Stock 29ers with short chain stays?

[nahtnoj]

My experience with 29ers up to this point hasn't been favorable. Bikes that are hard to wheelie, manual, and generally just flick around on tight terrain don't really jive with my idea of what mountain biking is supposed to be.

Is there anything out there with a CS length of 16.5" or less? I want to get a custom MTB in the next year or so, but I've been off mountain bikes for a while and want to prove out what I'm looking for on a stock frame before going custom.

[boots2000]

Maybe you are not a 29er guy. I rode 29ers for 2 years- then went back to 26. 26" justs suits me better.

[nahtnoj]

Maybe you are not a 29er guy. I rode 29ers for 2 years- then went back to 26. 26" justs suits me better.

Entirely possible. Which is why I want to conduct this experiment.

[dgaddis]

Canfield Nimble9 - Nimble 9 mountain bike frame for downhill or cross-country riding comes to mind.

[nahtnoj]

Canfield Nimble9 - Nimble 9 mountain bike frame for downhill or cross-country riding comes to mind.

Yes! That looks about perfect...

Thank you.

[nash]

i wanted the same thing, swapped for a karate monkey, much improved

[junebug]

I'm with boots. Go mess around with a 27.5"/650b if you want to try something different and you haven't liked 29" so far.

I've got a 26" full-sus trail bike and a 29" singlespeed (w 17.5" chainstays). The 29" is very "effective" where I live (flat coastal New England with lots of slippery roots), but it's boring, and I really don't think shorter chainstays will change it much. I ride it way more than the 26" because of who I ride with and where I live, but the 26" puts way more smiles on my face, and it's what I take with me whenever I go anywhere with real hills.

[Dustin]

The nimble 9 and yelli screamy get good reviews. Friends with both have been pleased.

Seems like 2013 is shaping up to be the year of the 650b, so that might also open up some options for you. I'm a 29er guy myself, but then my riding doesn't tend to involve flicking, hucking, or gnar shredding.

[nahtnoj]

i wanted the same thing, swapped for a karate monkey, much improved

Swapped what for a Karate Monkey? Looks like you could set one up 1x10 and tuck the wheel in pretty far.

[roseyscot]

Jeff Jones Bicycles - Stock Framesets

[dgaddis]

Oh yeah, and this one. 16.3", and it's a complete bike: KONAWORLD

[quickag]

Honzo is the shit.

[chancerider]

My experience with 29ers up to this point hasn't been favorable. Bikes that are hard to wheelie, manual, and generally just flick around on tight terrain don't really jive with my idea of what mountain biking is supposed to be.

Is there anything out there with a CS length of 16.5" or less? I want to get a custom MTB in the next year or so, but I've been off mountain bikes for a while and want to prove out what I'm looking for on a stock frame before going custom.

The new Yeti "Big Top".

[marcelia]

The new Yeti "Big Top".

the yeti has like a 17" chainstay
i have no problem wheelie-ing it even with my very modest power and worse skills
the reality is that riding these bikes is very different than 26er bikes - if you like to go fast you'll like the 29

[SignatureJustin]

Money better spent just getting the bike you want now instead of spending twice.

For sweet bike choices.
IF has done plenty of 29ers. We've done a bunch with them.

44Bikes here from the Salon, he does some cool 29ers.

[dsaul]

I recently built a Canfield Nimble 9 for a friend and the quality is about what you would expect from a frame at that price point. The paint chips easily, sticker are really cheesy looking and the hardware that comes with the sliders is not the highest quality. Other than that, he really likes the way the bike handles. We are in South Jersey so, if you can ride a large, he would probably let you ride it. We ride at Middle Run in Delaware on a regular basis.

Pics can be found here
Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[suspectdevice]

Find a Jamis Dragon 650b bike to demo. You'll fall in love.

[ides1056]

After chasing the guys I ride with for a year, I went out a bought a Santa Cruz Highball. It has made my other bikes obsolete. I don't know what you want that differs from what I expect- everything and more- but this bike just goes like hell up and downhill, technical and not, roots and rocks, the whole enchilada. I've never ridden a more efficient bike. Whatever force is applied to the pedal goes directly to making it go forward.

[nahtnoj]

Money better spent just getting the bike you want now instead of spending twice.

For sweet bike choices.
IF has done plenty of 29ers. We've done a bunch with them.

44Bikes here from the Salon, he does some cool 29ers.

If I go the custom 29er route, 44 is up at the top of the list, along with Steve Stickel.

[nahtnoj]

I recently built a Canfield Nimble 9 for a friend and the quality is about what you would expect from a frame at that price point. The paint chips easily, sticker are really cheesy looking and the hardware that comes with the sliders is not the highest quality. Other than that, he really likes the way the bike handles. We are in South Jersey so, if you can ride a large, he would probably let you ride it. We ride at Middle Run in Delaware on a regular basis.

Pics can be found here
Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

That is great to know. Thanks for the offer!