thehammerdog

I am getting my old school rockadile fixed up got new fork on order it can handle a 26 or 29 wheel. Thus the idea if a 69er...I know that Trek had one years ago never saw one live in the woods but has anyone had any experience withone? If i can add a 29er front I may just try it.

trekker pete

I have an old Giant FS bike with a shot front fork and straight bars that are too low. I have considered making it into a 69er as it would get the bars up to an acceptable height. It would be worth it also just to say "I ride a 69er". Also be worth the gawks you would get on the trail.

floating dutchy

One of the problems with the 29er is that they don't seem to be as manoeuvrable as a 26er, It would make more sense in some ways to have the 26 at the front and the 29 at the back. You'd still get to call it a 69er and that is important.

jimc101

I did this last year using a 1996 GT Bravado, and a rigid carbon fork, the fork was 26" but had plenty of clearance even with a 29er wheel fitted, as fd above notes, it lost maneuverability, but I found it handled fine at speed. As noted by tp, it brings the handlebar height up, fine on an older bike, as this bring it into line with modern bikes, but using a modern frame may take the handlebar too high.

Another disadvantage to just using a single wheel size, is you need to remember to carry additional inner tubes.

floating dutchy

^^^ that does look cool, but I still think it would work better the other way around, even it it would look dorky.

trekker pete

I agree, jacked up in the rear looks way cooler than jacked up in the front. As an 11 year old every single hotrod car I drew when I was supposed to be listening to my teacher, had the big wheel in the back. Of course after a few trips over the handlebars, you might think the big wheel in back doesn't look quite so cool anymore.

So, go big up front. it will look stupid, but, in a cool sort of way. And you'll do way less endos than the other way around. Also, this does technically put it into the frankenbike category. And frankenbike sounds nearly as cool as 69er.

Zephyr11

Doesn't putting the big wheel in the back sort of defeat the purpose of having a 69er? Front wheel rolls over stuff and rear wheel accelerates? I don't know, I've never ridden one. They never really took off though, so take that for what it's worth.

Drag racers have the big back wheels for traction, since they're going from 0-fast in as short a time as possible.

trekker pete

Yes, big in front makes more sense too me.

But face it, big in back looks cool, be it dragsters or bikes.

Canker

You don't have to carry two kinds of tubes. A 26 tube works just fine in a 29" wheel.

ed 

Larger front than rear is cutting edge.

trekker pete

Was wondering when a penny farthing would show up in this thread. Wonder if anyone has ever done a penny farthing mtb?

seat_boy

I've always thought this concept had some merit: a big wheel up front, for the stability and confidence of the 29er rollover-ability. A small wheel in the back, for short chainstays and easy front wheel lifts. But I've tried it twice, and in both cases, the bike just rode better as a full 26er. I think the front end was too slack with the extra height of the big wheel. I currently have an OS Blackbuck frame hanging around (hey, it's for sale!) that has a short fork with lots of rake--that's tempting me try 69 again.

First up was a cheap Trek frame I picked up:


Then a Voodoo I bought for a 650b trial, but figured I might as well give a 69er another go:

rnorris

I'm tempted to try this with my small frame GF. It might roll a bit better over the rock gardens we have here in Arizona and provide a bit more crank clearance, which wouldn't hurt. Now I have to find someone who can loan me a front wheel for a few hours...

Saddle Up

Tried it as an experiment simply because I had the parts and could. I like it so much I've got new rims and hubs on the way to make a dedicated 69er wheelset. Rode this bike again last night for some night time off road action. I friggin love this bike, looks goofy as heck, suits me perfectly.


Surly Instigator 69er/96er by SaddleUpBike, on Flickr

Saddle Up

https://theawesomer.com/trek-broadsider-bike/54809/

ed 

seat_boy

Lately, I've been fighting the temptation to make a 69er build with my Blackbuck fork and one of these frames.

But I need to clear some space first.

trekker pete

That erb looks pretty neat. Is anyone racing them?

floating dutchy

Revive old thread time.

I'm still not convinced that my 29er is the way to go, some of the tight down hill bends seem kind of small for my big wheels, people I ride with are on 26 full suspension and I'm way slower downhill on my 29 hard tail. Fact: My riding ability the major reason.
But, beer drinking thinking: I kind of like being the only fella with a hard tail, and it's lighter, cheaper maintenance and cheaper to buy, and has a hard core thing about it that kind of I like.
So what, what if my next bike was a 650b hard tail (stock bike), but lets swap out the rear rim with a 26 and go with a 2.75 tire back there?
Geometry stays basically the same, I get some bouncy stuff at the back with the fat tire, I get grip up hill with the fat tire, I don't get drive train losses up hill and don't have rear suspension maintenance.

Totally stupid idea?

Footnote, I'm 6'1"+ and up to a year before any upgrade, the war office will not approve funding before then, I'm throwing around ideas.

Canker

Well you could basically do the samething now with your 29er only with a big ass tire on a 650b rim on the back. The problem would be finding a regular frame that can handle a really wide tire. Most frames that can handle a tire like that are going to be longer travel bikes.

Full suspension trumps bigger wheels on bumpy down hill stuff.