit a 650b fork.

I'm aiming for another 3-4 years from my 26" FS and I'm not that worried.

Just because there's a new wheel size in town, that doesn't mean the old wheel size is suddenly no good,

We all did fine on 26" wheels, most of us still do. If the shops are now giving 26" wheeled bikes away, I say take their stupidity as a gift and save yourself a fortune.

Get a 26'er with enough clearance for 650 too.then you only need new rims later.

Almost all rims get dinged/knackered

Is there a list somewhere of 26" frame and forks which take 650b and work?

There is such a list at 650b Palace.

Why no 29'er? Stopped making them?

It is the job of the bike industry to convince you that this year's shiny new bike is better than last year's model, which you can usually get for a decent discount. They have various methods for trying to do this. It is your job to decide whether the improvements are really worth the extra cost. This has always been the case, whether it is frame angles, forks or in this case the diameter of the wheels.

Unfortunately, internet forums are not much help as we all have a vested interest. Those who have just spent a packet on a new 650b bike obviously want to believe that it is much better than all those cheaper options that they turned down. Those who are sticking with 26" obviously want to believe that 650B makes little or no difference. I tend to side with the latter, but then I haven't just bought a 650B bike.

650b is been pushed hard at the minute because bike companies realise they have a short window of opportunity to flog as any 650b bikes as possible before everyone realises it's all bollocks and there is no reason to pick that wheel size over 26"! I'd stick with 26 and watch the market come full circle in a couple of years, 26" components will always be available!

roverpig speaks the absalute truth.every thing else is just bullshit

If you've a cash 'issue' then focus on getting the best bike for your money - not whichever wheel-size is the current flavour.

I'd get the most for your cash too, so if there's a bargain 26er with a nice spec that would normally be out of your budget, snap it up.

A good 26er doesn't become a bad bike over night because there's a fancy new wheel size in town. You'll still be able to get tyres, rims etc fir a while and there'll be a good second hand market for forks for a while yet.

If it makes you feel better why not?

I cant afford a new 650b bike. My next priority is a half decent roadbike. So 26 it is.

Anyone proclaiming anything new is marginally better is a business/retailers best dream. Me walking into a bikeshop brings no real benefit to them as I cant afford/just browse.

Don't worry about it, buy what you want/like most.

A good 26" bike is going to ride just like a good 650b bike.

As above, what about a 29er, now there is something that is DEFINITELY different enough to be better for the right rider/style/terrain.

I'm still of the opinion that 650B is pointless toss sold to the gullible by shysters.

There is a 650b Cube in the classifieds, might be worth a look

Being "gullible", I recently bought a 650B carbon hardtail. The wheel size was incidental, as I wanted a short travel carbon hardtail and the bike fitted the bill.

I am in no hurry to replace my 26" full suspension bike though.

Just wait another few months and the 2014 650b or 26" bikes will be in the sale as the 2015 bikes land. You can choose either then. 😀

For those saying 650b isn't any different to 26".... Get a grip, of course it is, just not as much so as 29".

hora - Member
Get a 26'er with enough clearance for 650 too.then you only need new rims later.

Or simply buy the fatter Surly Dirt Wizard or Knard tyres and you end up with the same diameter as 650B without changing rims.

Thanks for all the responses.

I had considered a 29er but want to take care of my longer travel trail ht first which seems to mean 26" or 650b.

Having tried a few 29ers I deffo like them and looking to get one end of season. Not a priority at this stage though.

I have to get my act together and order soon otherwise I will be bikeless for the Easter holiday weekend.

Cheers again for all the help.

For those saying 650b isn't any different to 26".... Get a grip, of course it is, just not as much so as 29".

We all did fine on 26" wheels, most of us still do. If the shops are now giving 26" wheeled bikes away, I say take their stupidity as a gift and save yourself a fortune.

Yep, tried it, got a grip but not of the kool aid, 650b is just something to spend money on to make yourself feel an inch longer. Not saying 2014 bikes are better due to 650b, just better due to evolution.

I'm not saying 650b will be better or any kind of improvement but a 650b bike will ride differently to a 26" bike, just as a 29er does. It might not be significant but the difference will be there.

yeah tried a couple and if you can tell the difference then good luck, such a small difference it's hard to attribute the change to wheel size.

I like all wheel sizes.

Got 16", 20", 26" in several flavours (559, 584, 590, 597, and there's more), 700c, 27", 28", and 29er (actually 700c).

They're all bikes.

Wheelbase, geometry, and rider position also need to be considered along with wheel size rather than just any one factor.

I'd sooner do a 1,000 miles road ride on an old rubber suspension Moulton with its 16" wheels and long wheelbase, than on a short wheelbase big wheeled bike.

So don't worry about 26" wheels becoming obsolete unless you're trying to get good quality rims for a 26x1¼" 🙂

Right will stick with a 26er and go for a high volume tyre for now.

26 inch parts are going to be on the market for many, many years to come so don't fret about it.

I think as said above 26" will come back and 650B will be shelved in a few years.Why would you sell your 26" for a 650B!!!!!!!!!!!.

I think as said above 26" will come back and 650B will be shelved in a few years.

That is exactly what will happen. The manufacturers will make 27.5" bikes only available to their DH & enduro race teams (because they're fractionally quicker in most scenarios and thus good for winning races) and only make 26" bikes for selling to the public as the latest emperor's new clothes trick to replace the 27.5" bikes they've been buying for a few years. Yes, everyone will definitely fall for that!

chiefgrooveguru - Member
Yes, everyone will definitely fall for that!

Well, there seems to be no shortage of people on here who've fallen for 650b. 🙂

However, I'm sure they'll all change back if the magazines and the industry tell them to.

Don't think it's a case of falling for 650b, it's simply people buying what's available. Might even get one myself one day.

Well, after making no progress due to the bike I was going for going out of stock in my size I have decided to go for an on one 45650b.

The answers easy, buy the bike that you like riding. Anything else is a compromise. Don't end up saving x amount £ but hate the ride.

You did try before you buy ofc

26 - 29 yup noticed a difference. 26 - 650b didn't notice any difference. I'd buy whatever you want.

I went out to buy a carbon 29er last week and had to seriously hold myself back from buying a 26er with £1500 off the rrp!!!

26 still feels so agile but 29 does feel faster, I am thinking 29er but just get a second hand top end or new chinese carbon to try out, if I dont get on with flog it on and lose a daft couple of quid, not such a major hit. Anyone in Teesside area got a medium chinese carbon hardtail l can try?

Prices'll drop but there'll still be a bunch of people like me hoovering up 26 inch parts so they won't drop as far as some folks seem to think

Stuff 650B when there are bargains like this to be had...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/sunn-tzar-s1-hardtail-bike/rp-prod115626

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/product/review-sunn-tzar-s2-11-42361/

Rode a 650B version of my 29er Pyga. Felt like a 26. Really want to love it, but did nothing for me at all. Bought a 26inch Nukeproof Mega frame in the CRC sale for about £750. Which is a hoot to ride. It doesn't carry speed like a 29er but who cares. Most of the time any speed issues are about my inability to deal with the fact it doesn't ever really needs to slow down.

I'd be inclined to go with the 'ride now, worrying later' train of thought. If that means you get a sorted 26inch bike for peanuts, then why the hell not.

"IF" I was about to buy a new bike, the only thing I'd spec would be a frame with 1.5" head tube and tapered forks. I personally think 1 1/8" forks will be the hardest to find aftermarket in a few years. Still plenty about, but choice is starting to get limited across the full price range.

26" will be here for the foreseeable future, and probably longer.