Worth going to 29er?

[Name cant be blank]

Hi all,

 

I have a Silverback Nebraska(26") with what I would consider descent specs:

XT wheels

XT derailers

SLX shifters

Deore brakes

100mm air shock

 

My question, is there enough benefit in selling the bike and "upgrading" to a 29er with a bit less spec?

Say for example if the shifters was Alivio.

 

I ride the bike and enjoy it, but some part of it is my riding buddies all roll on 29ers.

 

Type of riding we do is Bottelary Hills.

[Starchboy]

I ride a 650b, also mainly at Bottleray hills. Anybody on a 26er there is, for me, the coolest person on the trail (but probably not the fastest).

[Hairy]

Hi all,

 

I have a Silverback Nebraska(26") with what I would consider descent specs:

XT wheels

XT derailers

SLX shifters

Deore brakes

100mm air shock

 

My question, is there enough benefit in selling the bike and "upgrading" to a 29er with a bit less spec?

Say for example if the shifters was Alivio.

 

I ride the bike and enjoy it, but some part of it is my riding buddies all roll on 29ers.

 

Type of riding we do is Bottelary Hills.

another way to approach this is to keep your components and sell your frame, fork and wheels .... these you replace with the 29'er variant.

 

on a HT for general riding I recon a 29'er trumps beats a 26'er, but this all boils down to how often you ride, is this a grudge purchase having to scrape together the cash...or requires intensive debating with your significant other 

 

if you ride once a week, enjoy your bike and the above applies to you ... then rather take that upgrade cash and keep it for a rainy day while you enjoy your 26'er that you have

[openmind]

Don't sell the bike, you'll get nothing for it. 

 

You could look for a 29er frame, fork and wheels and then build the other parts over from your 26er. Then as your budget allows, replace the parts on the 29er as they wear and once that's done use the 26er as a 2nd bike/commuter.

 

Also, publish your build with pics on the hub - you'll be surprised at generous hub land can be if you're missing that one part to complete your build

[Skubarra]

29er bike with a "bit less spec" will beat the 26er every day of the week - and you can upgrade the 29er over time.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

another way to approach this is to keep your components and sell your frame, fork and wheels .... these you replace with the 29'er variant.

 

on a HT for general riding I recon a 29'er trumps beats a 26'er, but this all boils down to how often you ride, is this a grudge purchase having to scrape together the cash...or requires intensive debating with your significant other 

 

if you ride once a week, enjoy your bike and the above applies to you ... then rather take that upgrade cash and keep it for a rainy day while you enjoy your 26'er that you have

 

THIS

 

 

Don't sell the bike, you'll get nothing for it. 

 

You could look for a 29er frame, fork and wheels and then build the other parts over from your 26er. Then as your budget allows, replace the parts on the 29er as they wear and once that's done use the 26er as a 2nd bike/commuter.

 

Also, publish your build with pics on the hub - you'll be surprised at generous hub land can be if you're missing that one part to complete your build

And THIS

[TSF]

I have noticed that when a bike stands in the garage a 26er and a 29er run at the same speed.  However when different engines climb on them the bikes go faster or slower depending on the engine.  I have taken hours off race times by getting trained/coached and following a program ie engine upgrade.  Yes we can all debate whether a wheel size makes you faster or slower however both bike don't go anywhere fast or slow without you on it.

 

The best bike is the one you own, have and ride.  If you love it, keep it and don't let anyone tell you otherwise,  nothing more satisfying than drilling someone who think you should be "slow".

[Patensie]

Test ride one of your buddies' bikes and then decide if its worthwhile.

 

Side note:

I've been held up by quite a few full-sus naainers down Gspot while riding my Inbred 26er (once even with a star seat & kid on the toptube. Was priceless when my then 3 1/2 year old laaitie shouted, "Sopas oom! Pappa ry rof".) HOWEVER: I do prefer riding my 650b trail bike - much more forgiving and confidence inspiring due to more relaxed geometry and proper suspension (Pike vs old Sid on the Inbred).

[Mojoman]

I went from a 26in to a 29in recently....Would I change back? No. It is (or feels!) a bit quicker, you do roll over things a bit better and it is easier to find tyres...My 26in bike needed quite a few new things and at the end of the day it just seemed to make economic sense to buy a new 29er. My only moan is that it does sometimes feel a bit 'wobbly' when going up a technical bit of uphill, perhaps that is the length of my bars through as they are quite long so small adjustments on steering seem to transfer into big movement on the wheel.

 

I got the Momsen AL129 which isn't a bad buy for an entry level 29er. Will save for a new fork and that bike will keep me happy for another 5 or more years...

 

I still have my 26in bike, I bought some 27.5 rims last year and will look for a frame and fork over time and then transfer parts across.

 

[Long Wheel Base]

N+1 = Win Win. I have both, will never get rid of my 26inch, love that old GT. It's so much fun to ride. Granted I only commute on it now but its still fun to ride. I would however never race it. I used to obviously race my 26inch before getting the 29er but for the type of events I do the 29er is better. My toppie has a 650b anthem, Now that is a lekker bike. Would love a 650b DS, given the choice I would take that over a 29er but 650b wasn't available when I got my 29er and I don't have the zar to buy one now and I don't sell a bike to buy another one. N+1

[Shebeen]

29er bike with a "bit less spec" will beat the 26er every day of the week - and you can upgrade the 29er over time.

That is such a broad statement, and is not true.

 

an alivio level 29er vs a XT 26er could well probably be about 2/3 kgs difference.

and he has XT wheels, which are decent.

 

I think the real question is how old is your Nabraska, 10+ years? probably time for a new bike anyway

[Slowbee]

ag no man, not this again.

 

i was just starting to make peace with keeping my 26er ......

[Slowbee]

That is such a broad statement, and is not true.

 

an alivio level 29er vs a XT 26er could well probably be about 2/3 kgs difference.

and he has XT wheels, which are decent.

 

I think the real question is how old is your Nabraska, 10+ years? probably time for a new bike anyway

so my titus is about 11 yrs old ... do you think it needs to be replaced ?

 

*the original crow owner, has gone through more bikes in that time than the age of the bike AND he is almost a road convert*

[Skubarra]

That is such a broad statement, and is not true.

 

an alivio level 29er vs a XT 26er could well probably be about 2/3 kgs difference.

and he has XT wheels, which are decent.

 

I think the real question is how old is your Nabraska, 10+ years? probably time for a new bike anyway

 

Well yes its a very broad statement, but the question is "a bit less spec" not "a massive difference in specs"

 

In my (biased personal) experience shedding weight from your bike makes a marginal difference, changing wheel size had a massive impact on my riding experience.

 

My biggest cycling regret to date was following the general bikehub advice back in 2012 when I was told choose 26er with better specs over "similar priced" 29er with lesser specs.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

so my titus is about 11 yrs old ... do you think it needs to be replaced ?

 

*the original crow owner, has gone through more bikes in that time than the age of the bike AND he is almost a road convert*

Don't say that....... jinne

[Slowbee]

Don't say that....... jinne

ALMOST ! and he is selling ... so who knows what is next ..... I reckon it is going to be gravel grinding esels