Converting a 26" to a 650B

[snoop01]

Just an update for any Interrested hubbers. I have been riding my new converted 650 quite a bit now and have tweaked angles, air pressures etc. I am loving the bike. It really is the best of both worlds. Now that I have a light carbon racey 650, I am thinking of converting my commencal 5.5 to a more trail type 650 with Joplin seat post etc.

 

Cheers

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Just an update for any Interrested hubbers. I have been riding my new converted 650 quite a bit now and have tweaked angles, air pressures etc. I am loving the bike. It really is the best of both worlds. Now that I have a light carbon racey 650, I am thinking of converting my commencal 5.5 to a more trail type 650 with Joplin seat post etc.

 

Cheers

 

NOOOOOOOOO!!! Reverb or KS. DO not TOUCH a Joplin! It WILL break.

[shaper]

Dude, you're buying your spoooks in the wrong place. I got 2 sets of DT Swiss Champion spokes for R 250. Landed. From CRC.

 

And if you're in the southern suburbs, take your wheel to Kurt at Magnet / Speedy Cycles in Wynberg. Does a fantastic job, and builds a wheel for just R 85. He also doesn't mind if you take your own parts in there. He just charges the labour.

 

As long as you know what size spokes you need and whether they are double butted, then is fine if you have the time and want to take the chance that you used the right calculator to size spoke lengths. Locally spokes will cost you R14-16/spoke. You sure on the labour cost?? My local LBS, Spokeworks and Yellow Saddle all quote around R400/wheel and am in JHB, so is bit far and expensive to get done in CPT.

 

And the price I quoted is if you do get built locally, including spokes, nipples, stans tape and valves and get all the materials locally and you just take your rims and hubs.

 

Is a correct figure to budget for unless you are building the wheels yourself and you are confident that you have a good spoke calculator and you know your spoke length measurements are correct.

[edkin]

I just had my first ride on my converted bike and initial impressions are mixed to be honest. I definitely have to work harder to get the wheels rolling which was to be expected I suppose. Rolling over obstacles was better as the bigger tyres handled it more comfortably.

Other than that I'm not sure. I'll have to ride it a bit more to get a real feel for it.

 

Watch this space

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

As long as you know what size spokes you need and whether they are double butted, then is fine if you have the time and want to take the chance that you used the right calculator to size spoke lengths. Locally spokes will cost you R14-16/spoke. You sure on the labour cost?? My local LBS, Spokeworks and Yellow Saddle all quote around R400/wheel and am in JHB, so is bit far and expensive to get done in CPT.

 

And the price I quoted is if you do get built locally, including spokes, nipples, stans tape and valves and get all the materials locally and you just take your rims and hubs.

 

Is a correct figure to budget for unless you are building the wheels yourself and you are confident that you have a good spoke calculator and you know your spoke length measurements are correct.

 

The spoke calculation bit is easy. I took the diameter of the rim, and the details of the hubs I'll be using, in order to calculate the spoke size. And I got it bang on. And dude, no way in hell am I going to pay R 15 per spoke. That's R 480 per wheel. Rip off of note.

 

And yes, I am sure of the labour cost. Average cost is approx R 200 per wheel to be built, but my LBS charges R 85 per wheel, and does a helluva good job of it too.

[awesme]

Question on wheel building for those in the know.

 

looking at the nipples, since they all basically black, whats the easiest way to confirm they are brass, or made from something else.

 

Hopefully there is a different option than taking knife to nipple and making cuts in it to see underlying brass colour (yellowish) metal or not?

 

G

[snoop01]

I am converting a second bike to a 650. This one will be more trail and I am looking for a slightly more robust wheel set than the Stan's - anyone got some suggestions

[Dr Snuggles]

I am converting a second bike to a 650. This one will be more trail and I am looking for a slightly more robust wheel set than the Stan's - anyone got some suggestions

 

Which Stans you referring to? THem Flow EXs are bad2daBone.

[kosmonooit]

Dude, you're buying your spoooks in the wrong place. I got 2 sets of DT Swiss Champion spokes for R 250. Landed. From CRC.

 

CRC didnt stock (my) 650b DT Swiss spokes lengths Mr Mayhem, and I didn't manage to find any in small quantities on-line. JB helped out , cut some to size for me, not DT Swiss but much of munchness. Splashed out on some black nipples form him as well (just the way I like 'em)

[LOUDMAC]

Don't listen to the bloody manufacturers.....IN SA.... 650 is all the rage out here in the US and Canada. The bike mags are recommending it and even giving advice from the manufacturers out here. SA are trying to miulk the cash cow.

I'm looking at the Rocky Mountain element for conversion, to bring it home.

[edkin]

Been riding my 650B conversion in George for the last week. Bliss. It's been great. No problems what so ever. It definitely has longer legs then the 26". The only unanswered question that remains is the mud factor on the tight clearances.

 

So far no regrets. Watch this space

[snoop01]

 

 

Which Stans you referring to? THem Flow EXs are bad2daBone.

 

Sorry dot know why I wrote Stan's. my existing 650 has Crest ZTR'S but I want t convert my commencal 5.5 to a more trail specific 650 with a reverb seat post etc. so basically not too concerned about weight but want a strong wheel set

[Dr Snuggles]

ZTR crests: from my preferred LBS, they come in taco'd on a frequent basis, and not because of some ultra gnar trail, just some meaty guy that turned his bars are too far at speed. Ultra light, but a tad dainty.

 

Flow EXs: heavier no doubt, but burly enough for even downhill fun. You can't go wrong. But by mid/end of next year, we should have a plethora of choices wrt 650b rims and tires.

[snoop01]

ZTR crests: from my preferred LBS, they come in taco'd on a frequent basis, and not because of some ultra gnar trail, just some meaty guy that turned his bars are too far at speed. Ultra light, but a tad dainty.

 

Flow EXs: heavier no doubt, but burly enough for even downhill fun. You can't go wrong. But by mid/end of next year, we should have a plethora of choices wrt 650b rims and tires.

 

Hi thanks for the info, do you sell Flow EXs or know where I can get hold of a wheel set?

[Vetseun]

Been riding my 650b Wilier for a while now. Loving it!

[RABUBI]

did a 3 day race in the karoo on mine after the conversion. very happy. cant wait to convert my spark 30.