Rim Update!

No Tubes just received their final batch of ZTR 355 rims. Their 650B Flow should arrive within 3 months.

Velocity will be releasing a lighter version of the awesome Blunt. The new rim will be properly named the Blunt SL; no word yet if they will discontinue the original Blunt.

For our European riders, you'll be happy to find out about XXCycles offering of the Ambrosio KEBA in 650B. 20mm deep with a 18.5mm inside rim width with eyelets.

VIEW Ambrosio RIM HERE

Top Secret

Many things are ahappenin here at 650B Palace.  More news to come!!

WB Loop Video

Soma Returns! The 2011 B-Side hits the Market.

FROM SOMA
"The version 2 B-Side still features our custom spec of double butted Tange Prestige heat-treated CrMo tubing. It does boast some notable upgrades, including Tange/IRD stainless steel sliding dropouts. These offer the rider single-speed and geared set up options with fewer hassles than a track-style "dropout" and lighter weight than an eccentric bottom bracket. The dropouts include eyelets for fenders, but there are no rack mounts. We don't expect too many to run fenders on this bike, but it doesn't hurt to include them."
We also tweaked the geometry so tall riders don't have to raise the seatpost quite as much (a comment from some owners). Some riders will still need a 400mm post. Other geometry changes include a shorter chainstays overall and a longer top tube on the 16.5". Integrated seat clamp is gone (again at the request of our fans).
The bike is still designed around the length of a White Brothers 80mm travel 650b fork; however we expect most folks to fit a 100mm travel 26" fork on the B-Side, which is about the same length.
If you are looking for top shelf hardtail option for 650b that's versatile, too, look no further than the new B-Side in its stately matte Gun Metal Blue finish. Sizes medium and large available now (no ETA on the other sizes) Geometry is posted below. We will not be including on the main site, until the new page design is ready. Sorry about that."

www.somafab.com

Rawland Strikes Back!

I absolutely failed to bring the Drakkar to the spotlight at 650BPalace, so I REALLY didn't want to pass up Rawlands redesigned Sogn. Dubbed the "rSogn."
This time around the rSogn is still geared specific, offers a pump peg, f&r rack ready and rim brake only. It has a lighter gauge steel tube set, TIG welded main frame, stainless steel dropouts, added headtube rings and the good ol' Rawland Bi-plane fork. The headtube has been modified, whereas previous models the headtube extended high over the toptube joint. The rSogn will be offered in 5 sizes, C-C being 43cm, 51, 53, 55, 57, all will be 650B specific. Ready for road duties with Pacenti's Pari-Moto and will easily accept the 2.3" Neo-Moto.
The rSogn hasn't yet landed, and is still in PRE-ORDER mode, but expect to see it soon. Retail is currently $625.

Photos from http://www.rawlandcycles.blogspot.com/

650B Pr0n

Watson Cycles
Retrotec
Ground-Up Design
Groovy Cycleworks (x2)

White Bros Loop 650B fork.

White Brothers no longer have the profile they once did in the mountain bike suspension fork market, with RockShox, Fox and Marzocchi having a virtual stranglehold on aftermarket sales. But if first impressions of the new Loop are anything to go by, they could soon regain a foothold.

The Loop looks very different from previous White Bros forks, with stiffer one-piece cast magnesium lowers and none of the CNC machining that used to be their trademark. It's available in a variety of different configurations to suit different wheel sizes, head tubes and types of riding.

All models have 32mm aluminium stanchions and come with the Colorado-based company's new QtapeR15 system – their take on the 15mm quick-release through-axle, which uses a tapered head and dropout to ensure a secure fit.

White Brothers' new Aura TCR damping is used throughout the range. All models have adjustable spring rate (via an air valve on top of the left leg), rebound damping (bottom of the right leg), compression damping and (magnetic) lockout threshold (top of right leg).

Forks are available with either 80/100/120mm of internally adjustable travel or 130/140/150mm. When you buy a Loop, you can specify how much travel you want it set to out of the box. Adjusting it simply involves changing the position of a circlip – this takes roughly 15 minutes.

