[Closed] SC Bronson with 26'' wheels and 26'' fox 36 float

I'm willing to bet that nobody has ever tried it.

Worth doing it if only to be the first, eh?

Asked same question on Friday, general consensus was 12.5mm lower BB, I reckon you might be able to make that less with some 2.4 Rubber Queens or similar.

It'll be awesome - it has to be lighter than the mutant alternative.

Pretty sure Seb Kemp rode a 26" Bronson prototype in the Trans Provence.

Gotta ask, why?

rOcKeTdOg - I demo'd a Bronson whilst on Holiday in Arizona and I loved it.
I can't afford new frame forks and wheels so thought I might be able to push the credit card (and my luck with the other half) to buying the frame and sticking my 26'' wheels and forks on for the foreseeable.

12.5mm not all the world is it? Should feel pretty planted I imagine.

Ooh, there's an idea. I have a Bronson coming next month but could always keep my 36s and DH wheels to turn it into a dual purpose machine!

Someone did it on the mtbr forums. Can't remember the conclusions but 26 was found to be lighter and nimbler at the expense of some rollover ability.

Bet it'll explode in a ball of confused niche-ness

Put some 24 inch wheels on your current bike to get a rough idea of the effects/differences.

OP - you will absolutely die! No actually I'm sure you'll be fine, just pump your tyres up rock ard 😉

Fit a pair of those new Surly 2.75 tyres and it'll be exactly the same.

Why not just get the new blur?

Geometry will be more 26"-specific, and it's a brand new release.

Why not just get the new blur?

Isn't the Blur shorter travel?

It does beg the question that if every manufacturer starts following suit and only makes 27.5 or 29 frames, what do all the 26er's do if they can't afford a complete build?

I know I'll only want to be doing frame upgrades in the next 2-3 years as cant afford the forks/wheels like the OP.

Would I be able to fit 650b's to my Trance 29er? Would I die?

I'd like to try 650's in a tallboy lt but I wouldn't try them in a trance 29er, Tom. I found the cranks clipping rocks once or twice on the trance as it is, so it would probably be a bit of a mare. Amazing bike with the right wheels on,though!

[quote=obelix ]Why not just get the new blur?
Geometry will be more 26"-specific, and it's a brand new release.

As far as I know the new blue is the TR, the LT which is only 10mm shorter than the bronson is still available and rides really well. Pick up an out of fashion bargain.

Brian Lopes ran an Ibis Mojo HDR 650b with 26" wheels at the recent Air DH race in Whistler. Accordingly to lopes this was to lower the bb in order to improve cornering and jumping.

And for some reason that makes me feel like punching myself in the nose repeatedly.

As far as I know the new blue is the TR, the LT which is only 10mm shorter than the bronson is still available and rides really well. Pick up an out of fashion bargain.

IIRC the LT's gone from Santa Cruz' website, which implies it's out of production. Only the new TR on there.

If you have 34's just buy 27.5" lowers and fit them it's a straight swap, saves buying a new fork.

After my similar post on Friday I emailed Greg @ Turner bikes about doing the same on a 650b Burner his reply was:

OK, odd question for you and I'm sure you won't recommend
me doing it, but I'm looking to upgrade my current 2010 5 Spot and get a new
5 Spot or possibly a Burner. My question is if I don't have the cash to
upgrade my forks and wheels immediately can I use my 160mm FOX forks and 26"
wheels on a burner frame without it riding like a pig? I thought if I put
large volume tires on it it might be OK, what's your stance on it?

Hi Paul,
With the longer fork and some big tires you should be fine running 26" until
you can get the 27.5ers.
Thank you for your support of Turner bikes.

Greg

So there you go, straight from the horses mouth!

Emailed SC and this is there stance.

'Hi,
Not compatible. There will be BB height and potential fork clearance
issues.
Make sure you run the correct 27.5" fork and Wheels.
Thanks for your interest in Santa Cruz, and let me know if you have any
other questions.'

