A 650B Project

I have had this '99 Trek 930 from for a while now; it's in great structural condition and I've ridden it set-up many different ways. The last of which as a full rigid single speed. This steel beaut' has been hanging in the rafters long enough, because I have decided to build a Bridgestone Xo-1 Tribute bike. Grant Petersen now pushes the 650B format so I've figured I will build this as a 650B rigid, with cantilever brakes and a mustache bar. Yes the BB height will go up just a bit, but I'm OK with that: at least it is no longer collecting dust. I confirmed that the Pacenti Quasi-Moto will fit without a problem, but I think I'll be using the Schwalbe Marathon slicks most of the time. I also have some cheap 650B tires I found that would handle light trail duty as well. Either tire will fit fine along with a set of full fenders. I will be moving the canti mounts to achieve proper brake reach, on both the frame and the cromo rigid fork. I may even add rack mounts to the fork.



I'll update as the project progresses.

There's no wrong way to do 650B.

...and Hufnagel shows us how they do it right.

visit HUFNAGLE for more cycle sexiness.

Another Rando tire for 650B

Soma, as we all know, has been diggin the 650B format since 2007 when they showed their B-Side Prototype at Interbike. Since then they have brought the B-Side into production and also brought in the Fire XC tire for 650B under the IRD guise. I am happy to help announce Soma's new tire based on the Panaracer Pasela to be offered in a 650x38B.
Pacenti Cycle Design recently introduce their Pari-Moto tire in this same size. So alt wheel fans should have plenty to rejoice about.
Head over to Rene Herse's blog to read more on the new Soma tire.

RENE HERSE

From Diego.

"Hey, great organisation/research on the 650B world. One Q that's irritating the F out of me: (why) is nobody out there making a cx type 650B tire in the 35-42C range that can actually handle real trails and fit into road frames? For a do-it-all practical bike, I have my old road frame-city bike that I ride all snowy winter with beautiful jaunts into the trails but have tiny 25c cx tires on it. Any tire like this hiding somewhere out there?"

I'd like to think that I have all of the decent 650B tires listed to the left. I think the tire you're looking for is not yet produced. The folks over at Pacenti Cycle Designs has some tire designs and I believe they have the Mini-Moto on the drawing board. I too would love to see a tire similar to what you desire, and I'd put money down to say we're aren't the only two.
If you'd like to ride a more fledgling tire size in 650A, aka 26 x 1 3/8", Kenda offers a knobbie tire close to the range you mentioned. I know it is available from USA distributor SBS. While 650B has a bead seat diameter of 584, the 650A is at 590. SO, this elusive tire will not fit a true 650B.

Haro Takes the Beasley Full Geary

In 2009 Haro released their Beasley line with a single speed and a 1x9 version. For 2010 Haro made the jump to a full 27speeds and a White Bros suspension fork with 3.9" of travel. Haro has also bumped up the wheel quality on the geared version, utilizing WTB's Laser Disc Trail rim as opposed to the Weinmann rim of the SS. Last year's 1x9 was supplied with a basic handle bar, but this year the new Ritchey 10degree bar graces the front end.
They are still offering the single speed along with a righteous rigid fork and On-One's ultra sweepy Mary Bar. Both frames are 4130 double butted Chromoly steel. Haro dealers across the nation will likey be carrying the Beasley along side the 29r line of Mary and Ally bikes.

www.harobikes.com

X-Fusion Shox

Well, I had a chance to give the folks at XFusion a call to get an update on the happenings. I spoke with John Valera and he gave me the low down on their up coming release of the new and improved Velvet for 2010. Now, this fork has an expected release date much earlier but due to production schedules the fork has gotten pushed back to a late Spring release. The '10 Velvet will feature a new lower magnesium casting and revised internals. The original Velvet has been moved down to the Velour R model, again with slightly modified internals. I'd like to call this the 'trickle-down effect'. The Vengeance will also be a longer travel 650b Compatible fork. The stock 26" version will boast 160mm worth of buttery travel and we can expect the B version to give 150mm. (Incorrect Information) The 2010 Velour will offer 120 for the B version and will be convertible to lower travel distances from the factory.
The new Velvet isn't viewable on their main website, but you can follow them via Twitter and on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&ref=ts&id=1466855517

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM 650B PALACE!

My last post was back in September, and I am sorry. There has been many things going on, and I have totally neglected 650BPalace. Alas, I am back to pick up where I left off. I haven't been hitting MTBR, nor communicating with industry insiders about ANYTHING. The last few day I have been trying to get courage to face the blogging public and resume regular posting to 650B Palace.
So, where I am! I am getting back to work, so give me a few days to get a new post going!

