October 31, 2007

Pacenti NEO-MOTO Tire Specs

White Bros Fork Info.

This was from correspondence with Tim Fry of Mountain Racing Products (the company that runs White Bros), relayed from Kirk Pacenti at www.bikelugs.com:

"Here are the forks that White Brothers can currently offer in the 650B
format along with some critical dimensions for frame design: 
All forks will have a measurement of 363mm (+/-2mm) from axle to underside
of brace. And all QR forks will have a 44mm offset and all 20mm forks will
have a 42mm offset.
  650B Magic 80 A/C 464mm - QR or 20mm
 650B Magic 100 A/C 484mm - QR or 20mm
 650B Fluid 100 A/C 484mm - QR or 20mm 
650B Fluid 130 A/C 517mm - 20mm axle only"

October 28, 2007

650B Fork Compatability!!!

Well, as of right now Kirk Pacenti has some 650B White Bros. Suspension forks. Some super nice stuff those fellas make. But pricey at the same time. Fork compatibility for 27.5" wheels is still up in the air, but I'm working on a list of forks that'll fit our new-retro size. I posted the Fox RL 32 with the 27.5" mounted from the Vicious camp (which I've seen hi-jacked and re-posted onto MTBR- without a photo credit. ) We've got a cheap Rock Shox J4 at work that I'll toss the B'r in and check too. QBP is blowing out those forks in case they work, your LBS could order it up for you if you want to go the inexpensive route.
I finally got my Neo-Motos hooked up and ridden with my X-Fusion Velvet R. WORKED GREAT! I kept the Velvet's travel set at the full 130mm without a problem. Here are a few images of the clearance.

The X-Fusion Velvet R is a convertible travel fork from 60mm to 130mm. The Velvet R has an external rebound adjust, which I haven't messed with yet. I did tune one of my 2 'Vr's. Pretty easy. They make a few versions of this fork, but none with a 20mm thru, yet. $399 Retail.
Have you LBS order them from X-Fusion, 408.866.0188

October 24, 2007

Just a thought...

I've been looking at my steel Trek 26" 950, which is currently set up as a single speed, and trying to figure out how to convert it to a 27.5" wheel. The rear end isn't quite long enough, and there just isn't quite enough tire clearance... SO, I'm thinking a White Industries Eric's Eccentric ENO may allow the wheel to be tensioned as a single speed and rotate rearwards to allow for the addition size clearance. Something I'll have to experiment with in the future... if some one beats me to it, please notify me of the outcome.

Dirt Rag TV: Carl Schlemowitz from Vicious Cycles

Dirt Rag TV: Drew Guldalian from Engin Cycles

October 20, 2007

Its the weekend!!

So, that means I have time to scower the web for 650B/ 27.5" info.


Heres whats up:
Vassago's Rapscallion- a Full Suspension 650B dedicated frame! MORE TO COME!

Pacenti branded 650B Tires in the works: the Neo-Moto, a full-on 2.3" knobby; the Mini-Moto 650B x 40mm randonneuring/touring mini-knobby tire; and the Quasi-Moto, a 650B x 52mm semi-knob, hard pack/marathon tire.

Speaking of Kirk, he was kind enough to photograph a 650B next to a 26" for us:












He also bought a Surly 1X1 just to check the clearance for his NEO-MOTO's, oh boy, check it OUT!
I sure hope Surly has plenty of these in stock. I imagine there will be an influx of 1x1 sales!!
He doesn't need this frame and fork, so he's selling it. Post a reply here if you're interested in purchasing it, sorry I don't think the wheels are included.



































Carver's KILLER B in Titanium


October 15, 2007

Need some 650B rims?


Velo Orange has the ever elusive SUN CR-18 650B rims on sale!!! Marked down from $25 down to $18.50!!!
Check them out by clicking HERE

October 14, 2007

650B Raffle for a Good Cauze!!













Photo by Impy


From Bicycleretailer.com:

‘Pedal Pink’ Bike Raffle Opens Today



PHILADELPHIA, PA (BRAIN)–An online charity raffle to benefit the Philadelphia chapter of the Susan J. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation opens today, with a hand-built, one-of-a-kind “Pedal Pink” bicycle loaded with high-end parts and pieces as the prize.

