Is Specialized Finally Going 650b?

Feb 20, 2014
by Mike Kazimer  

Specialized's popular Butcher Control will now be available
in a 650b x 2.3" version.
650b Tires From Specialized

According to Bicycle Retailer, Specialized will be offering a number of tires in the 650b size. The initial offering is claimed to include the Fast Trak S-Works (in 650b x 2.0), the Ground Control (in 650b x 2.1), the Purgatory Grid (650b x 2.3) and the Butcher Control (650b x 2.3). A presta valve tube in the 650b x 1.75-2.4-inch size with a 40mm valve stem and a removable core will also be offered. MSRP on the tires: Fast Track: $65.00, Ground Control: $55.00, Purgatory: $65.00, Butcher Control: $55.00.

Is this a precursor of things to come? It would stand to reason that Specialized would want to have their own tires spec'd on their mountain bikes, and now that these tires are available we'd imagine complete bikes can't be too far behind.

www.specialized.com


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Tires Specialized


Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,732 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Kona Bicycles' Parent Company Appoints New CFO, Intends to Sell Brand
64130 views
Pole Bicycles Has Filed for Bankruptcy
63930 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 1
45375 views
Randoms Round 3: Dario's Treasures
43840 views
Brian's Randoms from Sea Otter 2024
43236 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in 10 DAYS!
38857 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Araxá XC World Cup 2024
37955 views
Randoms Round 1 - Sea Otter 2024
37802 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

219 Comments
  • 188 8
 Too long, didn't read.
  • 14 61
flag TacomaTrev (Feb 20, 2014 at 9:49) (Below Threshold)
 said no one lol
  • 20 7
 ...and they said they would never cave to 275.
  • 185 14
 How long til they start sueing other companies for using 27.5 tyres...
  • 15 12
 Ha! Nice one, thomaspearson. Good stuff.
  • 38 7
 They apparently already hold the patents on 650b and 27.5 ..... and oddly the word "inch" .... 698.5mm is the new designation for everybody else.
  • 9 8
 No option. 26" Forks, rims etc are being phased out.
  • 13 0
 ^ not for street, park 26 is big enough
  • 9 0
 Wonder if they'll come out with a 650b demo?
  • 18 33
flag thomaspearson (Feb 20, 2014 at 13:53) (Below Threshold)
 Hello specialized, i'm going to call my house Roubaix, hope you're happy! What's that? I can't? THERE'S A F@&%ING TOWN CALLED ROUBAIX, what ya gonna do now!!! Lets check to see if there's towns called suck my dick, and piss off before I use these words outside my house too.
  • 16 8
 Dickishness aside, I genuinely couldn't give a hoot about wheel sizes, for a few reasons: 1) I don't compete so a wheel is a wheel to me as i'm not going fast enough to feel the difference. 2) Big wheel, little wheel, whatever, it's your bike to ride so you make the decision not the bike shop as to what wheel size you get. 3) Just ride it, and if you like it, great, if not, demo something else and make up your mind. Generally I think taller, heavier people would be better suited to larger wheels for the greater contact patch, but apart from that...
  • 16 2
 I don't give a s**t.
  • 3 1
 opinion of the day right there ^ www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixdo93X6-ek
  • 34 7
 NvrThnkTwce,

A summary for you.

Specialized are enforcing a systematic global closure of high street meat vendors for infringing the copywrite on the use of Butcher. If you want to buy sausages you should get a move on or seek them later on the BLKMRKT.

They are also holding talks with Heaven and Hell over who is responsible for the illegal use of the term Purgatory (location currently unknown). Spokespeople for both parties deny responsibility however Heaven are believed to be using the loophole of "Aaron Gwin was a riding God with Trek but now Specialized have dragged him down to mere mortal level" which potentially means that Specialized have created their own version of Purgtory (typical right, pfft) and therefore all legal action against Heaven is null and void.

Oh and if you say you're tired after a ride, expect a spanking as that sounds like tyre and they invented those too.


