I was just pondering this reading What MTB yesterday. My current Soul, which was a custom build, is nearly 2 yrs old - I specced it up on Easter hols 2013. I haven't changed a thing on it, spec wise, although have replaced worn out drivetrain recently (with exact same) and had to replace saddle a few months ago, for comfort reasons.
2012 bandit, although I've only just got it.
2009 tinbred 🙂
20 months, saddle replaced (broke) and gone 2x to 1x.
Though if I'd waited 2 more months I'd have a 650b
Broke my frame in summer 2013, warranty replacement was offered of 29 or 26, I took the 26. It had recently had new wheels and I didn't want to throw away the depreciation money and couldn't afford new forks at the time.
Since then I've upgraded the forks and see no reason to replace it. I'm happy to blame my lack of podium finishes on the rider rather than the wheel size 🙂
2014 456 evo II
2014 yeti sb66c here... and it's totes amazeballs
not new. 1995 & 1998 * 2 🙂
we were chatting about this on a ride the other week, as to whether a rider's next bike would even remotely be a 26". It hadn't been in the frame, but more and more likely that yes, possibly..
2010 Blur LTc. Just fitted 160mm Pikes and offset bushings. Not planning on changing it any time soon.
It hadn't been in the frame, but more and more likely that yes, possibly.
What was the reasoning?
2010 Giant Anthem, bought new at the start of 2010, and a 2010 GT Avalanche, bought 2nd hand at the start of 2012. Both still great fun, though if I had the money I'd be tempted to try a more modern trail bike.
2012 Saracen Kili Flyer 853
2008 Specialized Pitch
2015 Charge Cooker Maxi
2007 On One Inbred 853. (Now a tourer)
700c is for road bikes. 🙂
giant reign x2 frame is a 2009 model but i only got it towards the end of last year
the shock came with the frame
the forks, chain, cassette, shifter, brakes, n/w ring, bars, seatpost, stem, grips are all brand new and 2013 or newer
the cranks were brand new but they were some bargain OEM unit from merlin. i'm gonna guess that they're a bit older
the saddle is new to me but again is probably a few years old
the old bits on the bike are the pedals, bashring, bar plugs and wheels. all of which are probably more than 10 years old
I have an 8 year old Marin Team Titanium and a Pace RC300 but I can't remember which year I bought it.
When I split and sold mine last year it (mostly) was 5 years old.
2013 Ragley Piglet-2
2013 On-One 456-evo
Both great bikes and all the better for having 'small' wheels.
Brand new, haven't ridden it yet. It is a 2013 model though.
2012 Specialized P1
2013 YT Tues
2014 Cotic Bfe
Not planning to buy a bike in the foreseeable future.
@molgrips - existing MTBs are full sus 29r and a hand-me-down 26" hardtail, V brakes, singlespeed adapted.
Alternative thinking was 26" hardtail. SS compatible, discs, for choosing around local woods, 2 - 3 hour rides, and a bit of variety set against existing (and not being disposed of) 29r.
My MTBs are both 26", one rigid SS and one geared hardtail. TBH I may head in other direction and upgrade the geared HT to a 29r SS compatible - with discs..
End of 2014 Slackline.
2012 Cotic Bfe - been running 1x10, about to change it to a Wolf tooth 1x11
2014 Knolly Chilcotin - waiting to be built, just picked up the frame new
2009 SC Blur LT2...had a few changes over its life but it rides so well I see little point in getting rid.
Still 26", still straight steerer, jesus I only went tubeless after a spate of punctures last autumn.
My last 26" wheeled bike was built up in 2014 from a brand new unused 2013 Cove Stiffee Frame.....I have dabbled with one 29er but prefer riding 26" overall. 😆
Similar to the op, I have a Soul (although mine is 2012 I think). Can't see me changing it whilst it's working as it puts a big smile on my face as its so much fun to ride.
I've never came home after a ride and thought my ride would have been so much better if I had bigger wheels but contradictory I like the idea of a half fat rigid.
Mach 5.7 bought in July 2013 - so 20 months old or so.
No plans to replace it - though it's status as my only mountain bike is going to change with the addition of a new 29" hardtail (a Shand Bahookie that's currently being painted).
ian martin - Member
Similar to the op, I have a Soul (although mine is 2012 I think). Can't see me changing it whilst it's working as it puts a big smile on my face as its so much fun to ride.
I've never came home after a ride and thought my ride would have been so much better if I had bigger wheels but contradictory I like the idea of a half fat rigid.
spooky - I have been thinking a load about the prototype Genesis 27.5+ last few weeks 🙂
2010 Zesty 514. still running og xt rims and mojo serviced front and rear suss, narrow headtube gives it's age away, otherwise still awesome bike.
Frame and forks are less than a year old. I also have a back-up 26" frame in the unlikely event I break a Nukeproof Mega.
