[keen]

Currently on a XL Turner RFX sporting 650b wheels, 5" coil suspension F & R. For years people have been telling me, @ my height 6'4", a 29er would be up my alley. When I went 650b it wasn't love @ first spin I had to spend some time dialing the suspension, tires etc. to get a balanced package. I put my 26" wheelset on, after a season on the 650's, and they just felt awkwardly small. I was bitten by the upgrade bug years ago and keep thinking a 29er would be better @ my height but maybe I need to factor in variables : terrain, riding style etc. I have all these expectations based solely on bigger wheels ???
Thanks

My current ride :

 

[BruceBrown]

Currently on a XL Turner RFX sporting 650b wheels, 5" coil suspension F & R. For years people have been telling me, @ my height 6'4", a 29er would be up my alley. When I went 650b it wasn't love @ first spin I had to spend some time dialing the suspension, tires etc. to get a balanced package. I put my 26" wheelset on, after a season on the 650's, and they just felt awkwardly small. I was bitten by the upgrade bug years ago and keep thinking a 29er would be better @ my height but maybe I need to factor in variables : terrain, riding style etc. I have all these expectations based solely on bigger wheels ???
Thanks

My current ride :

6'4"?

Toss a leg over a 29"er and never look back.

 

[muzzanic]

Wow 6 foot 4 thats getting up there.

I put off buying a 29er for years,There was just to many people telling me all the down sides & now I know that most of them were just guessing & didn't know what they are talking about as they haden't even ridden them.

The big thing is the wheels I tell people if you haven't got the money to put a realy good set of wheels on a 29er don't buy 1.

My 2c a cheap 26er is still a good bike,A cheap 29er is not IMHO.

If you are not brave & are really fit & like punching out of corners don't buy a 29er.

The 29er rewards smooth riders & teaches them to push harder, If you let the speed happen instead of trying to make it happen the the 29er is for you,If you are a rider that likes to fight the bike stay on small wheels.

A 29er will not punch out of a corner as hard as a smaller wheeled bike (all things being equal )but if you are carring 1.5 to 2 mph it doesn't need to.

 

[johnd663]

Stick with Turner

Get your self a DWL XL Sultan set up with coil shock, 140mm forks, strong wheelset and let it rip.
I am 6.5 and 29ers have been a revelation after 20 years trying to get regular bikes to fit.

 

[Captain Cobb]

Do It!!!!

I to am 6'4" and stuggled for years with bikes that dont fit, so for me a 29er was a godsend:thumbsup:

 

[Vermont29er]

I'm 6'4" and love my 29er. Be sure to use strong wheels.

 

[Boyonabyke]

6' 5", bought a Niner RIP, and never rode or touched my 26" Bionicon Edison again. It wasn't the bike, it was definitely the wheel size. Just do it. The only place I miss the Bionicon is up at Mammoth Mtn Bike Park, where 8" is the best, 6" is pretty good, and 4.5" on the Niner RIP is a bit light, the Niner WFO would be the way to go up there at the bike park.

 

[Glide the Clyde]

Test ride--a real ride on a real trail. Then you'll know.

 

[Mikecito]

Test ride for sure. I have a 29er hardtail that I like alot, but I would MUCH rather have your FS 650b rig.
Make sure the grass is greener before you dump the Turner.

 

[keen]

Test ride for sure. I have a 29er hardtail that I like alot, but I would MUCH rather have your FS 650b rig.
Make sure the grass is greener before you dump the Turner.

A test ride makes a lot of sense but have only been able to take very short parking lot style spins. Usually when I recommend bikes to fellow rider's i'll ask what kind of bikes are on the trails you frequent ? Well I haven't seen many 29ers where I ride that makes me wonder if 29er's are suited better to a certain terrain ? A number of years ago I was riding a 4" travel FS bike and decided a 7" FR frame would just erase the descents ... Well I spent 90% of my ride time beating myself up for 5% DH time. Just need to make sure the grass is greener before I make any changes. Thanks.

 

[jeffj]

They say a picture is, or at least can be) worth a thousand words. Brother I feel your pain

You've heard all the usual reasons to try one already. I would never tell someone to 'just buy one', but I would tell them to 'just try one'. As mentioned above, if you could swing a leg over a DW Sultan (I'm 6'5" and an XL was perfect for me) for a demo on a trail similar to what you like to ride (if not one you regularly ride) and let the ride speak for itself, that should tell you what you need to know.