Versions are available for 1-1/8in and tapered (1-1/8 to 1-1/2in) head tubes, and 26in/650B and 29in wheels. The Loop is available in black or white. There's no word yet on weights.
By James Costley-White

STOLEN SOMA B-SIDE ALERT

A Soma B-Side was stolen this weekend in FT Collins, Colorado. Stock colors, 2x6 gearing and a White Bros Fork. If you see it, contact me: Jeremy@650bpalace.com
Thanks riders!

Soma Fab-ulous

The SomaFab Shop is blowing out their remaining B-Side cross country frames for only 299.99
That's over $100 off an already affordable high quality Tange Prestige steel frame.
This is absolutely the best deal on a 650b frame right now.
Those considering should jump in with two feet.

http://store.somafab.com/greatdeals.htmlx

My BSibe has become my "Winter overhaul project" and at 299.99, you too can have a sweet 650b preject too. Sick deals they're throwing out over at the Soma factory. Get on it!

SALES!

Pacenti's NEO-MOTO 2.3 on sale from $59(ea) to $38!
NEO SALE

Alex XD-Lite rims from $40(ea) to $27
RIM SALE

Kenda Nevegal 2.35 from $55 to $37
Nevegal Sale

Taking the BSide to a new level.

I spent the better part of today in the shop working on non-bike projects when I pushed my Soma BSide next to my custom cyclocross bike. I currently have a coverted 650b bike with a mustache bar but none with an off-road dropbar setup. Yeah yeah, this isn't exactly uncharted territoy with 650b, but it is on a personal level. SO. I've decided to drop the BSide and add gears to the rig.
My debate lies with the rim choice. I'll likely be running Quasi-Motos or the Schwalbe RR. BUT. I may toss on the 700d x 2.0 knobby tires I picked up a while back. Otherwise, mech disc brakes, Salsa Bell Lap bars, tektro droplevers for disc, shimano Rd cranks- 105 or Ultegra, 9 speed with bar cons, uletrga deraileurs.
Thoughts, anyone?

Across the Pond: MBUK demo's a Pipedream with Pacenti Tyres

Creating the Perfect 650B Bicycle

I greatly apologize for the lack of content, once again, here at 650B Palace. Frankly, I have just been lazy. I have been using my iPhone WAY too much and haven't really sat myself down to post updates and promote and buzz in the industry. I've given myself a slap on the wrist and taken away 2 "Cool Points" and learned my lesson.
I'm back in full gear and haven given The 650B Palace a little face lift. As far as I can tell this remains to be the most direct source of 650B info on the web, along with MTBR's "650b, 69er and new wheel trends" forum. We've come a long way in the 650B dept for the MTB industry, as well as the rando/touring side of things. Rawland Cycles has designed some great, and interesting rigid bikes, and Haro gave us the geared Beasley with a White Bros suspended front end; along with the 650B Sonix - then came Jamis with their Dakar with 650Bs. Yet, which bike rules the 650B roost? Is there supremacy to be had? What would make the perfect 650B bike?
Short Travel Full Suspension? Long Travel Boinger? Long Travel Hardtail? Steel - Aluminum - Geared - Single - WHAT????? Riddle me this. i'd like to build up another 650B frame and have a 130mm travel steel hardtail single speed in mind, but want to also dabble with some rear suspension. What's a guy to do? Help me out. Drop some comments on what your dream 650B bike would be.

Here's some help, fill out this survey:
Frame Material:
Frame Travel:
Fork:
Travel:
Handlebar:
Wheel-
Rims:
Hubs:
Front Tire:
Rear Tire:
Brake Set-
Lever:
Caliper:
Bottom Bracket and Style:
Crankset with chain-ring choice:
Headtube (ie, 1.5, 1.125, Tapered):
Headset :
Stem:
Pedals:
Grips:
Shifters:
Front Derailleur:
Rear Derailleur:
Cassette/Cog:
*If you prefer a singlespeed, place N/A where gears are applicable.

Meech Custom Cycles

Dimitri Harris from Meech Cycles has been busy creating custom bikes for his customers and friends, but still had time to build this beauty for himself. A fillet brazed steel frame featuring American Classic BXC wheelset along with FSA bits and a Gates Carbon Belt drive.
A short blurb from the Meech Homepage
"Custom frames start around $1000 and $1250 w/steel fork,if you want to throw a carbon fork on to save a little weight I can do that for you as well. All my frames are handmade by me here in Mountain Home, Arkansas and come with a 20 yr. warranty so if you are in the market for a custom steel frame I would be glad to build it for you. Thanks for checking out the blog and you can email me at meech151@hotmail.com or call (870)897-6703."