(I need to stop having 3 expressos for breakfast).
  • 5 4
 Soul less company
  • 10 2
 The title should be "Is Specialized going 650b, and does anyone care?"
  • 2 1
 Tire that give money , " Is pinkbike become advertorial site ?"
  • 3 2
 blah blah blah...yeah, im so offended that the bike industry is pushing innovation and providing more product options
  • 3 1
 It would be nice to ride Stumpjumper FSR 650b next year!! Hope they'r gonna build Evo version, if those tires are sign of 650b bikes in their range.
  • 3 1
 August 2014 650b specialized bikes will be on sale (so expect sneak peaks and previews before then).
Heard this from the top of the ladder.
  • 1 0
 The only bike you can use for "Enduro" is the Specialized Enduro… all the rest are "all mountain" otherwise they face being sued. Therefore the Enduro world series is at risk of landing themselves in court unless all riders use Specialized Enduros… otherwise it should be called the "Slightly More Aggressive Than All Mountain Race World Series". Soon Jerome Clementz is going to be stripped of his 2013 "Enduro" world title soon.
  • 2 0
 adapt or die, thats business. all the hype finally got into specialized. by the way, who really gives a crap anyways....
  • 1 2
 It's only 'hype' because people talk about it, if no-one cared and no-one talked about it, it would pale into nothing
  • 71 6
 Can somebody say carbon 650b Enduro?
  • 31 78
flag Protour (Feb 20, 2014 at 10:16) (Below Threshold)
 Can somebody say something original that doesn't involve the e word?
  • 80 2
 It's a bit different when it's the actual name of a bike.
  • 22 1
 You know the enduro is a spesh model? And has been for some years
  • 7 1
 It could be a very smart business move in terms of seeing how the market is going rather than stake their whole line on a new wheel size - why not outfit their competition with their tires in their shops. They'll be able to gain a bit of an idea as to the future of what they'll do against their competition by making a smart business decision in terms of competing slowly rather than quickly.
  • 10 3
 It's even been a S bike before "Enduro" was a thing. At least for ten years now...
  • 8 24
flag Protour (Feb 20, 2014 at 10:45) (Below Threshold)
 Enduro racing has existed for over 10 years hasn't it? Which came first, the bike model or the sport?
  • 11 3
 Bike model
  • 31 0
 I think the wheel came first, but not sure.
  • 17 3
 Doesn't matter which came first, Specialized will sue all their asses anyway
  • 10 0
 Spesh owns the patent on the term mountain biking, and any abbreviation of it like mtb, mtn biking, and mt biking
  • 9 12
 Looks like the race format came before the bike model:

m.pinkbike.com/news/A-Short-History-of-Enduro-2012.html
  • 2 2
 i have already seen a carbon enduro 27.5. Saw it on Thanksgiving day
  • 11 1
 @Protour: Your linked article states:
"In August 2003 Fred Glo held the Tribe 10,000 at Val D’Allos – the first mountain bike race called an enduro."

And then there is this:
www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/archive/2002/2002enduro

So the name Enduro has been used for the Specialized Bike before it has been used for a race. And truth be told, those old enduros were great bikes, even back then. 130mm travel, fat tires, yet still uphill-able weight. And in 2003 they invented the SX, which is just a legendary bike. Why they let it die a few years ago, i probably will never understand...
  • 5 1
 Rocky Mountain bikes was using the term enduro in their catalogs in the late 80s/early 90s to describe their bikes. The term originates obviously in motorsports racing, especially motorcycles but Specialized wasn't even close to first to use it for mountain bikes.
  • 3 2
 Protour, you troll so hard and I find it amusing. Folks, do you not understand trolling?
  • 5 0
 Carbon Enduro, Just get a carbon Norco Range
  • 2 1
 Kainerm, I have a SX Trail 1 2011, and just love the bike! Not the best donwhill machine, but the most fun!
  • 2 0
 Deeeight, the time keeping part of old school enduros (on motos) would not compute with most of the posters here.
  • 1 1
 As the article explained, the race format came before the bike model. It just wasn't called "enduro" yet.
  • 14 1
 I don't think there has ever been any doubt that specialized would go 650B, very surprised it took them this long.
  • 18 8
 More development time = better product.
  • 11 2
 or more like playing the waiting game.
  • 11 1
 It takes time to reinvent the wheel i guess...
  • 26 18
 According to Specialized own stupid marketing words, there was definitely doubt about whether they would do 650b. Just a few short years ago they released a anti 650b statement that essentially said 650b wasn't necessary. Now they are eating their words.

