At Ragley, our design ethos has always been simple, yet effective. We make quality components and hardcore hardtails that will help you to push your limits. With well thought out features and progressive geometry, we focus on the details, handling, ride quality and fun above all else. If you aren’t having fun on a Ragley then you’re doing it wrong!
We specialize in Hardtail bikes as they are the most fun kind of bike to ride, no matter what kind of rider you are. They are great for beginners as they are harder to ride and properly teach the fundamental skills of mountain biking. They demand that you read the trail ahead, picking the best lines, riding smooth and carrying speed. They are also great in the hands of an experienced rider as they can be used to sharpen and refine skills, making you gradually smoother, faster and more efficient in all aspects of your riding.
Building on the success of 2016, the new 2017 range is really more about evolution than revolution with subtle refinement throughout including geometry tweaks, fresh new graphics and up to date components. Our range is made up from 5x frames and 6x Complete Bikes which cover a variety of styles, wheel sizes, materials and fork lengths depending on the type of rider you are and what you want to ride. Each model is available as a frame only or as a complete bike: ready for action straight out of the box.
Marley 27.5”Re-launched in 2016, the new Marley quickly became known as one of the best trail hardtails around; with many media test wins to its name including the much coveted ‘2016 Hardtail of the Year’ award! Designed for exploration, adventure and play, the Marley is our entry level frame and the Alloy version of the Steel Piglet. It leans towards the aggressive end of the trail bike spectrum with a long front center, short chainstays, low stand-over and relatively slack head angle.
Frame: Key Points
• Long Front Triangle (Reach grows by 18mm once sagged), 50mm BB drop (Rides at 305MM) and 65.5 Deg Static HTA (67 degrees when sagged at 25%)
• Fits 27.5” wheels with tyres up to 2.4”
• Improved stand-over
• Custom Butted 6061-T6 heat treated alloy
• Optimized for a 130mm fork (Can take 120-140mm)
• Tapered Head tube to keep the front end low and stiff
• Revised 3 Finger Bridge for better clearance
• ISCG 05 Tabs
• QR Rear Hub
• MSRP: £249.99
Marley 1.0 27.5”
• Fork – 130mm Manitou Minute Comp – 15mm axle
• Drivetrain – 1x11 SRAM NX Groupset with FSA Comet Modular Crank
• Brakes – Shimano Deore
• Tires – Front WTB Vigilante TCS (Light/High Grip) /Rear WTB Trail Boss TCS (Light/Fast)
• Tubeless Ready Wheels – Novatec Hubs on WTB STI 23 Rims
• Cockpit: Ragley OEM Stem, OEM Bars and Tracker Saddle
• RRP: £999.99
Marley 2.0 27.5”
• Fork – 120mm Suntour Raidon XC LO-R – 15mm Bolt Thru
• Drivetrain – 2x10 Shimano Deore/FSA
• Tires – Front WTB Vigilante Comp (High Grip Compound) /Rear WTB Trail Boss Comp
• Tubeless Ready Wheels – Novatec Hubs on WTB STI 23 Rims
• Cockpit: Ragley OEM Stem, OEM Bars and Tracker Saddle
• MSRP: £849.99
Mmmbop 27.5”First launched back in 2008, the original Mmmbop defined what a modern All Mountain Alloy hardtail frame should be: Strong, light, stiff, adaptable, agile and huge fun to ride! In case you are not familiar with the Ragley range: the Mmmbop is the Alloy version of the Steel Bluepig.