I'm gonna be 26" for a while yet.
2000 S-works HT - commuter/turbo bike
2007 SC Blur 4X - frame purchased second hand 2013
2013 Cotic BFe
2008 Giant Trance.
All that remains of the original full bike, are the frame, shock, cranks and , amazingly, one Avid Juicy 3.
This bike has been upgraded to something which has been just fantastic , for thrashing round the local hilly forest stuff and done plenty of bigger natural rides and trail centre stuff.
Mostly because I can, rather than need to, I will be replacing it with a 27.5 Trance in a few weeks .
I shall be bitterly disappointed , if the newer, slightly slacker , slightly longer travel bike doesn't give me what my 26 er has.
2004, 2007, 2010 hardtails 2013 full suss 2006 tandem, all 26" but I am toying with the idea of a rigid 29er
2009 Intense 6.6
Been a complete "Trigger's Broom" with 3 different forks, 2 different shocks, 3 sets of bars, 2 stems, 3 seat posts and various gear changes from 2 x 10 to 1 x 10 with 40T and RADr cage. Also had 3 different colours from raw to candy red and now yellow.
It's still an awesome bike that's more capable than I am..
MY09 Boardman hardtail bought new by me in May 2010.
It is a bit 'triggers broom' as only the frame/seat post/rear mech/front mech/shifters remain.
Can't justify a new MTB anytime soon as it doesn't get ridden enough these days, and would cost well over £1000 to get something comparable/better.
2013 Soul (although the forks, wheels and most other bits are several years older)
2011 Canyon Nerve AM (new forks last year)
1996 Marin Pine Mountain (about to restore to full original spec again)
They all still get ridden. I don't have any other MTB wheel sizes, but am just about to build up a 29er for the first time.
2012 Specialized Camber, purchased around this time in 2013.
I'm very happy with the bike and have no intention of replacing it until it breaks, although being a 6fter my next bike will no doubt be a 29er of some sort.
2006 SC Chameleon I bought in 2008, ran that for a few years then I picked up a cheap 2006 Heckler frame & swapped all the bits over... then I slowly & stealthily re-built the Chameleon... then I decided that most of those new bits actually suited the Heckler better so swapped all the original bits back onto the Chameleon - everything's interchangeable which is handy - rotors are the same size too so easy to swap wheels depending on tyre preference.
Also have an old 1998 Klein Mantra which I stripped & rebuilt a few years ago & has been lucky to see 20 miles of use since then, and that was on the road...
2011 Pitch
2009? Mmmbop
No plans to change wheelsize until I really have to.
3 year old BFe, which is fine.
Will maybe go inbetweeny or 29 when I get round to buying a FS.....depending on how cool it is by then.
Think mine are both 2010s, though I didn't get the Ragley til I think 2013 as I had to wait for the depreciation 😆
Both 2010
Stumpjumper FSR to replace my old 2001 FSR.
Took the bits from the old FSR (along with a few new bits) and built up a Barry White Inbred.
2014 Saracen Ariel 14x
2012 Saracen Zen X
2013 Band
2012 Covert and BFe. I have a Dialled Prince Albert still waiting to be built up so that will be a 2012 frame with new components so a 2015
2012 bandit, although I've only just got it.
That would be my N+1 🙂
The move away from 26 had made me less much likely to buy a new bike
2006 Giant XTC. Now singlespeeded.
It will be my last bike.
2013 Bandit, bought as a frame and kitted out with top spec parts, it rides awesome and is very capable but have to say lusting after the new Genesis prototype rigid 650b+.
'98 Hei Hei with the latest frame-up refresh completed in 2013. Just been fitted with new to me Recons (no joy finding a straight steerer pair with 15mm axle). I couldn't afford a new bike even if I wanted and would struggle to justify several thousand pounds for some slightly bigger wheels (a skills course would probably be money better spent).
You know what though... The whole 650b thing/death of 26 inch sucks balls. Except that it's quite nice to be able to look at your bike and think, "Since that's the best of its breed, and nobody'll ever make any more like it... That's the best 26 inch <insert bike type> bike ever." Takes away some gear aquisition syndrome, that. Especially knowing no bugger'd buy it off you even if you wanted to replace it
2005 Cove Hummer I've had from new , been through a lot together including new chain stays by Litespeed , Whistler, Morzine,Mammoth,Tahoe regrettably underused now
:(. Been told not worth what it's really worth so hanging on to it for sentimental reasons . It's funny though when I do ride it I have an absolute hoot !
That would be my N+1
although I'm sure the 27.5 bandit is even betterer, i'm loving the 26" version.
local woods are drying out and i'm really starting to get to grips with it.
maybe i'll go 27.5 in 2017
First spin yesterday.