The big question is , when will they update their outdated suspension design that is incapable of winning a World Cup DH race regardless of who rides it?
  • 3 0
 ^
thanks for splainin protour. i was just going to ask: werent they bitching and moaning that 650b wasnt 'necessary' a couple of years ago?
  • 11 2
 Protour, I missed you ;-)
  • 3 1
 Oh no here's the most uninformed guy on Pinkbike again. They still think 650b is bullshit. What option do they have when Fox etc are phasing out 26"'forks?
  • 12 2
 @protour...incapable of winning a World Cup? I guess you forgot about Sam's wins on board one, and then the 3 World Champs victories as well. And their outdated design is now used by more companies than any other. But keep hating, it's what you do well.
  • 3 1
 Protour dumbing up PB one post at a time... The reason why or if S brings in 650b is because the consumer is unfortunately demanding it. Same thing at Santa Cruz as well. As long as they keep the 26" and giving the consumer the option of 650b, then all good. They still can stand by what they said. There is always going to be give and take for wheel sizes.
  • 2 1
 I think specialized would rather eat their own words, then loose out on the profit that would inevitably be made by producing the 650b stuff. I don't necessarily like these tweener bikes but I understand why specialized would want to make them even if they don't really think their that much better deep down inside. Their a business, and the whole point of a business is to make a profit.
  • 5 0
 you guys should listen to CREAM by wu tang clan Wink
  • 14 5
 It's inevitable that S will be doing 650b tires. Big S produces great tires with great prices and it seems most new bikes are tweener wheels. Probably due to public pressure they will be doing 650b in bikes for 2015. I have yet to see what's wrong with 26" and I highly doubt there is an advantage with 650b. Looks like Graves with be on 26" for this year... he certainly has an option to go 650b. Jerome I doubt had a choice. Purely marketing to sell more bikes imo.
  • 12 5
 Purely physics. You cannot argue with science. Jerome waited to go 650b because Cannondale wanted to sell off their 26ers.
  • 7 5
 I agree that 26 is great for enduro (yes, there is a lot of pedaling between stages, but the stages are short and on tight, sketchy trails), but I really think 650b is going to take over world cup downhill, especially if the tracks keep evolving like that.
650b would get f*cking owned by 26in in schladming, Maribor or Champery, but nowadays it's all about Fort Bill, PMB, MSA, Leogang, etc., where the pedal efficiency and added stability will come in handy
  • 14 1
 there's going to be some great deals on 26" bikes and parts soon. It seems the industry wants to kill off the 26" and people are lapping it up. When industry starts to not sell as much 650b product (in the next few years), 26" will be back on the table. "Come ride the fun and playful wheelsize!" Mark my words.
  • 7 6
 Stop with this BS that it's "scientifically" proven. There are a million other factors on how a 5-9" travel bike rides other than wheel size alone. How about the fact that all these magically more stable 650b bikes have slacker head angles than the 26" bikes they replaced? Gee, you think that may have something to do with it?
  • 6 6
 @slodown: Right. Add a bit more wheelbase and fork offset and you get a stable base. Nothing to do with tiresize. The only thing 27 or 29 adds is rotating mass, weight and less travel.
  • 3 2
 And 40mm of BB drop...
  • 4 0
 Yeah because why would anyone think lowering your center of gravity is a good thing...
  • 2 0
 Sort of... Increasing tire size to 27.5 or 29 dictates that the frame geo must be built with a slacker head tube angle to achieve the same amount of trail as was found on the 26 inch wheeled bike. Then the geo must be adjusted in terms of CG (height and forward positioning relative to wheelbase length) in order to achieve a similar ride characteristics as the 26. But tire size does affect the approach angle, as well as some gyro effect to add stability (nearly negligible).

www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=patterson+control+model&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Click the first link....
  • 2 0
 don't forget about that unsprung mass
  • 2 0
 ibergman, you're overstating trail and underestimating BB drop.

Unsprung mass? 200 grams? DH bikes work well with 1000g tires and coil shocks.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, mass pushes mass
  • 1 0
 Rather than adjusting HTA, fork offset gets the trail where it needs to be. The HTA can come back a few degrees and bring more neutrality to handling= equal stability with better playfulness.
  • 8 1
 26" won't disappear. It will always be around because of the dirt jump and slope-style scenes. I highly doubt that jumpers will use even bigger wheels. My two cents, is all.
  • 4 1
 I guess I'll have to ride a DJ or SS bike when what I really want to ride is a 6" travel bike in order to ride on 26" wheels. The fact that they're adding 650b in no way bothers me, but erasing the option of buying a decent all mountain type of bike in 26" and companies phasing out even building parts for them is stupid. Looks like I'll have to get a new 26" bike before they're gone.
  • 2 0
 waitin on the pb eulogy for 26s. hehe
i think it'll just come full circle like most things. you'll get a lone framebuilder somewhere who'll build a 26 ht that will get some folks stoked to find 26 again and remember its forgotten but most associated attribute which is that they were always fun & flickable and before you know it a revisit or something happens.

