WhereTB 650b Tires/Wheels

[zk6760]

Are there any sites that have a decent selection of wheels and tires? I just can't seem to find too much out there - is that just the way the industry is currently? I know 650b is pretty new, but I didn't expect not to be able to find much.

Wheelbuilder.com has a few wheels

Any suggestions from other 650b ridesr? Where do you get your parts at?

Thanks!

[twyeld]

try
probikesupply.com and put 650b in the search field. They have a good selection of tyres and Stan's wheels. I would recommend getting at least one of each type of tyre (FireXC, Pacenti, vee-rubber) to try which suits your style before committing to any particular combination. And, as for wheels, you can't go wrong with Crests for XC or Flows for AM

Good luck

[zk6760]

Found some good info:
tire info = 650B Palace: 650B Tires
rim info = 650B Palace: 650B Rims

[emu26]

Hi zk6760,
try the search button in the blue line at the top of this forum page, go advanced, search the 650b forum pages for where to buy not where TB. There would be at least three threads I can think of opened recently that cover this topic.

Good luck

[zk6760]

Thanks - I didnt go advanced earlier, that seemed to be my issue.

[frank6262]

too exhausting searching on my slow PC...where's best to get one quality build whole front 650B XC wheel with a 15mm thruaxle hub?
can i get it for under 150$
thx!

[JMac47]

u r nutz.......

[zk6760]

cheapest wheel (rim, spoke, hub) I could find was $250 without tires

[JMac47]

too exhausting searching on my slow PC...where's best to get one quality build whole front 650B XC wheel with a 15mm thruaxle hub?
can i get it for under 150$
thx!

Craigslist. Mtbr classified etc

[S.N.A.F.U.]

Anything in the new 15mm standard is going to be expensive .

You have cheaper options and more bang-for-your-buck if you can go traditional QR or 20mm.
Theres always fleabay.

Check ot SIXFIFTY.COM
They've got some decently priced wheelsets from cheap to high-end.

*CHEAP?? Their in-house brand (MEZZO) AM Wheelset 9mm QR-- $270 WITH Kenda Navegals
.
*BANG-FOR-THE-BUCK?? New Old Stock (NOS) AMERICAN CLASSIC XC Wheelset
20mm-- $350 ( their new 15mm/hub adapter version is about $850 )

*CHEAP-BANG-FOR-THE-BUCK-GET-THEM-WHILE-THEY-LAST???
(NOS) VELOCITY BLUNT Wheelset (silver) 9mm QR-- $220

Plus other 650b 27.5 goodies.

Buen Provecho! Bon Appetit! Cheers!

[twyeld]

any news on a supplier for the Maxxis cross-mark 650b for international online sales?

universal list it but out of stock.

maxxis have it but don't ship international

[zk6760]

Where are you at? Maybe Maxxis can ship it to someone you know that can then send it out to where you live?

[twyeld]

Where are you at? Maybe Maxxis can ship it to someone you know that can then send it out to where you live?

thx I thought of that but I don't really know anyone in the States well enough to do that - and it gets kinda expensive.

I figured if Maxxis had 'em on their site then the main distributors would start getting stock soon and if someone knew a distributor that had 'em in stock they could share the luv/knowledge

Cheers

BTW I'm from Oz

[twyeld]

woohoo!

my 27.5 x-marks have just arrived in Oz

can't wait to try 'em out...

will report back on first impressions

I am currently running a 2.1 fireXC up front and 2.1 v-rubber out back on a XTC

surfaces here tend to be loose over hardpacked - perfect for the x-mark

the v-rubber is a bit sketchy in these conditions...

[twyeld]

OK so my 27.5 x-marks arrived 3 weeks ago

I've now ridden them on at least 5 rides of 2hrs duration each ride.

Trail is up a creek bed - rocky with lots of rocky steps on the way up and chunder on the way back down - I repeat the run about 5 times in 1.5 hrs (.5hr to get to trail and back home) - loose over hardpacked

I was previously using a 2.1 fireXC up front and 2.1 v-rubber out back on an XTC the v-rubber was a bit sketchy in these conditions but the fireXC was good...

The bike is a Giant XTC with SID fork and Stans Crest 650b wheels (total bike weight = ~10kg).

Now fitted with x-mark 2.1 EXC - 20/24 Fr/Rr - (I normally run a larger tyre up front than out back but can only get the one size of x-mark at the moment) - with rear fitted in reverse, for better climbing traction (weights = 490gms and 520gms) [I can feel they are much lighter than the fireXC and v-rubber (both ~ 650gms)]. I find they roll fast and the back is quite grippy. The front - as usual for a x-mark - only starts to bite when really laid over in a corner. I find these tyres perform almost exactly like all the other x-marks I have ever used in 26". For example, they will grip on off camber trails and the centre tread can be a bit slick for anything but hardpacked (I normally cut out the ribbing between the centre knobs to overcome this). So, the only real difference is the fact that they are 650b. They roll over stuff I would normally stall on using a 26" tyre - no surprises there. Overall I can clear technical sections better on the 650b wheel/ x-mark tyre combo (better than with the heavier 650b tyres or lighter 26" tyres - on the same bike).

I have become so used to the 650b that I don't think I could go back to 26" - although on my Anthem I run a 650b out front and 26" out back - and on my Trance it is 26" front and rear, but with the bigger section tyres and slacker head angle I don't have to roll over stuff I can just plough through it...

Bottom line, as predicted, this is the best setup for the conditions I ride in - loose over hardpacked.

My only quibbles are: it seems to understeer on fast turns and, the indecisiveness of the x-mark in turns until it is fully cranked over - they may be related. I am tempted to put the fireXC back on the front (even though this is a heavier and slimmer tyre) - just to get a more positive grip out front. The understeer may also be a function of the larger wheels creating a longer wheel base on the XTC without the shorter rake needed to compensate. Putting the fireXC back on the front might drop the front a bit sharpening the steering - or else I may need to reduce my front travel from 100mm to 90 or 80?

more later...