Subscribe now and choose from over 30 free gifts worth up to £49 - Plus get £25 to spend in our shop
Still can't decide whether to build a Marley 29'er or buy the bargain Nukeproof Scout.....
I love the tan sidewalls and will be going that way myself.
They are actually much darker than the pic. I'll get some daylight pics this afternoon
Still can’t decide whether to build a Marley 29’er or buy the bargain Nukeproof Scout…..
Scout was pretty much top of my list when I was looking for a hardtail frame earlier in the year. Then the Marley came up so cheap I grabbed it. Now the scout has dropped in price too and I did have a moment of remorse but the Marley is great. I suspect in a blind test I wouldn't be able to tell the difference and both are far more capable than my riding ability.
TAFKASTR, that's a really nice bike despite the tyres! Actually they're not too bad to my eyes, and it's a French brand so you're forgiven 😂.
Really high bars though with the high rise and the plethora of spacers, is that intentional?
What's the fork travel?
TAFKASTR, that’s a really nice bike despite the tyres! Actually they’re not too bad to my eyes, and it’s a French brand so you’re forgiven 😂.
Really high bars though with the high rise and the plethora of spacers, is that intentional?
What’s the fork travel?
Cheers
I always like a higher front end (long legs/short torso), and have never had a bike this long, so keeping my options open. Will have a couple of rides and trim the steerer to suit
150mm
Those white frames look really nice. As do the tan walls.
More gratuitous pics.
[url= https://tinypic.host/images/2023/11/11/1699712572411.jpe g" target="_blank">
[url= https://tinypic.host/images/2023/11/11/1699712572433.jpe g" target="_blank">
[url= https://tinypic.host/images/2023/11/11/1699712572449.jpe g" target="_blank">
[url= https://tinypic.host/images/2023/11/11/1699712572466.jpe g" target="_blank">
Do you manage to get through all the travel on a 160mm travel fork on a hardtail?
Yes but only by accident 😂.
I would have been happy with 150 or 140 but those forks came up at £200 on 160mm and the frame is designed around 140-160 so within spec.
Was a bit disappointed when the blue sold out, but saw your white build and it prompted me to do my own. Glad I did now 👍
Yours looks brilliant too. I have the SLX bits too and they look good for the money but I really like the silver bits, they lift the bike and make a change from the usual blackness...
I still like the blue frame but I know I would have got bored of it quicker aesthetically.
Yours looks brilliant too. I have the SLX bits too and they look good for the money but I really like the silver bits, they lift the bike and make a change from the usual blackness…
Cheers - I do like the strictly white and black of yours though
Not sure why that picture uploaded so badly ^^^ was clear as anything before sticking it on here lol
This is a never ending build for me. CRC have reduced the M1900 rear wheel to £85 but only available in MS.
So...I have bought a XT cassette and chain from Merlin for £110 after loyalty discounts which makes even less sense. It would have made sense to go SLX to match the rest but there you go...
Tbf, quite an upgrade from the chunky NX cassette which may sell well with my GX chain after only 200 miles.
And back to 100% Shimano after buying an entire NX groupset which I slowly upgraded to SLX/XT...
Any recommendations for a cheap wheelset for these before I commit?
Any recommendations for a cheap wheelset for these before I commit?
How cheap - the Nukeproof Horizon Pro are really nice @ £360?
DT Swiss M1900 work out at £140 (for both wheels!) at the moment, if you play your cards right...You might have to buy a couple of £5 Nukeproof shorts to get to £75 though..
Actually, £150 now as it seems the Clearance code doesn't apply anymore. No need to buy shorts at least.
Still, a silly price for superb "budget" wheels, if you don't mind micro spline.
This is a never ending build for me. CRC have reduced the M1900 rear wheel to £85 but only available in MS. So…I have bought a XT cassette and chain from Merlin for £110 after loyalty discounts which makes even less sense. It would have made sense to go SLX to match the rest but there you go…Tbf, quite an upgrade from the chunky NX cassette which may sell well with my GX chain after only 200 miles
And back to 100% Shimano after buying an entire NX groupset which I slowly upgraded to SLX/XT…
Wait, I thought you already had M1900 wheels?
Or have you bought another one just so that you can go Shimano?
