Will do re the pics. Frame looks better in the flesh IMO. Will take some pics tomorrow
Piglet headset - ZS44/28.6 upper, EX44/40 lower
So it's this yeah?
https://www.wiggle.com/p/brand-x-semi-integrated-44iets-sealed-headset
@2tyred don’t keep us hanging, how did it go?
Awesome, the sparkly moss green colour's lovely. He's over the moon with it, not long back in from the maiden ride!
Ragley mmmbop in orange/bronze!!




Ragley mmmbop in orange/bronze!!
Nice - is that a large frame?
Yes. Pretty much the same dimensions as my crush. Frame swap this weekend…!
That's nice.
Let's see that moss green frame mentioned above as well please.
Good PSA. Mine arrived yesterday. Swapped over the bits from my Marin hardtail. Pretty everything went over without any "standards" issues. Just swapped the rear wheel as it has a different hub spacing and it takes a much longer dropper.
Went for the green Marley.
Very happy with it after a quick ride. Still need to tidy the cables/hoses (the brakes aren't staying long term) and need to cut the grass.
That orange/bronze finish looks lovely!
yes, its really nice - much better in the "flesh" than I was expecting!
Will drop some pictures of the finished bike later this weekend (hopefully) when done
That looks fantastic! I'm glad I'm quite good at disassociating myself from the cost of bike purchases, or the vastly higher price of my Moxie vs these Ragley bargains would be rather painful! (Also I do like my sliding dropouts for singlespeeding but that's a bit of a niche preference...)
Went with this. Probably a so-so fork but around £400 in total if the cashback works. Now do I go 10-45 or 10-51 with the 30t? I currently have 11-50 on a 32 but 27.5 and quite happy with it. I have worked out the gearing and basically my current gearing is between the 2 proposed ones. So I can either go with a silly granny OR smaller gaps between gears...
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Also, would anyone know what length hose I will need for the rear brake on a L frame? Will 150cm work by any chance with 800mm bars?
So I can either go with a silly granny OR smaller gaps between gears…
Smaller gap between gears is pointless on MTB...
In your situation I'd go 10-51 but replace the 30T chainring with a 32T for a bit more top end speed too...
Thanks a lot, sounds good. No idea why the pic of my basket is not showing. I went for a L size Big Al in white with the £180 Revs.
I might actually keep my NX cassette so 32 makes sense. Can I run the SLX cranks with my current GX chain or do I need a Shimano chain? And if so, will that work with the NX cassette? Cheers.
Just picked my frame up from the depot where it’s been sat whilst I’ve been up in the Borders.
N(old)BD tomorrow!
Couldn’t wait till the weekend so cracked on with the build. Pretty happy with it. Looks nice!! Test ride Sunday



the cranks will be fine Nick.
Simon, if you're going to put a rear guard on, put a rear guard on!
otherwise, looks nice. 😉
Del
Full Member
the cranks will be fine Nick
Thanks Del. That's my assumption but the internet keeps saying the 12 speed Shimano rings don't play well with Eagle chains so I thought I would check!!
Hmmm
Got to admit, I'm not a huge fan now I've seen it built up - and I can't place my finger on why, because technically it should look great, soz 🥺
But it has made my decision easier about which frame to buy, cheers 👍
Enjoy though, I'm sure it'll ride great and the colour is lovely
Anyone got any tips for how to tighten the front hose retention clip bolt on a Marley frame please, there isn’t space to fit an Allen key in as it’s too close to the downtube.
I had exactly that issue. Stupid design.
I managed to find an old Allen key that must have come free with something flat pack and that just fitted using a 3/4 turn each time.
the biggest pain is the thread lock as that just makes it harder!
What's a front hose retention clip? Does the front brake hose need to be attached to the frame?
Do the bare frames come with the rubber grommets for the dropper cable?
Anyone got any tips for how to tighten the front hose retention clip bolt on a Marley frame please
Normal Allen key, not a fold out set, just about fits. I actually have a set that I've cut down as I often work on things with limited access. That fits nicely, but you can still only turn it 3/4 each go. Bit of a pain but neat once it's done and still way easier than internal routing.
Do the bare frames come with the rubber grommets for the dropper cable?
Yes. And cable ties or clips for the other cables/hoses.
What’s a front hose retention clip? Does the front brake hose need to be attached to the frame?
Not for the front hose, but to mount the rear hose to the underside of the crossbar. There's three clamps. The rear two are easy but the front one is right in the triangle with limited access.
Thanks Nick. I can't wait for the swearing when I get the Big Al frame. I was going to put it together in the house but on reflection I might do it in the garage 😂
Thanks for the tips guys. I ended up doing an emergency Halfords trip for some cheap allen keys that I ended up filing down to fit.
Shes done ..would have been quicker but my old dropper remote shat itself

