Thread: If Giant doesn't announce 650 carbon Reign soon, here is my new bike....

http://forums.mtbr.com/650b/scott-ge...0b-796216.html

There is a pic in there.
Scott Genius 650b, all titted out....
Only things I see changing are the 28 hole wheelset, possibly ditch the HB controls for the fork and shock, tires, and bar/stem. Probably run 24/34 crankset with bash/guide instead of 30 speed triple, or possibly 1/10 with a 30.

Gonna wait until I can take one out for a proper flogging first, though, most likely at Interbike. I imagine this won't 'really' be available until Dec?

Lot of folks been waiting for that one.

I'm curious as to why the bottom bracket and cranks appear behind (placed back of) the frame triangle. Nice looking bike. I'm still a little skeptical of all these carbon frames that are rolling out. Just had a carbon seatpost snap on me and went back to an alloy one. I would be scared as hell I would get a nick or ding in the frame that would eventually compromise the frames integrity.

I'm surprised you would forego Maestro (or another floating pivot design) for a more rudimentary single pivot design simply because the wheels are slightly bigger.

That (carbon for MTB) argument has been pretty much put to bed elsewhere, IMO. So, for the sake of keeping this thread on topic, let's just assume that is a non issue, OK?
If you do feel the need to navel gaze on this, please go over here:http://forums.mtbr.com/general-discu...-761502-3.html

Or, for this forum, here:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...Mountain-bikes

Now let's proceed with other superfluous arguments about how people on 29- ers are really just roadies looking for a shortcut to skillz.

Ok, I'll assume suspension design is a non issue.

That Scott is DA BOMB!

Fin, it's not 'foregoing', it's finding a stopgap bike that works that has the features and spec that I am looking for, and I have to say the Scott fits that bill. I have been loyal to Giant for years, but it is Looking to be a few years out before they will offer anything close to what I am looking for in Maestro or similar. I am also limited to my 'cost' options without calling mad favors, and this one is an easy to ask for option. Others are Rocky, Santa Cruz, Pivot, Orbea, and 'possibly' Turner...

Fair enough. For what it's worth they do have a 29er Trance X coming for 2013.

Yeah, but that doesn't do anything for me. Word on the alleyway is that Reign protos are rolling, but they are looking at the bigger travel direction first for 650, whereas I am looking for a capable all-rounder 'light' trail bike, (6"x6") and the Trance is under gunned for my desires.

can someone explain to me the love-affair with 650b?

je ne get it pas

fan bois jumping on the bandwagon?

I've ridden a few of the KHS 650B's already, and while they were nice bikes, I don't think they're the end-all of biking. I do think they'll eventually fill in/take over the mid range suspension gap though, with hardtails to 4" bikes going more towards 29er, 5-6" bikes going 650b, and DH bikes staying 26".

Of course there will always be exceptions, and people have their own personal preferences when it comes to what they ride. 650B is made to be the best of both worlds between the nimbleness of 26" and the rolling capacity of 29", but I think in reality it's just a blurred area in between that rides okay, but doesn't excel at anything

i mean i get it. they are 5% bigger than a 26 and 5% smaller than a 29.

Limited rim and tire selection, duh. Cuts down on time spent deciding between various options. Plus they are not to big, not to small, but just right. Goldilocks mentality.

i would rather have a 28.25 front and a 26.75 rear.

Seems like the crappy Scott suspension design would pretty much outweigh the benefits of a plastic frame and slightly larger wheels. I'd still take an aluminum Reign with 26" wheels over that Scott.

Supposedly 2013 is going to be a big year for industry heavyweights move toward 650b, for several reasons:

a. 29er's hudge growth (in some countries) surprised the industry. Some Euro brands who dragged their feet on 29 are determined to lead, not follow, on 650b.

b. Many in the industry believe 650b has an inherent advantage in terms of enabling good frame geo across different geographical markets (i.e. Asia, where not everyone is over 6 ft tall), genders, etc.

c. Since proper 650b tires are only barely available currently, few have ridden a decent 650b bike with fat rubber...i.e. with a large casing 2.4 on there, the rollover ability is supposedly a bit more like a 29er

d. While wheel stiffness and strength on a standard flange width 135 shell is ok for 29er if hand-built on a quality rim, it's not stellar on the lower-end wheels...the industry expects that 650b will do better in this regard. Again, the theme here is that the industry is looking for a mainstream solution, so think beyond the $5k+ bikes we tend to ride. Moreover, for cost control reasons, some fork brands will have models that are 26er/650b compatible.

e. 650b will allow uncompromised so-called AM/FR bikes in the 160+ mm travel range up front i.e. a burly cross section crown (e.g. Totem) with 160+ travel AND a head tube tall enough to enable a rigid front end yet still have bar height comparable to a dialled in 26er. This cannot be accomplished w/ 29er.

I'm no hater of 29ers; they have their place especially in the hardtail category (I have 3 29ers, 4 26ers). But having tested FS 29ers over the years, and having considered the geo constraints especially for people shorter than I am, I do see the logic of 650b and why it potentially will become the mainstream wheelsize for mtn biking.

Current 650b solutions on crappy Jamis frames with skinny, low volume Pacenti tires (which give an OD not much bigger than a fat 26er tire) don't adequately characterize what 650b could perform like.

PS I just bought a Norco Truax frame, partly because Norco seems to be killing it lately with many frame design details that are very well thought out, and an approach to FSR that is getting strong reviews. So if I do jump on the 650b bandwagon in 2013 to replace my Nomad, the production version of the Norco proto in the pic above will be a leading contender.

However until I see the tire and fork options for 2013 confirmed, I'll be on the sidelines.

Tire, rim, and fork options are all confirmed, and in overtime production, from all major companies.

Originally Posted by rideit

Tire, rim, and fork options are all confirmed, and in overtime production, from all major companies.

'confirmed' as in it's been publicly announced that several major brands will be introducing tires, rims, and forks? Or confirmed as in the actual product line specifics?

For example, it's well-known that Specialized is working hard on 650b frames, but AFAIK we still don't know any specifics.

Decent rim options exist today...2013 will see expansion of that, and scaled up production. I'm more interested in knowing what actual tires (including weight, casing options, etc) will be on the market. I'm glad that several major brands have strongly hinted they will introduce a decent selection of 650b tires, but specifics have been lacking. please let us know what you've heard....

The production cycles are in full swing for Pre-interbike sales launches, expect most details to come out in full force from press camp and thereabouts.

Yep that's what I thought. I'll be interested to see the details on the 650 fox built on the 34 mm chassis.

Seeing as what your user name is, check it:
http://forums.mtbr.com/yeti/official...0b-794271.html

Fox details within:
http://forums.mtbr.com/650b/2013-fox-650b-786230.html

Originally Posted by marshalolson

can someone explain to me the love-affair with 650b?

je ne get it pas

People want longer travel + bigger wheels I think. Are there any 29ers with more than 130mm travel?

Originally Posted by bsavery

People want longer travel + bigger wheels I think.

my question is WHY? just a question. just curious.