Are 650b and 29er that much better than 26er or not really ??

mikewsmith – Member
Swapped my 10yr old(gave to son)Kona Dawg for a RM Altitude(cheap one!)and there is definitely a difference

I’d hope so, I remember demoing one of those dawgs back then and I was less than impressed then, stuff moves on in 10 year shocker

I demoed numerous bikes before finding the Kona, Orange, Specialized, Trek, Cove and RM. For me at that time the Kona was the best 😆

Can’t see why it should be a “shocker” that the RM is better than a 10yr old bike, be a bit disappointed if it wasn’t.
The OP question is whether 650/29 is better than 26, didn’t specify any age of bike. Therefore imo I have found 650 to be better. Whether it is just the wheels or the overall package I am not qualified to comment. I just ride……
I have also tested 29er Treks and Orange 5/29 and prefer the RM.

Wheel size definately doesn’t make up for travel though does it – check out 1.12 to 1.18.

First bike is a 650b with 160mm of travel, 2nd is 650b with 140 front 125 rear, second is 29er with 110mm on the rear.

Is it me or does the 29er looks no where near as composed?

I think it looks composed enough, but it is noticeably that it disappears as soon as they do anything “big” then pops up again as the trail gets easier. Could just be marketing though.

What sort of differences do the 650b wheels make do you think?

Same as the 700c wheels.

There are some things in engineering where there is a step change in behaviour, like the Reynolds transition from laminar to turbulent flow, or subsonic to supersonic speed, but the handling of a bike due to its wheel size is not one of those things.

Wheel size linearly affects angle of attack, shape of contact patch, rotational inertia and trail (distance between projected steering axis and centre of contact patch). Assuming identical tyre profiles then 27.5 is a bit more like 26 than like 29 but it definitely feels different to either.

The other factor is bottom bracket vs axle height. Bottom bracket rise causes inherent instability whilst BB drop gives stability). 29ers always have significant drop. 26ers with BB above ~345mm have rise. 27.5 always have some drop. This difference can make 27.5 feel more like 29 than 26.

I think it looks composed enough, but it is noticeably that it disappears as soon as they do anything “big” then pops up again as the trail gets easier. Could just be marketing though.

Personally and I know it’s totally subjective but I think it’s quite obvious, the rider seems to be getting more feedback and both the front and rear seem to hang up on one of the square edged hits more.

Most likely just my imagination.

I’d love to see some repeated high speed camera footage of similar specced bikes with different wheel sizes/travel being ridden by a rider back to back through various sections.

Can’t see why it should be a “shocker” that the RM is better than a 10yr old bike, be a bit disappointed if it wasn’t.

Sarcasm

My experience of owning a FS 29er, and riding loads of others, is that you have to spend a fair whack of cash in order to dial out the 29er ‘feeling’ and make the best of the advantages. There’s no getting away from the fact that big wheels are heavier, longer forks are flexier etc etc. Also depends on whether you judge a bike on pure speed. Of course a 29er will be fawster on bumpy flat ground. Of course a long travel 29er will plough through DH chunder better than the same travel bike with shorter wheels. I jumped on a mates Banshee Prime once and went straight into some ‘gnar’ and I didn’t even have to think about line choice. Pretty boring really. None of this makes me want to own another 29er though. Might as well just drive a car 😉

mikewsmith – Member
Can’t see why it should be a “shocker” that the RM is better than a 10yr old bike, be a bit disappointed if it wasn’t.

Sarcasm

Lost on a grumpy auld bloke like me 😉

i thought it was 2015 now, why are we arguing about the same things we were in 2013?

the people who have never ridden the wheel size still hate it.

the people who don’t want to ride anything but 26″ still hate the other sizes

the early adopters of 29/27.5″ are still desperately defending their choice

there’s only one way to tell and that’s to ride all the choices and decide for yourself

It is 2015, and yet you keep adding to these threads.

You can’t complain about the repeating conversation when you seem to enjoy stirring with the same old stick yourself.

It is 2015, and yet you keep adding to these threads.

You can’t complain about the repeating conversation when you seem to enjoy stirring with the same old stick yourself.

i thought it was 2015 now, why are we arguing about the same things we were in 2013?

looks like a question followed by a statement to me?

but thanks for caring 😆 i honestly thought no one took any notice of what i post

At the velodrome pump track there’s a drop off that you need to manual off. Otherwise you’ll faceplant. I watched a 29’er roll it easily.

