Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,786
Likes: 349
From: Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Bikes: 48 Automoto, 49 Stallard, 50 Rotrax, 62 Jack Taylor, 67 Atala, 68 Lejeune, 72-74-75 Motobecanes, 73 RIH, 71 Zieleman, 74 Raleigh, 78 Windsor, 83 Messina (Villata), 84 Brazzo (Losa), 85 Davidson, 90 Diamondback, 92 Kestrel
I’ve always liked the 650B bikes just for their retro French style. I’ve considered building one up, or maybe converting my Motobecane Grand Jubile, but haven’t done so yet. I have a set of 26x1½ smooth-tread tires on my ’87 Stumpy, and with the fenders and rack it actually looks kind of similar to the some of old French bikes, although with cheap Innova tires and a stout MTB frame the similarities don’t go all that far.
But that makes me wonder, how different are 650B’s from 26”? How would a light road bike with fat 26” tires perform? Is it the particular size that supposedly makes the 650B’s so special, or is it those Hetre tires?