all of it has a life cycle doesn't it? if it didn't the industry would stagnate and die off. the physics of marketing is laughable as is the marketing of physics. if you're on the 650b, 29, or 26(guilty) wagon now it will not matter years from now cuz you'll get worn and crusty like me(haha) and wheel size wont matter. i do think there is room for all three wheel sizes to exist simultaneously simply because of how mtb has evolved and progressing thru riders, styles, and venues... but you gotta stay open minded for that to happen
  • 1 1
 Or maybe the mtb dirt jumpers will finally realize they are jokes, and go back to 20" bikes where the guys are doing bigger jumps and bigger tricks than anyone on a 26" wheel. Just talk to guys like Bearclaw and Solderstrom who couldn't hack it in BMX, so they "transitioned" to MTB where the competition was less.
  • 1 0
 still ridin my 20s! it is THE chicken before the egg!
  • 7 2
 Years from now we can sit our grandkids down and tell that there was a time when small wheels were everywhere. People smiled. Then the wagon wheel came along. Not everyone bought into it, but some were good and it brought joy to some of the town folk. Then, like a medieval plague a new wheel size came along. Compared to the small wheel, it was only about that much bigger than a supermodel after 2 wafer thin slices of pizza. But it was enough. Some town folk were in arms. The believers stood on their shoe boxes and said it was a "sign" from the heavens and tried to tell the folks in arms to also believe. Even the ones that didn't race their mighty steeds were thrown to the side because THIS was a sign. Bike-o-goddius swung his mighty crankarm and in less than a year after the plague rolled into showrooms other than KHS, the little wheel size was fazed out. Leaving only memories of a time when things where simpler, smaller. A time when you could share your wheels with your neighbor because you all ran 8 speed and had cantilevers... What are cantilevers? Well...

R.I.P. 26". I'll always remember you...
  • 11 3
 Neg prop me all you want! 650b sucks!
  • 7 1
 Which begs the question, will they add 650b to their line-up or replace one of the sizes they currently offer?
  • 1 0
 likely very few of the all mountain/xc bikes will be offered in 26"
  • 4 0
 as long as they dont get rid of 26...
  • 2 1
 Rumor has it they are... But then again, they are called rumors for a reason.
  • 2 4
 Well giant is already dropping hints that they're moving all their bikes to 650B that aren't currently offered that way for 2015 so Specialized is no doubt left scrambling to be relevant somehow.
  • 5 2
 The larger the wheel, the larger the rocks we find to roll over lol. It's all about fun for me. 26 is perfect. The only thing a 27.5 will do is shave a few thousandths off your time if you're racing and make your bike a little heavier.
  • 5 3
 Spec thought that 29 was the market but was wrong Europeans never liked the big wheel thing that much even though Spec makes some fine 29ers.Giant decided to go 650b and being the world's largest producer of bikes all other brands followed.It's all business can't beat them join them.
  • 7 1
 Enduro 29's are sold out but keep talking BS.
  • 4 0
 Enduro 29s are sold out because they don't make that many anyway. The bread and butter of mountain bike sales to every brand other than boutique ones (like Ibis, Pivot, Santa Cruz, Nicolai, Intense and so forth) is not a $3000 full suspension bikes, but the thousand dollar and under hardtails.
  • 4 2
 Specialized is more of a "lets see how the market reacts, what designs work" and then they jump into it. That's why most of their models are amazing platforms. You don't see them going out and producing something that's a first very often, certainly more of a refinement approach.
  • 3 1
 How does Santa Cruz survive the? I assure you Specialized do very well with the increased margin on upper end bikes. Do you know in 2012 they sold twice as many DH bikes as the closest competing brand. Lots of pennies there.
  • 2 2
 twice as many of a small pile still isn't very much. All the DH bikes combined sold in the world each year don't amount to as one brand like specialized sells just of its entry level hardtail.
  • 1 0
 Yep, you tell Specialized that they have to cut one product range of bikes out of their market... bye bye DH product, they wouldn't even think twice. Road is top, DH at the very bottom
  • 12 5
 Who cares about 650b?
  • 10 11
 A lot more REAL buyers than 26 or 29 unfortunetly for you anti-650B folks. For every person who complains about a product on a web forum, there are 99 people who don't and will happilly buy the product. That wheel size poll last year there was maybe 6000 or so anti-650B votes... i'm sorry but 6000 people don't amount to a hell of a lot in a world bicycle market that amounts to millions of mountain bikes sold each year.
  • 9 1
 @deeeight There's also a lot of people who bought Brittney Spears albums, and who subsist off of GMO corn products. Plenty of people also drink the worst tasting and produced beers around but that doesn't mean it's great. All the nerds who are like ya I need and inch and a half on my wheels so I can roll over stuff just slightly better while at the same time removing some of the playfulness and jumping comfort should be able to buy their bigger wheels. I know the market caters to middle aged XC gear head people in general anyway, but most of the gearheads pushing 650b like it's the next best thing since disc brakes are the ones leaving braking bumps all over the trails in spots that even me as an amateur rider either don't brake through or break after. I'm just for people having options, but just because x number of people want to go buy and rave about a product in no way means that it's worthy of such praise or that another product should be killed because the majority of people want it.
  • 3 0
 Also the poll was mostly people on PB saying the industry wasn't listening to people's needs www.pinkbike.com/news/Pinkbike-Poll-650B-wheels-Forced-Upon-Us-or-Worthwhile.html

Another opinion article testing three of the same bike in 26, 27.5, and 29 inch wheels had 2/3 riders picking 26.
www.pinkbike.com/news/26-vs-275-vs-29-Wheels.html

