650b Conversion List?

[Reed McFarland]

Hello Everyone,

Is there a list of frames that has been compiled of known “good” 650b conversion candidates? I know of a few off hand (Raleigh Competition, Trek 600 series, my buddy’s Claud Butler) but I’m just curious about any others out there.

I can braze so brazing cantilever posts on a frame gives me more clearance for fenders and wider tires. But I’m looking for something that may have been made from the factory that might fit a 42 with a fender between the chainstays.

Thanks everyone,

Reed McFarland
Niantic, CT

[Michael Wong]

Hey Reed,

I've converted a Bridgestone 500 and a 90's Trek 400. Both were the smallest size and I fit 42s with fenders.

I also converted an Motebecane GR. It took 48s but I never put fenders on.

I've also converted a LeMond Croix de Fer (women's). It will only take about 33mm with no fenders.

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[Alex Israel]

My 1972 Fuji Finest has good clearance for 42s with no adjustments/dimpling, questionable brake reach (using drop pads) which might be good for your willingness to braze, I did have to manipulate the fender (VO Zeppelins) a little at the chainstays and fork. Can snap some photos sometime if you want, just shoot me a direct message. They do have a weird sizing where I think all the top tubes are 54cm regardless of seat tube so YMMV!

I like the white I got but the blue is really something else and I can see why a lot of folks prefer it: 

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1166524-fuji-finest-some-surprise-upgrades.html

Alex in CO

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[Michael Wong]

I love those cranks. What are they?

[Alex Israel]

Sugino mighty tour (came in 2x and 3x, early 70s release and into the 80s I think)

https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=4B38137C-E5FF-4DAC-95E1-14B7F5E8B458&Enum=115

https://www.velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=1546ca43-912f-46d0-aaed-d53047587135

Alex in CO

[Eric Daume]

My '84 Trek 610 will fit 38s (35mm actual), but I don't think 42mm tires will clear the chainstays without some work. Also, the bottom bracket is super low, just about 10" (but I changed the fork to a VO Polyvalent fork, so that might have changed things). Too flow for fixed gear, for me.

The Fuji S10S and S12S are reportedly great candidates, with clearance for 42s and a good bottom bracket height. 

There are a lot of ideas here:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/302658-show-us-your-650b-conversions.html

Eric

[daxo potato]

there's no list because there are hundreds of bikes that will convert well to 650b. 

people follow the herd: so and so used brand blah blah for their conversion, and that's the only thing that will do for me!

bah, humbug.

my experience: mid-80's Japanese bikes, particularly the upper end of the mid-range, make wonderful conversions. they don't have the cache of some of the fancier brands, but they often have clearance for 42's with fenders and generally decent, light-ish well made frames.

i have an 83 fuji supreme set up fixed gear that has been my main commuter for over a decade, even with fenders, porteur rack and dyno hub, people are astonished how light it is. and fast.

the more "racy" the bike is/was, the tighter the clearances and the less likely (in my experience) to convert easily.

i have an old Zeus that i was going to do a 650b conversion, but it was a little too tight, wouldn't take over a 38 in 584. but it'll still take a 35 in 700c and i won't have to take off the beautiful center pull brakes it came with. leave it alone.

with wide plush tyres available for almost any wheel size, conversions are becoming less of a "thing".

the idea of the 650b conversion, as i understand it, was to achieve something that wasn't available in the market at that time: a fast, comfortable all road bike. the reason to do it these days is because you are cheap (like me) and/or you like to mess around with bikes. if that's not your demographic then get a crust or black mountain or custom frame and enjoy the ride.

and that doesn't even get into converting later 80's-90's hardtail canti-brake'd mountain bikes which can often be converted without changing the brakes, just slide up the pads. they often offer tons of braze ons for touring/commuting/whatever. they just won't be "low trail". if that's important to you.

advice: find a bike you like. put on a set of 650b wheels and see how it feels (remove the brakes if they are in the way, you are just going down the street or around the block) still feel good? you have a conversion candidate. too wigglelywobbly or just weird? put the old wheelies back on and ride it that way. there's great, fast plush tyres available for it.

Dave "just ride" in NY

[rswatson]

Somebody did make a list a few years back.  Must be buried in the archives somewhere. 

