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Just figured out why my Ramin 1 (commuter edition 😀 ) is such fun, with 35C tyres the bottom bracket height is less than 11.5 inch! 😈 Mind those pedals!
Bought one of these in December. Its been in the garage ever since. I paid £400 and I've just spent £105 on a full narrow wide 10 speed upgrade. It's now looking amazing value for the £505 I've spent. One question I have though is does anyone have opinions on the brakes (shimano entry level hydros) or the tyres (conti x king)?
What kind of 10 speed set-up did you go for? How is it running?
I'd say the brakes are surprisingly good. They don't have the same bite as some of the higher end models but I weigh over 14 stone with backpack and they have no problem stopping me in a hurry. I mentioned before that I rode Avid Elixr 5's previously, and whilst they had bags of power, I always had problems with rubbing, squealing etc. The basic Shimano's work silently and consistently, even in the mud - give them a chance and see for yourself.
The tyres are ok, they do roll pretty well and will do a decent job in dry conditions, but they're not the grippiest when things get wet. I have been running mine through winter and plan to upgrade to something a bit lighter for summer.
I have found that everything on the bike functions pretty well, there is definitely room for upgrades, but it will get you round the trails off the shelf.
I haven't fitted the bits yet or even ridden the bike for that matter. I got a narrow wide works ring, slx cassette, slx chain, xt shifter and deore shadow plus mech.
I may fit the zee 10 speed stuff off another bike though as im going to split/sell.
The tyres look like a good summer tyre but I worry about puncture resistance with low-ish pressure. Glad your enjoying life with it. I didn't really have a place for it at the time of purchase but really wanted one as soon as I saw it. For the money I've paid inc upgrades I couldn't be happier, really happy with the frame quality aswel.
Very nice! You will need to post a picture when it's all put together, and actually ride it!
I managed to find a very good online deal for an XT shadow derailleur, shifter, chain and cassette for a 1x9 set up that I decided to go for. However, I still have respect for the Altus gear for putting up with the beating I gave it over the last few months. There was quite a price difference between 9 speed and 10 speed components, so I decided to stick with 9 speed as it has served all my purposes up until now.
I suppose it all depends on where and how you ride, but I have been lucky so far and had no punctures and I run my tyres quite soft.
Upgradeitus continues here too, new wheels! The bike certainly is nice/fun etc enough to justify it so why not! Hope Hoops Crest, XT cassette and some lighter tyres has shed a barely believable, wait for it, 1.6kg from the wheelset (42c tyres mind you)! £/g on that one is amazing! As you'd guess, has totally transformed the bike.
That is an unbelievable saving!
I don't think I will be shedding anything like that any time soon. I will keep the wheels the bike came with for now and do some lighter (more inexpensive) tinkering.
Out of interest, what tyres did you go for?
Conti SpeedRides, 42c. Quite a nice tyre by all accounts but I think I've thought better of them for my urban detritus commute. Schwalbe Marathon Supremes (28x2.0) will add 400 and some grams back but I hope will save me from glass strikes!
Does anybody know if the Ramin 1 wheelset will accept a 10 speed cassette? Apparently the hub is Shimano FH-M475 6-bolt disc
Thanks
Yep it will take a SRAM/Shimano 10spd cassette.
Just bought myself one of these. First ride at the weekend, and very nice for the money.
Can't comment on the Altus 9 speed the bike comes with, as fitted 10 speed bits from the off. Reason being, I had to change the 32T front ring anyway, as not many hills in my part of the world, so figured I would chang the whole lot while I was at it.
Other than popping on some ODI grips I got given ages back, and a Charge spoon, it's going to stay stock. Would like to go for a lighter tubeless wheelset and upgrade the 'agricultural but functional' brakes, but that's getting away from what this bike is about. A cheap and cheerful 29er.
As an aside when did 720mm bars become the norm? Going to take a bit of getting used to after 4 years on drops.
and a carbon fork for another 700+ grams...
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Not that it's exactly on thread but I've been having a great time on my Ramin 4.
