single speed conversion kits. a good idea?.
 

think that I might possibly find a mountain bike that fits me better than the one I have right now.

Am looking at getting the Specialized hardrock 650b later but it has the gears.

So to get the best bike that fits me with the benefits of SS which are countless, could I use a kit such as this on it?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B017KS5RE8/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Also here is the bike

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/trail/hardrock-v-650b/115480

And could I save more and get a better bike by converting a geared only to SS?.

Yes, that kit would work fine.

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking here. If you're going to buy a new bike and you know you want a SS, why not just buy a dedicated SS? What's the point of paying for gears and then removing them?

Because some people love doing things the hard way.

IMO, the only time those kits make sense is when you already have a decent geared bike that you want to convert SS.

FWIW, I used a similar kit to convert my '97 Gary Fisher to a SS, but after replacing the cranks, bars, grips, fork, etc. I wound up spending more than I would've paid for a brand new SS.

Two reasons here.

1. because the geared bike may fit me better than those already designated as SS.

2. I actually will save money by converting the bike since as I mention in another post that these bikes can be actually more expensive than with gears.

Something else to consider, at least in my opinion, is that dedicated SS bikes have a way to adjust chain tension without using a chain tensioner (i.e., horizontal dropouts or eccentric bottom bracket). I converted one of my geared bikes to a SS but I got lucky and didn't need a chain tensioner, but with vertical dropouts and no eccentric bottom bracket that's going to be the exception rather than the rule.

Heads up, that bike and that converter are not going to be compatible. That bike uses a multi speed freewheel (7 speed freewheel from the description) and there is basically no way to make that bike's stock wheel work with any singlespeed sprocket, cog, singlespeed freewheel, ect...

You could buy that bike, that converter, and a new rim brake 650b cassette rear wheel that uses a cassette interface for about $65-90 (it has a free wheeling mechanism built into the hub and a splined interface lets splined cogs sit on it, where as a freewheel wheel has a threaded hub and a gear mechanism with a freewheeling mechanism built into the gears that thread onto the hub itself, not interchangeable)

Either get the converter and a higher end mountain bike with better wheels (usually by the time it has disc brakes it will typically have a cassette wheel), or get a decent but cheap Bikes Direct singlespeed mountin bike or a Nashbar singlespeed mountain bike (decent return policy) for around $400

now that you mention it there is a BD 650b bike that is by Gravity and it looks similar to the Specialized hardrock 650b.

only 349$

I do think I want smaller wheels as well and the gravity comes in a 21 size frame, but I heard that it is for riders 6.1 to 6.3 and not sure if it would fit me being 6.3 and a half to 6.4.

think that the hardrock is a 21" inch frame in XL as well so it shouldn't be too much different maybe.

Specialized says the hardrock will go upto 6.6 which is kind of hard to believe.

Unless I'm missing something really obvious, there's actually a very simple way to make those wheels work with a singlespeed freewheel.

I know what you are saying, and yes, on that specialized a singlespeed freewheel *can* be threaded on the hub, there is a zero chance it will have a shadow of a decent chainline. A bad chainline plus a wide-ish mtb tire, and most likely not the best chainstay clearance to get the chainring close enough inboard (before we even get to the crankset which looks to have non-replaceable riveted chainrings anyways)

[MENTION=451710]TreyWestgate[/MENTION] It looks like that singlespeed gravity is decent, it does not have the best parts on it, but they all seem suitable so you can just assemble it and ride, then upgrade parts as you like. Sizing will be up to you, but I have found that a larger wheel size like the 29 or 29+ ends up handling better for a 6'+ person, but it is preference.

Yeah, I agree that that bike is probably not the best choice for it.

Its pretty easy to re-dish the rear wheel and space the hub over if its not a disc brake machine

Here is another bike that I have an idea about converting to SS.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/820/820/p/1008600-2017/

A review says that someone already made theirs a single speed.

I like how this one has smaller 26" wheels and is steel and costs less, however it is the same gearing as the hardrock.

also I'm told that surly makes the best conversion kit known as the singleator.

Meh. I say just get a singlespeed bike. You keep bringing up this thing about them being more expensive than geared bikes, but the geared bikes you're posting are all basically bottom-of-the-barrel stuff.

Well I will maybe try the 650b gravity SS and hopefully it will fit.

But since the other bikes mentioned are entry level maybe they wouldn't be a bad candidates to make them single speed as well.

the bikes direct bikes aren't top cut either so I basically am going low no matter what I choose probably.

I've heard good mid level mtb SSs run 500 to 700$.

Ones like that redline monocog. which I can't find available now.

I cannot agree more, but some times it is way to keep oneself busy and spend small amounts of money at one time so (wife) is unaware that I have yet another bike.....
:)