[dgaddis offline]

Seems like the 650B wheel size is about to go big time. Fox and Rock Shox are about to debut 650B forks. When they started making 29er forks many claimed the wheel size had officially "arrived" and was no longer a fad.

Rumor has it many (most) of the big companies are designing 650B bikes, mostly in the long travel arena where it's hard to fit a 29" wheel. It'll be interesting to see where this all leads...Sea Otter should be interesting this year for sure!

“I cannot think of too many [bike brands] that are not at least designing a couple of 650b bikes—whether they bring them out or not in 2013 is the big question,” says Jake Scott, Kenda’s OEM sales manager, who declined to disclose customer names.

Read the whole article HERE.

[ollysj offline]

Looks like they found something new, we "must" buy. You barely see 29ers over here, I don't see a market for the 27 1/3ers here....

[dgaddis offline]

Looks like they found something new, we "must" buy. You barely see 29ers over here, I don't see a market for the 27 1/3ers here....

It's the opposite in my area, 26" wheels are the odd ones out. Our local shops don't even stock higher end 26" bikes hardly anymore. On the Weds night ride this week there was about 10 of us...one guy had 26" wheels.

That said, I don't see 650B catching here. Long travel bikes don't sell here.

[schwim offline]

I won't be happy until we have either a 26.95 or a 28.44 wheel to choose from.

[ollysj offline]

Looks like they found something new, we "must" buy. You barely see 29ers over here, I don't see a market for the 27 1/3ers here....

It's the opposite in my area, 26" wheels are the odd ones out. Our local shops don't even stock higher end 26" bikes hardly anymore. On the Weds night ride this week there was about 10 of us...one guy had 26" wheels.

That said, I don't see 650B catching here. Long travel bikes don't sell here.

I only once rode with a guy, who had a 29er. The numbers slowly increase here, since bike companies equipped their racing teams with 29ers and at the Eurobike 2011, the main topic was the big bikes. 3 years ago, you coudn't buy any Gary Fisher bikes at Germany, bc GF was so pissed about the non-interest for 29er, he stopped all sales for continental Europe.

[maddslacker offline]

I know a couple of guys who ride 650b and the love it.

[jeff]

Interesting. I remember there were a few 650b bikes at Interbike in 2008 or 2009 (all hardtails as I recall) but then they disappeared (Jamis even had a couple at Outdoor Demo those years). Back from the dead? I think the idea that they could work well for long travel bikes may be the best shot at reviving this standard.

[element22]

I dunno about the whole 650B thing

I see no advantage to it (least not for FR or DH)...I mean seriously...Do we really need another standard.
Do bike shops really have to now worry about stocking yet more parts?

OK look at DH and think Moto....Moto bikes have not changed their tires to anything bigger in like forever.....They still work great..

Why go with a bigger wheel? So you side load bearings faster? Apply more stress on the frames? Make the bikes react slower?.. I dunno about you but on longer travel bikes I can see issues...

Add to that, What are the wheel spacings are they going to think of running?

Don't get me wrong...I am all for new ....But sometimes adding yet another standard can be silly...I see the great advantage a 29er has over a 26er for XC. But with everything that already is...Do we need it? Think about how hard it already is ordering a headset for example. Or a set of wheels...With wheels there already is confusion with 135,142,150,157, then axles. QR9, QR10, 12x135/150. And that is just the rear...Qr9, 15QR, 20mm, (24mm and 25mm for some) have been around.

I think to a degree it is just something to be different.

[ollysj offline]

Do we need it?

My personal answer is "No", not even sure, if I need a 29er...

[mtbgreg1 offline]

Very interesting. I know one guys that's a 650b fanatic.. and that's about it.

Jamis is the one company that has stayed loyal to the 650b wheel size this whole time. They've had production 650b bikes for several years now.

It'll be interesting to see where this goes...

As for whether or not I'll buy one personally... I'm willing to test one if anybody needs a review