Frame: Key Points
• Long Front Triangle (Reach grows by 18mm once sagged), 50mm BB drop (Rides at 305MM) and 64 Deg. Static HTA (66 Degrees when sagged at 25%)
• Fits 27.5” wheels with tires up to 2.4”
• Improved stand-over
• Custom Butted 6061-T6 heat treated alloy
• Optimized for a 150mm fork (Can take 140-160mm)
• Revised 3 Finger Bridge for better clearance
• 142x12mm axle with exchangeable dropout system for QR
• Stealth dropper cable routing
• ISCG 05 Tabs
• Stealth Ragley Rear Axle
• RRP: £299.99
Mmmbop 27.5”
RRP: £1349.99
Fork – 150mm Manitou Mattock Comp /Dorado Air – 15mm Bolt Thru
Drivetrain – 1x11 Shimano SLX Groupset with FSA Comet Modular Crank
Brakes – Shimano Deore
Tires – Front WTB Vigilante Comp (High Grip Compound) /Rear WTB Trail Boss Comp
Wheels – Novatec Hubs on WTB STI 23 Rims
Cockpit: Ragley OEM Stem, OEM Bars and Tracker Saddle
Piglet – Now for 27.5” and 27.5+ wheelsFirst launched in 2009 to acclaim and rave reviews, the Piglet is the Steel version of our Alloy Marley. Designed as a trail friendly bike with all mountain capabilities, it leans towards the aggressive end of the trail bike spectrum with modern aggressive geometry and 27.5”+ Compatibility. The new Piglet is for people that ride with their saddle up as much as their saddle down. At home on any terrain, from tearing around your local trail center, snaking down your local singletrack, to backcountry adventures in the middle of nowhere, it will push your skills to new limits and beyond!
Frame: Key Points
• Same award winning geometry as the Marley
• Long Front Triangle (Reach grows by 16mm once sagged), 50mm BB drop (Rides at 305MM) and 65.5 Deg. Static HTA (67 Degrees when sagged at 25%)
• Fits 27.5” tires up to 2.4”/27.5”+ Tires up to 2.8”
• Improved stand-over
• Custom triple butted 4130 chromoly tubing
• Optimized for a 130mm fork
• Revised 3 Finger Bridge for better clearance
• New lighter Dropout design with replaceable Alloy hanger
• Stealth dropper cable routing
• ISCG 05 Tabs
• QR Rear Hub
• MSRP: £449.99
Piglet 27.5”
• Fork – 130mm RockShox Yari RC – 15mm Bolt Thru
• Drivetrain – 1x11 Shimano SLX M7000
• Brakes – Shimano SLX M7000
• Tires – Front WTB Vigilante TCS (Light/High Grip) Rear WTB Trail Boss TCS (Light/Fast)
• Wheels – Novatec Hubs on WTB ASYM i23 Tubeless ready rims
• Dropper Seatpost – Brand-X Ascend dropper - 120mm travel
• Cockpit: Ragley Wiser stem, Wiser bars and Tracker saddle
• MSRP: £1649.99
Bluepig – Now for 27.5” and 27.5+ WheelsIntroducing the new and improved Ragley Bluepig: Designed as an All Mountain/Enduro Race friendly bike, our top of the range steel Bluepig is built for those who want to go faster and play harder. In case you are not familiar with the Ragley range: the Bluepig is the Steel version of the Alloy Mmmbop.27.5”+ Compatibility means the Blue Pig is now more versatile than ever! It is a blend of DH stability and uphill tenacity. It will descend and climb with such contradiction that you will be left scratching your head! It is at home on any terrain but happiest when ridden hard, roosting turns and hammering the descents
Frame: Key Points
• Long Front Triangle (Reach grows by 18mm once sagged), 50mm BB drop (Rides at 305MM) and 64 Deg. Static HTA (66 Degrees when sagged at 25%)
• Fits 27.5” wheels with tyres up to 2.4”/27.5”+ wheels with tires up to 2.8”
• Improved stand-over
• Custom triple butted 4130 chromoly tubing
• Optimized for a 150mm fork (Can take 140-160mm)
• 44mm Head tube
• Revised 3 Finger Bridge for better clearance
• 142x12mm bolt-through as standard using exchangeable dropout system for QR
• Stealth dropper cable routing
• ISCG 05 Tabs
• Stealth Ragley rear axle
• MSRP: £549.99
Bluepig 27.5”
• 27.5” Wheels
• RRP: £1699.99
• Fork – 150mm RockShox Yari RC – 15mm
• Drivetrain – 1x11 Shimano SLX M7000
• Brakes – Shimano SLX M7000
• Tires – Front WTB Vigilante TCS (Light/High Grip) /Rear WTB Trail Boss TCS (Light/Fast)
• Wheels – Novatec hubs on WTB ASYM i23 tubeless ready rims
• Dropper Seatpost – Brand-X Ascend dropper - 120mm travel
• Cockpit: Ragley Wiser stem, Wiser bars and Tracker saddle
Bigwig – Now for 29” and 27.5+ WheelsThe Big Wig is our top of the range Steel 29er frame. Designed as a Trail/All Mountain/Enduro Race friendly frame, the Bigwig is the Enduro weapon of choice for our Brand Ambassadors around the UK and Ireland and has graced the top step of many an Enduro podium in 2016. For 2017, you can now fit 27.5”+ wheels with wide 44mm rims, and up to massive three-inch tires, making the Bigwig even more versatile that it was before.