Hype can sell a lot of stuff as anyone in marketing knows but it doesn't mean it's what the actual consumers want. However, if you tell people enough that it's what they want or need they'll buy it.
  • 4 3
 Except its a poll on a site that speaks for a minority of actual bicycle buyers... so why would brands care what people here think of their decisions one way or another ? Even if EVERY pinkbike member ever registered including all the scammers only bought 26" wheeled bikes... that's less than 1% of the world annual bicycle market. And that's 700,000 plus accounts... and ten thousand of those take part in a poll ?! Whoopy.
  • 3 0
 Exactly they'll sell more bikes adding 27.5 while enthusiasts who still want to ride 26 will be short changed. They know what they're doing and that's selling more bikes. If you eliminate your 26" lines of course people will buy more 650b bikes too, and especially if you market it as some great revolution in the sport and as better technology. It's like if all you ever hear on the radio is music created to sell units and all your local grocery store stocks is crappy US domestic beers that's what people end up buying. You're dead on about it being unfortunate for those that prefer 26" bikes especially because most of us aren't anti 650b, but just want to ride 26" bikes. However, just because there are a lot of buyers out there buying the bigger wheels doesn't mean it's so great or that we should just be happy about what the industry wants to build right now.
  • 2 0
 Funny how strongly voiced are the opinions on wheel size. The human body ans mind is a greatly adaptable machine that learns new stuff all the time. You can still have fun on a larger wheel, a longer wheelbase,or the other way round. Ride it long enough and it becomes second nature.
My 26" ht is dialed for my newss and style right now, but the last time I jumped on a good 29" fs I had heaps of fun.
  • 4 0
 Sorry for the typos, tapping text sucks on my phone! The only thing I dislike about 650b is how it's being stuffed down our throats.
  • 3 0
 Apparently, 650B Stumpjumper Evo will be arriving April or May. Bye Bye 26inch. Pick a wheel size and then be a dick about it. Smile
  • 1 2
 You don't know what your talking about. You won't see 650b in 2014.
  • 3 0
 I bet you will.
  • 1 1
 not in production...
  • 3 1
 Sea Otter launch, Mid year limited availability. Stumpy Evo and Enduro. Think about it, the differences are so small that all they would have to do is change the rear ends.
  • 1 0
 I would say Crankworx. They usually launch that time. Sea Otter could affect sales for the year.
  • 1 0
 Possibly. All depends on if the Stumpy runs for another year or gets a new frame design for 15.
  • 1 0
 I'm pretty sure. Working in the industry you get a little more info than the public. Staff have been to Spesh for general sales training on all products, so we're pretty sure they're coming soon.
  • 1 0
 Anyone want to buy my (size large) 2014 Stumpjumper Evo Carbon with Mavic Enduro wheel set, Rockshox reverb, Thomson 50mm X4 stem, Thomson DH bars, Shimano saint peddles? It's been out on a ride three times. RRP with wheels and other kit changes is £5700. Take it away for £4250
  • 2 0
 If you are familiar with the specialized line, model spec and how many years a frame is kept for sale you would see that the Stumpjumper FSR is due for a redesign release for 2015. Now the tires, the Butcher Control tire is what they run on the front of "EVO" models and that the Purgatory Grid 2BR is what they run as a rear tire. So with this and the fact that they had to get a 2013 Enduro out in "SE" models means we will likely see a Stumpjumper FSR comp and Expert Evo available in a few months. A hand few will come out right after sea otter but most people will have to wait till fall.
  • 4 0
 Yeah right, they'll only make tires. Of course they are going 650b. it is obvious.
  • 2 1
 my local specialised store only has 26" enduro's and stumpys in the shop this year, last year it was only 29", 26" aint dead in the uk yet,
don't see many 27.5" yet either all though that may change when the newbies come out in the spring
  • 3 1
 i see plenty of 650s everyday i'm out riding and i have one.
  • 2 1
 Lol, I remember riding my mates Patriot with 24" wheels a few years back and thinking how much better and more fun to ride it was the my 26" Patriot... this whole big wheel trend is just destroying my soul! How come MX bikes don't have 27.5" wheels??? Oh that's right... because they suck!
  • 2 0
 ...yeh they don't have 26" wheels either!
  • 1 0