The 29’er may make it easier but do you really want such a talent compensator? Where’s the fun if it irons out a rough terrain?

I take it you ride a rigid bike with canti brakes then…

The 29’er may make it easier but do you really want such a talent compensator? Where’s the fun if it irons out a rough terrain?

Bigger wheels, but less suspension travel = faster on the dull bits, similar on the singletrack and still challenging on the rough stuff.

Like Renton, you really need to try it before you can form a worthwhile opinion.

Got to echo the sentiments of getting out there and trying different wheels sizes, types of bike, etc.

For me, personally I like big wheels. The ones I’ve ridden just feel ‘right’ to me. Hence my ‘go to’ bike is a steel 29er ht.

I think…
Well, like renton, I have a pretty old 26″ wheel bike. But I flippin love riding it. Don’t care what size the damn wheels are, it’s fab and fun and makes me come alive.
Now, if I didn’t love that ol’ bike and was therefore looking to change it, I would most definitely demo some 29/650b bikes because that is what the bigwigs are selling us now and it’s not that easy to find a 26″ wheel bike equivalent to my current one.
And I would choose the one I like the most. That has worked for me in the past. (Which sort of puts my POV out because if it hadn’t I wouldn’t still love my old bike. Hmm.)

As many have said, the only way to know is to test some. I was a 29er skeptic until I rode a one and was amazed by the amount of grip and the momentum I could hold out of corners. I didn’t like the high (perched on) position on that bike though so I rode a few more until I found one that I felt totally at home on and bought it. I’m only 5ft 7 so I wouldn’t say that 29ers are exclusive to tall people. I wouldn’t go back to 26″ now, though I’d be interested to try 650b.

Ride a 26 HT and a 650b FS…have tried 29er version of each and while i wont deny the benefits of longer wheels (particularly in a race scenario) i just havent fund a 29er yet that has made me want to part with my cash.

For general riding around the woods i take the 26 HT as it feels lively and i have to think/concentrate more, for racing i use the 650b FS as i have more of a margin for error with that bike….i’m well aware that as a very average rider i’d probably be faster on a Spesh Enduro 29er or something similar but whenever i ride something like that i’m left feeling like a passenger, like the bike just did all the work and i merely steered it….some people love that about 29ers, i dont.

rOcKeTdOg – Member

the people who have never ridden the wheel size still hate it.

Practically nobody hates the wheelsize. What is there to hate, it’s a perfectly good wheelsize, at least as good as 26. It’s all the other bollocks people hate.

It’s all the other bollocks people hate.

Like the endless threads about the subject? 😉

I refuse to contribute to this thread. And I definitely haven’t read it.

Has anyone mentioned 29+? 😀

DezB – Member

Like the endless threads about the subject?

I find myself with no comeback 😆

What sort of differences do the 650b wheels make do you think?

Well, having had a decent go on pretty much the same bike in all three sizes I can confirm that compared to the 26″ version the 650b was considerably smoother and faster rolling. It didn’t get as bogged down by rough ground, roots etc. To be honest I feel at the moment that the 650b was a bit of a compromise between the two others rather then the best bits of both. I’d have one over a 26″ but would choose a 29″ over both for now.

What ever your view of the pro’s and con’s, the different sizes are properly different.

Has anyone mentioned 29+?

Now’s your moment.

While shopping for a replacement for my pinched 26er I test rode lots of bikes and ended up with a 29er. I really didn’t want one but the proof of the pudding was in the riding. Made sense for most of my riding and I’m a lanky fella.

Hora is right that 29ers can make certain trails easier to ride, but you can still jump, manual and pop off drops. I know that drop off at Clayton Vale and yes it can be rolled but where’s the fun in that? Just because you own a 29er doesn’t mean you stop having fun. Biggest improvement for me was I suddenly felt I had a bike that fitted me properly, which gave me the confidence to try new things and go faster.

Boring answer but try some bikes and pick the one you like and suits your riding.

One of the best things about 29ers in my opinion is the way they are always trying to get away from you on not too gnarly downs and swoopy berms. Like a naughty dog straining at the lead.

Pop abit of WD40 accidently on your pads and you can recreate that feeling on ANY bike 😆

A road bike is the bike half of mountain bikers actually need.

no, that would be a Kinesis Tripster ATR with Salsa Cowbell bars and 40c tyres…