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Wondering what the views are, have 2nd hand good quality 26 inch wheel hardtails hit a low price, will they go down more or become niche and stabilise ?
I've been waiting for much cheapness...was hoping Slackline with a straight 1 1/8th steerer tube and 27.2 seat tube may have dropped but still going for £280-£300 hardly cheap!
Interesting. The editorial in this months mag got me thinking about it..
oh well 🙂
I haven't read the mag yet but 26 is my future, I don't care about 27.5 or 29 and I suspect there are lots of people like me who'll keep buying and using kit and it ifs not available new (eg straight steerer 26 forks) we'll buy second hand and hence keep the prices strong.
I've given this a bit of thought as I contemplate selling my 2013 Five. I thought Chipps' editorial was well written and thought provoking, although his analogy with film cameras seems fundamentally flawed. Film cameras weren't withdrawn from the market (like 26" bikes are), it was just that most people preferred digital. I think it's too early to say whether most people really do prefer 650B. Personally, I think there are two possibilities: either the difference between 26 and 650B is too small for most of us to notice, in which case the change was pointless, but 650B will become the new standard as there is no reason to go back, or there is a difference, in which case it stands to reason than some folk will prefer the lighter, stiffer, more agile feel of 26" and they may live on.
Having said that, Chipps is probably right: my 2013 Five is probably as good as a 26" single pivot bike will ever be 🙂
As to whether we are at the bottom of the 26" market: I'd say that we are pretty close to the bottom for good condition 26" bikes. There was a glut of nearly new 26" (and 29er) bikes on the market as those who like to keep up with fashion jumped on 650B, but that does seem to be coming to an end and more of the 26" bikes on sale now are older and more battle scarred.
I think my Bandit is the best 26er ever made. It's so amazing Transition even had the confidence to write 26 on the top tube. I am so zeitgeist it hurts 😆
I'm thinking about one of those slackening headset from works for my Evil Sovereign. Maybe some 760mm bars too. No chance I'm replacing such a cool and fun bike just because it has fractionally smaller wheels. It could do with a re spray though. And a new drive train.
interesting thoughts and similar to my thinking, having a 2013 build Soul which does eveything I want from a bike. It will only be when I can't replace stuff that I'll move, likely to 27.5, being a short legged chap 🙂
I've got two 26" bikes; a 150mm AM and a 200mm DH rig; and a 29" hardtail.
For me, switching from the 26" to the 29" takes varying amounts of time to recalibrate riding, principally cornering, every time.
Although I don't own a 650b, I've ridden a few and thought they were good - felt closer to 29" than 26" IMHO. I am told, by those in the know, that switching from 650b to 29" is far less of an issue.
Whilst AFAIK I would not personally benefit from larger wheels on the DH, I am contemplating doing so for the 150mm bike, but am reluctant until I can see whether 29" or 650b becomes the de facto solution. My concern is that, whilst 29" may be here to stay, it might be marginalised, especially in terms of wheel and tyre choice, for AM/Enduro type applications.