Fourteen companies, led by frame builder Drew Guldalian, owner of Engin Cycles of Philadelphia, contributed parts and components to complete the bicycle.

“This is every bit a $6,000 retail bicycle. Not a corner was cut. Every single component is top-notch,” Guldalian said.

Guldalian designed and built the custom-painted, pink and blue bicycle especially for a small rider, a woman under five feet, four inches.

The bicycle is a single-speed mountain bike with 650B (27.5-inch) wheels, a wheel size selected to allow the smaller cyclist to experience the ride benefits and roll-over capabilities of a wheel larger than 26 inches while avoiding the compromises a 29-inch wheel can impose on smaller frame designs.

Four hundred tickets, at $10 each, will be sold. If all are sold before the end of Interbike, the drawing will be held during the show; if not, the drawing will be held when all 400 are sold. The bike will be on display at White Brothers Interbike Booth 4383.

To enter, go to:
www.bikereg.comeventsregister.asp?eventid=5324, or go to the bikereg.com home page and type “Engin” or “pink” in the search box. Bikereg.com donated its services.

Contributors include:
  • Engin Cycles – custom frame and stem
  • Pacenti Design – custom steel tube set and new Pacenti Neo-Moto 650B x 58mm (27.5” x 2.3”) MTB tires
  • Chris King Cycle Group – NoThreadset, matching spacers
  • Phil Wood & Co. - bottom bracket, custom anodized pink hubs, spokes
  • White Industries - ENO crankset, freewheel
  • White Brothers - carbon “Rock Solid” fork
  • Terry Precision - Damselfly pink saddle
  • Paragon Machine Works - bottom bracket shell, dropouts, braze-ons
  • Velocity USA - “Blunt” all-mountain MTB rims
  • Eriksen Cycles - super cool Ti post with matching pink clamp to the King headset
  • Titec – Pluto 31.8 carbon handlebar
  • Ergon - magnesium grips
  • Hayes Brakes – Stroker Trail brake system
  • Todd Erol - pink and blue paint job

Welcome to 650B Palace!

Here at 650B Palace we are dedicating a small place in cyber space to bring YOU up to speed with the works of the new retro wheel size known as 650B.
650B has a bead seat diameter of 584mm, putting it smack dab in the middle of current 26" MTB and 29" (700c) configurations. Giving you the wonderful rolling advantages of the oversized 9r's but maintaining the 26" wheeled geometry we've all come to know 'n' love.

2007's Interbike Expo in Las Vegas, NV followed the NAHBs where Kirk Pacenti (www.bikelugs.com) unvailed his 650B Ti mountain bike. With special rolled Cane Creek rims his creation hit the web and many forums creating a monster buzz. Hell, it took 29" Wheeled mountain bikes 10 years to gain speed and acceptance in our bike culture, and theres no looking back now. Check out the 29" article at www.dirtragmag.com

2007 Interbike debuted many 27.5" bikes along with a 27.5" Exclusive company Rawland Cycles.. Owner, Sean Virnig, is very passionate to cycling and the newly returned wheel size. Vicious Cycles also had two 650B models on hand, both steel, one geared with Fox suspension, and on rigid single speed. Their 27.5" wheeled bike is even in their 2008 catalog.
Origin8 is another new kid on the block, backed by parent company/distributor J&B Importers was displaying their 650B Aluminum/Carbon MTB as well. It also featured White Bros. contribution to the movement, a 650B dedicated suspension fork. Which will be available in most of their suspension options.
SyCip Designs displayed a SS MTB, Velocity is currently the only manufacturer actively offering rims in the Blunt and Synergy models.
Pacenti Cycle Design is currently the only MTB tires maker with their Neo-Moto 2.3" rubber, though word on the street there will be another player in the 650B game, (still hush hush).
Carver Bikes is prototyping the Killer B, known for their 96'er- they're putting MATCHING wheels on the Killer B.
Haro's "Down Hill Jill" was testing a Xeon B, their 6" all mountain chassis fit the NEO-Moto without a problem, and only raised the BB .25" - Look for 3 offering from Haro on 2009 on the 650B front.

Rawland's Geared offering













Clearance On the Fox Forx 26"

















Vicious Cycles "Mambo Sun"














Origin 8, featuring the White Bros fork.











Please ask to contribute images!!
All question and comments are welcome!!
Thanks
JS @ 650B Palace