Nice Steve. Is that a M or a L?
170mm travel dropper?
Just asking as I hope to be able to slam my Trans X adjustable travel dropper into my forthcoming Big Al in L while adjusting it up to the full 200mm, as currently only set on 170mm even slammed into the 2021 Meta HT on 27.5.
@nickfrog believe it or not that is the xl frame and a 170mm dropper, im 6.3 and all leg but ive since dropped it a little. I loved the old version (2020) and swapped it for a tallboy frame but winter slop and ease of cleaning brought me back in to the fold ... that and the £170 price drop 🙂
Cheers Steve. Wow. They are very low. There is a 30mm delta in seat tube length between L and XL so I might just be spot on if my dropper goes deep enough. I am only 6ft.
I am going to build it and not ride it until the weather turns next year actually, mostly because I went for white 😂
Wow. They are very low.
Yep. Vast improvement over my old Marin. 180mm drop in my medium.

Here's my finished (and ridden a few times) Big Al.
Spec is: XL frame with 140mm Pikes, 170mm Brand-X dropper, mainly XT with Hope brakes, Raceface Turbine stem & bars, Crest wheels with Ikon & Mezcal 2.6" tyres. Weighs about 13kg. Rides lovely but the dry weather tyres are going to need changing very soon as it's getting a bit muddy now. Very happy with it though.
How quickly did people receive their frame? I ordered it on Friday alongside the Revs forks and some DT wheels, I got the wheels and forks today even on free delivery but the frame is still showing processing. Weird or to be expected? They still have plenty of stock.
They might come from a different warehouse? I ordered a discounted Nukeproof frame and some parts recently and the parts arrived before the frame too (albeit just a few days apart).
I’d just sit it out for a few days yet.
My frame was despatched a few days after the other items in my order. They just come in the standard frame box so I suspect their logistics processes are easier/most consistent just to send them out like that and send other items separately rather than opening frame boxes and putting other stuff in.
Other than that again, I guess logistics/warehousing/courier collection dates dictate when the frames go. Eg. They might only have Parcel force collect a couple of times a week but a huge dedicated truck turns up where other stuff in much higher volume goes in evri trucks daily. Or something.
Thank you so much. Last question (hopefully), 1 spacer on the drive side for a HT2 BB presumably? Or does the ISCG05 tabs change that?
Frame arriving Wednesday. The service has been excellent actually, perhaps a side effect of them not being very busy.
Last question (hopefully), 1 spacer on the drive side for a HT2 BB presumably
Yep!
Thank you!!
I built my Marley 290 up with the parts off my old 2017 Jeffsy, so a 140mm fork.
Today I’ve taken it for its first ride, ~1900 meters of climbing, 58km in mid Wales, with strong winds.
The bike is brilliant fun, and pretty comfortable too. It’s not an XC bike, but it’s fine for longer rides.
Descending it’s really confidence inspiring, I’ve not done anything really tech on it yet, but I think it’s going to be really good.
All in all a great fun bike, amazing value for £190 (including delivery). I’m stoked.
Today we’ve mostly been riding the Enduro lines in Hafren Forest,
Wow. This bike is great fun on faster and techier trails. It really made me want to do everything at full send. Didn’t feel too harsh, and kept goading me to be off the brakes and go faster.
A great, great bike at any price never mind £190.

