Effect of 26″ conversion on 2006 Bighit geometry

/11 Comments/in , /by


Hi Lee,

Great site. A quick one:

The Bighit 2003 came out standard with a 24″ rear wheel. I’ve changed the seatstay to accommodate a 26″ wheel and I use the most progressive (bottom) hole on the frame and position A on the shock link. How will this affect the headtube angle? I do a lot of DH and some “downhill” freeriding if I can call it that. I know with the 24″ rear wheel the slackest angle is 66.3 degrees, but I’m concerned it has negatively impacted that angle. I have a 2004 Boxxer Team up front – 7″, and a Fox Vanilla RC at the back.

Regards, Adrian

Hey Adrian,

I raced that bike for a couple seasons. Loved it. I’m sure it’ll be even better with a full sized wheel.

I think that change will steepen your head angle by about 1.2 degrees, theoretically to about 67.5 degrees. These days that would be considered a good “freeride” head angle.

Real quick, here’s how I attacked that question:



Pin it!

— Lee



Me, 2002, at the top of the Mammoth Kamikaze. Note: With that 24×2.7″ rear tire, the rear diameter is almost as large as the front. With a 3″ rear tire, they’re even closer. Don’t you think it’s easier to run a bigger 24″ tire than to convert your rear end to 26″?
11 replies
  1. Don says:

    I’d like to know what Adrian did to change the seat stays. I’ve been trying to figure a way to put a 26″ on my brother’s Bighit for a while now. Great site. Thanks, Don

  2. Adrian says:

    Thanks for a prompt reply, Lee.
    Don, I bought the bike used from a friend who had the conversion done somewhere in the USA (I live in Cape Town – South Africa)by Specialized themselves I believe. I can send you a photo of the 26″ seatstay, but I’ll need your e-mail address.

    Regards,
    Adrian

  3. Don says:

    Thanks Adrian, would it possible for you to post some pictures on Freeridesouth.com rather than posting my e-mail address. Thanks for the info I’d love to see it. Don

  4. Adrian says:

    Hi Don

    Will do. Keep a lookout. I’m busy rebuilding my bike, but that will only allow for better photos.

    Regards,
    Adrian

  5. Adrian says:

    Hi Don,

    I submitted the photo’s under the “rider” section for some unknown reason. Check them out there. Hope they help.

    Regards,
    Adrian

  6. offcamber says:

    Thanks, I’ll have to check with Specialized. Once you get it built I’d like to see it complete. Thanks, again, Don

  9. offcamber says:

    Lee, I agree with you about the tire. He’s just trying to find something a little more pedal friendly. I think it gonna end up being a Enduro.

  10. RED5 says:

    Those stays where produced by a company in the UK called BETD. I looked into them for my old 03 BigHit Expert, they were pricey. Actually i memory serves me correctly, the stays did not alter the geometry by design.

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