How Much Lighter Are 650B Bikes Than 29Ers?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Weight. As you have probably guessed,

the 27.5 is going to almost always be the lighter choice between 27.5 and 29er

. Not only do they have less weight in the wheel, one of the heaviest components on a Mountain Bike, the frame built around those wheels can accommodate a smaller profile.

Is 650b same as 29er?

A 650b wheel is one that’s about 27.5 inches in diameter, when measured from tyre edge to tyre edge. This compares to 26in for a standard mountain bike wheel and

29in for so-called ’29er’ wheels

(700c road wheels are also 29in in diameter).

Is there a big difference between 27.5 and 29?

Because of the larger diameter of the wheel,

the 29er creates a larger contact patch with the ground and also rolls quite faster when up to speed

. Even though it accelerates slower than a 27.5 wheel, 29ers can maintain their speed because of their advanced rollover capabilities compared to a smaller wheel size.

Is climbing easier with 27.5 or 29?

Largely because of their lower attack angle,

29ers roll over trail obstacles easier than 27.5-inch wheels

. This translates to a slightly smoother ride and a bit less effort to keep the bike going.

Can I put 27.5 wheels on a 29er?

Condensed Answer:

If the bike and the wheelset are designed for disc brakes, a 27.5” wheel will fit on a 29” frame and fork

. Since 27.5” wheels are smaller, their diameter will change the geometry of the bicycle in a manner that the rider may not appreciate.

Are 29ers heavier?

Because the rims and tyres are bigger, and the spokes are longer,

29er wheels are at least 10 per cent heavier than 26in wheels

. There’s simply no getting round it. And due to the increased size of the wheel it can’t be as strong or as stiff as a 26in wheel using similar components.

What does 650b mean for bikes?

Condensed answer:

27.5′′ wheels

are also known as 650b. Both names refer to the same type of wheel. “650b” comes from an old French tire sizing that indicates the diameter of the wheel from one tire end to another. In the case of 27.5′′ wheels, the number is 650 because this is the approximate diameter of the wheel.

Will a 27.5 tire fit a 650b rim?


Yep!

27.5 = 650b = 584 ETRTO. You’re good!

How tall should you be for a 29 inch bike?

If you are under 5’6” tall, a 26-inch mountain bike is still likely to be a better fit. If you’re

5’6′ or taller

, you should be able to find a 29er model to fit you. Riders more than 6′ tall can rejoice: You’ll definitely enjoy a more natural riding position with the size and frame geometry of a 29er.

Are 29ers good for jumping?


You can usually still jump with 29ers

, do some pretty huge stuff, I have, but it’s a little worse. You don’t quite get as mucl altitude and you have to pedal harder in between or up to the bumps. At the end of the day or when you are getting tired, it’s a little harder to get enough speed to make some of the features.

What is the advantage of 29er mountain bikes?

29er MTBs 27.5 MTBs Better suited to tall riders Better handling and control Good for downhill riders who want to go fast Less suitable for long intense races Faster top speed More suited for shorter riders Increased attack angle for crossing large obstacles Lighter and more manoeuvrable

How much faster are 29ers?

In the end, the 29ers came in

7.5 seconds

ahead of the 26ers—a 2.4-percent speed increase—without making the riders work harder, as there were no differences in power output, cadence, time spent coasting, work, or heart rate.

Is a 27.5 or 29er better?

Simply put,

a 29er offers more speed, efficiency and stability, while a 27.5-inch bike offers a snappier trail feel

. So unless you are particularly tall or small then the choice of wheel size very much depends on the trail you ride and your personal preference for the ride feel.

Do 29ers climb better?


29ers are better up hills

. Bigger wheels are heavier which works against you when climbing, so in this respect it’s a myth. However, if the climb is littered with rocks and steps, the bigger wheel will roll over these momentum sapping obstacles with less effort.

What wheel size is better 27.5 or 29?


27.5 in. wheels have faster acceleration while 29ers are more efficient on longer rides

. Smaller wheels accelerate faster than larger wheels. This is due mostly to where the weight of the wheel is distributed.

Does specialized make a 27.5 mountain bike?

This also means that

Specialized doesn’t have any dedicated 27.5-wheeled full-suspension bikes anymore

. They have the Fatboy, a 26-inch fatbike, the Pitch, an entry-level 26-inch hardtail, and the P3, a 26-inch dirt jumper.

Can you use 650b wheels on a 29er?


Yes The drop will reduce chainring clearance when doing log overs as well

. One thing you may want to consider is getting wider 650b rims and going for 650b+ (aka 27.5+) tires as they will fit a lot of existing 29ers and will not alter your geometry significantly. Anything from a 650×2.

Are mullet bikes good?

“Mullets

provide versatility between the two wheel sizes

,” Saletnik told us. “They’re really fun to session, play on jumps, and handle most trails well. A mixed-wheel bike does more things well than other options. Also, smaller riders get more body clearance, which is especially important for downhill bikes.”

What makes a 29er?

29ers or two-niners are mountain bikes and hybrid bikes that are

built to use 700c or 622 mm ISO (inside rim diameter) wheels, commonly called 29′′ wheels

. Most mountain bikes once used ISO 559 mm wheels, commonly called 26′′ wheels.

Can I put 700c wheels on a 650b bike?


One useful feature of gravel bikes with big tire clearance is the opportunity to use both 700c and 650B wheels with the same frame

. Each of these wheel sizes offers different benefits and ride experiences suited for various adventures.

Are 650b wheels stronger than 700c?

This doesn’t take into account the fact that wide 650B tires

can be run at a lower pressure than their skinny 700C counterparts

, which means they deform more, dropping the bike even further – approximately 2 mm according to our measurements.

Which is better 700c or 650b?


The lighter 650b wheel will accelerate faster Dov notes, whereas the bigger 700c wheel will maintain speed better because it’s heavier

. Dov adds that the 700c tyre will also roll a little bit faster because it has lower rolling resistance.

How tall is a 27.5 bike?

What height is a 27.5 bike for? Mountain bikes with 27.5 inch wheels are suitable for

adults of all heights

. These bikes offer nimbler handling than 29 inch wheeled MTBs. Sometimes they are only available in smaller frame sizes and some shorter riders prefer the fit of a bike with 27.5 inch wheels.

What size wheels do pro cyclists use?

Racing bikes use the

700c size

, which has a tire bead set diameter of 622 millimeters. This wheel size is the largest available for conventional bicycles, giving a racing bike more stability at high speeds.

Are 26 and 650B the same?


26 inch (559mm) wheels were the default mountain bike size for a few decades, while 700C (622mm) and 650B (584mm) were generally reserved for road and randonneur bikes

. This resulted in a greater availability of high-quality slick tyres in the latter sizes.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.