Yes the first one was HG to fit my NX 12 cassette. And then they lowered the price on the remaining MS of the same wheel down to £85 which kind of also paid for the XT 12 upgrade and means I have a complete Shimano group now with optimum shifting and future proofing, plus 150g less. I also bought another front when it was £55 so that I can sell the wheelset, even if that's in the spring. Probably a bit of accidental profit too.
Hi. I was about to pull the trigger on a Marley 29 frame, but just noticed that the hangers are out of stock.
https://www.wiggle.com/p/ragley-hanger-for-2019-current-mtb
Is there a third-party source with stock? I don't really want to get stuck with an un-usable frame if the worse happens...
Thinking about reframing my 27.5 large sentier. I like the reach but could do with more standover. I've got a bird Aether so don't need too slack as it's mostly used for flat trails with the kids.
What model do I want?
Is there a third-party source with stock? I don’t really want to get stuck with an un-usable frame if the worse happens…
Short answer, no
Slightly longer answer - there is a guy on the FB Ragley group trying to get Pilo to manufacture them as there is currently a large demand.
They already make a similar one for Ragleys, but the hanger angle is different
I'm hoping they do become available, but went into my Ragley build (realised I couldn't buy a hanger the day I pressed the button on the frame) with the open mind of at £170 almost treating the frame as a disposable item if needs be. Can't remember the last time I bent a hanger tbf - but then I have been running GX mechs that seem to self destruct way before a hanger would
Thanks, I've joined the FB group.
Weirdly, I'm also looking at replacing a 2021 Sentier 27.5 with a bargain Ragley, but thinking I'll jump up to a 29-er to match my full-sus bike. Only the green Marley 29 frame is left in stock atm in my size though.
I was also considering a Scout (helpfully it uses a UDH hanger), but only the 275 frames are left.
Thinking about reframing my 27.5 large sentier.
Not really thinking anymore. Black 27.5 Marley inbound.
I resisted the frames when the prices dropped but some of the full bike prices are ridiculously cheap at the moment. I couldn't buy the frame and components seperatley for the same price/less?
I'm 190cm tall, what size would you recommend?
Looking at a Big Al 1.0 just as a winter bike for the Marin trail etc. really.
And finally what's the situation with warranties, are Ragley owned by CRC/Wiggle?
Ah just looked at the frame geometry and your right, there's quite a difference!
Ragley have only offered frame only for 2023, the full builds are 2022 models with less aggressive geometry
The full builds are indeed 2022 frames with slightly less on-trend geometry. Not necessarily a bad thing depending on your preference - didn't bother me, my kids won't care/notice the difference between 2022 and 2023 geometry on the 2022 full builds I bought.
I've even put a +2° angleset on my Mmmbop to make it less on trend
I'm putting a -2 and a 150 fork on my Marley to hang with the cool kids.
I thought I'd have mine finished tonight, for the 2nd time, but couldn't find any tubeless tape I was happy with, so it will have to wait a while. I originally built it with some new OEM Orbea wheels and 12spd gearing removed from a new bike (for sale in Gloucestershire if anyone is interested) but decided to boost some old Hope hubs I had lying around, built onto some cheap i25 KOM rims with spare slightly used 11spd gearing instead. Yellow Marley 29 frame with odd red and blue bits so a bit of a mash up, but kinda works.
The 1st build attempt before I changed my mind:
Nice! Yellow is lovely in the flesh, slight pearl to it, I thought it was going to be just a flat yellow. Now I want to keep the check hack looking pretty!
I originally built it with some new OEM Orbea wheels and 12spd gearing removed from a new bike (for sale in Gloucestershire if anyone is interested) but decided to boost some old Hope hubs I had lying around, built onto some cheap i25 KOM rims with spare slightly used 11spd gearing instead
Probably a good choice. Not heard great things about those RF wheels.
Nice bike 👍
I've absolutely hammered a set of Raceface AR40 rims on my eEnduro bike and they've been faultless, so no concerns about the rims, but I do hate Shimano hubs with a passion and all my other wheels are 6 bolt not centerlock. Need to order some non-green fork decals.
I’ve absolutely hammered a set of Raceface AR40 rims on my eEnduro bike
Weird ain't it. Someone bought a set on the Ragley FB page and EVERYONE slated them.
In another post, someone asked about Hunt wheels, I mentioned that I'd read bad things about them (and also have a mate who doesn't rate them) and everyone replied said they were brill 🤣
Sorry to hijack the thread a little,it looks like I would be in between sizes.
