Then he will yelling behind you on the trail and singing: "I'm fast. I'm faster than you."I wonder if 650b will sell in DH since the opposition against it is much stronger than in trenduro. Also a mix of super long fury and bigger wheels. I will laugh whenever I will see people on them on some of our slower local trails
Yes, yes it will sell. The main reason will be because we're forced to. 650 is a new marketing tool. My 2010 Remedy was bought as 26" because that's all it came as. When I warranty my frame next time, it won't be a 26" cause they don't make them anymore. If DH is the only one "holding out", then is it worth it for companies to hold out for the smallest niche of riders? Conformity is what they want. Besides, don't we need a new "standard"? I really wanted a new DH bike this year, but since everyone is testing 650 on the WC stage, I figured I'd wait cause it will be what they'll force on us until 26" is obsolete. In 3-4 years if we need new rims, I'm pretty sure the 650 selection will be better than what's left of the 26" market.I wonder if 650b will sell in DH since the opposition against it is much stronger...
Yes, yes it will sell. The main reason will be because we're forced to. 650 is a new marketing tool. My 2010 Remedy was bought as 26" because that's all it came as. When I warranty my frame next time, it won't be a 26" cause they don't make them anymore. If DH is the only one "holding out", then is it worth it for companies to hold out for the smallest niche of riders? Conformity is what they want. Besides, don't we need a new "standard"? I really wanted a new DH bike this year, but since everyone is testing 650 on the WC stage, I figured I'd wait cause it will be what they'll force on us until 26" is obsolete. In 3-4 years if we need new rims, I'm pretty sure the 650 selection will be better than what's left of the 26" market.
Trust me, I don't want to change either. But I'm not spending another 6k in 2 years because I can't get parts.
Agree, which is why the new Kona 167 (with 26" circles) surprises me -Why wouldn't they be? Why is it even news when a company comes out with a 650b model? It should be news if they release a 26" model really.
Agree, which is why the new Kona 167 (with 26" circles) surprises me -
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/preview-konas-2015-lineup.html
Maybe Kona is the only brand that realizes that there are a crap-ton of riders that really don't care about anything larger than 26".Agree, which is why the new Kona 167 (with 26" circles) surprises me -
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/preview-konas-2015-lineup.html
Also 95% of all amateur riders who believe they're faster on "new" marketed bikesI'm gonna guess that 10yo, wives and girlfriends and most beginners fare better on smaller wheels.
I don't know what you do for a living so you're not doing your job well enough.If what you say was true we would all be riding 29 since 2001... The customers simply didn't go after those. You overestimate the power of marketing. If if was that easy I'm really not doing my jurb well enough.
i wonder if the decision to go 26" was more a factor of how to eke longer travel out of the existing 650 process chassis (without having to stretch / reconfigure the platform significantly) than a desire to appease the #26er4life crowd.Agree, which is why the new Kona 167 (with 26" circles) surprises me
dingding!i wonder if the decision to go 26" was more a factor of how to eke longer travel out of the existing 650 process chassis (without having to stretch / reconfigure the platform significantly) than a desire to appease the #26er4life crowd.
i wonder if the decision to go 26" was more a factor of how to eke longer travel out of the existing 650 process chassis (without having to stretch / reconfigure the platform significantly) than a desire to appease the #26er4life crowd.
There were very few 29ers being sold for anything but xc and marathons before the 650b craze began so stop kidding yourself.I don't know what you do for a living so you're not doing your job well enough.
Second- The Giant Glory will also be 650 next year.
Third- Show me all these 26" wheeled bikes with under 6" of travel and I'll show you 10x the amount of 29'ers... Unfortunately...
It's not what you want or need, it's what they want to sell you is what they manufacturer. Like I said, I held out and will never own a 29'er, but I can't get a 26" hard tail or 4" dualie anymore. I might have to get a 29'er though if 650 or the rebirth of 26" doesn't come to fruition.