 You do realize that MX bikes, and motorcycles in general, measure wheel size by rim diameter and MTBs go by a rough measure of the tire diameter. A big 650b tire is over 28"...
Yours is not an apples to oranges comparison, it is apples to bricks.
  • 1 0
 I worked in a bike shop for 6 years that sold Specialized, Gary Fisher and Trek back in 2001-2007. When Gary Fisher's 29er was just staring to gain traction and we were selling a decent amount of them, the Specialized sales rep. told us that Specialized would never make a 29er mountain bike. Look at their mountain bike lineup now and it is primarily 29er. I had no doubt whatsoever that Specialized would eventually make the leap to 27.5. Seems a bit dodgy...
  • 1 0
 Butcher Control 2.3, Purgatory Grid 2.3, Ground Control 2.1 are the only tires that are currently offered right now. Plenty of all instock at Specialized. Just confirmed from the dealer site.
  • 6 2
 27.5 Butcher control? Yes, please.
  • 7 3
 Don't think I'll be downgrading from the E29.
  • 3 2
 Me neither.
  • 5 0
 Don't think I'll downgrade from my 26". My Stumper EVO 29er still collects dust.
  • 1 1
 I can't believe you don't like the SJ Evo 29. That bike rules.
  • 3 0
 Depends on what trails you ride : )
  • 1 0
 I'm not sure where it wouldn't work? Maybe it'd be a bit much on smooth very tight twisting trails.
  • 3 0
 It's fine on up and across but I hate it on the down compared to my Enduro 26". It doesn't take the switchbacks near as good either. Front ends are so high with 29er, jumps like shit, the list goes on.
  • 1 0
 I had an E26" too. Great bike but I'm way faster on the SJE29". I'm only 5'8" ish and I'm okay with bar height (just) with the stem slammed and a flat bar but I know where you're coming from.
  • 3 0
 Jaydawg69 kinda hit the nail on the head.
  • 1 0
 That's funny. My sj evo 29 absolutely crushed the downhills and jumped like a champ. Corners really well too. It's all in how that bike is being ridden.
  • 1 0
 No argument there! Definitely matters how the bike is ridden. My two friends first trips out on their 29ers keeping up with me folded their rear wheels in half. Legitimate taco lol. Stumpy's a trail bike. it should have 29" wheels if that's what you want. All the larger wheel does is reduce the level of difficulty and add weight to the bike. So now to get the difficulty level back up, where things are pushing us to our limits, we just find bigger things to run over. What next a 32"? because that would even roll faster yet. Why not a 34"? See my point. I'm 6'5" 250 pounds. 29" wheels built to withstand me would weigh 10 lbs!
  • 1 0
 Nah they would weigh 1750g but they would cost you $1500.
  • 1 0
 Easton haven carbon wheels. I wouldn't taco a wheel on a 29 evo trying to keep up. I would be waiting for you at the bottom though. The bike begs to been ridden aggressively, if you don't ride like that, it would suck.
  • 1 0
 Carbon wheels are great idea if you have that kind of money to shell out lol. Again though, that's trail stuff and maybe AM. I know of a set of Enve and a set of Eastons that ended in catastrophic failures and those were on 26". They would have failed MUCH sooner in the 29" version. There's a big difference between a 160lb rider and a 250lb rider. I don't see anyone at Rampage or any DH racers (professionally speaking) running 29" carbon wheels and there's a reason for that.
  • 1 0
 They are not running 29ers at all. Rampage? Why would you compare anything to rampage? Easton haven carbons are the strongest wheels made period. No weight limit either. I'm 185 not 160. You will break a frame before haven carbons. Seen it first hand. In fact, the wheels were still true. I would shred a dh trail with haven carbon 29s with no issues. Hitting every feature and jump too. Can't tell anyone anything though.
  • 1 0
 You must be a great rider. Of course they aren't running 29ers! That's my point. Ok, forget Rampage. I used it as an example to prove a point, being that if 29ers were all that, Rampage and DH racers would be using them. Guess it's all a matter of preference.
  • 1 0
 No one makes 200mm 29'ers spoonhead.
  • 1 0
 Oh, now I gotta be a spoon head! lol. And there's a reason why they don't! CHECKMATE! Spoon head lol.
  • 4 2
 Tyre sizings are making even less sense now, mixing metric and imperial systems on the same tyre size. 27.5" x 2.3" OR 650b x 59.
  • 11 1
 About as much sense as a century old but not original spelling for tire being still in usage. Or for calling a derailleur a mech, but only in one country.
  • 2 1
 We give the world the English language and the dam colonies still can't get it right!
  • 2 1
 Well given that you got it wrong... and the colonies right...

