Here's a run-down of happenings in the 650B Format.
Alex Rims: soon to deliver the XD-Lite disc specific rim. Eyeletted, 24mm wide, 19mm deep.
American Classic: Testing wheels, currently at prototype level.
Ahrens Bicycles: Added the 650B MTB Mezzo to the their line-up in February 2008.
Carver Bikes: Currently offering the Killer Bee in titanium, custom options available at no extra cost. The Bumble Bee is their 29/650B version, both currently Ti only. Aluminum Killer Bee in the works.
Coconino : another custom builder, showed a 650B rigid MTB at NAHBS 2008.
Engin Cycles: Offered a custom 650B for raffle at Interbike 2007. Drew Guldalian is a customer frame builder in PA. He has a couple 650B MTBs now under his belt since Interbike 2007. Dirt Rag currently testing one of Drew's frames.
Haro Bikes: These guys have been on the ball since 2007. Th
eir Beasley line will be shipping soon. Offered in a single-speed and 1x9. Steel frames with rigid Fat-Chance inspired forks. Also, they dropped their 29er Sonix project in favor of a 650B type Sonix. Very Rad.
Igleheart: Custom builder that displayed raw 650B rigid forks at NAHBS 2008.
Kenda: Showed their 2.2" Nevegal at 2008 Sea Otter, rumored to be also offering it in a smaller size soon, too.
Kent Eriksen: Built Pacenti's Ti hardtail form NAHBS 2007.
Kish Titanium: Added a 650B MTB to their line-up in January 2008.
Origin 8: J&B house brand displayed a 650B aluminum frame with carbon seatstays at Interbike 2008, no more word besides that.
Pacenti Cycle Design: Makers of the first production MTB tires: Neo-Moto 2.3" and the soon to be released Quasi-Moto 2.0". They are also offering custom Steel frames, made in the USA!
Panaracer: Offers 3 townie/rando tires:
- Nifty Swifty- 32.8mm wide
- Col de la Vie- 38mm wide
- Fatty Rumpkin- 40mm wide
Rawland Cycles: Producing a 650B only line-up consisting of the Sogn and Olaf; Steel offroad frames that will attack most terrains with ease!
Rivendell: Has been offing 650B rando bikes for years, and recently began shipping their off-road rigid: The Bombadil. Not enough room for the Neo-Motos, but the Quasi-Motos will fit!
Rock Lobster: Another custom builder with a 650B rollin' around: an old-school cruiser type.
Fox Racing Shox: Their fork line-up fits the 650B Neo-Moto, but Fox doesn't want us to use them.
Soma Fab: Prototype rigid fab'd up by El Camino Fabrication, killer burnt orange paint. They sent it out to Japan for testing, folks in the states are waiting for these to show up in shops.
Shamrock Cycles: One of the first small builders to display a FS 650B utilizing the Ventana 5" rear triangle.
Stan's No Tubes: offering their ZTR355 in 650B. My rims came in weighing 370g each.
Sun Ringle' : This components company offers 2 rims. The CR-18 has been out for a long while, and the Charger Wheelset is available using the Equalizer 27 650B rim.
Sycip: Added the 650B Diesel, can also build their Unleaded in a 650B format.
Vassago Cycles: Currently testing the Rapscallion full suspension 650B. They're still in prototyping, but be on the look-out!
Velocity Rims: Offering the Blunt and Synergy 650B rims, the BLunt is currently the go-to rim for MTB application.
Ventana: Currently shipping 650B FS rear triangles to custom builders. Also, offering the El Bastardo, a 4" or 5" travel Electric Sex welded aluminum FS bike.
Vicious Cycles: Added the Mambo Sun in both geared and SS models for the 2008 season. Debuted at Interbike 2007, now available in Ti or Steel.
Villin Cycleworks: Custom builder displayed 2 650B bikes at NAHBS 2008.
White Brothers: Offering the first 650B Specific Suspension forks
- 650B Magic 80 A/C 464mm - QR or 20mm
- 650B Magic 100 A/C 484mm - QR or 20m
- 650B Fluid 100 A/C 484mm - QR or 20mm
- 650B Fluid 130 A/C 517mm - 20mm axle only
X-Fusion Shox: Offering the Velvet 80-130mm travel fork that accepts the Neo-Moto with ease.
This list will be ever growing, and I've only listed 650B specific components (except for the forks). I'm sure there are loads of custom builders out there, and I'm not trying to discriminate
them, I'm doing my best. Feel free to add custom builders who HAVE already produced a 650B MTB, not those who are planning on building them.
4 comments:
Strike Origin8 from your list. From speaking with my rep, they have shelved that idea and are sticking with 29"ers. No reason given really.
FWIW, Rawland is not strictly offroad.
never fear, Seven Cycles has started making 650B's, so that more than off-sets the O-8 loss! ;)
Per email from Sun-Ringle tech, EQ27 as rim only, no wheels.
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