Frame: Key Points
• Long Front Triangle (Reach grows by 17.5mm once sagged), 65mm BB drop (Rides at 305MM) and 65 Deg. static HTA (66.5 degrees when sagged at 25%)
• Fits 29” wheels with tires up to 2.4”/27.5”+ Wheels with 3.0” Tires
• Improved stand-over
• Custom triple butted 4130 chromoly tubing
• Optimized for a 130mm fork (Can take 120-140mm)
• 44mm head tube
• Revised 3 Finger Bridge for better clearance
• Boost 148x12mm bolt-through as standard
• Stealth dropper cable routing
• ISCG 05 Tabs
• Stealth Ragley rear axle
• MSRP: £549.99
Bigwig 29”
• 29” Wheels
• Fork – 130mm RockShox Yari RC – 15mm Bolt Thru
• Drivetrain – 1x11 Shimano SLX M7000
• Brakes – Shimano SLX M7000
• Tyres – Front WTB Vigilante TCS (Light/High Grip) /Rear WTB Trail Boss TCS (Light/Fast)
• Wheels – Novatec hubs on WTB ASYM i23 tubeless ready rims
• Dropper Seatpost – Brand-X Ascend dropper - 120mm travel
• Cockpit: Ragley Wiser stem, Wiser bars and Tracker saddle
• MSRP: £1749.99
Ragley Trail Geometry Explained
Geometry is taken very seriously at Ragley; we take delight in obsessing over the angles until they are exactly how we want them. It defines the bike and ultimately dictates the way it will interact with you and the trail. Our updated trail geometry has been tweaked for each model and the type of riding that each is designed for. One thing they all have in common is that they are long, low and slack which translates to a confidence inspiring ride whether you are a beginner or an advanced rider. The main geometry changes are:
Shorter Seat tubes: All Models are 25mm shorter in seat tube length Vs. MY2016.
This gives the rider more Size choice and increases dropper seatpost options.
Slack static head angles: Designed to mimic the characteristics of a modern full suspension bike with a
rider on board, but obviously without the sag at the rear. This is why our bikes seem slack when static. However, once the rider is on the bike, the front suspension will sag, steepening the head angle by the desired amount.
Longer front triangles and shorter stems: All Models are 15-20mm Longer in Reach Vs. MY2016:
a. The riders arms are moved forward opening up the lungs to make breathing easier
b. Gives the rider more room to move around, stay in control and makes it much harder to go over the handlebars.
c. It lengthens the wheelbase to increase stability at speed and over technical terrain.
d. Moves rider weight forward to load the front wheel giving better traction in corners and helps to keep the front wheel on the ground when climbing steeper sections.
For full details on our new 2017 range, please visit the Ragley website / @ragley-bikes
If I had the money for a custom, bespoke frame I'd go with steel or titanium, but for my current needs and budget alu is fine.
Personally I think if you feel a difference between different mfr's steel frames it's probably more an issue of frame design (geometry, tube butting and forming, etc) than the material itself. Well-designed frames use butting, ovalizing, bending, and dimpling to achieve much more design freedom than material choice alone would allow. That's why Giant Aluxx SLR and Cannondale CAAD frames are pretty much universally praised, and feel great despite being made of a 'harsh' material.
But anyway, in my experience, even if you do have a cheap ass frame, you can get like 90% of the way there in terms of ride quality by just letting out some tire pressure.
Now if only Suntour or Manitou can push out a workable $100 dropper post too then we will have a game changer to match!
For a well priced dropper look up the Lyne Contour, basically the same as the Brand X on these bikes. I've been testing the BX version and it's pretty impressive.
The reason hardtail bikes with playful geo aren't a thing (outside the uk) is because the only good reason to have a hardtail is because of your budget (which in this case is a joke) or because you spend more time riding up hill, on flat, on Tarmac, etc. Which is not where you want a 66° HA bike with fat ass slow tyres and a long travel fork.
The escence of this sport is smoothness. Without that its just smashing and skidding. Keep up your skills on a hardtail and riding a full sus is like riding a magic carpet.
That said, my big bike has barely left the garage this year because Im loving my Stanton Switchback so much. So much so I need to sevice the damn forks!
I know plenty of folk parking their Capras and Tracers and building hardcore hardtails.
But 'Keep up your skills on a hardtail'..couldn't agree more. If you really wanna pretend you're a good rider then go ride bmx, go ride dj, go ride street, go ride slalom and 4x. But don't bother riding real trails on a hardtail that's pretending to be like a full sus, just ride an actual full sus.
Alternatively try not giving a f*ck about how many fake hundredths you are off ratty on lady cannings and just ride a bike that's designed for the terrain and forget all the absolute bull crap about 'proper technique' and have fun.
Those people you mention leaving their capra and tracer in the garage to build a shit hardtail have too much f*cking money. But if that's what they want to waste it on it's not for me to say either way. But they're idiots.
My point is that keeping it simple makes the less than simple simple. If that makes sense!!
Ive been mountain biking (inc bmx -street and ramp though not these days!!) for 20 plus years. I have ridden and raced my fair share of shite bikes both full sus and hard tail in every discipline. I can say this, you are right. Its all about how much fun you have. I used to ride miles on my rigid hardtail with thumb shifters and frame pads. Now I can afford the nice stuff but I cant afford the time. You can bet your arse that if I find the time for a 2/3 day trip ridding, I want to be getting max smiles per miles not cursing my way up and getting arm pump back down. I have a hard day at work and ride that evening with my mates, I dont want to be casing every jump, skidding every corner, etc, I want to be grinning like a grinny thing at the bottom as I stand there in the dust of my awesome run. Not looking at a wrecked rim or a snakebite.
And thats where a hardtail rules king. We never stop learning and actually in terms of riding I think we get shitter especially after the broken bones dont heel so quick. Trouble is bikes are better at letting you get away with it and frankly, thats not so fun.
If I can run it smooth on a solid bit of steel, see how quick I am on my 'I worked my nuts off for this' all singing all dancing full susser.
@JacksonTM can you not reach the bars on a larger size frame? You T Rex bro?
@Jaffaman if your arms are long and short legs then you should have a really roomy cockpit? Since it's usually the knees that makes things cramped?
Stop with the 'bike fit' bullshit measurements and just find a bike that doesn't feel shit.
I'm just confused with your phrasing evidently.
hardtails feel a lot like poetry the idea behind it is quite a noble one but the actual experience is dull and painfull.
If it stops you abusing a puppy then it can only be a good idea.....
Poetry... the food for those who do not dare to jump into the abyss, those who need big words to make up their fear of seeing themselves for who they are, of world for what it is. They fear the abyss, affraid of death, and nooo, not of the fall, deep inside they know, oh yes the do. They know that they will land on something but they are just affraid of starting frm scratch in the new world. They are not affraid of dying, they are affraid of being reborn!
Good day and please ride as you please
@mgolder: dont try to poke into waki's logic, many have tried beofre you and failed he will always win in the long term because his logic is that he has none.
and if we were praising full suspension he probably would get into a rant about hardtails being better.
@fercho25 - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! (implodes like Witch king in LOTR 3)
but in the mean time. visit this site. burnsurvivor.com
What this probably illustrates more than anything is my lack of skill/experience on the full susser but hopefully it also goes to show that for some, riding a fully is harder than riding a hardtail over similar terrain at a similar pace.
I had enough argments with people who say suspension makes you lazy, hipocrites who say that and then demand, slack head angles, long wheelbases and 160 forks. What Ragley wrote here is purest own-agenda driven marketing bollocks of the kind that challenges what Trek wrote about Boost or latest Slash. And they even told us all that we all believe that hardtails are the most fun. Oh thank you Ragley, I did not know what feels most fun to me until I read your article.