The Ongoing Struggle

Forks. We have only one manufacturer that has produced a true bred 650B suspension fork: White Bros. They are offering the Magic in a 80mm and 100mm travel options and the Fluid in 100 & 130. These forks do fill the most commonly used travel lengths, but more options are needed.
From the looks of things, nearly every major fork manufacturer already has a model with lowers that fit a 650B off-road tire. Rock Shox, Fox Forx, Marzocchi, Manitou, DT Swiss, even RST and Suntour. When will these manufacturers see the potential and just take the plunge. A 650B fork could double as a 26" as well. Obviously not much will need to be done for an official ruling to take place. I'm no engineer, but after talking with White Bros last year it was a huge overhauling to adapt their forks to meet 650B use.
X-Fusion has been smart with giving the thumbs up for their Velvet fork. This fork was a blessing to the wheelsize. With a retail price of under $400, and a weight under 4lbs, the Velvet has been the perfect starter fork for most 650B users.
I am working on a list of compatible 26" forks, but I am hesitant to post it to this site. I have done quite a bit of work to locate and test forks that can fit the 2.3 Neo-Moto. If I do list anything, all forks must accept the larger Neo.

KHS SixFifty606

I had a blurb weeks ago about this bike when a KHS Rider had a prototype. Well, KHS has given the thumbs up for production. The 606 will feature a hydroformed aluminum frame, an X-Fusion Velvet fork, Nevegal 2.1" tires and a Shimano SLX rear deraileur, just to name some of the myriad of components on this geared hardtail. This is the first production aluminum mtb hardtail 650B frame.
I spoke with a few KHS folks at last year's Interbike and they were very open to the 650B format and even had a Tuscon setup with 650B wheels. I'd love to see a steel Solo-One in the future. They can call it the BSolo.

KHS SixFifty606

SALE SALE SALE

Bikelugs.com is having a sale on 650B Tires. All Pacenti makes are instock, including the 2.1" Neo-Moto.
CHECK IT!

Soul Cycles Hooligan G3

Hey folks I just came across some nice info! The folks over at Soul Cycles have confirmed a 27.5"x2.35" Kenda Nevegal fits in their 26" Hooligan frame. Their 4th Generation of this model is currently in the works, and I think the rear end length has not changed. Check them out at www.ridesoul.com

Kent Eriksen Never Ceases to Amaze!

Kent Eriksen helped produce one of the first modern 650B mountain frames a few years back. At this year's Rocky Mountain Bike Show in Denver he took home "Builder of the Year" title. 650B Palace would like to highlight this achievement as well as one of the many bikes that were displayed last weekend.

As many of you know, Kent Eriksen founded the Moots company. Specializing in titanium, and designing the YBB softtail yolk. Kent left Moots a number of years back, went on hiatus, and is now back with Kent Eriksen Cycles and still builds in Steamboat Springs,CO.
The above bicycle is a fullsuspension 650B, Titanium bicycle. Up front, the Maverick DUC32 handles the steering, and has been modified to allow maximum travel mated to a 650B Schwalbe Racing Ralph. The rear utilized Ventana's faux-bar linkage along with Eriksen manufactured titanium seat stays (Ventana's OE version uses aluminum stays instead).
This is truly a beautiful bike, and only one of the many 650B frame that the camp at Eriksen Cycle has produce. If you can see through the full suspension, there is a full rigid 650B hardtail behind it.
Congrats to Eriksen Cycles!

Collab Begins!

A while back I mentioned 650B Palace will be working with a frame manufacturer to bring forth a new 650B dedicated hardtail frame. Well, the collaboration began last week with a phone call to discuss some general geometry numbers. I will not be revealing many details, but I do want to let everyone know there is something new coming down the pipe. When 'spy' photos are ready I'll post them. Keep checking back!

The folks over at Norse Cycles just put the finishing touches on a TI 650B hardtail using a Maverick SC32.
check them out at www.norsecycles.com or just click the huge NORSE above.

650B Tires

This is a list of tires available in 650B/ 584 ISO. It will be ever growing so check back often.