Based on the measurements below do these bikes look like they're similar (size wise)?
The first set of measurements are the Ragley big Al and the second column is my current (Full Suspension) mountain bike:
| Reach |
480mm |
485mm |
| Stack |
652mm |
625mm |
| Effective top tube length |
667mm |
658mm |
| Seat tube length |
500mm |
485mm |
| Seat tube angle |
74 |
74.5 |
| Headtube length |
120mm |
125mm |
| Headtube angle |
65.5 |
66 |
| Chain stay length |
435mm |
450mm |
| Wheel base |
1241mm |
1244mm |
| BB drop |
- 65mm |
- 40mm |
| Fork Offset |
51mm |
51mm |
| Axle to crown |
541mm |
540mm |
Yes, looks like a L. How tall are you? I am 6ft and L is spot on.
Anyone got pictures of the green Marley frame?
Are you looking a full bike or just a frame? The geometry is quite a bit different.
My full suspension MTB is XL and the Ragley I've noted the measurements for above is also an XL.
I'm 6ft 3 so usually I'm just the biggest size on everything but 190cm is the top end of an L and bottom end of XL on a Ragley Big Al which has thrown me a bit!
I'm just shy of 6'3" and my Piglet's an L. Anything bigger would feel freakish.
I’ve ordered a green Marley 29er frame (fingers crossed a spare hanger turns up somewhere).
Now resisting the urge to colour match the saddle, stem, bars and grips! (suspect it would either look completely epic or completely naff, can’t decide which).
Also wondering if this Lyric fork would be a better option than the Bomber Z2 that I already have?
https://www.wiggle.com/p/rockshox-lyrik-select-rc-debonair-boost-fork
For the price I was looking at a full bike, I'm not too worried about the geometry as I'm no where near a pro doing big jumps etc. I'm more concerned about getting the correct size.
It looks like you would need to be a giant to ride an XL, I'm definitely 6ft 3 but people are riding L?
Youll want an xl at 6 3
I'm 5'11" and a Large fits me perfectly. I'd be going XL at 6'3"
I'm 6ft 2 and ride an XL. Feels lovely.
My full suspension MTB is XL and the Ragley I’ve noted the measurements for above is also an XL.
Something is amiss here as 480mm is the reach for a L, not an XL. That's for the 2023 frame, perhaps have a check on the Ragley site. The 480mm figure might be for the old XL Big Al?
At 6ft3 I agree XL is likely to be better even though that pushes the reach beyond your current bike, which is to be expected as bikes are still getting longer.
Just checked. They are indeed numbers for the complete bike in XL, so 2022 geometry
Sorry yes it's a full bike so it's the older geometry.
If I was getting the 2023 frame I would go for a large, it's quite a bit bigger than the 2022 frame!
On the sizing question I'm 6ft and went from a size large Big Al, to taking a punt on a medium in this sale bonanza.
Depends what you're after feel wise, but for me the medium has proved to be way better. It is so much more fun and throwable (as much as a 29er can be). Size large wanted to plough in a straight line, size medium is quite happy being flung all over the place.
^^^ sounds like a shorter stem might have suited a L better. I am 6ft too and while I haven't ridden much yet it seems to turn in nicely and being quite lively despite being a L.
The frames I really want are a couple of Piglet frames in small. Been looking since before Chiggle administration but they don't ever appear to have been available. Has anyone seen them at this price?
^^^ sounds like a shorter stem might have suited a L better. I am 6ft too and while I haven’t ridden much yet it seems to turn in nicely and being quite lively despite being a L.
Yeah, the stem was probably as small as I could get it without being zero stack! I think it's more the standover height. This was a previous gen Big Al, and the medium has a much lower stand over - you can definitely shift your weight around more easily without clonking a saddle / frame.
Isn't the 2023 Big Al lower than the 2022?
Im 6.3 and ride the xl Al for me im not %100 sure its a good fit , the previous 21 Al was a brilliant fit this however has me wondering if im stooping and could do with a little more stack or bar hight.
6ft on a 2023 Big Al here - find it super nimble for its size and has loads of standover (can barely reach the bottle). Currently running quite a high front end due to a 170mm fork, takes a bit of effort to keep the front wheel in check but hoping a 150mm airshaft will sort that.
Deffo wouldn't want to go smaller.
