Differences Between 20" And 26"

[Ash-Kennard]

Modified (20" wheels)

Pros:

Superb standover clearance

Easily manueverable in most every circumstance, especially anything rear wheel

Less expensive

Less parts to break

Nearly impossible to bend the rim of a well-built 19" rear mod wheel running enough tire pressure

Learn to sidehop up to both sides without worrying about a rear derailleur

Cons:

Some people may think it's a BMX bike

A pain to ride more than a mile or two on

May be harder to find parts for it

Harder to roll down things

Easier to go over the handlebars (but less scary when you do)

Doing wedge or wheelbase moves is less comfortable

Stock (26" wheels)

Pros:

More stable

Bigger wheels = roll everything easier

Easier to do wedge or wheelbase moves

Easier to pedal-kick on odd surfaces because of the larger diameter wheel

You can ride to your riding spot easily (if you have a seat and working gears)

Looks more like a mountain bike

People won't ask you to "grind" stuff or think you do BMX vert or street

Cons:

Bigger bike = less standover clearance = pain if you fall on the bike

Easy to hit knees on top-tube of most bikes

Less room to work with for bending down before sidehopping, bunnyhopping, etc. or when absorbing landings

More expensive because of greater frequency of breakage and more parts to break

Rear derailleurs - easy to smash into things (though most bikes have replaceable derailleur hangers that will bend before the derailleur is broken)

Wheels - 26" size = easier to get out of true or taco (20" wheels are extremely hard to ruin when built and used properly)

Chain can slip down or up a gear while you ride if your chain is too loose, or you smack your derailleur in section and break it

Heavier

yes this is just copied and pasted but it might stop people continually asking it. sticky me up baby.

[GTF]

many 26" bikes now have a really low standover height... but otherwise it looks right

[carnagr]

There's the whole rear derailleur thing too - a lot of people now run rigid tensioners are pretty f**kin hard to bend, since they attatch into the hanger and into the hub bolt.

[dan more]

6 inches