650B Wheel: Can You Fit 650B Wheels On A Road Bike?

My friend Johnny has a road bike and he mostly uses it for commuting and road riding.  One day he wanted to ride on a gravel and forest road, but he didn’t have enough money to buy a gravel bike. In this situation, he wanted to fit a 650b wheel on his road bike and I helped him that day. Here, I have discussed whether he can fit a 650b wheel on a road bike that day. To know about this more in detail, read my article carefully.

What Are The Main Components Of The Wheel?

There are four main components of the wheel. They are the rim, hub, spokes, and spokes nipple and each of these parts helps the wheel turn. If any one of them is damaged, then it affects the wheel.

Rim:

The rim is the main part of the wheel. It is a round part that is made of alloy or carbon fiber. And the tire is positioned around the rim.

• The width and strength of the wheel depend on the width, weight, and strength of the rim.
• Rim comes in different sizes and shapes.
• The shape of the rim gives comfort to the rider and makes the rim brake effective.

Hub:

Hub is placed in the middle of the bicycle wheel. A hub consists of different components like hub shells, axles, ball bearings, cones, and end caps. The bicycle has a hub on the front and rear wheels.

• The rear hub consists of a cassette which is connected to the paddle through a chain.
• When we press the paddle, this force reaches the rear wheel through the hub and the wheel turns.
• Thus, the hub connects the wheel to the bicycle and helps the bicycle to move forward.

Spokes:

Spokes are the thin rods that engage the hub and rim. Different wheels have different numbers of spokes. The difference in spokes can be noticed on the front and rear hubs.  The front hub has fewer spokes, and the rear hub has more spokes. More spokes mean more strength though more spokes add more weight. But if you use lightweight spokes, it will not affect the weight.

Spoke Nipple:

The nipple connects the spokes to the rim. Although it is an overlooked part, it plays an important role. There are two types of spoke nipples: Internal spoke nipple and external spoke nipple.

• An internal spoke nipple is placed inside the rim. On the contrary, the external spoke nipple is connected from inside to outside.
• The nipple firmly connects the spoke to the rim.

What Is 650B Wheel?

650B is a gravel bike wheel. It is also called the 27.5-inch wheel because they are the same and interchangeable.

• 650 indicates the diameter of the wheel and b indicates the width of the tire.

As 650b is a gravel bike tyre, you may be curious to know about gravel bikes.  So, what is a gravel bike?

• A gravel bike is a multi-surface bike.
• It has a drop handlebar, width tire, low gear, and sporty geometry which makes it suitable for paved and unpaved surfaces.

You can ride a gravel bike on gravel roads, forest roads, trails, and on roads.  Its wide tyre helps to ride it on gravel and forest roads. Moreover, its sporty geometry and drop handlebar makes it suitable for on road.

And What Is Road Bike Wheel?

A road bike wheel is skinny and smooth. It is very thin, and light and comes with a small tread. Road bike’s drop handlebar and geometry make it suitable for on road. These wheels are available in different sizes and shapes. It is perfect for long-distance riding and commuting on an unpaved road.

Are Road And 650b Wheels The Same?

No!  Road and 650b wheels are not the same.

Road and 650b bikes are made for two different purposes. Road wheel is made for smooth and unpaved roads. On the contrary, the 650b wheel is made for paved surfaces, trails, and gravel roads. So, their function and structure are also different.

Now, it is clear to you that road bike wheels and 650b wheels are not the same.

The Difference Between Road Bike Wheel And 650B Wheel

There are a lot of differences between road and gravel bike wheels.  The main difference is the width.

• The road bike wheel wide is 23-45mm and the 650b wheel is 23-47 mm wide.
• 650b wheel is thicker and it has thick tread which provides more friction and helps to move on muddy and slippery roads. On the contrary, the road bike wheel is narrow and lightweight.
• Generally, road bike tire has smooth tread which is suitable for on road.

650b Bicycle Wheels Benefits And Disbenefits

Advantages Of 650b Bicycle Wheel:

• 650b wheel is strong.
• It can run at lower pressure.
• It has multiple uses.
• 650b wheel is lightweight and fast.
• It provides better traction.

Disadvantages Of 650b Bicycle Wheel:

• Sometimes it fails to face debris or obstacles smoothly.
• Sometimes it doesn’t have the proper amount of rational momentum. As a result, it can be difficult to maintain speed.
• It is rare and difficult to find in developing countries.

Can You Fit 650b Wheels On A Road Bike?

Yes! You can fit 650 wheels on a road bike.  To fit a wheel on a different type of bike you must check the clearance first. Clearance is the distance between the wheel and other parts of the bicycle.

Road bike tire width is 23mm-45mm. On the contrary, the 650b tyre width is 23-47 mm.  We already know that a 650b wheel is wider than a road bike wheel. In this situation, if you have enough clearance on your road bike, you can fit a 650b wheel. And a road bike has a 25mm clearance. So, it is clear that you can put a 650b tyre on a road bike.

But at the time of selection, you have to buy a bike with a large clearance. Because if you buy a road bike with wide clearance, you will not face any problem putting a 650b wheel on it.

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How Much Will It Cost To Replace A Wheel?

I can’t say it exactly as there are different prices of products at different times and places. But I can give you an overall idea.

• A simple wheel replacement costs $50-$150.
• In some cases, it rises from $75 to $200.

Furthermore, a wheel has parts like a rim, hub, tire, etc. When installing a new wheel, all components must be replaced. Therefore, sometimes the cost increases slightly.

How Do You Know If The Wheel Is Put Correctly?

After setting up the wheel, check whether the wheel rotates properly and whether there is enough clearance.

• If the wheel rotates properly and has enough clearance, then the wheel is placed properly.
• Also, if the wheel wobbles while riding, it means that the wheel is not installed correctly. In this case, you should tighten the nut again.
• After that, if the wheel provides smooth riding, then you have to understand that the wheel is put correctly.

Will You Perform Best If You Put A 650b Wheel On A Road Bike?

You can put a 650b wheel on a road bike, but you wouldn’t be sure about the best performance. Because each type of bike is different. Furthermore, a wheel is different from others in function and structure. It is true that a bike’s performance largely depends on the wheel. But the best performance depends not only on wheels but also on the other parts like gears, brakes, and so on.

• 650b wheel is wide and it runs slowly. That’s why it has the low gear. In the contest, the road bike has a skinny and light tires.
• It is fast and it has the high gear. If you put 650b wheels on a road bike, it will fail to provide the best performance like a road bike.
• Besides, the 650b wheel brake and road bike brake are not the same.

So, it is clear to you that you will not get the best performance if you put a 650b wheel on a road bike.

Before The Closing

You can fit 650b wheels on a road bike. Because a road bike has enough clearance to fit a 650b wheel and it will perform well. But you will not get the performance of an actual bike. To get the actual performance you have to change the gear and brake along with the wheel.