So I've been browsing too, see my recent thread about rigid 29ers.

You're right, I'm seeing way fewer good used frames. In the semi distant past I've sold a GT xziang, a Zaskar LE, Felt B2, a Scandium Olympus, an unbranded 7000 series frame, and a multitude of components. It's just not there anymore. When I do find something, its like $200 less than retail and almost always for someone 6'3".

Those bikes are going somewhere. I sell my unwanted ones at the he local Co-op. Pros Closet probably gets a few. Craigslist a few more. FB marketplace occasionally. Not much here but there are a few more forums with classifieds. It's pretty diluted and that keeps the used price higher.

I'm still seeing lots of good 26r on eBay for a lot less than 5 years ago. I've luckily unloaded a few Ti bikes like Moots and Dean, carbons GT and Spesh before the bottom fell out on 26rs. I've kept a few 26rs for nostalgia sake but recently tried to off load a Klein. After a few scant offers of $50 for a Klein Rascal I gave up and going to instead strip and repaint it pink for my kid who wants a bike to ride around at college.

Also a quick scan on eBay, I'm still seeing considerably lower prices. No one will buy a 1K 26r anymore, you can even find Ti for under 400 if you are patient

Lots of people have moved to Pinkbike.com for selling bikes.

same with me, I only sell bikes there unless I get no bites, the $50 offers are actually from PB
Another popular place is now FB. Getting pennies on the dollar is already painful enough without eBay taking a share, I still like to use PayPal for the transactions to protect me from the buyer. There's still a fee but worth the piece of mind. PayPal and eBay fees are like double taxation, ouch....

I see loads about here where I am in England. I think wheels looks awesome at 27.5. I'm still riding 26ers

For tall people, yes

It's not uncommon to see 27.5 on enduro bikes, because you want the balance of 26 but the ability to roll over everything with a 29.

Enduro and even DH bikes are trending to 29s.
I have a 3 year old Orbea Rallon and it's already "obsolete"
Same for my 2 year old Scott FR710

I still like the 27.5 for those types of riding, I can't follow the industry standards anymore. If you're not a sponsored rider, you're always going to fall behind fast.

looksee, the classic enduro, Giant Reign, is now a 29r
Great looking lines on the frame
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/first-...vanced-29.html

Looks like 27.5 ain't dead in the UK, Calibre just released a 1100 pound full suspension. What's that in dollars or quid?
Silly name but the price is the BikesDirect range

https://www.pinkbike.com/u/RideCalib...-for-2019.html

Looks good at first glance! We need more like that here in the States. Google says $1326.76. That's an accessible price point. I like it.

I was just in a bike shop and all the new mountain bikes were 27.5 and I was looking for a 29er. This is near Phoenix, Az.

What brand?

Giant and Specialized.

Does the type of riding in that area favor the smaller wheels?

It can. It is desert - rocks, gravel, dirt, and some hills.

Giant went crazy a few years ago and went 27.5 on almost everything. They are slowing coming back around to 29er.

Specialized gives you the choice of both.

Really no advantage to 27.5

the jump from 26 to 29 was too much for lots of riders especially smaller ones.
27.5 filled the void when 26r really died. I've yet to meet someone who started with a 27.5 who didn't eventually upgrade to 27.5+ or 29. Hey didn't you hear 36rs are for real now...

Everyone says 26 is dead, but why? I just ride older frames and can have high end everything for cheap. Hasn’t stopped me from going fast and having fun! 4 out of 5 of my bikes are 26”. Companies have 26+. 26 tubeless. Etc.

The brand new bikes cost way too much and are not really much faster than a very good 26” full sus. Even then, a bike that’s less capable on downhills makes descending slower and longer. (Rigid 26er). Longer descents are what people want right?

What does it mean to upgrade from 27.5 to 27.5?

You got me, fixed to 27.5+

I still have 2-3 26rs but that's down from close to 8 a few years back. The primary issue with 26rs for me was that they really didn't account for newer standards like wider bars and slacker geo. I could go one size up, but then the top tube was dangerously high. Believe me, I was one of the last converts. I don't buy into the Kool aid much, but the newer bike do ride significantly better.

Sort of same boat here. I still ride 26ers, but am shopping around for a 650b with modern standards, modern suspension.

When you say you have never met someone who has started on 27.5 who has not switched to 27.5+ or 29....

How many people do you even know that you know started on 27.5 as their first MTB? I doubt it would be very many people.

27.5 was not a common mainstream choice until about 2012. So the person would have had to have started riding in the past 7 years, and if it is on the longer end of that timeframe, they would have had to start with a new bike as their first MTB.

Also, you need to filter out the people who meet the above criteria and did not start with a 29er.

And how do you even KNOW what most peoples’ first bike was?

I do not know anybody for whom I can say for certain that a 27.5 was their first bike. So I guess I could say I don’t know anyone who started on 27.5 that did not switch to 26”.