[Closed] New frame content. 26" or 650b

Lower resale value if 650b doesn't 'catch on'

But if it accepts 26" wheels as well then it kills 2 birds with 1 stone right?

Apparently the tracer 275 chain stays are only 0.1 inch longer than the 26" model
Sounds like they have really squeezed in the bigger wheel.

Buy the 650b one, it will catch on and is here to stay. Look at how many bike brands are offering 26" wheel bikes this year. And also there is even less offered next year.

Look at how many bike brands are offering 26" wheel bikes this year.

26" for cheaper components.

This place is a marketing mans wet dream. A large group of dedicated bikers who basically sell themselves this seasons next big thing.

You remind me of the Malibu Stacey fans in the Simpsons, "yeah but she has a new hat!"

If I'm going to spend the best part of 2k on a frame I want to get it right.

As I see it there shouldn't be a problem sticking 26" wheels in a 650b tracer temporarily or will I have a terrible accident?

As I see it there shouldn't be a problem sticking 26" wheels in a 650b tracer temporarily or will I have a terrible accident?

Why would you have a terrible accident?

check MBUK for the pic of the tire clearance , for UK conditions i'd steer clear of it in its 650b guise

I like 29s so I would choose 650b over 26 any day assuming they work with the frame. A friend has put 650b on a Whippet and goes like a rocket.

would be nice if it was just the drop outs that where different 😀

I guess by next year all the high end bikes will be 650b probably an Orange 5 in 650b would be a good enduro / trail bike in the current trend of wheels would be daft not to follow suit, Santa Cruz have the Bronson and I bet it wont be long before a 650b tall boy type xc bike will be along maybe female specific or for vertically challenged 🙂
maybe a yeti SB67 😀 the list would be long, and Fox's new 140mm 650b forks will be a good clue 8)

I love my 26" Tracer 2, all the old niggles of Intense seem to be sorted. The frame is straight, bolts don't work loose, It's not cracked. Ridden anything from the Mega and XC trails on it and it's been fantastic. BUT I hate getting any kind of spare part from Intense. I popped into my local shop today to ask them to order some bearings for the upper link and Extra UK don't have any stock. Ridiculous.

Intense make some lovely bikes but they are a shower of s*** when it comes to post sales support and spare parts. Next time round I'll be looking at the SC Bronson.

tinytimbo - Member
If I'm going to spend the best part of 2k on a frame I want to get it right.

As I see it there shouldn't be a problem sticking 26" wheels in a 650b tracer temporarily or will I have a terrible accident?

There's 25mm (just under an inch) in the difference diameter-wise, so your BB will be half an inch lower than normal, and your fork offset will be slightly off (assuming you're on a 650b specific fork).

Sure-fire recipe for explosive, fiery death, if you ask me.

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I have 650b wheels on my 26" hardtail. Just saying.

honourablegeorge - Member
tinytimbo - Member
If I'm going to spend the best part of 2k on a frame I want to get it right.
As I see it there shouldn't be a problem sticking 26" wheels in a 650b tracer temporarily or will I have a terrible accident?
There's 25mm (just under an inch) in the difference diameter-wise, so your BB will be half an inch lower than normal, and your fork offset will be slightly off (assuming you're on a 650b specific fork).
Sure-fire recipe for explosive, fiery death, if you ask me.

Thanks I did wonder about the angles. I would've running standard 26" forks to begin with then when funds permit upgrade the forks and wheels to 650b

I have seen on another forum 26" tracer owners upgrading the dropouts on their frames to allow a 650b wheel in the back. I guess that would tell me which frame to go for.

The Banshee Rune might be a frame to consider, similar to the tracer, if a bit slacker, and they offer factory dropouts for 650b (think the Intense ones are a third party job)

I also see there are a couple of small differences in the Tracer 2 and 275.

275 has routing and drilled seat tube for stealth reverb post where as the tracer 2 only has cable routing for a standard dropper post. Not possible to fit a stealth. How much of a benefit this is I don't know as at the moment I have no plans to run a dropper but you never know in the future.

Also the tracer 275 has a tapered head tube. 44 top and 49 bottom where as the Tracer 2 has a full fat heat tube (49 straight through). Maybe full 1.5 head tubes are being replaced with tapered?

Yeah - 1.5" steerer tubes are more or less dead, so no reason to continue with the full head tubes.

You'll want a dropper, definitely.

I have 650b wheels on my 26" hardtail. Just saying.

I have 2.4" Maxxis 26" tyres on my 26"-wheeled hardtail, they're pretty much as big as 650b wheels with 'normal' tyres on. Just saying.