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Nashbar Debuts $500 Chromoly Bees Knees 650B Hardtail Singlespeed

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Nashbar Bees Knees 650B steel hardtail mountain bike singlespeed

If you’re looking to test the 650B waters, it doesn’t get much cheaper than $500. Of course, you’re giving up gears and a tapered headset, but, well, it’s $500. $499 to be exact.

Nashbar’s Bees Knees 650B has a chromoly frame with short sliding dropouts at the rear and a chromoly fork up front. Spec is decent for the price, with Kenda Nevegal tires, FSA headset and Avid mechanical disc brakes. The rest is mostly no-name components to get you started.

Full specs, plus the 2×10 geared version, below…

Nashbar Bees Knees 650B steel hardtail mountain bike with 2x10 geared drivetrain

The geared version gets a SRAM 2×10 drivetrain and upgrades to a tapered headtube holding a Rockshox suspension fork. Other upgrades include Avid hydraulic brakes and a Prologo saddle. This one’s retailing for $1,299. Full specs at bottom.

NASHBAR BEES KNEES 650B SINGLESPEED

FRAME: 650b Chromoly, standard 1 1/8″ head tube, trail tuned chain and seat stays, replaceable rear derailleur hanger, disc tabs and water bottle mounts
FORK: 650b Chromoly, disc tabs, standard 1 1/8″ steerer
REAR SHOCK: None
HEADSET: FSA Hammer, 1 1/8″
CRANKSET: Alloy square taper 104mm bcd with 38t ring
BOTTOM BRACKET: Square Taper
SHIFTERS: None
LEVERS: Avid BB5
HANDLEBAR: 6061 Oversized Riser Bar, 620mm width, 25mm rise, 5 degree sweep
STEM: Alloy, 7 degree rise, 90mm
FRONT DERAILLEUR: None; Chainguard
REAR DERAILLEUR: None
CASSETTE: 16T
BRAKES: Avid BB5 mechanical
WHEELSET: Alex 650b XD-Lite, 6-bolt IS disc
TIRES: Kenda Nevegal, K-1010, 27.5×2.1 (650b)
PEDALS: None
SEATPOST: Alloy, 27.2x350mm
SADDLE: Mountain
CHAIN: KMC Z410
GRIPS/TAPE: Kraton Black

NASHBAR BEES KNEES 650B GEARED

FRAME: 650b Alloy, tapered 1 1/4″ head tube, trail tuned chain and seat stays, replaceable rear derailleur hanger, disc tabs and double water bottle mounts
FORK: Rock Shox Revelation RL with Remote Lockout and 100mm of travel, Tapered 1 1/4″ steerer, 15mm Thru-Axle
REAR SHOCK: None
HEADSET: FSA, TH-875
CRANKSET: SRAM X5, 38/24 chainrings
BOTTOM BRACKET: SRAM External Bearing
SHIFTERS: SRAM X9 trigger, 2×10
LEVERS: Avid Elixir 3
HANDLEBAR: Alloy Oversized, 31.8mm clamp, 620mm width, 15mm rise
STEM: Alloy, 80mm
FRONT DERAILLEUR: SRAM X7, 34.9mm clamp
REAR DERAILLEUR: SRAM X9, Medium Cage, 10-speed
CASSETTE: SRAM PG-1070, 10-speed, 11/36 range
BRAKES: Avid Elixir 3 Hydraulic
WHEELSET: Alex 650b XD-Lite, 6-bolt IS disc,sealed bearing hubs
TIRES: Kenda Nevegal, K-1010, 27.5×2.1 (650b)
PEDALS: None
SEATPOST: Aluminum, 31.6x400mm
SADDLE: Prologo Kappa Evo
CHAIN: SRAM PC-1071, 10-speed
GRIPS/TAPE: Lock Ring, black

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16 Comments
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mack
mack
11 years ago

38/16 is pretty darn steep for a SS mtb to ride off-road! they should have spec’ed it with a 32/18 or something like that. I ride my SS 29er at 32/20 or 32/22.

Quinn
Quinn
11 years ago

for on $1500 this is a Screamin’ deal, being the least expensive 650B on the market, for me it is very tempting.

Freder
Freder
11 years ago

That is awesome, finally something on this site that I can afford!

Jonny
Jonny
11 years ago

With a 38×16 ratio, they may have well called it ‘Broken Knees’ cause that’s what would happen if you rode it up a hill.

Rubens
Rubens
11 years ago

Looks sweet for 500 bills, whats that in euro..4ish? Just as well it is not for sale here or i would
have another pusher.

bc
bc
11 years ago

Holy hell, 38×16? Who could ride that off road? When Ned Overend won the National SS championship, even he “only” pushed a 36×21.

Hell Yeah!
Hell Yeah!
11 years ago

I would rather have a 29er. But hells yeah 27.5 for my Tracer2!

Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

38×16 on 650b? Is it a Midwest special?

stratosrally
stratosrally
11 years ago

Nifty, but I’m bummed – because I’ve always referred to my 2010 Haro Beasley 650b 1x9er as “The Bee’s Knees” for 3 reasons, obviously it’s 650b, it has factory bumblebee and honeycomb logos scattered across the frame and fork, and as it’s rigid my knees are the primary suspension. Haro unfortunately exited the 650b niche as quickly as it entered it because there weren’t enough early adopters, but dang it – that’s my baby’s nickname! I even use the bumblebee on wheels fork cap logo as my avatar…

swagen
11 years ago

Support your local independent bike shop.

pmurf
pmurf
11 years ago

@swagen, LBS’s might at least be selling smaller chainrings and comfort grips…

David
11 years ago

@Rubens, Nashbar.com does ship internationally – just select your currency from this page on our site and it will walk you through the price and shipping info: http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?catalogId=10052&countrySelection=yes&langId=-1&storeId=10053&redURL=TopCategories_10053_10052_-1 or contact our international Customer Service team for help: international@bikenashbar.com or +1 (304) 683-5635

Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

@swagen: support your family budget. LBS should provide value to earn business.

Steve
11 years ago

@David w/ Nashbar – The specs for the singlespeed list a replaceable derailleur hanger. However, I can’t see it in any photos. Is the frame set up to take a rear derailleur and cable? Thanks.

Bum
Bum
11 years ago

Buy 2!

Keith
Keith
11 years ago

I run 34-19 on my 29er ss. 650b is supposed to be “better” so it must be easy…..Humor intended

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