[Closed] 26" wheel mtbs - any value left?

I think you will run into problems since anyone buying a bike should be thinking about future maintainability and sadly the more expensive the 26 I think the sooner you will run into problems.

I know its part of why I went to 27.5. I wasnt amazed by how the trail came alive once I switched but just by thinking about ongoing costs and ease of updates (admittedly with the lets change the standards every ****ing five minutes thats a bit of a hope but i tend to keep bikes for a while).

I'm holding on to mine (2010 Yeti) until the Retrobike guys start to take an interest. In car terms I think they are now bangers, just need to wait for this stage to pass and they become classics. Or until I can't get new tyres any more.

As with cars I guess the top marques will be worth more to the officinardos in years to come.

In the mean time, if you enjoy riding them then that makes them good bikes in my book, keep them

Value? Yes loads

worth any money? Not really

The IOID frame might bet you £50-£100 quid if in good nick with some bits attached, but it'll make a great hack/commuter/2650b bike for someone somewhere.

the Myka is best sold complete to someone, not worth much in terms of pound coins but could be a great entry into riding for someone on a budget or a young'un.

They have great value as bikes, bikes are ace and even old ones can bring happiness and utility to the right person and that's worth loads, if you don't need the cash then find them a home for free or nominal amount.

if you need the money then eBay will find their worth, but it can be a hassle, I prefer local sales for a bit less actual cash these days.

unfortunately the Myka has been in a cupboard for years - its the other halfs bike and simply never gets ridden - she has another bike as well.  Its been ridden 4 times IIRC

I also have a proper retro mtb that I really like - a raleigh sps ti frame thats about 20+ years old built up with really nice parts.  that I am keeping.  I have a SS road bike, a tandem, an ebike and a unicycle as well all in a small attic flat and I have just bought a fatbike so something has to give.  I just don't have the room to keep them all and no time to ride them all.

Both my bikes are 26 and I will build up a third. Decent forks and wheels will sell to folks like me who want to have spares. Last two Soul frames I bid on went for £245 and £185 although whole bikes can be had for £500 which is quite tempting.

Taken literally it's 1 and half bloody inches, not a country mile by any measurement. However in the real(?) world then yes many people will believe that somehow the size of wheel they ride will make or break their enjoyment of just getting out and riding. Yes it will make a difference but not as much as the adverts say.

I am pretty much the bottom of the market when it comes to mtb stuff. The only brand new parts I've bought in years has been cables, grips, inner tubes etc. I haven't bothered with 27.5 yet and there are thousands of others in the same sort of position. So there are many buyers for your bikes out there. it just may take longer to get a sale than it would have before the latest and greatest kit came out.

Sorry for the off topic rant..

Ta chaps - I have a mate interested but he has no idea of the values.  I don't want to rip him off nor diddle myself.  Might be worth passing on cheap for karma I gues

Small 26" bikes will always sell to errr smaller people. Sold a lovely Giant Talon for just under half price to a lady at work. it was an XS, XT, rekon fork and like new. Also £1000 new.

The IOID is a great bike, I run mine rigid singlespeed. If yours still runs the alfine and FS, those in the know may still be interested. Mine is 26" and it replaced a 29" Kona Unit 29er. There was almost no difference to be perfectly honest, other than I liked the FS! Steel tubes have more appeal to me than wheel size.

The IOs were the best handling 26" rigid hardtail 26" I rode. My daughter is hanging on to hers.

About the only 26" bike, other than fat, that's worth buying now is the Surly 1x1 because you can fit 3" tyres on the older models.

However since they were discontinued their 2nd hand prices prices rose - if you could find one. That may change with its just introduced replacement - Surly Lowside which takes 26x3" tyres.

Probably best to strip your bikes, use the parts, and hang the frames up until they are retro.

I’m always on the lookout for xs 26” frames or small WSD frames for my rather short of stature other half- there don’t seem to be many around?

Search eBay for sold items for an idea of price. Don't discount them as being unsellable though, try Retrobike. Not everyone is chasing rare and vintage stuff. There are loads of people happily riding bikes outwith the current arms race and will pay market value for 'obsolete' stuff. Both would sell imo.

<i> Saw some guy on FB trying to get 300€ for a 2012 (I think) pair of silver DeeMax. I thought "good luck with that".... I paid the BMW for a nearly new set that ate six monmon old back in 2012.</i>

I recently was looking a building a 26" bike for monkeyboyjc junior - it was cheaper to build a 27.5 with new bits as there's still a high demand for 2nd hand 26" parts.

Ta folks

Is there really that much difference between riding 26" and 27" inch wheels (they're not actually 27.5) ? 26" and 29" I can understand but a single inch, really?

Ridiculous that bikes that ride fine are now considered obsolete.

I’ve got two Liteville 301 Mk10’s and, to be honest, as long as I can get decent tyres and rims, I can’t see why I will ever feel the need to replace them. I’ve got a few sets of Marzocchi 55 RC3 Ti’s stockpiled, plus enough tyres to last me quite a while. If I see any rim, tyre or Marzocchi 55 bargains going I just snap them up.

TJ - What frame size is the Myka? And is it pink?

I might be looking for a bike for my 12 year old middlest  panthercub, but he doesn't do pink.

What are they 5 years old? That is more of an issue now, compare with 5 year old 650b bikes...

perchypanther - you have a pm

You will get something for the Myka, they resell fairly well. Condition and convenient pick up location matter

”…. I paid the BMW for a nearly new set that ate six monmon old back in 2012

That's what I was going to say.

I'm in two minds what to do with my old Yeti (a 6 or so year old ASR5C) top spec but needs a little love and attention... ticks all the obsolete boxes... 26" 3x10 XT drive train, no dropper (and no routing for an internal one)...

So do I pay to get shocks and suchlike serviced (I don't really have time or talent to do them myself) or just try and offload it and put the money towards that shiny Soul I'm currently coveting!

Someone is selling a 27.5 Soul on the classifieds for £500

Tried to edit that, it's a mk 1

I've been wondering/worrying about the same thing. I've got a spesh pitch which hasn't been used in a year (not ridden due to health problems). It has practically brand new rs revelations (3 rides) but wondering if it's worth splitting and tbh not many ppl being interested in a 26" bike anymore

Anyone want a really nice 26" Kona Heihei scandium FS?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Bikes/177831?Brand=Specialized&Wheel%2520Size=29%2522&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1

The some prices for 29r specs should probably put some of the older 26 onto perspective it's just as much age as wheel size out there. A boom in sales in the last few years means a boom in used bikes and bargain prices.