Pacenti Cycle Design

Neo-Moto 2.3"
Neo-Moto 2.1"
Quasi- Moto 2.0"
Pari-Moto 38

Clement

FJR 2.2"

Contential

Tour Ride 42

Geax 

Goma 2.25

Goma 2.4

TNT 2.25

TNT 2.4

Hutchinson

Cougar 2.2

Cougar 2.4

Cobra 2.25

Toro 2.35

Kenda

Nevegal 2.35"
Nevegal 2.1"
Honey Badger2.2"
Slant 6 2.1"

IRD (Interloc Racing Design)

Fire XC Pro 2.1"

Maxxis

High Roller II 2.4"

High Roller II 2.3"

Ardent 2.25"

Crossmark 2.1"

Ikon 2.2"

Minion DHF 2.3

Michelin

Wild Grip'r 2.35"

Wild Race'r 2.25"

Panaracer

Col de Vie 38
Fatty Rumpkin 40
Nifty Swifty 32
Driver Pro 2.22"
Swoop 2.1"
Comet 2.0"

Ritchey Logic

Tom Slick 1.1"

Z-Max Evolution 2.1"

Shield 2.1"

Schwalbe

Racing Ralph 2.25"
Hans Dampf 2.35"
Nobby Nic 2.25"
Rocket Ron 2.25"
Razor Rock 2.35"
Thunder Burt 2.1"
Marathon Slick 42

Soma

Pasela 38
B-Line 38
Xpress 38 (uses HyperTex Casing)

Tioga

Psyco Genius Fast 13 2.1"

Psyco Genius Venture 2.25"

WTB

Wolerine 2.2"
Vigilante 2.3"
Bee Line 2.2"

Vee Rubber

Fluid 2.4"

Flow 2.4"

Trail Taker 2.4"

Mission 2.1"

Speed-R 2.25"

Master Blaster 2.1 

Race V 2.1"

V10 2.1"

Vredestein

 Black Panther 2.2"

Spotted Cat 2.2" 

Grand Bois

Cypres 32
Ourson 35
Hetre 42

650B Frame Manufacturers

This is a list of production frames. Most custom builders will be happy to build what ever you want for the right amount of cash. The folks below have brought in 650B specific frames at a production level.


Spooky Cycles - Horror Taxi
Vicious Cycles - Mambo Sun
Carver - Killer B

Santa Cruz - Bronson (carbon or aluminum), Heckler, SOLO aka 5010, Bantam
Rivendell -  Betty Foy, Sam Hillborne & Yves Gomez (650b in limited sizes)
Soma Fabrications -  BSide-V3
Jamis - Dakar (4 Models), Dakar AMT (2 Models), Dragon (2 Models), Nemesis(2 Carbon, 3 Aluminum),  Trail X
KHS- DH650. 7500, 6500, 5500, 3500, 2500, Team 650, 800, 600, 700, 300
Ventana - Alpino, Zeus.
Pivot Cycles - Mach 6-50, Les 27.5, Firebird
Norco- Sight, Range (both available in aluminum and carbon versions)
Intense- Carbine, Tracer 275
Trek- Remedy (6 models), Slash (3 models)
Turner- Burner
Foes- F275
Felt Bikes - 
Surly - Instigator 2.0
Ellsworth- Epiphany XC Carbon, Epiphany Enduro, Absolute Truth Carbon
Rocky Mountain- Altitude (4 Carbon & 2 aluminum) , Thunderbolt (4 Models), Altitude Rally Edition (1 Carbon 1 aluminum), Fusion, Soul, Vapor
Focus
Cube
Ritchey- P275 aka P650
Scott- Genius 700SL, Scale
IBIS- Mojo HD
GT Bicycles- Sensor (3 Carbon models, 2 Alloy models), Force (2 carbon models)
Boardman Bikes- Pro Carbon, Pro, Team, Comp, FS Pro, FS Team
Litespeed - Citico, Sewanee
Kona Bikes - Explosif, Cinder Cone, Blast, Process (4 Models)
Nicolai Bikes- Helius AC, Ion 16, Argon TB, Helius TB
Giant Bikes 26 Bikes Models!! - Athem Advanced (3 models), Athem, XTC Advanced (4 Models), XTC, Trance Advanced (2 Models), Trance Advanced SX,  Trance (2 Models), Trance SX, Talon (3 Models), Tempt (3 Models), Lust (2 Models), Obsess (2 Models), Obsess Advanced (2 Models), Intrigue (2 Models)
Whyte Bikes- 900 Series (3 Models), 800 Series (2 Men's 2 Wmn's),  G150 (2 Models)
Transition Bikes- Covert 27.5, Bandit 27.5, TransAm 275
Orbea - Rallon (4 Models)
Orange Bikes- Five, Crush, Five Diva
Haro- Flightline 27Five (4 models)


(More to be added 12/18/2013)


RETIRED
Rawland Cycles - Sogn, Olaf & Drakkar
Haro - Beasley, Sonix VL120 (2010 release)(2011RIP all 650B models)
Soma Fabrications - BSide, BSide-V2
KHS- Sixfifty606, 608, 608, 603, 656XC
Ventana- El Bastardo

650B Rims

This is a list of 650B Rims available. Not all MTB specific, simply a list of options to use on your next wheel build.
This will be an ever growing list.

