With a name like the "B side" it is sure to be a hit! :thumbsup:
http://www.somafab.com/somanews.html
http://www.somafab.com/somanews.html
The Soma ought to be a blast! Word is Origin 8 will be showing one too... And then there is Rawland Cycles, a 650B only company launching the new brand at Interbike in a couple weeks. Those and the 8-9 other 650B MTB's that will be on display in Vegas, promises to make the 650B wheel very popular in the next few years.pooka said:Hm:
I guess my old Rocky Mountain would make a fine 67.5er ;-)
But first impression says that Soma sounds and looks good.
TJ,tamjam said:Kirk-
Any word on how the beads of your Neo Moto tires fit on the 650b Blunt rim? I ask because there are reports on the 29er board of loose-fitting beads and tire blow-offs with the 29er Blunt (not just the Blunt, to be fair). Wondering what the story is with the 650b version.
Also, do you know what drillings the 650b version of the Blunt is available in?
Thanks
Great news KP. Now if you could just convince Velocity to do a run of 36h rims, and have them done by the end of Sept, I might just have go with a 650b front wheel on my current (MTB tandem) project instead of 29.... (seriously)Kirk Pacenti said:I just mounted some tires to a set of American Classic 650B MTB wheels that landed here the other day.
The wheels were built with the 28mm wide Velocity "Blunt" rim and weigh in at 1,750g according to the manufacturer, but I have not weighed them myself yet.
The fit of the tire to the rim could not be better (perfect?). In fact it is as good as or better than any rim / tire combo that I have ever personally mounted (YRMV). The tire goes on fairly easy and without tools but requires just enough force to give your thumbs a nice work out while seating the bead. :thumbsup:
I agree. Looking for more info. If 29er wheels work so well, why do we want less tire contact patch and less object "angle of attack"?BThor said:beyond possible sizing concerns, or full sus geo problems Why 650B over a 29'er?
Open minded here ...so not just a naysayer. Currently on a 29'er and love the ride...
enlighten me:
I don't think so, it's just another option. The rim size has been around for nearly a century and is quite common around the world. The only "new" part is the MTB application.1spd1way said:Doesn't this dilute and further divide the field?
How has the tire manufacturers responded to "yet another tire" size?
I am one who would benefit from bigger wheels and conventional geometry. I slot into the "Not quite tall enough for a 29er." So I ask, not to be the devil's advocate, but to gather more info.
this is your best post ever..Thylacine said:Without attempting to give Kirks gameplan away, basically as mentioned earlier 29ers are limiting. They do have some serious design issues/impediments call-them-what-you-will that are generally ignored by people desperate enough to be one of the cool kids or wanting to push their own barrow.
29ers of course have their place, but the impetus here from Kirk is to bring the advantage of the larger wheel across more platforms to more riders.
Because of physical design limitations, the 29" wheel can't bring that.
As for the 'dilute and divide', I don't think that's the case. I've always assertained that wheel size should vary for the size of rider, just as every other part on the bike does, and all another wheel size gives is just more options for riders out there. Not only that, it invigorates the market, so you get discussion, debate, passion, more options, less limitations......all this sounds pretty good to me!
Kirk is putting his ass on the line bigtime here and I hope it pays off for him.
Warwick gets it!Thylacine said:Without attempting to give Kirks gameplan away, basically as mentioned earlier 29ers are limiting. They do have some serious design issues/impediments call-them-what-you-will that are generally ignored by people desperate enough to be one of the cool kids or wanting to push their own barrow.
29ers of course have their place, but the impetus here from Kirk is to bring the advantage of the larger wheel across more platforms to more riders.
Because of physical design limitations, the 29" wheel can't bring that.
As for the 'dilute and divide', I don't think that's the case. I've always assertained that wheel size should vary for the size of rider, just as every other part on the bike does, and all another wheel size gives is just more options for riders out there. Not only that, it invigorates the market, so you get discussion, debate, passion, more options, less limitations......all this sounds pretty good to me!
How tall are you?long hazy daze said:I like the looks of the 650b's. I've been saying to myself for some time now that something between a 29" and 26" could potentially be the ideal all-around size and I'm glad to see it happening.
I understand how this size can fix design limitations for shorter riders and FS bikes, but on a rigid SS for an average or taller rider what might be the advantages other than a reduction in rotational weight (e.i. quicker acceleration) and a slightly stronger wheel?
Kirk, I'm very curious in the differences between 650b vs. 29" in regards to acceleration, maintaining momentum, wheel strength and weight, and smoothness on the trail.
I'm just about to build a new 29er non-disc wheel set with Surly hubs (high flanges) and Sun CR18 rims with DT Comps, so the result should be a rather strong wheel set with relatively low rotational weight. I'm just trying to better determine how much lighter, quicker and stronger a similarly built 650b wheel set would be whereas the only disadvantages I can foresee would be that the smaller size may not roll as smoothly, climb over obstacles nor maintain momentum as well due to the increased angle of attack (from a 29") though the difference may be negligible.
What I really want to hear is that I need not concern myself with the matter so I don't have to start planning to buy a new frame, rims and tires.
6'1" -barefooted.Kirk Pacenti said:How tall are you?
You're a perfect candidate for this wheel size. I am 6-0 and have been riding 29ers for a long time and always felt that a slightly smaller wheel would probably be better.... 29" wheels really start to make sense for riders 6-4 and up [impo].long hazy daze said:6'1" -barefooted.
And I must say those new tires of yours look particularly sweet!
Any plans for future production in other sizes?
Funny you should mention Lenz. The last time I spoke to Kent Eriksen he said he was going to speak with Devin about getting a custom rear end for a 650B he FS he was thinking of building. I won't put words in Kent's mouth, but he is nearly as excited about the possibility of the 650B wheel size as I am!Wish I Were Riding said:I'll buy a Lenz 650B Leviathan. Devin?