Whatever you say... We'll come back to this thread in 3 years and see if your "opposition" to 650 worked or if, like 29'ers, marketing, online hype and magazines make the 26" DH a thing of the past. Companies are only moving forward. Forward is the 650, not the 26". Like 29, once Fox and Rockshox made forks available, Specialized and Giant followed Treks suit and marketed the 29'er. Again, show me a bike with less than 6" of travel that's a 26'er? It won't be available in 95% of bike shops in the USA and is most likely to be manufactured by a small company like GG or Mountain Cycles. The big 3 are on board which probably purchase 40% or more of Fox and Rockshox total annual production. This is what the magazines and websites will be reviewing. Who would read "New 26" Commencial Supreme" vs "Is 650 worth the hype?" or "650 Downhill review. Inside we test the new wheel size by Trek, Specialized and Giant". Magazines and websites run based on ads. They're not going to bash the companies that support them. The 5 companies listed above are probably the top 5 advertisers both online and on paper.There were very few 29ers being sold for anything but xc and marathons before the 650b craze began so stop kidding yourself.
Also the fact that a few companies go for something means nothing.
Also you are wrong. For 2015 only a part of the market will go for 650b. If those bikes won't sell the competition will not follow them. That will still be the majority of the market. Most people don't buy a bike a year. I don't get your logic of everything a producer suggests will sell. Who needs marketing, people buy everything you want. I think I need to start a bike company.Also you somehow ommited the examples you didn't like (35mm bars, bb30, or even the 1.5'' headtube. Not to mention a ton of stupid seatpost sizes)
Whatever you say... We'll come back to this thread in 3 years and see if your "opposition" to 650 worked or if, like 29'ers, marketing, online hype and magazines make the 26" DH a thing of the past. Companies are only moving forward. Forward is the 650, not the 26". Like 29, once Fox and Rockshox made forks available, Specialized and Giant followed Treks suit and marketed the 29'er. Again, show me a bike with less than 6" of travel that's a 26'er? It won't be available in 95% of bike shops in the USA and is most likely to be manufactured by a small company like GG or Mountain Cycles. The big 3 are on board which probably purchase 40% or more of Fox and Rockshox total annual production. This is what the magazines and websites will be reviewing. Who would read "New 26" Commencial Supreme" vs "Is 650 worth the hype?" or "650 Downhill review. Inside we test the new wheel size by Trek, Specialized and Giant". Magazines and websites run based on ads. They're not going to bash the companies that support them. The 5 companies listed above are probably the top 5 advertisers both online and on paper.
You could sit there revolting, kicking and screaming like I did about 29'ers, but it won't do you any good. That argument about "not everyone buys a new DH bike every year" makes no sense. Not everybody buys a new XC or trail bike every year either. What's in right now? 650, enduro, fat bikes, carbon and World Cup Soccer (thank God that's over).
Ps. The only thing I "omitted" wa random bs that you threw in there that was off topic. (pssst... I never had a 35mm bar. Shhhhh!)
Actually it should translate to less smooth given the most common big wheel selling point but wide open, yeah that would suck for some tracks.I hope track builders won't follow hype and re-build tracks to specific 27.5er and 29er. it means more smooth and wider path. *irony*
No sh!t! Around here all the nice flowy and in some places tight and twisty singletracks are now straight-lined motorways. Corners get cut, everything straightened out. This happens increasingly the last years. I don't know if this is a result of more newbies on the trail, more 29-er riders that can't get their bike around a corner, Strava or if this is the cool ENDURO thing to do.I hope track builders won't follow hype and re-build tracks to specific 27.5er and 29er. it means more smooth and wider path. *irony*
I think it's a temporary trend. For a long time most trail centers/bikeparks had very little easy, flowy trails so now everyone wants them. Once they get them everyone will want something new.No sh!t! Around here all the nice flowy and in some places tight and twisty singletracks are now straight-lined motorways. Corners get cut, everything straightened out. This happens increasingly the last years. I don't know if this is a result of more newbies on the trail, more 29-er riders that can't get their bike around a corner, Strava or if this is the cool ENDURO thing to do.