The Pacenti Mini-Moto revisited.

Pacenti Cycle Designs really got the ball roling for the 650B offroad market. In 2007 Pacenti showed up to NAHBS with a titanium hardtail sporting a custom White Bros suspension fork and rims rolled by Cane Creek. the chosen tires were also a custom made bit. The original tires were 29er WTB tires with a chunk cut out then stitched back together with a liquid rubber concoction I'd rather not detail (so folks don't start thinking it is absolutely safe). Shortly after that debut Pacenti Cycle Design released the 2.3" Neo-Moto, a legitmate 650B offroad tire made in the Panaracer factory in Japan.
In 2007 there was also talk of Pacenti's future releases in the Quasi-Moto and Mini-Moto. While the Quasi-Moto manifested, and then the 2.1" Neo-Moto the Mini-Moto was placed on the back burner while companies like Kenda, IRD, and Schwalbe also released tires, all 2.1" and above. Where has the Mini-Moto idea gone? Well, it is back, and the PRE-SALE has begun.


From the Rawland Blog
"Lately there has been discussion about the Pacenti Mini Moto, a 43c wide knobby 650b tire with a classic block pattern. I decided not to wait any longer for this phantom 650b cyclocross-type tire, so I talked with Kirk Pacenti, the designer and manufacturer of the excellent Pari Moto, Quasi Moto, and Neo Moto 650b tires. We agreed that the Mini Moto would go into production if I receive pre-orders for a total of 300 tires, or 150 sets."

Visit the Pre-Order page

HERE

RAWLAND BLOG

MBA Reviews KHS's SixFifty606

Check out the review in the August edition of Mountain Bike Action.
On news stands now!

Creating an Offroad Conversion

With a small number of production 650B frames and complete bikes the question of converting an existing bike to except the 650B wheel format. I have experimented heavily to find frames that will accept the MID sized wheel, mainly in the beginnging as now others have adopted the 584 wheel and aided in the search.
An easy and obvious candidate would be any 29er frame. Alas, installing a smaller-than-designed-for wheel into a bike/frame would typically have negative effects. The bottom bracket height drops, and the length of the chainstays remain less than optimal. When designing bicycles the long-time standard has been the 26" wheel, so many designers base theories from the 16"-17" chainstay lengths we are used to from the antiquated 26er. This distance proves best as the rear axle is close behind and below the rider. In many cases as found in early posts of this blog 26" wheeled frames can accept the larger 27.5" wheel also. Less design compromises are made.
So we find ourselves converting 26" designed bikes before the 29ers. The sized changed will be felt positively more so when installed on the shortest chainstay available, IE the 26".
Moving from a 26"-27.5" wheel I would recommend continuing to use the same cassette sizes when using a geared set-up. When using a single speed setup I have been adding 1 tooth to my rear cog, so I've gone from a 16t-17t.
When adding some height to the front I have brought my stem down slightly and added 5-10mm in reach. 26" forks are designed with 26" wheels in mind, when adding to the diameter the "trail" is altered, so the stem adjustment will help remedy this change.

Azonic Revenge

Banshee Scratch

Bianchi SASS
Bianchi Oetzi Carbon 2009 (only quasi-moto)

BMC Team Elite 02, (2.1" and smaller)

Brodie 1-Ball (with sliders)

Canfield Bros Balance

Cannondale Prophet (2007+ checked)
Cannondale taurine
Cannondale F3

Carver 96er

Chumba Hx1

Commencal Meta 5.5

Gary Fisher Fat Possum
Gary Fisher Tass. 2008

Gunnar Ruffian (older with horizontal dropouts)

Haro Sonix LT
Haro Xeon
Haro Sonix VL120,(original Rear triangle) fits the Quasi Moto

Ibex Atlas

Ibis Mojo (2.1" and smaller recommended)

K2 Factory
K2 Apache 6.0

Kona Unit (with sliders)
KONA Coiler Series, (2007)
Kona

Marin Rift Zone
Marin Wolf Ridge 05/06

Mountain Cycle fury

Novarra Method

Orange R8 2010

Surly 1x1, no confirmation but I'm sure the Pugsley would work too.

