Availability of 26er parts

[BaGearA]

i am looking to buy a 650b hartail bike but if i can't get the funds in time i may buy a similar 26er , however i am concerned with parts , tires, service kits ect. that may or may not becoming scarce.

 

So what i am asking is that anybody who still rides 26ers give me advice on how they get on when looking for parts ect.       and do you get them for a better price or same as 650b or 29er???

 

 

 

Thanks . Happy ridding .    #26aintdead 

[dirtrider]

Haven't had any issues so far . 

[Mada3400]

if you want tyres you're most likely going to have to order them online, same goes for rims.

 

everything else is the same...

[TheJ]

if you want tyres you're most likely going to have to order them online, same goes for rims.

 

everything else is the same...

 

This. 26er tyres are scarce. 29er tyres are virtually being given away, 26er tyres cost a premium.

[lerouc]

This. 26er tyres are scarce. 29er tyres are virtually being given away, 26er tyres cost a premium.

 

have you tried museums? 

[Thomo]

I have a set of like-new Crossmarks for anybody interested.

R6500 and includes a free Bianchi. 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/173291-bianchi-mutt/

[AlanD]

Rims, tyres and forks will be hard to come buy but can still be sourced.

[popcorn_skollie]

You learn to be resourceful. Its not everywhere. But they're around. Keep an eye on the classifieds even when you don't need stuff and anticipate things you probably going to need at some point. 

 

Gravity/trail type tyres are about the same price as 650b new. I have 3 x 26ers and I've sourced all my tyres locally and never needed to import. I've seen Onza, Schwalbe and Continental available locally online. A few Maxxis tyres in stores too

[T-Bob]

Not really a problem... Evo bikeshave been making an effort to keep stock as have a couple of others. Stoke Suspension have some great trail oriented rubber in CT. 

 

Other than that expensive wheels come up all the time for virtually nothing which is nice, forks are fine if you need one and everything is pretty much getable online over seas if you need it. 

[Baracuda]

While 26ers are not that prevalent here anymore, over 80% of the bikes going up the lift at Whistler during the first week this year were 26ers. In New Zealand last year, I saw half a dozen 29ers at Rotorua, quite a few 650b's and then hundreds of 26ers. They still very popular on those shores. I think one will be able to order tires and rims for quite some time to come.

 

Re: costs - just click the 26er box on chain reaction. They are either the same price or cheaper.

[Mada3400]

This. 26er tyres are scarce. 29er tyres are virtually being given away, 26er tyres cost a premium.

 

if youre buying new, off say easybike or evobikes, they cost the same.

[gogo@]

Still riding the "One And Only" (almost last century) 2001 model Trek.  Couple of years ago I sourced a brilliant set of custom-built wheels on Mavic rims from Chain Reaction Cycles at a good price.  Before that I upgraded the fork.  Now getting replacement drive-train bits from there too but only because they are too much cheaper than local (unfortunately).  And tyres, because, yes, there's a lot more choice there although I think if you really look you can get those here too.  I just live in a one-horse town with limited LBS options.  Absolutely no problem getting most spares locally - unless you're on V-brake rims and want to upgrade your fork (would need to change to disc front hub for that).  Upgrades to this bike were meant to turn it into a tourer, but... she likes the trails too much!!

[scotty]

I've found 26" forks the scarcest, last year i was looking to upgrade a mates coil to air fork. Wanted to buy new but no local LBS had stock so had to buy 2nd hand.  

[Edition 507]

26" is dead, nobody makes them anymore. Don't waste your money!

[Bub Marley]

I have a set of like-new Crossmarks for anybody interested.

R6500 and includes a free Bianchi. 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/173291-bianchi-mutt/

Where were you 6 months back when I was looking to buy?

[scotty]

26" is dead, nobody makes them anymore. Don't waste your money!

And that's how the fight started,