I'm going to stick with Greg's answer!

disconoir - Turners answer seems logical.

jimjam - Member
Brian Lopes ran an Ibis Mojo HDR 650b with 26" wheels at the recent Air DH race in Whistler. Accordingly to lopes this was to lower the bb in order to improve cornering and jumping.

HRD is a 26" bike anyhow, the 650 compatibility is just a bodge to the frame.

Yeah not sure what the fork clearance issues would be on a Bronson, any idea?

So bike companies all decide to go 27.5.
We all known it's to sell frames, wheels,tyres and forks. Nothing really to do with if it's better or not. It's a financial thing.
They put R&D into the new size so need to recoup their costs.
I cannot see them validating any warranty should you brake the bike using wheels that are the incorrect size. No matter what the email from Turner says.

zelak999 - Member
Emailed SC and this is there stance.

'Hi,
Not compatible. There will be BB height and potential fork clearance
issues.

Fork clearance issues using a 26" wheel on a 26" fork? I suspect it'll be just fine.

There will be BB height and potential [s]fork clearance[/s] loss of fork wheel sales issues.

smaller wheels means more Clarence for forks surely? Bb height as stated above. ... 12.5 mm.... I'll take a ruler and measure the next log before I try to roll over it.

But my biggest worry is this. ..

Bet it'll explode in a ball of confused niche-ness

But I was thinking more of a implosion and could maybe create wormholes on the trails and riders following you could get trapped in a parallel universe. So think about others first op. 😀

IIRC the LT's gone from Santa Cruz' website, which implies it's out of production. Only the new TR on there.

It does beg the question that if every manufacturer starts following suit and only makes 27.5 or 29 frames, what do all the 26er's do if they can't afford a complete build?

If most manufacturers have gone 650b there will be a profitable niche to fill selling 26" frames. Nothing to worry about.

Also been considering the same

Thought the reply from SC was a bit weird.
There will be no clearance issues using a 26 fork with 26 wheels.
The worst I can imagine is the 12.5mm lower BB 'issues' and possible issues with the geometry not being quite what SC intended with the Bronson?

Axle to crown on a Float 36 160 26" is 17.4mm less than A-C on the standard Float 34 150 650b. 650b wheel is 12.5mm larger radius. So your front end will be 5mm higher than stock. Your back end will be 12.5mm lower than stock. That means your BB height will be about 7mm lower than stock.

Suspension set-up, tyre profile and tyre pressure variations are enough to make that lower BB height almost irrelevant. Big tyres and a little less sag than normal and you're back at the stock BB height.

also with 26" wheels you'll have the ability to turn to pick 23% better lines, rather than tramlining that you'll certainly get with 27.5" wagon wheels 🙂

chiefgrooveguru - Member
Axle to crown on a Float 36 160 26" is 17.4mm less than A-C on the standard Float 34 150 650b.

Do you mean 17.4 mm more? or am I being crap at maths...

But will the 0.3% fasterness documented by Nico still be experienced or not?

I don't know if I'd take the risk, personally.

[i]I can't afford new frame forks and wheels so thought I might be able to push the credit card (and my luck with the other half) to buying the frame and sticking my 26'' wheels and forks on for the foreseeable.[/i]

Since you can 'afford' to do neither, wait until you can and then buy all in one go?

I cannot believe that jungle haven't reduced the blur ltc. SC have been blowing them out at massively reduced costs; a clear indication that its to be discontinued. Then again, it is jungle we're talking about. I do like SC bikes but if I can't get one from abroad, I'll be buying something else next time.

http://shop.santacruzbicycles.com/sale/frames/blur-lt-2-with-float-ctd-bv-adjust-kash-1391.html

blimey, they're flogging the outgoing heckler frames for £350 with shock

that's almost like getting a free frame with your shock in UK terms

Bronson
[img] [/img]

Bronson 26'er
[img] [/img]

Bronson comp
[img] [/img]

Do you mean 17.4 mm more? or am I being crap at maths...

