Does 650b have a future?

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I remember not long ago all the doomsday preachers saying you would not get 26er tyres, people were hoarding them up.

Guess what, they are still around.

You can have more than one size.

Imagine BMW saying they would only be making a 3 series from now onwards, all other models to cease with immediate effect.

 

I don't think the 650b is going anywhere.....

[Dirt Tracker]

Hairy your Poll doesn't allow for options like:

 

1) 700C

 

or ability to select two options like 27.5 and 29 at the same time

 

I was only really interested in the main 2 MTB wheels sizes as evolving standards and next bike choice was just a your next bike because it was a fun thing to find out and couldn't remember the right phrase for the 29r and the front and 650b at the back. 

[RocknRolla]

Someone is going to make you force-watch the Gillette ad nonstop for 24hours    

 

I have been chicked enough times on my bike to be able to say this without fear of retaliation.

 

For the less than secure males... all I can say, not everything is about the size of your wheels.. it's about how you handle your bike....

[Me rida my bicycle]

gravel is a growing segment.

More gravel bikes are being launched with a 650b wheel option thanks to beign able to accept wider tyres.

 

As for mtb, tried and IBIS RIpmo and holy crap what a beaut but damn its just a big ass bike. Its a bus actually. So hop on a Mojo HD and ..........Nirvana. More playful lighter. 

 

that Ripmo is long. bigger okes seem to like it though so 650b will always have a future if the manufacturers want to build bikes that people like.

PS: Also compared a Habit to a Scalpel. Habit was way more fun and just as fast.

there's a lot more factors than wheel size, anyone that knows me knows I have had 1 or 2 bikes and the most fun I have had was on a SC tallboy 2.

It all depends on the rider what you prefer how you ride ens. For example loads of guys love the Giant Reign which is an awesome trail bike but we never got along and for the last couple of months I have been riding HT's probably slower on the technical down but it's so much more exciting and less forgiving so your line choice needs to good.

My riding has improved and I just want to ride more and that's all its about doesn't matter the wheels size doesn't matter the frame get the bike that gets you riding more.

[CdT85]

gravel is a growing segment.

More gravel bikes are being launched with a 650b wheel option thanks to beign able to accept wider tyres.

 

As for mtb, tried and IBIS RIpmo and holy crap what a beaut but damn its just a big ass bike. Its a bus actually. So hop on a Mojo HD and ..........Nirvana. More playful lighter. 

 

that Ripmo is long. bigger okes seem to like it though so 650b will always have a future if the manufacturers want to build bikes that people like.

PS: Also compared a Habit to a Scalpel. Habit was way more fun and just as fast.

 

I'm loving m HD3. Will hang on to her as longs as I can. My riding partners kills me uphill on their 29'ers, but as soon as the route points downhill, the HD3 wit the smaller wheels shines.

 

Beginning to see the appeal of a 29er for marathon races, but the majority of my riding is for fun. And in my opinion 650B = fun

[DieselnDust]

there's a lot more factors than wheel size, anyone that knows me knows I have had 1 or 2 bikes and the most fun I have had was on a SC tallboy 2.

It all depends on the rider what you prefer how you ride ens. For example loads of guys love the Giant Reign which is an awesome trail bike but we never got along and for the last couple of months I have been riding HT's probably slower on the technical down but it's so much more exciting and less forgiving so your line choice needs to good.

My riding has improved and I just want to ride more and that's all its about doesn't matter the wheels size doesn't matter the frame get the bike that gets you riding more.

 

 

true.....

 

but, if the bikes too big too long or not nimble enough then that's going to affect your choice right?

I don't care about the wheel size. I care about fast and nimble so for me that's what I look for. I tend to end up with more 650b bikes Iike.

even amongst gravel bikes. Cannondale Slate is superb. Probably the best gravel bike I've slung my legs. Doesn't sell well because its not made of carbon. Most people don't even know its got 650b wheels

[BaGearA]

As long as there are XS riders in this world 650b will just have to be there , think about A XS 29er real quick .....just think about it 

 

 

 

 

.....and now give it 130mm rear travel , that BB is gona kiss the ground every 2 seconds 

[Matchstix]

If I win the lotto I am starting a new wheelsize

[Me rida my bicycle]

true.....

 

but, if the bikes too big too long or not nimble enough then that's going to affect your choice right?

I don't care about the wheel size. I care about fast and nimble so for me that's what I look for. I tend to end up with more 650b bikes Iike.

even amongst gravel bikes. Cannondale Slate is superb. Probably the best gravel bike I've slung my legs. Doesn't sell well because its not made of carbon. Most people don't even know its got 650b wheels

there's no wrong answer here this is the type of bike you like and it gets you riding more great.

I prefer longer bikes more stable at speed with the big wheels just rolls over things more easily.

That's the great thing about mountain biking there's endless choices to suit everybody. I don't think they will stop 650b because there's still a good market for it. The more diversity the better for everyone.

[Dirt Tracker]

there's no wrong answer here this is the type of bike you like and it gets you riding more great.

I prefer longer bikes more stable at speed with the big wheels just rolls over things more easily.

