Buying a 26" FS mtb now?
Discussion
This isn't a 26 or 29 debate, but.. I've seen a 26" wheeled full sus specialized, 2012 model, and its a decent price, but do we think its now not really the time to buy a 26 when virtually every bike is now a 29? Its only 120mm travel, not a full on DH machine. I'm thinking of resale as well, wonder if second hand 26ers will lose value.
in terms of riding, a bit of everything but not fussed about grinding up hills for hours. I have tested a couple of hardtail 29ers but only in shop car parks and they all feel alien compared to my very used 1996 Stumpjumper.
I'm waffling, but the gist is, the bike looks cool, its a great price and spec, so would you still buy a 26" wheeled bike?
in terms of riding, a bit of everything but not fussed about grinding up hills for hours. I have tested a couple of hardtail 29ers but only in shop car parks and they all feel alien compared to my very used 1996 Stumpjumper.
I'm waffling, but the gist is, the bike looks cool, its a great price and spec, so would you still buy a 26" wheeled bike?
To be fair, the ubiquity of the 29er is dependant upon what shops are stocking. I went to two LBS recently. One primarily stocking Specialized and having only 29ers on the shop floor, and evangelistic staff who were very reluctant to even discuss the availability of 26ers. They were flogging the 'floats over roots and bumps' and 'rolls faster' lines at every opportunity.
The second shop had about 30% 29ers in it's MTB stock. The staff member I spoke to there was enthusiastic about the type, but readily spoke of his own experiences of both 29" an 26" wheel bikes, and was much less of an evangelist. We discussed/compared our preferred riding and terrain, and came to the conclusion that although I might see some limited benefit getting to the 'fun' bits on a 29er, that the 'fun' bits themselves were better suited to a 26er. This second shop seemed more keen to sell me the 'right' bike for me rather than 'whatever they'd decided to stock'.
I'm slowly coming around to the idea of a 29" wheeled bike, but not yet. The benefits as far as I can see are limited, and aesthetically I still think they don't look quite 'right'.
Sorry to fuel the either/or debate, but in answer to your question I'd go buy the 26er. If the price and spec is as good as you say, you'd be a fool not to. As far as resale value goes, it may well become more desirable if 29ers really do replace the 26ers coming out of the factories. Surely resale value is irrelevant anyway? n+1 and all that
The second shop had about 30% 29ers in it's MTB stock. The staff member I spoke to there was enthusiastic about the type, but readily spoke of his own experiences of both 29" an 26" wheel bikes, and was much less of an evangelist. We discussed/compared our preferred riding and terrain, and came to the conclusion that although I might see some limited benefit getting to the 'fun' bits on a 29er, that the 'fun' bits themselves were better suited to a 26er. This second shop seemed more keen to sell me the 'right' bike for me rather than 'whatever they'd decided to stock'.
I'm slowly coming around to the idea of a 29" wheeled bike, but not yet. The benefits as far as I can see are limited, and aesthetically I still think they don't look quite 'right'.
Sorry to fuel the either/or debate, but in answer to your question I'd go buy the 26er. If the price and spec is as good as you say, you'd be a fool not to. As far as resale value goes, it may well become more desirable if 29ers really do replace the 26ers coming out of the factories. Surely resale value is irrelevant anyway? n+1 and all that
From what I've seen with bike residual values is, they suck so why even worry about it!
I'm a firm believer in buying the right bike as it works out a lot cheaper than buying the wrong bike.
Case in point, Spent £1800 on a bike in 2010, wasn't really the right bike for me. Had the frame replaced under warranty and sold it for about £700. Then spent £3000 on a new bike, it's perfect! If I'd bought the £3k one first I'd be £1100 better off.
I'm a firm believer in buying the right bike as it works out a lot cheaper than buying the wrong bike.
Case in point, Spent £1800 on a bike in 2010, wasn't really the right bike for me. Had the frame replaced under warranty and sold it for about £700. Then spent £3000 on a new bike, it's perfect! If I'd bought the £3k one first I'd be £1100 better off.
There's was a HUGE amount of hype about 29'ers a few years ago, but it's dying down now and my personal feel is that whilst it's going to be a big thing in short travel / HT bikes, it's not going to stick with longer travel bikes.
27.5" or 650b is the next great thing in MTB and that does seem to be making some headway in the longer travel market and again the hype machine is turned up to 11 and it seems every day a cool new 650b bike is introduced to the market with much fanfare.
But 'big wheelers' still make up a pretty small % of new bikes being sold, and whilst it seems like everything is going that way, it's only because there's so much new stuff coming out.
I'd like to try a 29'er or 650b, but the guy in my LBS isn't a fan. He said yeah they do roll over rocks a little easier than a bike with similar travel if you're going faster, but if you're going slower, like when you're climbing they will 'bounce back' far more readily than a 26". They suck on tight twisty technical stuff, they don't accelerate very well and aren't a fun to ride.
27.5" or 650b is the next great thing in MTB and that does seem to be making some headway in the longer travel market and again the hype machine is turned up to 11 and it seems every day a cool new 650b bike is introduced to the market with much fanfare.
But 'big wheelers' still make up a pretty small % of new bikes being sold, and whilst it seems like everything is going that way, it's only because there's so much new stuff coming out.
I'd like to try a 29'er or 650b, but the guy in my LBS isn't a fan. He said yeah they do roll over rocks a little easier than a bike with similar travel if you're going faster, but if you're going slower, like when you're climbing they will 'bounce back' far more readily than a 26". They suck on tight twisty technical stuff, they don't accelerate very well and aren't a fun to ride.
Agree with the above. 29ers are going to exist at the XC, low travel end of the market, they'll be the standard at this point of the market.
