Ok so I found a guy in AZ who wants to trade me his Origin 8 Scout for my Cannondale Prophet. He's hoping to do a 650B conversion on it. That's well and good...but I had my eyes on a 650B conversion as well....but I would like to try the 29er cool aid. Thing is, I don't have any money, and getting him to trade me frame+fork+wheels for just my frame+fork, I'd still need to buy a new headset, and if I wanted to run gears that'd cost money as well. Then there is shipping costs.
Opinions?
what
Maybe a little too bicycle oriented for this discussion board. We have some riders on GRM, but mostly roadies.
PHeller, I think you answered your own question right after you said "Thing is," 
go for it, make the trade. Get a drivetrain and headset from complete bike at a yardsale, or try the local po-po impound. They often have bikes that have been there for a while...confiscated, reclaimed stolen, whatever. A lot of the time, the good bits have taken by the local 2 wheel cops, but sometimes theres goodies to be had. Anyway, 29s are fun as hell, but steering is slow if the frame wasnt built for it...kind like a chopper motorcycle. Adding a longer fork = shallower rake and therefore you end up with the steering of a delivery truck. Climbing power is also diminished a little, but the larger tires make the ride SOOOOO much smoother.
I'm actually thinking of making this Scout into more of a light weight, faster trail bike. He's got 2.1 Ignitors on it, and they barely fit in the rear chainstays. I'd probably go to a 2.0 or smaller.
My biggest thing is that he's trading me:
DT Swiss Hub: $75+ WTB Dual Duty 29' Rims: $45+building Origin 8 Scout 4130 steel frameset: $300 (or maybe $200 used) Surly tugnuts $60 Raceface seat post and clamp: $60 Manitou Minute 29: $400
Everything you see here except bars, stem, seat, brakes, cranks
I'm trading him:
05 Cannondale Prophet w/ Radium shock: $300+ 05 Lefty MAX with firm spring and hub: $150+ 06 RS Pike: $150+ OEM headset, front derailure, etc: Stuff that couldn't be sold for hardly anything
Everything you see here except wheels, bar, stem, cranks, rear derailure, seat, etc
and that's it. I get to keep my new cranks, my wheels, brakes, derailures, shifters, bars and stem.
He can't sell his bike, I can't sell mine. He doesn't ride the hardtail, and I don't ride my FS anymore. The deal is only sweetened by the fact that I'm making out a bit on value. His fork used is probably worth as much as both of mine. His wheels are probably worth as much as my frame.
I'd have to spend $40 to get new springs for my Pike, so I can use the money I'd spend on them on buying a headset.
Oh I'm such a bike geek.
mmmm...lefty>manitou IMHO, also, disc specific rims are stronger than duals in most cases (not always). if shipping is cheap enough, Id still say do it if you really want to do the 29er bit. Of course, you could always find wheels and a remote lockout rear shock on ebay, and a smaller small ring to make up for the bigger rear wheel, and probably be around the same out of pocket vs shipping/new headset. The only thing you would give up is the lower weight of a hardtail. those are the pros/cons I can see. Its all relative. If you really want the hardtail, I still say go for it. Sometimes the best thing about a new to you bike is just that its new to you, it doesnt have to be better in the conventional sense to be a good choice for you specifically. Good luck!
Personally, I am usually cautious about trades, but 29ers are awesome, and a new bike is always fun. A new bike is doubly fun if you are no longer motivated to ride your old one.
It seems like you have the enthusiasm necessary to dedicate some time to searching for parts to finish building it up, so it could be a good deal for you.
I haven't ridden my 26" wheel MTB once since I got a 29" about six months ago if that says anything. 
I don't really need to search for parts to finish it up. I'll have to do is slap my crankset, rear derailure and cassette on, buy a headset, and I'm good to go. Should cost no more than $100.
I'm just worried that the frame might be too XC for me and not enough AM. The Prophet really excelled on the downhill sections, but sacrificed climbing ability to do so. I'd like something lighter and more direct again and save up for a FR bike in a year or so...when I have insurance.
Oh, and a Lefty is only as good as the internals, and I personally felt like the entry level Lefty MAX was lacking some serious adjustment. I hear the PBR is really nice, but I have not enough money for that.
Are you talking about the Lefty Max with just spring preload and rebound damping adjust--in other words, no TPC damper, no stable platform valve, no PBR? They do seem a bit short on adjustability, but they have enough travel and are plush enough in terms of the spring, but so stiff in terms of flex that I haven't really found too much fault with them. Of course YMMV depending on your local terrain and riding style. I am more of an XC guy and well-acknowledge wimp on fast rough descents.
I also have to give Cannondale props in terms of support and replacement parts availability for their forks. Attempting to service an older Manitou is now nearly impossible (new ownership wants nothing to do with any products put out by old owners.) As part of SRAM, Rock Shox has gotten a lot better on this front, but still isn't great. Fox can work really well, but are a PITA to service or rebuild. I would rather service a Lefty or Headshok any day of the week.
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