The seat? As in moving away from the Zero?
I didn’t ask any details. My guess would be that he’ll refine the design. I was surprised to hear there were any changes.
maybe he’ll offer a choice of seats or does UDC already do that for the new kh unis? josh mentioned a duro on the 650
Qu-Ax/QX already offer a 650b, I’ve never seen anyone riding one so I’ve no idea how popular it is.
I’m not sure the new size is necessary (And I’m especially bothered about them replacing a 26" size with it as opposed to offering both) but I guess if it comes with a completely different setup to the 26" it could be worth getting (Such as if the 650b has a narrower, lighter tyre compared to the semi-fat 26x3).
Duro crux is a really nice looking 27.5 plus tire.
I used to poo poo the 650b idea, but with the bike industry shifting that way, it’s where all the new technology is at and it’s probably smart for unicycles to head that way too.
That’s right, Josh said it would probably be the Duro Crux. A few more questions:
- Tire selection. One reason for trading in the 24 for the 26 is better tire selection, esp, for road options. What options are there for 27.5? Looks like there’s a Big Ben 27.5…
- Taking it to different countries. As I said I am moving to Israel. I might be concerned about parts. Though I would be back in the US enough that I could bring a tire or whatever with me. And what parts would I need to worry about really? Spokes maybe? Would any bike shop be able to custom cut spokes for the 650?
- For those with experience with the 650 on unis, do you find it appreciably different than the 29 and the 26 with similar tires?
Thanks for your feedback.
I looked at the 650b qu ax, but my reason for not ordering one was actually cranks. The longest q-axle crank option I could see was 145mm. I’m still struggling with some of my local hills (including my own driveway!) on my 24" with 150’s.
Since the mtb world is throwing all it has at 650b I’d guess tyres & spokes should be easy enough to find anywhere people ride mtb’s. In fact, most bike shops around here carry 650b spares in stock but it’s harder to walk in & get a 26" tyre off the shelf.
If spares are your only concern I don’t think you need to worry.
Kahuna,
I don’t think you’d have any more difficulty finding 27.5 parts than 29er parts.
Has anybody here ridden one and can compare it against a 29 and 26? Sure they are big with bikes now, but as we know bikes and unis are different…
I got to ride a few trail miles on Medaceina’s 27.5+ uni, described in this thread, and I really liked it. With the bigger tire, wheel size is similar to my 29" with a 2.4 tire, but it felt faster, more nimble, and better cushioned.
Mine rides like a monster. But it is.
I have a 2.35 Schwalbe Hans Dampf tire for now. Derby Carbon rim. The whole thing weighs under 5kg. I find 29" too big for my area (really rocky and hilly). 26" is good for DH, but I can have that little extra speed on the 27.5". Plus it’s setup with a tubeless tire, and that means I can hit whatever I want, however I want at any speeds.
But there’s 1.5kg difference between my 26 and my 27.5".
I love it! 
Or you could just go whole hog and get a 27.5 set up with a Hodag…
I crunched the numbers and have a hard time reaching the sub-5kg mark except if you are running without brakes.
OTOH, I don’t remember seeing the detailed specs of your 27.5" muni (except for the rim & tire)… 
I never posted on the forum! And I have only 3 pictures on facebook. So there it is… and it has a brake 
The seat-seatpost is what saves the most. I couldn’t get a lighter setup (unless I put Ti bolts under my seat and I remove my foam).
Specs:
Scott Wallis Carbon fiber seat base
KH Street foam and cover
Thomson 27.2mm seatpost
Salsa Lip Lock clamp (with Ti bolt!)
Custom Flansberrium frame (with Ti hardware!)
Custom Flansberrium 32h hub (Crmo)
Double butted Sapim spokes (silver)
Derby 27,5" All Mountain rim, 32h
Schwalbe Hans Dampf 27,5 x 2.35, Trailstar, Tubeless
KH Spirit cranks 110-137mm
Avid Elixir 5 brake (with Ti hardware!)
Avid 180mm rotor with aluminum spider (And Ti bolts!)
DMR Vault pedals
That brought a little tear to my eye. It’s a thing a beauty. And people were saying carbon rims wouldn’t work. : P
I bet that thing has ups too! Looks like it would be really fun on the whoops.
Thanks for the build details Jacob 
Really looks like a nice build and it confirms that carbon on a muni is possible… 
(I don’t know if it is the pic but the frame legs looks sooooooo thin…).
Carbon
So why would anyone think carbon rims would not work on a unicycle?
Not only it’s possible to build, it lasts and rides super well.
I’m pretty sure it’s the picture, it does look really thin there 
I can’t find where I wrote it’s total weight, but I wrote somewhere 4,5kg without pedals.
Carbon wasn’t was good as it is today a few years back. I’ve always been a bit suspisious about riding a carbon rim too. But working in a bikeshop helps doing those things, not only I get better prices (still crazy expensive), I also get to see parts in action before I buy them. Carbon wheels have gotten bigger and bigger in the mtb world and are just doing good things so far. I haven’t taken mine down big drops, but I smashed it on rocks a few times (I ripped my tire at 2 places).
It does make the uni much stiffer though, my first ride wasn’t confortable at all. I got used to it!
EDIT: I just noticed this post kinda belongs to the carbon rim thread… Let’s stay on 650b subject…
The Best of Both Worlds
I have had all three and do believe that the 650b comes pretty close to finding the best of both worlds. I rode it with a Hans Damph and although it was about the same size as my 26" with a Duro, it was much better mannered. I’ve now put a 3.25" Trax Fatty on it and it feels as fast as a 29er and as much fun as a fatty but much more controllable.
I had a disc tab welded on my Surly Conundrum and this is pretty much my ideal uni.
So someone tell me what to do Wait for the 650 or get the 26? It sucks that you can’t go to stores and try out unis…
This would be my main uni for muni and for short, fun urban rides of 2 miles or less. I do enjoy jumping off stuff on my way to things, and being a bit playful during muni rides. The 29 feels to big for that, the 24 with shorter cranks a bit to small, plus not enough tire choices. Seems the 26 or 650 would be a good replacement.
Do you think the 650 would feel agile enough for very minor jumping or is it, like a 29, mostly a roll-over wheel size? Of course with the Duro the only real choice for the 24, a lighter tire on the 650 may make it almost as agile as the 24…