It's done several hundered rocky and loose downhill miles (volcanic rock) and is a riot.
The conti tyres didn't last long (nor is the replacement purgatory rear) and pad wear is quick (will only accept resin pads with disc) but it's otherwise fab.
I'm so chuffed I'm going to get another next year (prob the Ramin 5) to hoon around in the UK.
You running tubeless?
Also, how much were the wheels?
Not quite yet, the marathons aren't tubeless ready and have pin holes in them that I couldn't get to seal up. I'm back on tubes for the moment but will probably try again at some point because I'm not sure the sealant I used was in the best state (and I forgot to shake it! 😳 ).
Wheels were £250 though I dropped on quite a good deal.
I don't suppose you weighed the original wheelset when you took them off, Dave?
Just wondering how much of a saving I might make switching to some diff wheels, but same-ish tyres.
Certainly did, whether I've still got the numbers is a different thing! I'll have a look...
Cheers, fella.
I promised myself I wasn't going to upgrade the bike, and it's already got a full 10sp drivetrain, and possibly some new wheels.
Whoops.
It's all a bit messy but if I'm interpreting my scribbles correctly the front is 1115g (no skewer or rotor) and the rear 1341g (no skewer, rotor or cassette).
On the plus side the bike does stand upgrading, the frame really is quite nice.
Hmm, so a new 1.9-2kg wheelset, running tubeless should free up nearly 1kg. Interesting.
Thanks for that, Dave.
daveh:If you buy the full bike you get a spare hanger too!
Just realised, I didn't get one. Did everyone else?
Changing the wheels makes a big old difference, more quickening up the handling than noticable improvement in acceleration to my feel.
I didnt get a hanger either, anyone else?
Not with my R4
Forgot to ask, did you weigh the original fork?
Also, what is going on with that fork you have fitted?
Specifically here:
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Looks weird compared to what I assume is the same fork on the O-O site.
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Out of interest is it a standard 1 1/8th head tube or can it take tapered forks?
Forgot to ask, did you weigh the original fork?
But of course, 1400g.
Also, what is going on with that fork you have fitted?
That be my super special patent pending mudguard, black tape wrapped around the legs to prevent water being thrown at my face. Fast commuter see 🙂 You should also be able to make out my super special patent pending lower headset cup seal too! 😀
Out of interest is it a standard 1 1/8th head tube or can it take tapered forks?
Is it 44mm? Anyway, it'll take a tapered fork but only with an external bottom headset cup, keeping it nice and flush (and low more importantly) as per original then it's 1/8th only.
Thanks......1400g's .....oooh la la !!
1400g is wild! I am in the process of upgrading my Ramin one, but haven't yet decided what to do about the fork. I have been looking at getting a carbon fork that is under 600 grams or perhaps going for a Manitou Tower Pro. Seeing how little extra weight it would be to add a front shock in comparison to the stock fork makes the decision even more complicated.
Can't wait to get my bike back in its new guise.
1400g is a 'suprise' here. Tube spec is same as another fork I have here that's little over 1000g. The crown shape adds some weight but not that much. Off to check..
So I'm buying some Rebas with a tapered steerer, would a Hope Mix & Match HSCF Traditional Bottom 1.5" be what I need??
Thanks
Nath
Looking around for bikes for my brother in law and I've landed on these for the moment. Ticking more bockses than anything else so far.
jameso - did you get to the bottom of the fork weight?
I did - it's correct, I mis-judged what the added length (470mm vs 450mm) and the crown shape added. I got 1350-1370g. I expected a bit over 1100g.
aha, ta! Just more potential for weight savings!
2015 model has been enduro'd, love the color:
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Might buy another..!
First post on here, looking for some guidance...I recently sold a Scott Aspect 50 which I bought a couple of years ago and never got on with. It always felt like I was leaning too much on my arms and made my neck muscles hurt.
Anyway, I've been looking for something decent quality that is more comfortable to ride and not too expensive (sub £500) and the Ramin One struck me as an interesting option. For the money I have, the forks I would get would be pretty average at best so maybe I'm better going with the Ramin One 2014 for £380, which has fairly decent components and getting a decent suspension fork later.