Sorry, yes 17.4mm more!

Bronson 26'er

Is that a photoshop job?

Bronson 26'er

Is that a photoshop job?

yes. I had a spare 5 minutes.

I cannot believe that jungle haven't reduced the blur ltc. SC have been blowing them out at massively reduced costs; a clear indication that its to be discontinued. Then again, it is jungle we're talking about. I do like SC bikes but if I can't get one from abroad, I'll be buying something else next time.

Every time I do the maths including import duty and VAT the UK prices are within £200 of the US one which I would be happy to pay for UK support.

yes. I had a spare 5 minutes.

So it's not Jungle but SC.

Did you click the link? SC are selling the frames for $1500!

The only reason I knew it was gone was I was checking something on the US site and couldn't find it. - Nothing stops you asking for a discount. Why would anyone advertise cheaper if people are still buying full price, not like it's suddenly a crap frame.

Sold!

Bronson 26" it is then. *saves pennies*

However if I do buy a 27.5" frame I will be helping manufacturers prove their popularity 😐 🙄

Sold!

Bronson 26" it is then. *saves pennies*

and you get mud clearance for free!

Why would anyone advertise cheaper if people are still buying full price, not like it's suddenly a crap frame.

I completely agree (I own one and love it dearly), but it doesn't stop bikes being blown out just for being last years colour. The LTc is now an old model and doesn't even appear on the SC website as you said.

Sheep, the lot of you

For wanting a really nice bike/frame without daft wheel sizes and wanting to keep and use as much kit that I have already?

In that case; Baaaa

I emailed Stif about availabilty today and got this reply:

'The Bronson has been our best selling bike this summer! Santa Cruz's
combination of 650b wheelsize, 150mm travel, stiff carbon frame and VPP suspension has made one hell of capable bike, that is perfect for UK riders.
There was a pretty hefty lead time on the frames due to its popularity but we are getting it down to around 8-10 weeks now.
I know this is a bit of a wait but believe me, for a bike of this quality
its well worth it! You'll need to get your name down as quickly as possible
to hold this lead time. We've got lots of these frames pre-ordered so your
most likely to get one quickest from us!'

More 650b propaganda or maybe just a popular sought after bike???
Baaaaaaaa

I'd have a Bronson in a second - lovely looking bike with sorted geometry.

But and it's a massive but!

It's over £2800 for a frickin' frame once you factor in the upgraded kashima shock that doesn't come as standard!!!

Where do they get the prices from and what normal person can afford to pay nearly £3k for a frame......

The ally frame is sorted too £1799 for a frame and non kashima shock is pretty average for a decent frame these days.

So over £2k with the kashima shock for a full alloy frame - is still top end.

That's the same price as a Nicolai which people always cite as being mega bucks.

Greeble - re. photoshoppery

Did you scale the "26" wheels down based on the numbers 26 and 27.5? If so I think your images will have overestimated the difference as 650b is not actually 27.5 in real life. In your images the difference in wheel size looks a lot bigger than other 26,27.5,29 comparison images I've seen. I'm probably over analysing your bit of fun to be honest!

So over £2k with the kashima shock for a full alloy frame - is still top end.

That's the same price as a Nicolai which people always cite as being mega bucks.

He's right you know.

Rik - Member
So over £2k with the kashima shock for a full alloy frame - is still top end.

That's the same price as a Nicolai which people always cite as being mega bucks.

Nicolais are much nicer though

I'd still have the Bronson personally. I likes VPP.

£1799 for a frame and non kashima shock is pretty average for a decent frame these days.

£1,300 to £1,500 for an alu frame with kashima shock is more like average innit?

Not that I'm bothered about the Kashima bit anyway, but others seem to be.

I'm with wrecker

£1,300 to £1,500 for an alu frame with kashima shock is more like average innit?

SB66 = £2000
Tracer 275 = £1800
Turner Burner = £1895
SC Bronson alu = £2020
Nicolai ION 16 (no shock = £1995

I don't think breaking the £2000 barrier for an alu frame is a good idea.

