Mountain Biking - 24" or 26" wheel for DH, Freeride and/or Urban?

What would you pick for DH, Freeride and/or Urban... or even XC the 24'' wheel or the 26"? You have the strength and acceleration with the 24, but on the other hand you have a faster top speed and the ability to roll over things easier with the 26. Whats your pick?

I chose 26"

Originally posted by danka24
I chose 26"

Just outa curiosity why?

Just because.

If it was just an Urban bike I would say 24" front and back.
For the strength.
But on an all around bike 26" front and back.

Welp, this is an "I have to" situation... because I ride a Bighit.. so it's got a 24" rear, and a 26" front.

I honestly don't feel a slow down over any of my friends BIG Dual-Suspension bikes... on steeps, decents, or in urban rides.

If you put a 3" Gazzi on the back of a bike that's running a 24" rear.. it'll make the diameter the same as a 26" simply because the tire's so beefy.

I have an Arrow Racing 3.0" on the rear of my bike right now, and there's probably only a 1/4" difference in Tire Diameter from the 26" to the 24" ..


For wheelie drops, hucks, big jumps, and DJ's... the 24" rear feels AWESOME.

:beer:

I wonder does a 24" wheel make it easier to do wheelies and manuals?

24".....I dont really feel any difference between a 26" and a 24.

Originally posted by mountaindew
I wonder does a 24" wheel make it easier to do wheelies and manuals?

It changes the geometry of the bike to even more slack...very easy to get on your rear wheel if you almost are alreayd :)

Oh and I went 26"...my current bike is slack enough and with a 24" I would never get up a hill.

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Oh and I went 26"...my current bike is slack enough and with a 24" I would never get up a hill.

Are you saying that you wouldn't be able to get a hill with a 24"? If you look at the Norco Rampage the wheel looks about the same height so I wonder if the ride is really affected.:confused:
http://norco.com/bikes/2003bikes/rampage.htm

Same bike as me more or less. What length fork do you run. Just think about it like this. If you drop your rear wheel size down you change the height of the bb (lowering it) and make yourself sit even further back over the rear dropout then before (on that bike you don't sit over the bb but more over the rear wheel like on mine). With a 24" rear on the back that changes even more. This stabalizes your ride (close to the ground) but also puts you so far back you will be able to wheelie very easily (not a good thing going up hill).

You get the same affect by adding a longer fork HOWEVER with the longer fork you increase the bb height. Either way your geometry changes but on that bike I wouldn't go with a 24" wheel. The geomtry with the jrt2 would be weird...(ok ugly...sorry)

BTW nice bike...yummy ht love :)

Its not mine... yet:D. What bike do you have? Part of the reason why I was looking at the Rampage is becuase I like the double crown jr.t, but I wasn't too sure about the 24" wheel and how it would affect the ride. It kinda sucks they only have a Sasquatch at the lbs to test.

same bike no biggy...I have a Kona roast with a z1...so same length fork and basically same geometry...

Don't forget it is a jrT 2 and is only 5" travel. It is an oem part made for Norco and a couple of other companies. I don't think the 24" wheel on that bike is a good thing :)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
oem

:confused:


I don't think the 24" wheel on that bike is a good thing.

Becuase of the fork or 'cause of the frame?

Originally posted by mountaindew
Becuase of the fork or 'cause of the frame?

OEM is parts that companies make only to be sold on bikes. You can't buy the 5" jr T in stores as far as I know. (unless they are selling oem parts which is suppost to be illegal :))

The bike is slack enough. If you want it slacker and longer travel fork will be better than a 24" wheel. Th frame is burly enough to handle the geometry change.

Does Norco sell just frames?

Yes..but not that one...unfortunately...you may be able to get the shop to switch stuff out. Like most companies norco only sells the expensive stuff individually :)

Some companies may stip the bike and just sell the frame as well..but you have to ask the shop.

Cool thanks for the info Mael I'll try that.:D