Salsa Ala Carte
Salsa El Santo FS 2008 (Quasi-moto)

Schwinn 01 Homegrown Ltd

Scott Spark 30

Sinister Ridge
Sinister Splinter FS

Specialized Enduro Elite (checked on 2007 model)
Specialized Myka
Specialized Carbon Epic, 2008
Specialized S-Works Carbon HT
Specialized Pitch 2008
Specialized FSR Pro Carbon 2008

Spooky Darkside

Soul Cycles Titan
Soul Cycles Icon
Soul Cycles Hooligan G2

Soma Groove (2.1" and smaller recommended)

Santa Cruz Chameleon, horizontal dropouts (2.1" and smaller recommended)
Santa Cruz Heckler
Santa Cruz Bullet
Santa Cruz BLT2

Titus Eleven (Fireline) (Quasi Moto tested)

Trek 930/950/970 1999 fit the QUASI-MOTO

Ventana El Chamuco
VooDoo Bokor (newer with sliders)
VooDoo Wanga (newer with sliders)
VooDoo Sobo (2.1" and smaller tire recommended)

2010 Confirmed FS Frames:
(thanks to MTBRs "Derby")

Ellsworth: Epiphany (tested - clears seat tube at bottom travel)
Titus: Guapo (2008 – 2009 only)
Knolly: Endorphin (2.1 max)
Jamis: Dakar, Parker
Santa Cruz: Heckler, Butcher, Nickel, Blur Carbon BLT Carbon
Orange: Alpine (160mm), Five (140mm), St4 (120mm)
Foes: XCT, FXR
Intense: Uzzi VP
Pivot: Firebird (tested - clears seat tube at bottom travel)
Ibis: Mojo (may require small travel limit shim depending on shock, except HD easily clears seat tube at bottom travel)
Evil: Revolt
Specialized: Stumpjumper, Epic
Trek: Scratch, Remedy
GT: Sensor (2.0 max), Force , Force Carbon
Rocky Mountain: Slayer (2.2 max), Altitude (2.2 max)
Marin: Mt. Vision, Wolf Ridge

Jamis Reviewed.

I found a nice write up on the Jamis Sixfifty over on "B Fast Racer"

check it.


http://bfastracer.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/jamis-sixfifty/

Trek 650B Conversion: Built.

I've finally finished the Trek 930 conversion. I've given the bike limited saddle time, but it was never intended to be a main bike. I basically tossed it together with a few extra parts, and a few new ones. I am using the Schwalbe Marathon 650x42b tires and they seem a bit on the heavy side. Even when using a MTB cassette on a paved trail the wheels were just heavy to push. The Sun cr18 rims are not a massive rim, and I used aluminum nipples to help with rotating weight. The Marathons are a wire bead and have a thick hide to help fight punctures, so there lies the extra mass. I've been riding mustache-style bars for about 6 years now, so this bike is ever-so comfy. . .
I moved/replaced the canti studs 10mm higher on both the seat stays and the rigid fork. Going with a larger diameter wheel I added a set of fenders that came as original equipment on my Bianchi Castro Valley a few years ago. The Bianchi used 700x28c tires, but these fenders engulfed that tire, and also has no trouble covering the 650x42b.
This bike will receive a bright powder coat job for visibility purposes, at which point to may stay or get sold for face value. I know the rear stays have plenty of room for the Quasi-Moto, but I haven't checked the Fire XC 2.1, ot the Schwalbe 2.25 Racing Ralph (perhaps when I have an extra 10min).
Fun little project. The Trek 930B.

650c, 650b, 700c, now 750c??? Just wait.

The fine folks from Velocity are solving the sizing issue once again and prodiving large road riders with a huge rim in 750C. With the BSD of 700c being 622mm, this new concoction of a wheel will measure 673mm. Old 27" wheels measured 630mm. 750C will be yet another option for tall riders much like 29" was for the MTB scene.
Though this is not news designed for 650B Palace, the theories are clear. Wheel sizes proportionate to the rider. Velocity is testing their ideas in secret laboratories with locked doors and freakishly tall humans.
Great, now I'm going to need a new truing stand....
Read more at the Velocity USA Blog site.