He's mine, finished the mods now. 140mm Pikes, Sram 1x11 Gearing, WTB i25 KoM on boosted Superstar Switch and Hope Pro2 hubs, Hope Race X2 brakes, One-Up 150mm Dropper, Maxxis 2.4 Dissector/Rekon tyres and whatever finishing kit I had spare. 12.5Kg (27.5LBs) as pictured.
I will add .. mine was getting stripped and scrapped today after 3 rides of nothing but god awful creaking under load .. everything bar one was checked and torqued .. if this happens just check the rear dropouts are tight and loctited in . 4 bolts were slightly loose and whisper quiet now once again..
That's one lovely bike GFJ! Ready for a longer dropper at some point perhaps?
Thanks for the tip Steve!
if this happens just check the rear dropouts are tight and loctited in . 4 bolts were slightly loose
Yeah seen this mentioned as a known issue on the Ragley FB page, so tightened mine before building, they all needed a quarter turn. Be careful, the bolts are soft
Well I've placed my order for the Ragley big Al 1.0 2022, I'm a bit late to the party but the low stock warning was all I needed to encourage me to place my order (Only 1 left now).
Can't believe I was looking at the same bike a couple of months a go when it was £1500+ and the cheapest second hand one on eBay was £1000.
I couldn't stretch to a scratch built 2023 frame/bike but I'm pretty happy with what I've got, the only other bike for a similar price was a GT Zaskar with Suntour forks!
Any idea how long delivery will take? It says it should arrive by 14/12.
Fingers crossed someone decides to build a derailleur hangar for them. I noticed someone posted a notice on the FB group about a shop in America selling Nukeproof cub scout hangers (same fitment) but I think the shop is a scam as they're listing a lot of Ragley, Nukeproof kit etc for silly prices (Frame for $89!?)
but I think the shop is a scam as they’re listing a lot of Ragley, Nukeproof kit etc for silly prices (Frame for $89!?)
Yeah, I fell for it without checking it out properly.
Got a despatch email (from China 🤣) today though, so will be interesting to see what turns up if anything
If anyone does break a hanger and can’t find a replacement, send me a message and I can machine a few, the design isn’t complicated. Only thing I can’t easily do is get them anodised black, so they’d be raw silver.
Knock a few out mate and get them on the Ragley Facebook page, you'll sell them no problem.
If you do make any, I'll deffo have a couple off you
Me too. I would spray it black.
I’d buy one off you too. 👍
I'll definitely buy one, doesn't matter about the colour.
Me too
if this happens just check the rear dropouts are tight and loctited in . 4 bolts were slightly loose
Yeah seen this mentioned as a known issue on the Ragley FB page, so tightened mine before building, they all needed a quarter turn. Be careful, the bolts are soft
SPD cleat bolts work as replacements, and they're normally 4mm fitting, so less likely to round off.
Ok, at some point over the next couple of weeks I'll have a look at making a batch.
I’d buy two!
12.5Kg (27.5LBs) as pictured
So checked mine again - luggage scales and digital bathroom scales. Both saying 32lb
The tubes that I've mentioned are 550g (1.2lbs), you can offset some of that with 200g(?) sealant if you're tubeless. Other than that, I have a chain guide, which hardly weighs anything.
Where the hell is the rest of my weight coming from?
Not overly concerned as it rides fantastic, just curious
TAFKAS - different sized frames?
TAFKAS – different sized frames?
Maybe - not sure if that Marley is medium or large (Marley and Big Al frames weigh the same for the relevant size). Looks mint by the way GFJ 👍
nickfrogs is the same size as mine and he still has a good 2lb over mine
2lb isn't much to be bothered about at the end of the day, just expected my build to come in at around 30lb
Nothing major, but a lot of things on mine are a little lighter so it all adds up. Bet there's a fair bit in the wheels, the I25 KoM with Laser spokes, Ali nipples and tubeless saves a fair bit. Light brakes with smaller light rotors. 395g cassette and pikes also help.
Wheels tyres/tube easily make up most of it I reckon
Forks a bit
The NP wheels come in at 1850g, so it ain't them. Guess the tyres are reasonably hefty compared to some though - 920 rear, 980 front?
GFJ's parts list explains some of it though
930/950g for the Maxxis I think so very similar. RSP carbon bars are lighter, as is a ti bolted Foride stem and I think my pedals are sub 300g.