didn't you recently say you wanted your next bike to be a 650b specifically so it's compatible with **** down the line when you go to resorts and stuff? so you're saying that the market is forcing your hand, yet that the market doesn't know what it wants, and that rather than speaking with your wallet, you're going to support the market shift that you hate, just in case the market shifts? what the hell?Also you are wrong. For 2015 only a part of the market will go for 650b.
I'm with Norbar on this one. I have 0 interest in 650b and think its stupid, but if change is inevitable, and its time to vote with my wallet, I'm not going to make a self righteous stand against the powers that be just so that I can make a point that nobody notices. I'm going to get in line for the 650b koolaid so that I don't have to spend double the money when I eventually realize that nobody heard my point, and I have to get a 650b anyway.didn't you recently say you wanted your next bike to be a 650b specifically so it's compatible with **** down the line when you go to resorts and stuff? so you're saying that the market is forcing your hand, yet that the market doesn't know what it wants, and that rather than speaking with your wallet, you're going to support the market shift that you hate, just in case the market shifts? what the hell?
Or be smart and buy NOS and used stuff. The supply of barely used 26" stuff for good prices is not bad lately.I'm with Norbar on this one. I have 0 interest in 650b and think its stupid, but if change is inevitable, and its time to vote with my wallet, I'm not going to make a self righteous stand against the powers that be just so that I can make a point that nobody notices. I'm going to get in line for the 650b koolaid so that I don't have to spend double the money when I eventually realize that nobody heard my point, and I have to get a 650b anyway.
The only thing 26 that's NOT going to be around is manufacturer frame support. You can still buy all kinds of 26" hoops and tires, the best in the biz. In 5 years, you probably won't be able to get the latest and greatest frames...but 2 things; most manufacturers have really gotten their designs down. Aside from Yeti, who will then be on a pivot on a rail and a stanchion and 42 roller bearings, most people aren't going to go crazy with suspension designs. Everybody's backed themselves into corners with patents anyways. If you like the geometry of your bike or know how to change it, you're pretty set. Secondly, the void created by the big cows shifting will create a happy little niche for smaller manufacturers to thrive, like GG and Evil. If enough people say FU to Specialized and Trek, then GG gets paid in the shade, and the market shifts back. If nobody buys their 26" bikes, then everything goes 650b and the well dries up.I'm with Norbar on this one. I have 0 interest in 650b and think its stupid, but if change is inevitable, and its time to vote with my wallet, I'm not going to make a self righteous stand against the powers that be just so that I can make a point that nobody notices. I'm going to get in line for the 650b koolaid so that I don't have to spend double the money when I eventually realize that nobody heard my point, and I have to get a 650b anyway.
There is a difference between DH and Enduro. In enduro/trailbikes the customers embraced the change, it is done, new bikes will be in 27.5. In DH it's the first year they will try to sell it to us. Next year sales will probably decide if the trend will stick. Possibly the next 2. If I will be buying a dh bike in 2 years maybe I will be left with the same decision as with my trail/enduro bike.didn't you recently say you wanted your next bike to be a 650b specifically so it's compatible with **** down the line when you go to resorts and stuff? so you're saying that the market is forcing your hand, yet that the market doesn't know what it wants, and that rather than speaking with your wallet, you're going to support the market shift that you hate, just in case the market shifts? what the hell?
Yeah I wish that too. For me as for many people the DH bike is my main bike park bike and 27.5 limits versatility there. I know the industry big wigs would really want me to have a 1 bike per trail but it's kinda hard to transport 30+ bikes when you go on a holiday by car.OK, that makes sense. For the record, I do wish that DH would stay 26. Not much benefit on a competition stage if everybody switches over to it.