Alex XD-Lite

American Classic 101

DT Swiss M480

Grand Bois Super Champion M58 replica

Kore XCD

Mavic XM319
Mavic EN321

Pacenti CL25, XC rim
Pacenti DL31, Super D
Pacenti PL23, Classic style road/rando
Pacenti TL28, Trail

Rigida Sphinx

Snow Cat wide rim @ 45mm wide

Stan's No Tubes ZTR Crest
Stan's No Tubes ZTR355 (RIP)
Stan's No Tubes ZTR Flow EX
Stan's No Tubes ZTR Arch EX
 

Sun Ringle Inferno 25
Sun Ringle Inferno 27
Sun Ringle EQ27
Sun Ringle CR18

Velocity Blunt
Velocity Blunt SL
Velocity Synergy
Velocity Twin Hollow
Velocity Blunt35, formerly known as P35
Velocity Dyad
Velocity Aerohead (AU exclusive)

Vicious Children of the Revolution

Weinmann Discovery
Weinmann ZAC19
Weinmann XM 280

WTB Laserdisc Trail
WTB i 19
WTB i 21
WTB i 23

Velocity: Still at the Forefront!

Looks like Mr. Pacenti has been busy! Velocity rims and Pacenti Cycle Design have teamed up to bring us yet ANOTHER MTB rim in the 584 ISO. Huge thanks to Velocity!
The official PRESS RELEASE reads:

Velocity is proud to announce the newest rim to join our line. The Pacenti 35 or P35 will be available in late September of 2009, just in time for the Interbike show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The P35 is named after its co-designer, frame builder and bicycle designer Kirk Pacenti, a nineteen year veteran in the bicycle industry; widely recognized for his work as a material supplier to the best custom framebuilders in the US and his development of the 650b wheel size for mountain bike use.

The P35 is designed for the cross country/all mountain rider craving a laterally stiff yet weight conscious rim that is still tough enough for the occasional Super – D race. At 35mm wide the P35 gives you one of the fattest footprints available which will float over the rough stuff and give you more bite and greater tread use through the turns. All of this and still weighing in at less than 600 grams in the 29er size! The P35 is 22mm deep with an inside width of 29.5mm which will accommodate a wide array of tire widths to cater to your riding preferences. In addition the P35 was designed to easily accommodate a tubeless application.

The P35 will be available in 26”, 650b, and 29”. 32 and 36 hole will be available in all sizes, and 28 hole will be available in 26” black only. We here at Velocity love giving you color options so you can customize your bike. You will see all sizes in black, silver, white, red and the very flashy antifreeze green. The decal bears the trusted Velocity name and flaunts the signature of its designer Kirk Pacenti.

Together we’ve made the rim you have been waiting for, and we think you are really going to like it.

Specs:

Outside Width: 35mm
Inside Width: 29.5mm
Depth: 22mm

Weight
29”: 595g
650b: 570g
26”: 535g

The P35 will be available through QBP, BTI, J&B and as always direct from Velocity USA.

Kirk Pacenti had this to say about the collaboration,

“Over the last couple years I have developed a great working relationship with Velocity USA. So when John Black asked me to take a look at a rim they were considering for production I was happy to offer an opinion. We discovered that the features we each wanted in a new rim were very similar, so I offered John a couple rim designs I happened to be working on, and we quickly settled on the P-35™ design. Working on the P-35™ rim with Velocity USA has been an incredibly positive experience for me; one that I hope to repeat in the near future with them. I could not be more please with the way the P-35™ turned out. Velocity nailed the execution of my design. Their craftsmanship, combined with the myriad of rim sizes, drillings, color and graphic options come together to create products that are second to none in our industry.”

Here is the new P35 in all it's glory!

Groovy Cycleworks belt drive 650B

Rody over at Groovy Cycleworks, a custom frame fabricator and all-round cycle guy, has a few interesting videos on YouTube. In this video below, Rody adds a connector link to convert a Soma B-Side to accept a belt drive! I've been pondering how to do a conversion like this! Supposedly the frame/bike owner will right a review about the belt drive set up.

Can't wait.

We all know On One...

...and their bike designer left them to start his own venture. Brant Richards was the mastermind who brought you the Mary, Mungo & Midge alternative handle bars. (See: Mary, Mungo & Midge, as you may wonder who those lil cartoons on the handlebars are)
Brant's new venture is called RAGLEY, but was first known as Shedfire. Well, Ragley's TI hardtail can fit the Pacenti Quasi-Moto! Brant is busy designing more frames for the line, so we can only hope he uses the same amount of CS clearance on the rest of his 26" bikes.

Complete
Chainstays with a 26"wheel: