I'm trying to buy a bike for myself as well as my son (see previous post) and have got a shortlist of 2 bikes
Can you please tell me which of these 2 bikes you would buy please as Im finding it extremely difficult to decide through lack of knowledge as they both seem good bikes.
Thank you
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ragley-marley-1-0-hardtail-bike-2017/rp-prod145977
Without going into geometry, the Vitus looks to be more modern, with wider rims, and boost, and a little lighter so I'd choose that over the Ragley.
Not sure how the forks compare though.
I'd have the Vitus. I like the Recon fork and agree with the above.
The Vitus 'looks' better.
Vitus
Vitus, I have an aversion (possibly outdated) to Manitou forks. I still remember a friend talking me out of wanting a lefty by saying they used manitou dampers, and "who wants to ride a manitou fork?"...
And although I have an aversion to boost, I do tend to run the biggest tyres I can, and it will give a better rear wheel (even if an offset rear would do the same at a lower weight).
Edit - also the Vitus has wider bars. 740mm might be OK, but you can always cut down bars if they end up too wide (I never have done though!).
Which do you prefer the look of? Buy that one.
My boy has the Ragley and loves it. No issues with the fork.
Geometry is spot on, and his confidence on the bike has really improved since getting it.
Vitus looks good too.
Which colour do you like best?
The red one
It’d be the Ragley for me. Not too wild about the more aggresive geometry of the vitus, and I love my Manitou forks, despite their unfair reputation.
These two bikes: very,very difficult to decide...
Personally like "plenty" travel on such a hardtail.
130 mm fork sounds good. 140 mm fork sounds good.
Vitus: like Vitus (and Ragley) - but in one of the recent threads, this forum - a Vitus owner complained not getting spare parts for a current Vitus bike. He had a very bad opinion about Vitus service.
Only this customer? Don't know.
Ragley service is better?
Don't know either.
My sister-in-law has a Marley. She loves it.
HTH.
Thank you for all your replies
So informative
I eventually went for this and got the last one in my 21" frame size
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/ragley-piglet-hardtail-bike-2017/rp-prod145980
With the discount from crc and British cycling brought the price down to an acceptable level
That looks like a well-sorted trail-bike. I like it. Good price also. Let us know how you get on with it?
Good choice, i’d prefer that to the other two.
Personally like "plenty" travel on such a hardtail.
130 mm fork sounds good. 140 mm fork sounds good.
Piglet: neat!
Good time to buy bikes...
130 mm Yari? Great!
2.3 inch WTB Vigilante, front: great!
HA around 66 deg: sound fun.
Great bike.
😆