Any thoughts on the viability of building up a small Marley 275 or Mmbop with 26" wheels for an 11 year old? I think the reach of 420 seems ok, just worried the BB will be a bit low.
170 quid seems a bargain for a decent frame, I don't want to invest in a tired old full suss at this age.
I bought the Big Al at full RRP in the summer. Running it with 150 36s and its an utter joy. Light, playful and very happy on the steep stuff.
@submarined - depends on what crank length you'd be using?
I think that with 150mm cranks it would be ok?
@submarined, sounds like you're where I am. Currently hovering over the buy button on Marley 275 full builds at £700 for my kids. Eldest (almost 11, 154cm) won't be tall enough for even a small Ragley for ~6 months and even longer for my youngest, but I'm still tempted to buy now and stash away. Unsure how much longer deals like these are going to be around if the bike market returns to any sort of normality.
I see reach as 415mm on the small Marley 275 full-build - I suspect they're 2022 frames rather than 2023 frame-onlys, unless CRC/Wiggle have they're desciptors wrong (although they seem to match Ragley's own website). That compares to 396mm reach on the Vitus Mucleus 26s mine have been riding since they were 140cm tall, so sounds ideal sizing.
I expected I'd buy used FS frames to build up as their next bikes, but a new decent hardtail is very appealing. If full suss then Winstanleys have small Marin Rift Zone 29s reduced to £1200. It's a bit jump in price compared to a well-specced Ragley HT though.
@tuboflard - not cinch compatible, and sorry I should have specified, 12 speed.
Wow. Those complete bikes are a steal - they were great value at full price.
The Vitus Sentier hardtails are particularly good value too, if you don't mind the outdated (short) geometry.
Dunno if they'd work well for taller kids?
Hmmm, I have a set of 27.5 Lyriks sat in the shed doing nothing.
Wonder if an Mmmbop would handle 180mm forks....
Well I couldnt put myself off any longer .. logged out at check out 4 times yesterday and twice this morning . It made sense to buy and run a Big Al over the winter slop and save a load of messing . If it rides as awell as the 2020 im happy
Well I couldnt put myself off any longer .. logged out at check out 4 times yesterday and twice this morning . It made sense to buy and run a Big Al over the winter slop and save a load of messing . If it rides as awell as the 2020 im happy
Good man, you know it makes sense.
Really tempted with the Marley 29'er.
I already have most things to build it up - just missing some forks and tyres........
Anyone at 5'11 run a medium mmmbop? I've long legs and usually run a large on my bikes, but the medium looks so much better with the seat stays in line with the top tube
That was inevitable: I caved.
Two half-price Marley 275 full bikes ordered - BOGOF! Won't be needed for 6 months or so until mini-a11ys are a bit taller, but good to have them lined up. Cranks will be swapped for something shorter, brakes will be switched for something non-SRAM, but other than that the spec is ideal.
Thanks for the PSA @lucasshmucas
Any Trig owners? Thoughts?
I bought a Trig of Oli on here a couple of months ago and have been blown away by it. On the flats of Cambridge it's faster than the mtb but brings things alive as the terrain is not exactly challenging. Took it to the Lakes and had an amazing time on trails including gravel stuff and the Red route at Grizedale and back roads. The geometry is brilliant. It's remarkably comfortable and whilst it's slower going down the more techy stuff it's still fun as you later guide it down the best line. Also did the original 100km gravel ride here (Tour of the Cornfields) and it was comfortable and behaved impecably. I thought it would be good but it's exceeded my expectations.
Got a trig on last PSA, ace bike! I found the drops uncomfortable and no fun so stuck some proper bars on it and then mounted some old style cowhorns inboard if I wanted aero and a change of position, works well.
Blue Pig incoming... I should know better than to look at PSA threads!
Thanks OP!
@a11y I think we're on the same place! 10.5 year old here, with an mx24 that's starting to look pretty minute.
Marley 275 would seem a great fit for next bike, especially if fitted with 26 stuff. Got most of the bits I need here.
Can't bring myself to spend full suss money on his next option, especially when he's not into super tech and will grow out of it pretty fast
@Kramer good point about the cranks! Ta. Just need to find an option that isn't crazy money and would be 11sp compatible.
First world simplicity
Orders frame pays postage on frame
Orders Headset.. chuck it in the same box as frame ? No CRC pays postage to Evri wonders why companies make a loss . Now contemplates a set of 650b+ wheels for the Al maybe a set of Spengal wheels and it was looking like a cheap build at first.
Hmmm, Marley 29 or Big Al?
What's the pros & cons of each?
Guessing Marley is more of a trail bike & the Al an Enduro sled?
Already have an Enduro Full Suss, so would suspect that the Marley might be better?
Anyone run the Marley 29 with 150mm forks?
My old al is the same as this years marley and I ran mine with 160mm forks . It was brilliant I only swapped it out for a Tallboy frame to easy the ass poundage, but to be fair I have missed the easy of a hardtail just wipe it down and lock it away, no messing with cleaning linakages or shock servicing every 6 weeks in the winder slop .
