26" Specialized Stumpjumper FS upgrade to 29er front wheel/shock?

[Iksobarg]

26er/29er hybrid or bust...

I am considering upgrading my 26" SJ FS to a 29er fork and considering other options.

I'm 200lbs/91kg. and a budding amateur DH/AM guy. I just plunked down ~$700 on a nicely cared for FS Stumpjumper. After two rides to the local mountain (Alt Koenig, here in the Taunus (mountains) in Hessen Germany), I've discovered that the 26" wheel and fork could definitely use an upgrade. Thing is I feel I am clearly at a fork (pun intended in the road:

a) upgrade to a 29er fork/wheel and adequate disc brakes. Leaving the rear 26" and brakes wheel alone. I get enough braking in the back afaik. I know I'm playing with the geometry and the result is not going to be optimal... (that's a consideration I can live with, I think, but I am big time open to theory, idealogy, and thoughts on this)

b) leave my SJ alone, sell it and get an FS 29er? (I won't go back to HT anytime soon)

Is a) just plain unorthodox? Do you just not do that with a bike? I feel I am just doing a custom job to suit my needs. AAnd it's a compromise as I get the fix I need to better handle some of the technical stuff on that mt.

Thing about b) is I just don't have that kinda money...
I don't even want to go look but I s'pose after posting this I will

aaaand I looked locally and even any HT 29er is completely out of $$$ reach.
*starts looking at 29er forks/brakes.

[Iksobarg]

took me forever to find this..
http://forums.mtbr.com/650b/69er-96e...ad-232425.html
it's a lot better than the feedback I got here...!!
:P

[DannyHuynh]

theres a dude on here named fatcat and he has a two kona stinky's that have 29 front wheels and 26 rear.

[VTSession]

Unless you have some extreme need to upgrade to front end to a 29er, I wouldn't go that route. Why not upgrade the fork and wheel set and stick with the 26 inch wheel size? I'm no Specialized expert but I'm sure whom ever designed that bike they spent many hours designing it to perform around a 26 inch front/wheel.

[saturnine]

the 24/26 fad died years ago. 26/29 is no different.

[fatcat]

To change the front end of a Stumpjumper takes two things:

A 29er front fork with either 100mm/120mm travel with a quick release 29 wheel
0r a 15mm qr 29 wheeled hub with a QR15 front 100 or 120mm fork.

A shorter stem either 70mm to 60mm and its done.

Also you will need to get used to bike again because of the steering, as the front end
will seem different, no need to buy bigger rotors for braking, the learning curve on how much brake
to use will be done in the learning process.

You will instantly love descending 50% more than if the bike were a standard 26er, as the front end
leads the bike through singeltrack and fireroads in good manner. Also climbs may be enjoyable as well because there will no more wandering on steep climbs. The rear 26 is also a plus because there's
none of that getting the wheel going as some mention on the 29ers.

Pictured: a 29er front/650b rear converted mtn bike I turned into a really fast CX bike
A stinky 69er and a regular 29er. Did a lot of research and it turned out good.

[Iksobarg]

thanks for the info, FC!
Nice rides bro!!