:luddite:
I've got me a lovely 2011 NS Core2 that I bought in the summer of 2012. I really like it except that for the last while I've been having fork issues. Hoping to have enough money saved in a few weeks to pick up some replacement forks. Fingers crossed I can find something in the 150mm range with a straight steerer for a reasonable cost. That would be the only reason to upgrade the frame.
2013 SC Chameleon, bought new in Nov 14 in clearance (though 27.5 wheels do fit....)
2015 Specialized Fatboy, bought Sept 14
3 months old. Built up a Cotic Bfe. Very nice it is too.
Bought one of the last orange Souls about 12 months ago, upgraded to new 26" wheels about a month ago. I love it and see no reason why I need to change any time soon.
June 2014 for my Singular Puffin
May 2012 for my Liteville 301
2015 Spitfire with parts ranging from 2005 Mono M4 caliper to 2015 SLX cassette.
1995 Trek 970
2007 Giant XTC c1
Only the Spitfire ever gets ridden these days - it's so much fun.
Sorry - I only have adult bikes.
Age is only a number, as is wheel size. What matters is the journey.
You don't appear mature enough to have 🙂shortcut - Member
Sorry - I only have adult bikes.
1994 Custom frame
2013 Slingshot 'cos the frame was cheap to replace frame on my sons bike
2000 Specialized Enduro
2004 Santa Cruz Blur LT
As I'm nearing 50 I don't think I'll be changing wheel size in this lifetime
I've got a 2011 steel Sunn Tzar built with parts from my old 2013 ally Sunn Tzar. I've also (just, this morning) got a second hand 2007 (I think) Commencal Absolut.
2008 Seven Sola. The frame is about the only thing from that first build apart from the CK hubs. Thinking about seeing if the frame will fit a 650b wheel. Does that make me a wrong un?
I bought a new 2013 Anthem 26' the other month to replace my tired NRS.
I'm also rebuilding my 2005 Enduro for a trip to the Alps this summer.
1994 Kona Kilauea for geared duties and a 2007 Solitude for s/s spins.
A few weeks old , bought a new voodoo wanga from ebay, not built it up yet
Bought my 26" Five in September 2013, but can't think of any reason to change it (and I've tried 🙂 ). I've ridden the (Mk1) 650B version and it just felt like a slightly heavier, slightly less fun version of the 26" bike. Not bad, but no better. I've just put Pikes on so the suspension is bang up to date. Geometry is still a la mode. Short stem, wide bars. What else is there that I might want?
Some will say there are better bikes out there, but that was true when it was new.
I've got a Solaris, which isn't being ridden much and may change that to a full suss 29er, but can't see the 26" Five going anywhere. To echo Northwind's point, it's a design classic and sits nicely in the Made in Britain corner of the shed, next to the Brompton.
An 05 Big Sur...passed on today to my 12yr old, replaced by 650b.
2010 Heckler bought in Sept 2009 it was one of the very first with the Collet pivot and not the pinch bolts
I think only the headset, brakes, stem and shock are from the original spec. Still running 9spd too
2004 spesh enduro. Still more bike than I can handle.
A 2004 Dawes Edge team and an old 853 on one single speed are my only mtbs in use .Dont race or do niche ,just ride legal non centre based trails so need nothing else
April 2014 Stanton slackline ti
Dec 2013 Transition Bandit
2005 SC Bullit
2009 SC Heckler
2012 Trek Session 88
Obviously this year in the Alps on the Trek I'll either have 5% more or possibly 5% less fun than the lads on big wheel bikes. Not really sure which.
2012 Genesis Latitude 853, although didn't get it built up until late 2013, I fitted a new 1x10 drivetrain last year.
2005 Turner 5 Spot, bought the frame a few weeks ago, currently in bits as I'm refurb'ing it at the moment, will probably transfer most of the kit from the Latitude onto it, but only when I can afford to buy a 29er frame, maybe a Solaris, and all the bits to hang off it.
2005 specialized enduro that I bought new , but its my backup mountain bike for when my usual one is broken.
Built up mine at the end last year. Not a new frame though, a few years old and used. New forks and wheels though, doesn't seem hard to get them in 26"' and the latest models are SO much better than that old stuff I was using. New 26" components – the best they've ever been. Upgrade now! Don't pontificate about whole new bikes with slightly different sized wheels. Unless you want an excuse for new everything… then go ahead.
August 2013 Cotic Soul.
However I now have a 29er fs which has lead me to think seriously about getting a Solaris!
Mine is the last year Gary FIsher did the Big Sur. 2009, I believe. I bought it as a congratulations gift for myself, and have not had cause to replace it yet.
When it goes, it will be for a fat bike.
Cotic Rocket, 2012, although I have had it since Autumn 2014
2014 cotic soul which I bought 2 weeks ago. Love it
1996 Orange P7