White Big Al frame ordered, to replace a er, red Big Al frame. The new one, with its slacker head angle and generally more enduro geo is going to run a 160mm fork rather than the 140mm on the old one. I've enjoyed riding the old one, hopefully I won't regret changing!
My Big Al arrived this morning. Built it up this afternoon with parts from a P7. Just waiting for a longer dropper to arrive. Why do I keep opening this thread every time I see it. Are they sold out yet?
Mines out for delivery today 🙂 and just in time for slop season. @ tomtomthepiperson that looks fun .
The yellow Marley frame looks ace, bought to replace my big wig. Looking forward to building it up (with 160mm forks 😜)
Beginning to wish I'd gone for blue now I've seen tomtom's photo, it looks good 👍
Beginning to wish I’d gone for blue now I’ve seen tomtom’s photo, it looks good
It's lovely in the flesh! This pic doesn't really do it justice
Why do I keep opening this thread every time I see it. Are they sold out yet?
not yet
Can i suggest that you also don't look here, as they would go together nicely
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/psa-dt-xm1700-wheels-crc/
Sorry for the slight hijack on this thread but came across it as I keep getting drawn to the Ragley Mmmbop on wiggle as I’m looking to replace my 2016 crush frame and £170 for the Ragley seems too good to pass up!!
built up a Marley last month for my gf and she loves it and while I love the Orange bikes (had a 5 and have a crush and alpine evo) and would love a 2023 crush frame I just don’t seen how it’s going to be 3-4x better than the Ragley (based on cost)
any thoughts/suggestions before I hit the buy button in the Ragley?!
any thoughts/suggestions before I hit the buy button in the Ragley?!
Why haven't you bought it already?!
I decided to save money in the future and bought a Marley for my son's next bike. I spent ages trying to decide on small (420mm reach) or medium (440mm) but went for the medium. He's 12 and 148cm, currently rides a small Vitus Nucleas with a reach of 380mm. His full suspension is a medium Orange Four with a reach of 438mm which he is comfortable on, rode the Swiss Jura over 5 days and it fits him well. According to the sizing chart the medium will suit riders from 170-180cm. We'll build it for him next year I reckon and it should see him through until he finishes school.
The Marley looks identical to the older (2021?) Big Al which my wife has, tubing shapes, dropouts, brake casting etc, nice looking frames and even at full RRP they're a bargain.
I keep looking but have with held so far.
Mainly fancy a frame to build up N+1 winter bike but, it has to accommodate my spare 27.5" 40mm wide rims with 2.8" tyres as I really don't want to buy yet another set of wheels.
Does anybody know if the 29" frames pretty much all accept plus wheels?
@tomtomthepiperson - how does the dropper cable route please?
Grabbed off the CRC site on a full build.
Yep, just like that. I pushed an inner and outer in from the top, grabbed the inner with some tweezers when it appeared near the exit then pushed it up the seat tube. Was very easy (just don’t forget the grommet things).
We got a Marley 290 to replace my partners 2016 orange crush. Pretty much built just waiting for a new reae brake line as we moved the brakes over and they physically go one but the line is too tight round the headtube. Looks awesome though and I know she will enjoy the jump from 650b to 29er.
Does anyone fancy posting up pics of their yellow Marley 29 frame or build?
I’m still tempted to grab one but I need some more visuals to sway me! 👀
NBD today for Tyred Jr the Younger.
His previous bike was a wonderful Top Fuel 9.9 (when it was an XC rocket rather than a downcountry not-sure-what) inherited from his older brother who'd ridden it half to death. The younger brother completed the job in Champery this summer by managing to crack the rocker. That bike had had a good life - replacing bearings had become an exercise in filling some of the housings with resin so the bearings vaguely fit, the once-lush fork was at the end of it's life and so on.
The older one and I both have Ragley BigWigs, brilliant for everything bar XC racing, especially over the winter. Recently the younger one has had 4-pot envy plus a growth spurt that's seen him get close in height to his big brother. There's been a subtle but deliberate shift in the younger one referring to "your hardtail" to "the hardtail" and some bickering over who gets to ride what and when, now we're all close in height.
On seeing this PSA, figured I'd get a BigWig or Big Al frame plus a Revelation fork, take the wheels and Eagle groupset off the Trek and away we go, but by the time I'd accounted for all the other bits it was looking distinctly less of a bargain, then I spied Wiggle doing full-build BigWigs half price with not a bad spec: https://www.wiggle.com/p/ragley-big-wig-hardtail-bike-moss
Courtesy of the parcelforce driver ,there's now a big box in the younger one's room and I'm waiting for him coming in from school in the next few minutes.
Everyone loves a NBD, especially when the sun's out and particularly if you're the younger sibling who only ever gets hand-me-downs! 🙂
especially when the sun’s out
Where the heck are you? Bloody miserable in Derbyshire
Happy NBJ to Jnr
Frame arrived today - Ragley Mmmbop - so converting the 2016 Crush to that is this weekend's project in between rides! Will let you know how I get on!
Frame arrived today – Ragley Mmmbop – so converting the 2016 Crush to that is this weekend’s project in between rides! Will let you know how I get on!
Pictures please when you get it. Been hovering over a copper one for a few days