Go eat your long stable wheelbase and playful rear end. Fkng short stem for a more nimble ride, easy to change directions with super stable slack head angle. Geo chart has nothing to do with description but fk it, by the power of stoke and Ragley not being Trek or Spec, a stable bike can be playful. Buy one of those and you are Olly Wilkins right away, except you are not, you feel like one but you are the same dude, it's just that there is a Ragley in your garage. You are a grand short on your wallet, but feel awesome. You can do sooo much more now. Two weeks and you manual do a mile long stoppies and send tables like vanderham.
I don't pick a side, because I believe that picking sides is for idiots who need dogmas to function.
As for Ragley's post in the article, sure it is clearly an opinion, but every post on every new bike from every company has some opinion laced paragraphs explaining why their bike is the best. It does not mean there is no merit whatsoever to what they say.
You post simply to start an argument, purely for the sake of negativity, Is there not enough negativity in this world already to quench your thirst?
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I truthfully don't care about any of these supposed benefits of riding a hardtail, I don't ride one to be faster, or to choose better lines. I choose to ride a hardtail for the thrill, for the fun of it, and I feel like just because you decide it is not for you, doesn't mean you should be poisoning others against it. You don't see us hardtail riders ranting negative rhetoric every time pinkbike posts anything about a 160mm superbike, but everytime anything gets posted about a hardtail, here you are, putting your 2cents in.
You don't pick a side, but you vehemently argue for your side of not having a side. Yet we're the hypocrites.
As I mentioned earlier, (rear) suspension can help but you need to learn to work with it. It is like another captain on your ship. It can safe you work. But if you don't know what to expect it can be a handful. Sure I could probably learn to ride it better than my hardtail, but I'll have to put some time in (as well as time to set up the suspension properly, apparently). Until I'm there, I don't know what the geometry is going to do when I'm railing a corner so I don't know how I'm going to exit it. Good enough in most cases, but simply not as accurate as I can corner my hardtail. But maybe that's just me. I also never got along with automatic transmission in cars, it just doesn't shift when I want it so it feels like I don't have full command over how they accelerate. And I don't know how to recover from a skid if I don't have a clutch...
So at the end of the day, both riding hardtails as well as fullies require different skills. I can't tell which requires more and I don't care really. You can't just take the terrain out of the equation. If the terrain only has smaller obstacles (roots, rocks etc) a bike without rear suspension and/or nimble geometry will challenge you properly depending on your current skill level. A more stable bike with more suspension might bore you. If the terrain has bigger obstacles (and smaller ones as well, obvously) the short travel/nimble bike makes you lose so much speed over the stutter bumps that you might be rolling the bigger obstacles in such a way that they aren't that much of a challenge anymore. It is a horses for courses thing. Same goes for the BMX racing thing. Sure the top level riders have got skills that transfer nicely to other disciplines, but only if they're on the right gear. ACC was your first ever Olympic champion BMX, Jill Kintner got bronze. Sure they have roots in BMX but no doubt their mtb skills they developed over much of their career contributed to their medals as well. And no way they would have been faster riding an mtb down that course.
So yeah, riding both full sus and hardtails will probably make you a more well rounded rider. So does riding BMX, road, track, unicycle even. But do you really want to be that well rounded. Ride the bike and terrain you want to do well on and you'll be fine. Not as good maybe, but so wouldn't you if you'd force yourself when you should actually be enjoying yourself.
As for Olly Wilkins, I don't think the DMR bikes he rides are particularly long and stable. That's not what DMR is about. In fact I've been thinking lately about replacing my current fully frame (a Cannondale Prophet) by a DMR Bolt Long to filter out the stutter bumps and simply go faster on certain trails. I read they ride more like a hardtail so they might be easier to get used to. Plus they don't necessarily require you to go into funny modern standards so nearly all components transfer nicely.
@fercho25: Please enjoy.
........wouldnt mind a spin on the Big Wig though. The thought of the rollover of the bigger wheels is pretty exciting!!
I didn't return the frame because that thing went thru several continents to get to my hands, to expensive to send it back.
www.pinkbike.com/u/passwordpinkbike/album/Ragley-Marley-2016
When On-One started selling the steel hardtail frames they were way ahead of the competition and were fast to react to changing demands from riders but they seem to have slowed down of late - Brant leaving possibly the cause?
I had a 456 years ago and loved it - Make them a bit longer / lower and very little could touch them at the price.