John Dunlop's original 1888 patent for pneumatic tires specified the spelling as "tire" with a i, not "tyre" with a y. The y spelling was basically the idiots version which for reasons unknown to the universe has near totally replaced the proper spelling in the UK and some parts of continental europe.
  • 1 0
 Careful... don't won't to put the last couple ones off. The sun might actually set...

[L=http://what-if.xkcd.com/48/[/L]
  • 3 2
 In the 19th century we decided to change the spelling to 'Tyre' as 'Tire' all ready had a meaning. 'To tire' as in to grow weary/bored of something. Maybe we should of just left you to the French! ;D
  • 3 1
 "We" being english folk who couldn't stand being told by a Scotsman how to spell his own invention ?
  • 2 2
 'We' being the British who didn't want to use a word derived from French by Robert William Thomson (who coincidently was also a jock!)
  • 1 1
 Sweet! Mix something people want with something people really don't want and end up with something people slightly don't want 650 (slightly)B(igger)
Change your marketing pitch to suit your backtracking. Smile ) wouldn't mind trying an enduro b though
  • 1 0
 YES! One of the only reasons I haven't went with the slightly bigger wheels (current frame is convertible) was cause my favorite tires, Butcher and Purg weren't offered in 650b. Thanks Specialized, love your tires!
  • 1 0
 i will be having the 650b enduro. after riding a few diffrent models and wheel sized enduros and riding 650b i think the enduro 650b will be my perfect bike i cant wait.
  • 1 0
 There's been a 650 carbon Enduro slaying the trails in my hood for the past few months. He won't say if they are ditching 26.
  • 1 0
 Specialized could finally 650 DP their riders and i would still dont care! by the way just finished my pinkbike admission exam: 19-4= ??? for me that was kind of tough one.
  • 4 0
 Hillbilly 650b por favor
  • 3 2
 Specialized will sue us all for using the word "enduro" it's their word damm it and we all need to quit enfringing on their copyright !!! Now every stop using this word !
  • 1 2
 If they were going to do that they would have already. They've had an Enduro model for 6+ years.
  • 1 0
 keyboard warrior strikes again
  • 4 0
 twenty six 4 life !
  • 1 0
 i also heard that specialized is fully phasing out 26inch wheels...im sure in a year or two they will be advertising the return of the size they phased out..money
  • 1 0
 good news for me, wanna try some spesh tyres on my Process they put in a big order for 650b rims from mavic b4 xmas apparently
  • 1 0
 The Enduro & Stumpy 26er are goooooone going forward. Only 27.5 and 29er.
The Demo might be another casualty moving to 27.5 as well.
  • 1 0
 Sweetttt. I love Spesh tires. The Butcher has been stellar on my 26'er as well as their other faires. I will be at the store soon to get a 27.5 Butcher!!
  • 1 0
 Stumpjumper will be available mid season all the rest in September, just don't buy specialized pink bike !
  • 1 0
 I'm really glad that I was able to buy my StumpJumper last year, while 26" were still available.
  • 4 2
 27.5 Enduro or Stump EVO with those super short CS please!!!
  • 3 1
 and slightly higher BB, 3 or 4 mm only
  • 7 3
 Dear Specialized,

650/27.5
140 rear wheel travel
150 Pike
430 CS
23" TT in size med
66* HTA
1x drive
Tubeless

Thank you
  • 9 0
 And... no proprietary bullshit like shock mounts and non-standard rear wheel spacing. How about some good ol threaded bottom brackets. Not the creaky BB## BS. Oh, wait... what am I thinking. I thought they might listed to reason.
  • 5 1
 @ insanemntbiker - Its called a Norco Carbon Sight.
  • 2 0
 haha, the remedy is also close to those specs, just swap the fork to a 160 mm and it will have the 66 HTA
  • 1 2
 430mm chainstays are too short.
  • 4 0
 Then I guess Specialized, kona, Knolly, pivot all got it wrong in 2014 with frame geometry.
  • 2 0
 23" top tube for a medium is a tad short IMO. 23.6-23.8 theoretical top tube is more like it to match with a short stem. Also, 66.5 is slack enough for me. Other than that you're spot on
  • 1 0
 " Then I guess Specialized, kona, Knolly, pivot all got it wrong in 2014 with frame geometry."

It's a marketing move by Specialized as they know the dual-link bikes can't match the short rear centre and for some reason the gravity set is obsessed with short rear centres and the subsequently crap weight distribution. Look at the 29" Cambers and Stumpys, 450mm rear centres.
  • 3 0
 If they only made a 650b sj evo with a db air cs and a 160mm pike. That bike would rip!
  • 1 0
 Couldn't agree more dual suspensiondave!!!
  • 2 0
 As the 26" Enduro has 419 mm chainstays, I guess they'll be shorter than 430 on 27.5".

