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Looking at going for a Bigwig and wondered how people have found them? Got any pictures and mini reviews please? I've had a SolarisMAX, Soul 27.5 and Bfe 27.5 in the past and wondered how it will compare?
great review here
the Big Al gets a better review if you would consider alloy
Thanks, yeah I've looked at the big Al but the spec is much lower which is a shame as I'd like a cheaper option as already stretching my budget.
I've had the Race model for about a month. XT shifter & mech, SLX everything else incl 4-pot brakes, 160 Lyrik. Nukeproof wheels & finishing kit with a BrandX dropper.
Was after a hardtail for a while (only other one is a carbon SS 100mm race whippet) to give the FS (also a 100mm race whippet!) a break through the winter and wanted to try something slack. Last bike I had like it was a 26 BFe, quite a while ago.
Getting on well with it, it's been ridden most days since it arrived, on steep/muddy/rooty stuff. First time I've had 4-pot brakes, that's the main thing I notice and probably what I like best about it so far. The FS has Eagle XO1, the XT is definitely comparable but we'll see where it is in a few months' time. XO1 has been flawless for me for a year and a half, with only one chain swap in that time.
Not sure what else to tell you - it's a fun bike but manages to climb surprisingly well for something designed around such a big fork. Doesn't feel overly harsh hammering down rocky chutes. Looking forward to lockdown travel restrictions being lifted and being able to take it further afield!
Sounds great. What colour have you got? The Race that is coming in stock soon is a purple colour that is hard to judge on stock pictures.
Kind of greeny-purple, or purply-green, depending on the light.
I had the previous version which I built from a frame. It's really good- heavy, sure, but well made, well finished. Rides lovely. A fair bit stiffer than I'd really like from a steel frame but not terribly so- if you want "lively springy steel is real" it's just not that but then neither are most steel frames, and it's still usefully softer than say a Nukeproof Scout.
I replaced it with a Solarismax basically because I'm a weightweenie and a Cotic tart and yep it is a bit better but the Ragley runs it closer than you'd think.
Every time I see a full build I wonder how it can be so expensive though- I costed one up quickly and at the time you could definitely buy all the bits for less than the complete bike without trying hard. Maybe not so easy in post-brexit pandemic world