That's the great thing about mountain biking there's endless choices to suit everybody. I don't think they will stop 650b because there's still a good market for it. The more diversity the better for everyone.

 

Ah but there was an excellent market for 26rs. In fact it was the only market but the industry moved on. 

[SwissVan]

Recently ordered my first 29er

27.5 will fade into obscurity like my poor old 26”

 

But then, I supported LA and DJT and could be proven wrong again ????

[Jewbacca]

I'm going to say this. The right 29er can be nimble and fun.

 

A rubbish 650b bike can be slow and languid.

 

As things get longer and slacker without losing efficiency, as the geometry progresses, XS 29ers actually become easier to produce.

 

One of the biggest issues was toe overlap due to the steep head angles and short top tube.

 

With this being eradicated now (especially on trail bikes) the standard low top tube now means one can make frames for smaller people with wagon wheels much better than they used to.

 

Stack height is also kept 'low' due to the slacker HA.

 

Wheelsize vs Geometry.... that's something worth discussing more.

 

The characteristics of the bike are influenced by geo, suspension setup etc these days more than wheel size.

 

I'm also not sold on 650B gravel bikes. I would rather buy a bike that fits 43c 700c tires than 47c 650b. 

 

It seems a solution to a problem that didn't exist until WTB decided it did.....

[Dirt Tracker]

I'm going to say this. The right 29er can be nimble and fun.

 

A rubbish 650b bike can be slow and languid.

 

As things get longer and slacker without losing efficiency, as the geometry progresses, XS 29ers actually become easier to produce.

 

One of the biggest issues was toe overlap due to the steep head angles and short top tube.

 

With this being eradicated now (especially on trail bikes) the standard low top tube now means one can make frames for smaller people with wagon wheels much better than they used to.

 

Stack height is also kept 'low' due to the slacker HA.

 

Wheelsize vs Geometry.... that's something worth discussing more.

 

The characteristics of the bike are influenced by geo, suspension setup etc these days more than wheel size.

 

I'm also not sold on 650B gravel bikes. I would rather buy a bike that fits 43c 700c tires than 47c 650b. 

 

It seems a solution to a problem that didn't exist until WTB decided it did.....

 

Exactly, the idea that the previous barriers are being removed from certain 29r traits means you will start having 2 standards that do things well. Will the industry want / need both to survive? 

 

The idea wasn't a 'one wheel size over the other' as it's not that (and frankly wasn't that back in the day as it was even more dependent on the geo choices then). A *** bike is a *** bike no matter what and in fact a great bike for XC is horrible for enduro and visa versa so it's not even really bad bikes and good bikes as bike for a purpose. Is there a purpose for 2 different standards now and in the next 5 years? 

[Grease_Monkey]

Haven't read all the above comments, but I sure hope 650b sticks around. I love 29ers, have two sets of 29" wheels, and they sure are fast, but.... the most fun I have on a bike is when the 27.5" wheels are on the steel hardtail. Progress and speed is not everything!

[Jewbacca]

Exactly, the idea that the previous barriers are being removed from certain 29r traits means you will start having 2 standards that do things well. Will the industry want / need both to survive? 

 

The idea wasn't a 'one wheel size over the other' as it's not that (and frankly wasn't that back in the day as it was even more dependent on the geo choices then). A *** bike is a *** bike no matter what and in fact a great bike for XC is horrible for enduro and visa versa so it's not even really bad bikes and good bikes as bike for a purpose. Is there a purpose for 2 different standards now and in the next 5 years? 

I completely agree... I suppose it doesn't 'have' to stick around but it will.

 

Most of the comments on the thread talk about how 650b wheels = fun. So the marketing has been swallowed hook line and sinker.

 

I had a 650b steel hardtail built by Dave Mercer. I made it long and slack for it's time. 650b was the new black. I never really felt at home on the bike. I kitted it out with the plushest fork, widest rims and Enduroest bars and grips and tires etc.....

 

I was faster and felt more zippy, planted and stable on my SIR9. 

 

As geo evolves around the 29er wheel, which seems to be the current trend, they will dominate the market until someone creates something different in which to pour R&D, money, marketing and what not...

 

There will always be die hard (read not trendy or purposefully against the trend) bike riders which will swear blind their bike/wheel size of choice is the best/purest/only one worth having, so I can't see the industry giving up on any of them just yet.

 

If variety is the spice of life and different standards equals variety, the bike industry is the most seasoned market in the world!

[Odinson]

Personally, geo trumps wheelsize any day. 

 

I love my current bike. 650B. 170mm travel front and back. Adjustable geo - HA can be dropped down to ~64°, steep STA up to 76° and has space for up to a 2.6" tyre in the rear with a fat finger's space to spare. This all on a bike that was designed about 2015. From a German mail-order brand nogal. 

 

Taking it on a 100km XCM race in Feb. Is it the best bike for that race? Hell no. Would much rather be on a 120mm XC/downduro bike, but the old girl can still knock out the miles at a sometimes surprising pace. 

 

There definitely is space for 650B bikes in the market. For some applications, they just simply work.