Specialized go 650b

lawman

After the spy shots of Curtis Keene's bike, it all just got official.





Will be EVO models only from what I understand, so they're still pushing 29ers pretty hard but offer the EVO bikes for those that don't want a 29er. Spec looks reasonable, Pike RC on the carbon, Revelation on the comp and Shimano brakes all round. Will we see a 650b Enduro as well?

kammybear

Their arrogance will fuck them over.

No one wants 29ers any more!

supersonic

Look very steep!

pesky_jones

supersonic wrote:

Look very steep!

Thats probally all it is, looks

Thewaylander

Doesnt look that steep, reckon 67-68 myself...

interested to see what specialised do.

rockmonkeysc

They had to go 650b. Everything else is obsolete.

supersonic

Yep, Giant think so:

1. Lighter Weight

27.5-inch wheels are only 5 percent heavier than 26-inch. By comparison, 29-inch wheels are 11 percent heavier than 26-inch.
Overall weights of 27.5 bikes also trend closer to 26 than heavier 29 versions of the same series.

2. More Efficient

27.5 wheels accelerate much like 26, outperforming the more sluggish feel of 29-inch wheels.
27.5 wheels roll over obstacles with much more control than 26. That translates into more efficient cornering, acceleration and braking capabilities.

3. Better Control

The larger the diameter of a wheel, the greater the contact patch of the tyre. A larger contact patch results in better traction—which improves acceleration, deceleration and cornering.
27.5 wheels provide a contact patch that is similar to 29-inch wheels.
The larger the wheel, the larger the frame dimensions must be - and that leads to unwanted flex. A flexing frame causes sloppy handling and slower acceleration under heavy power. A 27.5 frame flexes less than a 29 frame, resulting in better control.'
Giant.

Thewaylander

Actually pretty excited about these, specialised make some great riding bikes, though the fact they're entering the 650b world kind of adds another nail in 26" bikes of the futures coffin sadly.

Stevo_666

I've just bought another 26" bike and I'm going to hang onto both of them until 26" comes back into fashion as the lighter/more agile/better for jumping answer to those tired old 650Bs

29" wheels are only acceptable on road bikes.

bennett_346

Stevo 666 wrote:

I've just bought another 26" bike and I'm going to hang onto both of them until 26" comes back into fashion as the lighter/more agile/better for jumping answer to those tired old 650Bs

29" wheels are only acceptable on road bikes.

When was the last time you saw a 29er road bike?

supersonic

Pretty much all of them!

j_l

Fashion driven marketing guff, :twisted:

bennett_346

supersonic wrote:

Pretty much all of them!

700c then.

Long_Time_Lurker

bennett_346 wrote:

supersonic wrote:

Pretty much all of them!

700c then.

All in the Marketing...
You call it 650b, I call it 27.5 8)

supersonic

I call it 27 lol.

bennett_346

Long Time Lurker wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

supersonic wrote:

Pretty much all of them!

700c then.

All in the Marketing...
You call it 650b, I call it 27.5 8)

You call it all mountain, someone else calls it enduro. Since bikeradar loves categorisation, i thought i'd point out the naming error there before someone is put to death.

supersonic

Oooh no, that's freeride lite.

Angus Young

They've got a new guy in the marketing department.

bartimaeus

I don't think we should get so hung up on wheelsize. At some point I may switch from a 26er to a 27-and-a-little-bit bike, but having ridden a couple I think the 28-and-a-halfers are fast but not quite my sort of bike.

lawman

Bartimaeus wrote:

I don't think we should get so hung up on wheelsize. At some point I may switch from a 26er to a 27-and-a-little-bit bike, but having ridden a couple I think the 28-and-a-halfers are fast but not quite my sort of bike.

couldn't have put it better myself!

supersonic

I'm thinking 24.

Thewaylander

With 4" tyres?