On Feb 22, 2024 at 18:06, daxo potato <daxo...@gmail.com> wrote:

there's no list because there are hundreds of bikes that will convert well to 650b. 

people follow the herd: so and so used brand blah blah for their conversion, and that's the only thing that will do for me!

bah, humbug.

my experience: mid-80's Japanese bikes, particularly the upper end of the mid-range, make wonderful conversions. they don't have the cache of some of the fancier brands, but they often have clearance for 42's with fenders and generally decent, light-ish well made frames.

i have an 83 fuji supreme set up fixed gear that has been my main commuter for over a decade, even with fenders, porteur rack and dyno hub, people are astonished how light it is. and fast.

the more "racy" the bike is/was, the tighter the clearances and the less likely (in my experience) to convert easily.

i have an old Zeus that i was going to do a 650b conversion, but it was a little too tight, wouldn't take over a 38 in 584. but it'll still take a 35 in 700c and i won't have to take off the beautiful center pull brakes it came with. leave it alone.

with wide plush tyres available for almost any wheel size, conversions are becoming less of a "thing".

the idea of the 650b conversion, as i understand it, was to achieve something that wasn't available in the market at that time: a fast, comfortable all road bike. the reason to do it these days is because you are cheap (like me) and/or you like to mess around with bikes. if that's not your demographic then get a crust or black mountain or custom frame and enjoy the ride.

and that doesn't even get into converting later 80's-90's hardtail canti-brake'd mountain bikes which can often be converted without changing the brakes, just slide up the pads. they often offer tons of braze ons for touring/commuting/whatever. they just won't be "low trail". if that's important to you.

advice: find a bike you like. put on a set of 650b wheels and see how it feels (remove the brakes if they are in the way, you are just going down the street or around the block) still feel good? you have a conversion candidate. too wigglelywobbly or just weird? put the old wheelies back on and ride it that way. there's great, fast plush tyres available for it.

Dave "just ride" in NY

On Thu, Feb 22, 2024, 18:43 Reed McFarland <reed...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[daxo potato]

On Thu, Feb 22, 2024, 20:10 rswatson <rswa...@me.com> wrote:

Somebody did make a list a few years back.  Must be buried in the archives somewhere. 

On Feb 22, 2024 at 18:06, daxo potato <daxo...@gmail.com> wrote:

there's no list because there are hundreds of bikes that will convert well to 650b. 

yes of course you are right, I'm sure someone made a list. and someone else made another, different list. people love to make lists.

i think the earliest conversions were to bikes that people just had laying around, or aquired cheaply, frankenbike style. later on people jazzed it up with fancier frames. some of these, even on the list, were quite difficult or required extensive modification to work well in conversion. i don't see the point of spending too much time and money forcing a conversion when there are now excellent purpose made 650b machines. ymmv.

if one is set on converting a bike to 650b (as i have many times, and have a couple more in the pipeline) there is no point in fixating on getting a 74 centurion gnards of steel as used by steroids man in the 76 Olympics for your conversion just because Joe Screenshot once converted one to 650b and now it's on some "list". Sheldon Brown couldn't make a definitive list of all the bike boom bike brands, let alone all the models within the brands, let alone which ones good 650b conversions. there are literally hundreds of bikes not on any list that make great conversions (and of course thousands that are terrible bikes in any wheel size-I've coverted those too and they suck). 

Dave "convert the bike you like" in NY

[David Hays]

I’ve converted a couple Mercians. One took 650B x 38’s and fenders and another took 650B x 42’s and fenders.

David

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[ThermionicScott]

I've only converted one bike so far, but one rule of thumb I've absorbed in all my reading is that if you want 42mm tires and fenders, you'll have better luck with a bike that originally featured 27" wheels rather than skinny 700C wheels.  My Bianchi is the latter -- I have to be content with 38mm tires and fenders.  Which I am for the most part. :^)

- Scott in Cedar Rapids

[Michael Wong]

If someone turns up that list post it. I love reading lists.

I've not seen lighter steel bikes to accept very wide tires. As stated above, likely due to raciness

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[Brad]

I have done several Gitane Tour de France and Super Corsa (?) conversions.   Mafac Raids and wheels and off you go.  Of course the rear hub on my conversions are 120 over lock nut, but someone more adventurous could spread the rear triangle.   I have actually returned to 5 and ultra six spacing because it works for me and I realized that in the world of  broken axles 120's are rare.   If someone is looking for 58 cm frame, talk to me.  I have more than based on actuarial guidance I am likely to complete.

[paul wittenbraker]

I love my 72 Fuji s-12-s LTD. It is the larger frame and has a perfect amount of flex for my preferences. Excellent low-trail fork if you’re after that. Plenty of clearance for 42’s and fenders.

I also have an 83 Trek 620 (models changed a lot in a few years) with just enough clearance for 42’s and fenders. Fork rake not quite low-trail but handles a front load pretty well. Would love to get it re-raked.

One last one that is hard to find is Centurion pro-tour. I have both the older blue version (with low-trail fork) and one a bit later in the 80’s in ivory (with beautiful pin striping)  that is less low-trail. Both have centerpull braze-ons that I’ve fitted with longer diacomp caliper parts so they work with 650b. Less room at the chain-stay on the later Centurion but 42 fit fine on the older blue one.  

 

Paul W

 

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