All The Six Fifty Bees Thread! (650b, 27.5 etc.).

Are there any cheapish non-disc rims suitable for 584-47 tyres? I know VO and Grand Bois did (do?) some, but recall them being a bit spendy - a mate wants some for a cheap and cheerful conversion. Will be for touring use, so 32 or 36h.

https://www.sella-berolinum.de/shop-/felgen-und-zubehoer/811/650b-/-27-5-/-584-sellax-felge-mit-bremsflanke-36-l-silber-poliert?c=241

These have been thrown about a fair bit on here, not sure if anyone ever got them?

Quite narrow I think

Yeah you'd probably want something wider for a 47 mm tyre

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rims-tape/32-ryde-andra-40-275-584-rim-black/

I have the 26" / 559 version and they're bombproof

Also https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rims-tape/32-thorn-275-650b-584-rim-w-cnc-sidewall-black/

A lot less beefy

Ah yes that's probably better for this case

Ta; will pass it on.

I've the 32h version. I warped my rear wheel when I built them up, took it to the lbs who fixed the issue but said that he couldn't get even tension across the spokes. Got them set up getto tubeless w some 1,5" g-ones

Tldr they're ok but not great

Ta for the review. I'll ignore them in future. It looks like there are a few more reasonable choices around in any case too

So I'm on the lookout for an OTP steel low trail 650b fork (for canti brakes)

Is there such a fork readily available?

Somafab have a version, that's unfortunately only available in 700c.

Why 650 specific? I'm gonna assume you'll be running chunky tyres on that, so it all balances out with a 700c fork.

Thorn?

I'd guess for the canti mounts

Thorn w/adjustable bosses or Surly Pack Rat. Trail all depends on your h/t angle and tyre size

Shit, didn't read that. Like silly said though, depends on head angle and what the bike was designed for. Geometry goes out of the window a bit.

oh yeah and original fork a-c of course

Plan is to acquire the fork, then have a custom rando frame built around it...

Thank you all for the suggestions.

Winston can build me one with nice steel, but it's £250.

Have you tried low trail? It's pretty divisive. I had a steamroller with a high rake fork (I guess it meant it had low trail but I know there is more that goes into the calculation and I've not put the time into it) and the steering was floppy and a bit odd. Better with load, as the story goes, but I'd say it's definitely worth trying before you're buying.

That seems decent value, especially if you're going to be having a custom frame built too, the Thorn one is £50 more! Unless the stars align your builder may well end up making compromises in the frame geometry due to building around the pre-existing fork geo.

I have got a pair of Andra 20 36 h, 18,5 mm internal/24,5 mm external width, black, machined sidewalls laying about, if still looking.

What's the difference with 650B and 27.5? One seems to be road/gravel the other MTB?

Looking around for a set of 650B to fit into probably a Tripster frame to run fat rubber for gravel stuff.

What's to worry about with cheap options? What am I not seeing?
https://www.merlincycles.com/pro-build-chosen-hub-alex-volar-trail-wheels-275-82074.html

https://www.huntbikewheels.com/collections/gravel-wheels/products/hunt-650b-adventure-sport-disc-27-5-gravel-road-trail-wheelset-1579g-24deep-25wide

Anyone got a set of 650B gravel ish wheels they want to move on?

It's the same size, like 700c and 29"

Superstar have some cheap sets too

Yeah, I get that the size is the same but it seems they use 27.5 when talking about say Enduro MTB wheels and 650B for road/gravel? Maybe that's just my initial impression looking at a couple of sites. For example the Merlin wheels are more MTB oriented hub (Axle: 15x100mm or 20x110mm). I could shim that done to work with 12mm thru axle. The rear might depend on 142mm or 135 back end. If it was a 4S I think it's 135, whereas the Tripster is 142. But I think these wheels can be changed with end caps.