Logan Binggeli’s KHS DH650b at Rampage

PB Forum :: All Mountain, Enduro & Cross-Country
Logan Binggeli’s KHS DH650b at Rampage
  • Previous Page
  • Next Page
Author Message
flag PHeller
O+
Posted: Oct 9, 2012 at 7:16 Quote
I know this is the All-Mountain forum, but I think 650b will be much more AM than DH next year anyway.

Binggeli's 650b Rampage bike shows that the wheels can handle the stress of big mountain riding, and that they aren't keeping him from going big or stylish.

What I find interesting is that KHS went for a longgggg bike. At 26" ETT, the bike maintains a fairly typical head tube angle, but pushes the wheel out an extra few inches of wheelbase. 50" to be exact.

What's more is that we're constantly being told that shorter is better, and that a shorter bike is more "flickable"..yet Binggeli requested a longer bike.

Additionally, if the length of the bike doesn't really matter, how long before we see a 29" Rampage bike? 29ers always got knocked for wheelbase length (and rotating inertia), so does this bike secret say that wheelbase doesn't matter? Or does it just prove that the biggest problem (or advantage) for 29ers is the gyroscopic effect of the wheels?

I've never ridden a 140mm full suspension 29er, much less a downhill oriented 29er like the Lenz PBJ, so I can't compare wheel sizes in that respect. I have however, ridden a variety of XC 29ers and XC/AM/DH 26ers, and everytime I get on each I can easily determine the pros/cons to each wheel size.

I can't wait to try out a tweener!

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/1140/photos/41450/s780_KHS_DH650B.jpg?1346013532Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/stories/2012/07/05/full_KHS_SixFifty_656DH_650b_Downhill.jpg?1341510093
flag SintraFreeride
O+
Posted: Jun 1, 2013 at 11:38 Quote
PHeller wrote:
I know this is the All-Mountain forum, but I think 650b will be much more AM than DH next year anyway.

Binggeli's 650b Rampage bike shows that the wheels can handle the stress of big mountain riding, and that they aren't keeping him from going big or stylish.

What I find interesting is that KHS went for a longgggg bike. At 26" ETT, the bike maintains a fairly typical head tube angle, but pushes the wheel out an extra few inches of wheelbase. 50" to be exact.

What's more is that we're constantly being told that shorter is better, and that a shorter bike is more "flickable"..yet Binggeli requested a longer bike.

Additionally, if the length of the bike doesn't really matter, how long before we see a 29" Rampage bike? 29ers always got knocked for wheelbase length (and rotating inertia), so does this bike secret say that wheelbase doesn't matter? Or does it just prove that the biggest problem (or advantage) for 29ers is the gyroscopic effect of the wheels?

I've never ridden a 140mm full suspension 29er, much less a downhill oriented 29er like the Lenz PBJ, so I can't compare wheel sizes in that respect. I have however, ridden a variety of XC 29ers and XC/AM/DH 26ers, and everytime I get on each I can easily determine the pros/cons to each wheel size.

I can't wait to try out a tweener!

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/1140/photos/41450/s780_KHS_DH650B.jpg?1346013532Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/stories/2012/07/05/full_KHS_SixFifty_656DH_650b_Downhill.jpg?1341510093

I would have to agree that 27.5" might be interesting for DH. I believe we will see many pro testing this out in the world cup this season. I have already bought a 27.5" front wheel to test this season (can't fit it on the rear).

As for wheelbase actually longer IS better. It makes the bike more stable. You can still maintain agility by shorting the stem length like what mondraker did with their forward geometry and also by having shorter chainstays like the modern Specialized Demo. Having said that 50" or 1270mm is pretty long!
I run 1210mm on my Specialized status with a 62.5º headangle and think it works fine for most conditions but then I live in the alpes. I might reduce my headangle if I live in a flatter area.

 


Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.009002
Mobile Version of Website