I'd love to hear some commitments regarding 26" parts availability from major producers. I bet they want to keep the sweet aftermarket sales, so we can easily get 26" parts for the next 5-8 years -- and for DH/Slopestyle beyond that timeframe.
  • 1 0
 Could care less about Spesh 650b frames but I love their rubber. Can't wait until these hit retailers.
  • 1 0
 Looks like they are already in the Specialized online store.
  • 1 0
 If they made a decent tire I might just try them out. Too bad they suck for anything wetter than a desert
  • 2 0
 yes for next year, 26" is over...
  • 1 0
 I'm still very tempted to build a 26" evil uprising later in the year, what ever specialised decide bring out
  • 1 0
 Purgatory Control is the best tyre I've used, it's a shame it's a specialized product, but needs must.
  • 1 0
 Specialized just got tired of hearing "mines bigger than yours"
  • 5 3
 Enduro 650b, pleeeease!
  • 1 0
 Please bring a 27.5 stumpjmper fsr comp evo 26 god thats a long name
  • 3 1
 'finally' lol
  • 1 0
 Fine by me, will never buy anything from them anyway.
  • 1 0
 Stump evo 650B could be a option for next year.
  • 1 3
 Going 650b? Go straight to f*cking hell for all I care. They probably wanna sit back & see if the forced f*cking of the buying biking public is going to pan out as planned before they jump in full tilt 'n' boogie.
  • 1 0
 26" or 650b, I don't care as long as I don't die.
  • 1 1
 I will never buy a specialised product, they can lick my gooch with their high and mighty stand point
  • 1 0
 They are definitely going 650b.. Heard it from specialized.For 2015 bikes.
  • 1 0
 Finally? Didn't 650b just hit the market in a big way last week?
  • 1 0
 I thought specialized already had some 650b bikes, or was that just 29ers?
  • 5 5
 Theres 650's specialuzed bikes coming this spring, far as i know.
  • 1 3
 negatory mate, if anything 2015
  • 9 1
 "Far as i know".... you have no idea what you're talking about
  • 4 1
 Far as I know tdoyle1995 knows more than you... I would predict something at that big mountain bike event that happens every spring in California.
  • 2 0
 They may release a 650b bike at Sea Otter, but it will be a 2015 model. The 2014 season is booked and shipped.
  • 1 0
 don't they usually announce their next model year bikes at Sea Otter (or there abouts), then have them available starting July, usually fully in stores by Sept?
  • 1 0
 If they have something close enough to be ready to ship to dealers by june it'll be seen at Sea Otter. They have to especially for all those "specialized only" dealers they spent years convincing LBSes to become, to the exclusion of all other brands... who are now looking at lost sales as customers want to get 650B because that's what all their friends are buying, and they can't if they still want to ride a specialized.
  • 1 0
 Bikes might be seen at Sea Otter and at the summer dealer camp but if any production comes of it they will be considered 2015 models and would not be available til probably August at the earliest. In other words dont hold your breath or get your hopes up
  • 2 2
 why get your hopes up on a tire size? Do you think it's magically going to make you a faster rider? Think it will be more fun? Graves is still rocking 26" for 2014 btw. Has to say something.
  • 3 0
 well yea.. it will likely make you faster and there's a good chance you'll have more fun if your not riding a 5 year old sketch bike.. some people are in favor of trying new things even if your not. no need to push your opinions on others.
  • 5 8
 I can't imagine they're going to sell many 26" bikes this year. Whether people like it or not, it looks like the 26" wheel is dead...or at least dying. They totally fumbled this one.
  • 3 0
 It's not a question of them holding out on 26" bikes, it's more that they've been betting on 29" bikes. 29" is almost all they sell currently (excluding DH). Personally, I think it's way too early to say everything is going back from 29 to 27.5.
  • 7 0
 they,ve sold out of 26" 2014 stumpy evos already this year so im guessing thats quite a few bikes .. 26 aint dead
  • 4 0
 Id imagine the reason that they are not going to sell many 26 inch bikes is because they do not make that many anymore... I see more demos than ever! In DH they are smart to put the money into the suspension, personally I think this can make MUCH greater strides and give you a bigger advantage over wheel size and poorer suspension.
  • 2 1
 Sold out on a few thousand produced for a global market doesn't take long. Giant has already sold out entire model ranges of their 650B models and its only february. They expected a lot of demand, increased production and have been caught floored by just how much dealers have ordered.
  • 2 0
 The same could be said for companies like rocky a few years ago. Altitude, element, Slayer. They were near impossible to get when the were first introduced, they were all sold out. I guess the cycle will repeat itself more often now with all the avenues for marketing, and running a lean manufacturing model which in turn playes right back into this marketing.

Does it really matter if Specialized goes 650b? Whee do the majority of their revenues come from????
ROAD BIKES
  • 2 1
 Giant...largest bicycle brand in the world, 70% of their sales are NOT mountain bikes. I doubt its any different for specialized.
  • 2 0
 They won't be going from 29 to 650b. It will be 29 and 650b, and no 26. Pretty smart from a business standpoint.
  • 1 0
 zero cares given
  • 1 0
 29ers are better!
  • 8 11
 Hm.... Do I care? Save the politics for the election, go ride your bike.
  • 5 2
 Hmm. It seems I commented on the wrong article. Technology.
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.058636
Mobile Version of Website