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In Specialized's case it seems to be - sales of 26" have bombed and dealers don't want to buy them in. Make 650B or lose retail floor-space. If there was sales demand that wouldn't be the case. I think there's an element of turning tide, run on banks etc in buyer habits here but however I look at it it seems to be a market changing from demand as well as supply. Fashion, basically.Not demand or market share in this case though.
I think it'll be interesting to see what demand there is from mainstream MTB to go back to 26" after a few years on 650B. Wisdom of hindsight etc.
I think it'll be interesting to see what demand there is from mainstream MTB to go back to 26" after a few years on 650B. Wisdom of hindsight etc.
None I reckon. No ones going to start buying 26" stuff again after spending their greens making the move to 650b.
Right, that's it. Time to wheel out the big guns.
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Rusty Spanner - MemberNot demand or market share in this case though.
In terms of new bikes, choice has been effectively removed.
The demand for 26" in the US os gone - liek the Yeti example - they didn't have a 27.5 AM bike, were going torun the SB66 for another year, but only has 12 orders for them from bike shops in the US. Brands have been forced to go with the demand, probably more so in the US where new bikes cost less and people spend more on them.
You can certainly argue whether it was demand or marketing that initiated the move to 650b, you can't deny that demand is a big factor in the speed of change.
this thread ends here, or i kill this kitten:
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No further posts for 30 mins.....
Tell me that the kitten has been let go??
I'm only reading this thread for the kittens.
Phew, thread's died.
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Was up at Gisburn today and helped a chap who had flatted. He was on a 650b something or other that he'd replaced his 26" Orange 5 with. I asked if he noticed the difference in wheel size and he said 'a bit, but not enough to worry about'.
It was busy and from the bikes I noticed there was probably more 26" then anything else but also lots of 29". For the first time though I saw quite a few 650b bikes and most of the new looking bikes were that size.
Not that any of that matters. To be honest I'm enjoying my 29er more all the time as I get used to it and wouldn't go back to 26" so can't imagine I'll bother with 650b. I'll be trying a few though.
In an ideal world wheel size would be proportional to frame size.
Just like kids bikes.
In an ideal world wheel size would be proportional to frame size.
Yeah, and bumps in the trail would be too so you'd have a line for short people, one for average people and one for big people...
Seriously though, taking my BMX down a bridleway feels like taking my 6" full-sus through a rock garden!
How many people who say "you can't notice such a small difference in wheelsize" change their stem to one 20mm shorter or fit a 1 degree angle-set and say it has totally changed the bike?
We still have a few 2013 26" bikes in the shop with big discounts but people walk right past them to the 650bs... nobody is forcing them to.
The fact that I can change my bike from 26 to 650b simply by changing the dropout says it all really. No bloody difference
boltonjon - MemberNo further posts for 30 mins.....
Tell me that the kitten has been let go??
i wish i could say yes, i like kittens, i really do.
i did use [u]sharp[/u] scissors, i'm not cruel.
wiggles - MemberHow many people who say "you can't notice such a small difference in wheelsize" change their stem to one 20mm shorter or fit a 1 degree angle-set and say it has totally changed the bike?
20mm is a massive difference in stem size, proportionally It's like going from a 26 inch wheel to a 20.
chiefgrooveguru, nice! 650b specific trails.
I remember doing a pumptrack I did every day on my 26" on a friend's bmx, it was completely different.
mmh..that's a good test setting...
Did you have the circular crack appear on your TRc and if yes was it the first time?
Let's not forget that things vary from bike to bike. The new Five has some good tweaks as well as the bigger 650b wheels (and let's also not forget that the bigger wheels mean things like longer wheelbase, so it's not all just about rolling resistance). Even if you can't tell the difference with the bigger wheels, there might be other reasons to replace an older Five with a 2014 model, depending on where you ride, how often you ride, how much dosh you have etc etc. I've got a 2013 Five and it's ace for what I do. At some point over the next couple of years I'll probably just buy a 650b Five, and that will be ace too, and I reckon I'll notice some of the slight improvements, wheel-related or not.
darrenspink - Member
I think it'll be interesting to see what demand there is from mainstream MTB to go back to 26" after a few years on 650B. Wisdom of hindsight etc.
None I reckon. No ones going to start buying 26" stuff again after spending their greens making the move to 650b.
By the same logic we're seeing now, if in a few years 650b is the primary wheel size and new 26" stuff has vanished, any momentum towards a change back to 26" should be quickly halted by people saying "it's so close you can't tell the difference anyway, so there's no point!".
So, we know that people walking into bike shops (real or virtual) now, looking to buy a new bike, want 650B, but what I don't think anybody knows is how many people have been put off buying a new bike by the confusion over wheelsizes. How many people who would have bought a new bike are just hanging onto their 26" bike for a while longer? There are the people that a cynical market may want to pitch a fancy new 26" wheeled bike to in a few years time.
I'm off to the recycling centre.
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I'll be honest I demo'd 650 and did notice a slight difference. Bike carried the speed more, without getting too cliched about it. But, I'm also aware that could be as it was a lighter bike, new forks, newer design, went like a bullet.
Anyhow, I ordered one.
I was in the bracket of waiting till next year to see what happens, but then my old bike was needing a serious amount of cash thrown at it and really didn't see much point wasting money in a 4 year old frame. Took the gamble with 650. Bike is awesome, so I'm happy. Well, will be once it arrives...
all i can say is thank the gods i ride 26" 😀
Would agree with Wi
I have changed from 2010 five to 2014 650 five irrespective of wheel size the new five is a slicker and fitter bike. If you couldn't tell the difference, choose a different sport!!
really didn't see much point wasting money in a 4 year old frame.
😯
Different worlds....
molgrips - Member
really didn't see much point wasting money in a 4 year old frame.Different worlds....
I know, who keeps a frame for 4 years! I can't seem to manage 18 months