What 650b trail bike?

So, I really want a Blur TRA, however I’m having a bit of an issue with the price (with decent shock nigh on 2k). I’m also thinking that being long of leg, a 650b might be an option.

I know that Cube do a few (as on the front page) and Norco have one – are there any others?

Turner Burner?

Nicolai, I know a Pinion (gearbox) 650 has arrived in this country 😉

Intense Tracer 275? A mate of mine tried one at Cwmcarn on Sunday and was pretty impressed….

My LBS has a Scott in the window. It’s the first bike in a while that’s made me stop and think “ooh, that’s nice” . Took a minute to realise it was 650b. I was surprised at how “cheap” it actually was too.

http://www.scott-sports.com/global/en/products/227721008/bike-genius-740-l/

Mackem, Dirt slated the suspension units on that one I think.

Ha, typical, looked nice though.

Yep they do look nice.

Hmm, did have a look at the tracer and it does look very nice. I’ve had a turner before and for some reason just didn’t gel with it (5-spot). Always felt a little bit dull, but it was ancient (05) and things might have improved…

Is it just me or has every recent Scott review been along the lines of “This’d be absolutely brilliant if it had proper suspension in it?” (see also: Trek DRCV)

Northwind, that is the general feeling I get too, however it really depends on the rider, some of the guys testing them would place pretty well at National races, so will be riding harder and faster than your average rider so I reckon that needs to be taken into account.

My Mojo is 650b 8)

Nicolai Helius AC 650b Clicky

Take delivery of my Cube 650b tomorrow so I will let you know!

Banshee Rune or Black market Bikes Roam.

I am very impressed with my 650b,|seems very playfull and seems to have more grip..

Only 65 miles on it so far..

I have the same bike in 26″ wheels aswell,so have been riding both.

Saracen Zen 🙂
Lovely bikes, I’d have one like a shot.

http://www.saracen.co.uk/bikes/trail/zen

Looking forward to pulling some skids on it when I visit next month Sam 😉

Banshee spitfire will take 650’s with a dropout change.

Loco— Bring some tyres with you then…

Schwalbe’s are expensive to skid on..lol

KTM Lycan?

Saracen Zen

Also the new Kili Flyer is 650b, 120mm rear travel IIRC and looks lovely.

Now that Saracen is very nice. 😯

Also the new Kili Flyer is 650b, 120mm rear travel IIRC and looks lovely.

It does indeed! Was looking at one in my LBS at the weekend. Lovely looking bike!

How much is that kili flyer?
The posh cube is 160mm, talas fox 34 and weighs 23lb!

Personally I’d probably wait a year or so though, see how things go.

I can’t really see the point of in betweeners 650…..?

Either you get the whole benefit of 29″ or you don’t….?

Depends on how much reaming you want to do I suppose.

Intense 275:

No idea of price, probably double your budget, but worth a drool……..

Depends on how much reaming you want to do I suppose.

*REPORTED*

😉

Oh ojom, I’m so hurt … 😯

Baring in mind the aesthetic impact on buying decisions I recon 650 will do just fine. 29″ look downright wrong much of the time and to my mind has had the knock on effect of making 26″ look small, 650b on the whole looks, well ‘right’ to me. We’ll argue pointlessly about which is best of course but if you want to buy a pretty bike then 650 looks a winner.

Such as…

^^^^^^ that’s nice.

+1 for the KTM Lycan too.

I don’t suppose 100mm is ‘appropriate’ for being Trail?? If it were, then look closely at the soon to be released Morewood Zula. Given that I’m a mere 150ilbs, I’m reckoning that 4″ travel will continue to serve me very well on pretty much any trail I care to ride.

Mid/late March apparently!

Just had first ride on Cube Stereo Race 50b and it was superb…umm that’s about all I have to say

My 650b Nicolai

ride some bikes find one you like and then look at the wheel size.

This one is apparently floating around on the North Shore underneath a Rocky Mountain staffer.

I was going to go for the bargain version (the Altitude 730 I think) but then unfortunately recovered my stolen Pitch 🙄

Norco sight Killer-B?

seen the RM 650’s and I’ll be giving one a go when I can prise it from the hands of the bike shop owner.

However we did a side by side with my heckler it was hard to see how much bigger the wheels were 26 with proper tyres on (not xc skinny things) is about 650….

mikewsmith: However we did a side by side with my heckler it was hard to see how much bigger the wheels were 26 with proper tyres on (not xc skinny things) is about 650….

I’ll reserve judgement until I’ve ridden some, but I can’t help thinking that, for all practical purposes, 650B is just 26″ with a fancy new name. A way for those who bought into 29ers to go back to smaller wheels without having to admit they were wrong. They aren’t going back, they are going forward to the next big thing. Those who stuck with 26″ can also “upgrade” to the latest hot trend without any of the nasty side effects of actually changing the wheel size significantly. So, everyone’s a winner 🙂