You've just picked all the overpriced brands though!

😉

(apart from Turner and Nicolai whose warranties [i]might[/i] justify it)

An orange 5 is £1700 with kashima!!!

Greeble - re. photoshoppery

Did you scale the "26" wheels down based on the numbers 26 and 27.5? If so I think your images will have overestimated the difference as 650b is not actually 27.5 in real life. In your images the difference in wheel size looks a lot bigger than other 26,27.5,29 comparison images I've seen. I'm probably over analysing your bit of fun to be honest!

@timmys

no, no scaling involved. overlayed the 26" nomad over the bronson and made sure the components such as seatpost, saddle, cranks etc were all the same size which they were. I just used the nomad's wheels and fork. and moved the frame relative to how the wheels sit

no, no scaling involved. overlayed the 26" nomad over the bronson and made sure the components such as seatpost, saddle, cranks etc were all the same size which they were. I just used the nomad's wheels and fork. and moved the frame relative to how the wheels sit

ah! clever 🙂

An orange 5 is £1700 with kashima!!!

Orange are probably not the best example of reasonable pricing.

If I wanted a frame-only I'd be looking at Nukeproof, Cotic, Mondraker - but I will grant you that prices seem to have gone up £100 or £200 since I was last shopping a year or so back.

Orange are probably not the best example of reasonable pricing.

From what I can see above the 5 frame price seems to be less then the others quoted, even with Kashima.

SB66 = £2000
Tracer 275 = £1800
Turner Burner = £1895
SC Bronson alu = £2020
Nicolai ION 16 (no shock = £1995

Don't let that get in the way of the often mentioned STW 'fact' that the 5 is way over priced.

I emailed Stif about availabilty today and got this reply:

'The Bronson has been our best selling bike this summer! Santa Cruz's
combination of 650b wheelsize, 150mm travel, stiff carbon frame and VPP suspension has made one hell of capable bike, that is perfect for UK riders.
There was a pretty hefty lead time on the frames due to its popularity but we are getting it down to around 8-10 weeks now.
I know this is a bit of a wait but believe me, for a bike of this quality
its well worth it! You'll need to get your name down as quickly as possible
to hold this lead time. We've got lots of these frames pre-ordered so your
most likely to get one quickest from us!'

Was talking to a chap at Stif about the whole 650b/29er/26er nonsense the other week. He said he'd not been sure but after riding the Bronson he was sold. Said it wasn't defo because of the wheel size, more that it's a very well sorted bike.

From what I can see above the 5 frame price seems to be less then the others quoted, even with Kashima.

Don't let that get in the way of the often mentioned STW 'fact' that the 5 is way over priced.

It's just the least overpriced out of those lot.

😀

It's just the least overpriced out of those lot.

Perhaps less least overpriced when you account for the lack of import duty and customs fees. That said, I imagine the going rate for welders in Halifax is higher than in Taipei. Though tat is an assumption. The only Taiwanese people I've met seem to be doing ok.

I have to ask, what happens if the 26" wheels and forks ruin the ride of the Bronson? What if it really is all about the wheels?

Perhaps less least overpriced when you account for the lack of import duty and customs fees.

From what I can see above the 5 frame price seems to be less then the others quoted, even with Kashima.

I have to ask, what happens if the 26" wheels and forks ruin the ride of the Bronson? What if it really is all about the wheels?

It's like my thoughts on putting a 26 on the rear of a tallboy ltc and a 650 up front with the fork length tweaked to match. Knowing that the bb height would be fairly low I would still love to try it.

Riding a fully rigid pace with a bb height of around 11 inches will have no doubt got me sorted re: the rock clearance problem that awaits.. but going back a bit, what if it turns out the 26 inch wheel feels better on the bronson? LOL (sorry, I hate the use of LOL but I had to)

Did you ended up doing this OP? Would be interested in the results?