I was resistant, but curious for a long time. I wanted to try one, but could never find one in my size to try. I was also hesitant to get into 29ers until the market matured and a wide variety of choices were available for frames, rims, tires and forks. I think it's safe to say that day has come. Jump in, take a swim. If I was a betting man, I'd bet you'll like it, but if not, no harm, no foul, and certainly no skin off my nads

 

[keen]

They say a picture is, or at least can be) worth a thousand words. Brother I feel your pain

You've heard all the usual reasons to try one already. I would never tell someone to 'just buy one', but I would tell them to 'just try one'. As mentioned above, if you could swing a leg over a DW Sultan (I'm 6'5" and an XL was perfect for me) for a demo on a trail similar to what you like to ride (if not one you regularly ride) and let the ride speak for itself, that should tell you what you need to know.

I was resistant, but curious for a long time. I wanted to try one, but could never find one in my size to try. I was also hesitant to get into 29ers until the market matured and a wide variety of choices were available for frames, rims, tires and forks. I think it's safe to say that day has come. Jump in, take a swim. If I was a betting man, I'd bet you'll like it, but if not, no harm, no foul, and certainly no skin off my nads

Ya stack of spacers, 25 degree rise stem, and 2.75" riser bars. My front end is taller than a lot of DH bikes. I can't ride over the front end of my bike not sure if it's from my motocross days , extreme personal preferance., or the wrong size bike ???

 

[Glide the Clyde]

... Well I spent 90% of my ride time beating myself up for 5% DH time.

What was going on the other 5% of the time?

 

[Glide the Clyde]

My current ride :

Looking at your seat height and considering you are 6'4"...if that's the position you have it when riding in then, yes, strong bmx/preference influence and you must stand a lot. If that's what is comfortable then okay, but you are not getting maximum power from your pedal stroke while seated.

 

[LyNx]

Well if that's how you feel about going back to 26" wheels from 650B, wait till you ride some 29ers Seriously, as my friend said when I got my first 29er "Wow, finally a bike that's your sized and looks proportioned". I can't go back, sometimes think about maybe trying 650B, but definitely never 26" again. Try to get a demo, there's got to be a shop somewhere close enough that'll let you get a real demo.

 

[keen]

Looking at your seat height and considering you are 6'4"...if that's the position you have it when riding in then, yes, strong bmx/preference influence and you must stand a lot. If that's what is comfortable then okay, but you are not getting maximum power from your pedal stroke while seated.

That's the seat position when the bike points downhill. Uphill the seat is raised 9".

 

[keen]

Well if that's how you feel about going back to 26" wheels from 650B, wait till you ride some 29ers Seriously, as my friend said when I got my first 29er "Wow, finally a bike that's your sized and looks proportioned". I can't go back, sometimes think about maybe trying 650B, but definitely never 26" again. Try to get a demo, there's got to be a shop somewhere close enough that'll let you get a real demo.

Bottom line is either I find something to test ride or break the bank and keep my fingers crossed. I have come across used XL frames here and there - I have seen a few Niner RIP's frames sell on ebay for good prices. Resale on my RFX frame would probably be on the low side so I wouldn't be able to get a DWL Sultan or such.

 

[big_slacker]

Either a demo day or just do a rental at a local bike shop, probably be the best 60 bucks you spend.

I second the wheelset sentiment though. A bad (Too heavy) wheelset might turn you off, a good one will make it a dream to ride.

 

[Cloxxki]

Best 29"ers I've tried and seen being demo'd, were way cheap.
Best pedaling 29" hardtail for me is between a Fisher Superfly and a relative Redline MC20. I've ridden dozens others.

The wheel weight thing is totally over-rated.

 

[big_slacker]

I disagree, wheels and tires have a big impact. I had XT/mavic tn719 + nevegals. While they rolled well once you got going, acceleration was noticeably slow and getting up loose hills was WORK.

I've got pro II/355 + racing ralphs on the bike now and it feels like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Er..... from my wheels that is. Really noticeable improvement in acceleration, close to my 26er while still retaining the smoother ride of the big wheels.

Back to back compare and then say that the wheel weight thing is overrated. You might be surprised. :thumbsup: