Converting a 26" to a 650B

[Dr Snuggles]

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

 

Action Cycling, Revolution Cycles to name a few. but those two definitely can supply.

[edkin]

Have you had any experience with the mud factor and the tight clearances?

[edkin]

Been riding the bike for about a month now and I thought I'd give some more feedback on my experiences.

 

1) The bike is slightly higher off the ground so I'm not hitting the bottom of the bike on big rocks any more.

2) The gear ratios have changed slightly. On flat ground, the bike has got "longer legs". i.e. I'm not spinning out in my quest to keep up with the 29'ers. However, on climbs I'm finding that I'm tending towards my small ring whereas before I was comfortable in my middle ring.

3) Because of the larger wheel and the gyroscopic effect, the wheel needs a larger turning circle. As a result, I need to take a different line then what I would normally have taken with a 26" wheel. Sometimes this can be an advantage, sometimes a disadvantage.

 

IMHO the effects of a change to 650B aren't as profound as a 29'er but satisfying none the less. I'm glad I made the change

[shaper]

Been riding the bike for about a month now and I thought I'd give some more feedback on my experiences.

 

1) The bike is slightly higher off the ground so I'm not hitting the bottom of the bike on big rocks any more.

2) The gear ratios have changed slightly. On flat ground, the bike has got "longer legs". i.e. I'm not spinning out in my quest to keep up with the 29'ers. However, on climbs I'm finding that I'm tending towards my small ring whereas before I was comfortable in my middle ring.

3) Because of the larger wheel and the gyroscopic effect, the wheel needs a larger turning circle. As a result, I need to take a different line then what I would normally have taken with a 26" wheel. Sometimes this can be an advantage, sometimes a disadvantage.

 

IMHO the effects of a change to 650B aren't as profound as a 29'er but satisfying none the less. I'm glad I made the change

 

Have been riding my On one Inbred converted to a 650B for 3 weeks now and have to agree with the gear ratio change which was unexpected and am using bigger gears on the flat than when was a 26er. Have not found the need to change down on the hills and am still using the same ratios as i was when was a 26er. The added ground clearance I like! Mud factor not an issue as have plenty of clearance!

[edkin]

I've been riding my conversion for about a year and still enjoying the experience. Would like to know if any of the other convertees had any experiences that they could share with the community.

[kosmonooit]

I've been riding my conversion for about a year and still enjoying the experience. Would like to know if any of the other convertees had any experiences that they could share with the community.

 

Yes, def. love my Scalpel 650b and the Flash. I keep the Scalpel for the mountains, it really flies down hill and climbs a treat, and use my Flash for flatland events, like Dirtmax etc

 

My only problem has been tyres, will be moving away from Schwalbes next time around, and the choices are improving..

[NotSoBigBen]

I own 'quite a few' bikes covering all wheel sizes and configurations and if I had to keep just one I'd keep my 26" Specialized Epic Comp that I converted to 650B

[jules1976]

hi GUys

 

looking at converting my bike to the 650b not sure if i can do this with my current frame.

 

Currently on a Raleigh RDS 9.0

 

most likely need to change the front shock

 

please kindly advise what else i would need to change if rear tyre has sufficient clearance

[davetapson]

Hmmm. Conversion...

 

Problem is that I have a Revelation fork.

 

Is it worth buying a new fork to do the conversion..?

[Flowta]

hi GUys

 

looking at converting my bike to the 650b not sure if i can do this with my current frame.

 

Currently on a Raleigh RDS 9.0

 

most likely need to change the front shock

 

please kindly advise what else i would need to change if rear tyre has sufficient clearance

 

Also check clearance when rear shock is fully compressed. If there's interference then you might need to put in a bump stop to restrict the travel.

 

What fork do you have? Some will fit a 650B

[Dicky DQ]

I have not, and am not going to read anything, but here's the rub.

 

26" wheel with 2.0 tire has a circumference of 2154

26" wheel with 2.4 tire has a circumference of 2216

650B wheel with 2.0 tire has a circumference of 2216

 

So tire size has a huge impact. ho higher volume and get the same effect. Shows you how close 650B and 26 are.

[davetapson]

I hear the argument, but a 2" tyre rolls far easier than 2.4?

[Eugene]

I have not, and am not going to read anything, but here's the rub.

 

26" wheel with 2.0 tire has a circumference of 2154

26" wheel with 2.4 tire has a circumference of 2216

650B wheel with 2.0 tire has a circumference of 2216

 

So tire size has a huge impact. ho higher volume and get the same effect. Shows you how close 650B and 26 are.

What is the circumference of a 650b wheel with a 2.4 tyre?

[jules1976]

Also check clearance when rear shock is fully compressed. If there's interference then you might need to put in a bump stop to restrict the travel.

 

What fork do you have? Some will fit a 650B

 

i have an old Rock Shock fork its tired now ....not much clearance on it..

 

i will check the rear fork this evening.

 

any idea what the cost implications would be on the conversion ?

[Dicky DQ]

I hear the argument, but a 2" tyre rolls far easier than 2.4?

 

the point is people are hung up on what everyone else is riding so if 26 then 2 or 2.24 and the same on 650b. What I am getting at is you can get a similar wheelsize by just changing your tyres. and at the pressures most people are running the width is going to have a minimal impact as they are mostly running way had pressures so the footprint is small anyway.

 

For me the 26" bike is a jol on the single track, and the 29er the same on the highways. horses for courses. but I don't really see the cost value proposition going 650b.

[Rata Del Spruit]

the point is people are hung up on what everyone else is riding so if 26 then 2 or 2.24 and the same on 650b. What I am getting at is you can get a similar wheelsize by just changing your tyres. and at the pressures most people are running the width is going to have a minimal impact as they are mostly running way had pressures so the footprint is small anyway.

 

For me the 26" bike is a jol on the single track, and the 29er the same on the highways. horses for courses. but I don't really see the cost value proposition going 650b.

 

It's a good point, Peach runs pretty high volume tyres on his 26" enduro bike and noticed at the Giba race that they were a greater diameter than the 650B that was parked next to him.