I was in Evans today but they didn't have any Ramin Ones. I tried another 29er and the guy there was recommending I go with a Medium (my Scott was a Large) since, although I am 181cm tall, I am more leg than body. 🙂 It makes sense - get the bigger pedal-seat distance of the 29er without having to stretch too far forward for the handelbars. The top bar distance on the Medium Ramin One is 585mm, which is identical to the Large Scott Aspect 50.
Anyway, they've ordered me in a Medium 2014 one to try (no Large ones in stock) so we'll see how that goes...
By its a slow burner this thread!
I hear what you're saying but a large would be more normal. That of course means nothing but the alarm bells ding-a-ling a tad when there's only one size in stock and that's the size recommended to you. No large Ramin 2, 3, 4 or 5s available for you to try?
Missed this the first time around.
172cm here, and on a medium Ramin. Also a bit leggy for my height, 31" inside leg (78ish cm?). Here is how it was set up:
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...I would really try a large as well, if you can.
Just thought I'd chuck in my thoughts as I bought a Ramin One on the £400 offer a couple of months back. I got a medium size, I am 5.8 with 29 inside leg. Bike fits like a glove. A previous poster asked about the tyres, and as I only use this bike off road, I found really didn't like them at all, so I swapped them out for Trail King 2.4. Big tyres I know, but I like them. 25 ish psi and the grip and handling are amazing. Brakes excellent, gears change as they should, low enough for climbs on The Monkey Trail / Macc Forest etc. The bars were too wide for me, as I prefer to ride past trees and not hit them, so they were cut down. And I swapped the pedals for an old set of more grippy Wellgos. Oh and it needs lock on grips, the supplied ones move about. Hard bike to fault for the money.
I'm 5'10" or about 178cm and I ride a medium. I never had the luxury of testing the bike first as mine was bought online and shipped to Munich (where I currently live). I swayed between the two sizes but in the end chose the medium which I would say is perfect for me. I’m more body than leg so more stand-over is welcome. As you are that little bit taller, you may be more comfortable on a large. The last I looked there was a pretty detailed geometry/sizing chart on the evans website, that might be of help.
I had the misfortune of breaking my ankle right at the beginning of June, so I missed most of the summer riding this year. I am feeling strong enough again to get back out there, but it’s definitely time to re-evaluate the tyres. I have a set of Nobby Nic’s that I can throw on which will probably be a pretty decent upgrade to the stock tyres, but I always felt the Nobby Nic was more of a front tyre. I might just get something in 2.4 to squish my way around through winter. Those Trail Kings may be worth a look.
In other news, I upgraded the “finishing kit” to lightweight Syncross gear (although the seatpost is still original as I can’t find the right one) and the rear mech, cassette, chain and shifter is now XT. I had the same problem as Metruscan with the bar, so I got a shorter one so that I can actually get down all the trails in the area without the trees on either side ripping the skin from my hands. I also chucked a set of Ergon grips on there for good measure as the stock ones didn’t take long to fall to pieces.
You know, there's only one thing better than a Ramin One...
......is it a Fluro yellow Ramin 5 frame from evans for £109 (£89 to me as I had a £20 off voucher)!
I snapped my on one scandal last year and have been looking for something cheap to replace it. Just bought an XL after reading this thread and looking at your photos Daveh. I'm 6ft 2.
It's will be a 1x10 with 100mm (might reduce to 80mm) forks and a 70mm stem.
It's going to be delivered to my local evans in about a week, can't wait. I love a bargain.
It very nearly was but no, it's a another whole Ramin One. I collect today and will start stripping tonight. Wide bars short stem, carbon fork, hope/crest wheels, 1x10: 38t narrow wide with one up 42t. Looking forward to taking it back for its 6 week service!
And here we are, work in progress but getting there:
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^like 🙂
I have a large ramin 5 frame being delivered to my nearest evans sometime this week. probably won't look as nice as yours when built though!