I can see longer travel trail bike all-mountain type machines making the switch over to 650b though. With Orange just making the new Five 650b and Santa Cruz releasing a new 650b bike every other week it really does look like 26" is on the decline. Whether it's the right way or there's much advantage doesn't seem to matter, the manufacturers are on board and these are the products they're producing.
I'm also looking at a potential new bike. Part of me thinks I should wait until more 2014 bikes are announced, maybe Lapierre and some others will go 650b too. Another part of me thinks they'll be some bargain 26" bikes around shortly and there's obviously nothing wrong with said bikes either.
I can see longer travel trail bike all-mountain type machines making the switch over to 650b though. With Orange just making the new Five 650b and Santa Cruz releasing a new 650b bike every other week it really does look like 26" is on the decline. Whether it's the right way or there's much advantage doesn't seem to matter, the manufacturers are on board and these are the products they're producing.
I'm also looking at a potential new bike. Part of me thinks I should wait until more 2014 bikes are announced, maybe Lapierre and some others will go 650b too. Another part of me thinks they'll be some bargain 26" bikes around shortly and there's obviously nothing wrong with said bikes either.
Thanks for the replies, helped me disregard my unfounded fears. I have since found out the shop is only discounting it £100 from its 1600 rrp which seems a little tight to me as a 2012 26er must surely be ripe for a big discount. I'm doing cycle scheme tho on the first £1k and shops seem reluctant to budge on the price when doing the scheme. Time to practice my bartering skills.
Nikolai said:
Thanks for the replies, helped me disregard my unfounded fears. I have since found out the shop is only discounting it £100 from its 1600 rrp which seems a little tight to me as a 2012 26er must surely be ripe for a big discount. I'm doing cycle scheme tho on the first £1k and shops seem reluctant to budge on the price when doing the scheme. Time to practice my bartering skills.
I'm reasonably certain you have to pay full RRP on C2W, I could be wrong though, seems stupid to me. TheBaj said:
I'm also looking at a potential new bike. Part of me thinks I should wait until more 2014 bikes are announced, maybe Lapierre and some others will go 650b too. Another part of me thinks they'll be some bargain 26" bikes around shortly and there's obviously nothing wrong with said bikes either.
Saracen Zen hardtail is 650b and looks the business but its £1600 which is a little steep for a hardtail otherwise its perfect for what I want. Never had full sus before and feel like its about time i tried it.
Edited by Nikolai on Tuesday 18th June 09:44
Nikolai said:
Saracen Zen hardtail is 650b and looks the business but its £1600 which is a little steep for a hardtail ...
I've seen some half-price offers on the 2013 Saracen Ariel, makes them a cracking buy!http://plushhillcycles.co.uk/component/content/art...
29 is here to stay for short travel and hardtail bikes.
650b will become a very popular choice on 6" enduro bikes.
Whatever happens in downhill will take much longer to filter through. But suspect it will be 650b with options to run either size 650b/26") on the rear.
No wheel size is right or wrong and all have the + and -.
What gets me is the negativity from people who, in most cases, have never tried anything other than 26.
The hostility I get when on a 29er are usually from people who are afraid to be seen not riding the latest and greatest
650b will become a very popular choice on 6" enduro bikes.
Whatever happens in downhill will take much longer to filter through. But suspect it will be 650b with options to run either size 650b/26") on the rear.
No wheel size is right or wrong and all have the + and -.
What gets me is the negativity from people who, in most cases, have never tried anything other than 26.
The hostility I get when on a 29er are usually from people who are afraid to be seen not riding the latest and greatest
Edited by R.P.M on Tuesday 18th June 12:55
R.P.M said:
BaronVonVaderham said:
29 is a fad. 650b is a fad.
26 has been around forever and will continue to do so!
And I trust you have ridden all three wheels sizes to comment?26 has been around forever and will continue to do so!
All marketing BS just like 'freeride' - Wot err just like, riding a bike? s
t, no-one's ever done that before... TheBaj said:
I've seen some half-price offers on the 2013 Saracen Ariel, makes them a cracking buy!
http://plushhillcycles.co.uk/component/content/art...
Sold! Saracen Ariel 142 in the bag, rather excited now. Incredible spec for the moneyhttp://plushhillcycles.co.uk/component/content/art...
I really don't know what to make of it all. I understand the theory, but haven't had the chance to try them all.
The main thing for me at the moment is, that despite all the hype, the vast majority of new bikes are 26'ers and they still dominate the market for everything else, forks, frames, tyres, rims of course.
Plus there is the question of 'Fad' I'm not saying they are, but 24" inch wheels were going to be the standard, then they weren't, Carbon was going to be the standard, but still it's only the stuff of high-end bikes and dare I say it the market is going back to Alu, 1.5" steerer tubes was going to be the standard, for all of 10 minuets.
The main thing for me at the moment is, that despite all the hype, the vast majority of new bikes are 26'ers and they still dominate the market for everything else, forks, frames, tyres, rims of course.
Plus there is the question of 'Fad' I'm not saying they are, but 24" inch wheels were going to be the standard, then they weren't, Carbon was going to be the standard, but still it's only the stuff of high-end bikes and dare I say it the market is going back to Alu, 1.5" steerer tubes was going to be the standard, for all of 10 minuets.
TheBaj said:
Good choice, did you get it from Plush Hill? If you've not been that way before then check out their local trails around the Long Mynd if you're picking it up, great descent down Minton Batch amongst others.
Yeah plush hill, thanks for the link! I was thinking about doing that, they seem not used to mail order and said a courier would be about £40 
so I thought a trip from Bristol and back via some trails could be fun. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff