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To boost or not to boost, that is the question...

June 17, 2018, 10:28 p.m.
RAHrider
Posts: 1312
Joined: May 11, 2018

So what do y'all think of boost on a frame? I picked up an evil insurgent for a pretty good deal, cheaper mainly because it isn't boost. The frame fits a 2.5 tire. I am 200+ lbs and ride fairly aggressively and I was told that I will not really like 27+ tires as they will feel squirrelly under me and that sort of made sense. I ended up getting a boost fork so I figure I will ride a 2.6 up front and a 2.5 in the back in the off season when everything is soaking wet or covered in snow. 2.4's have always served me well otherwise.

Wondering what you all think, or if there is some other benefit to having your rear spacing being so wide.

June 18, 2018, 1:33 p.m.
craw
craw
Posts: 1055
Joined: Jan. 31, 2005

I went boost in back because the frame I bought a few years ago required it. It seemed like everything was going Boost and I think those adapter kits are untidy. I ran a non-boost fork on that bike and didn't notice anything. I just switched to a boost fork so the future is now or whatever. I don't notice it one way or the other.

June 20, 2018, 4:44 p.m.
grambo
Posts: 1774
Joined: July 11, 2014

Boost itself? No perceivable change on 27.5 to me (also 200+ lbs dude). I tried plus tires once and hated them, again maybe due to size. Also Minion DHF/DHRII in 2.5/2.4WT has so much grip I just don't see the point of wimpy 2.8/3.0's that squirm when run at appropriate pressures.

June 21, 2018, 8:53 a.m.
pedalhound
pedalhound
Posts: 9286
Joined: Nov. 19, 2002

My new frame has a boost rear end...so I have to order a new boost hubshell from CK as they don't have adapters...which also means I have to get my wheel rebuilt. I am guessing I will feel no difference, but at least now I am on my way to being more up to date...lol. My forks are non boost, so going to keep the front end as it is now.

June 21, 2018, 10:52 a.m.
shoreboy
Posts: 1547
Joined: Sept. 30, 2006

Posted by: pedalhound

My new frame has a boost rear end...so I have to order a new boost hubshell from CK as they don't have adapters...which also means I have to get my wheel rebuilt. I am guessing I will feel no difference, but at least now I am on my way to being more up to date...lol. My forks are non boost, so going to keep the front end as it is now.

Apparently these will work with your CK hubs if you are going from 12x142 to 12x148?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MTB-Tools-Adapter-Set-12mm-x-142mm-Rear-Hub-148mm-Boost-Application-/252170961640?hash=item3ab68f82e8&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Doesnt look like an ideal solution (but is cheaper than the alternative).  I have the MRP CK adaptors on my front hub, and they work perfectly.  Sadly they dont make one for the rear.

June 21, 2018, 1:50 p.m.
JLW124
Posts: 15
Joined: May 25, 2006

I’ve been using the MTB Tools adapters with a CK 12x142 hub for a few months now, seems to work fine.  I’m running a non-boost crank setup so chainline is unaffected.

June 22, 2018, 2:25 p.m.
Endur-Bro
Posts: 1455
Joined: March 18, 2017

New frame I built up had Boost rear axle so I built up a Boost rear wheel.

June 25, 2018, 12:27 p.m.
tashi
Posts: 2539
Joined: April 25, 2003

Stiffer is basically always better but I highly doubt that most (possibly any) riders could tell the difference by ride feel if they didn't know which they were on.  Rear Boost is for bike designers to make wheelbases, big wheels and chainlines all work out.  Front end Boost is for extracting more $$ from riders.

I would run whatever I have, and if I had a rad wheelset I'd use adaptors to make it work for my chosen frame and fork.

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