Love Ragley. Getting my 2nd Big AL. Find-it to be more comfy than Nukeproof & better geometry/component package than NS & Dartmoor. Using Suntour Auron 35boost 140mm fork with Halo vortex enduro, on the front & Halo vapour 35 in the rear with a 2.35 tire. Probably take the components off the 2020 model, and put'em on the 2022. Nothing wrong with the 2020, just want a fresh 2022 brother. Ride-it every damn day.
😎had my ragley big al for over a year now, just wodered did your seat tube flare out a smidge just under the seat clamp collar, just big enough to put your nail in😆just noticed it on mine, may be its normal🤔no sign of a crack though?
Interesting that the tube has flared there, is the seatpost 31.6mm exactly? I didn't run any of my Big Al's for very long, I ultimately kept going back to my Bigwig which I preferred. Although one of my former Big Als (red one) I still see every so often and it seems fine. (Other than a dent which the frame came with). It's a shame you can't get remediation from Ragley now 😞
@@churchofdirt-mtb 👍thanks for the reply, it only flares out a little🤔may be i over tightened the seat clamp, ive torqued the seat clamp to 5nm🤔no sign of any cracks around that area👍hopefully very little damage or may be the seat tube was designed that way, to relieve stress around that area, bloody smooth ride though😎😆yep the dropper is a 31.6👍
Got the ragley big al 2.0, purchased the same size in the large, im a smidge over 6ft, but looking for a dropper post now🤔what size would you say, im a 33" inside leg also? I didnt want to go for the XL frame, cause i reckon it wouldve been to big for me so settled with the large👌
Hey Steve, I have the same inside leg measurement but I just tend to buy 150mm droppers. Depending on the saddle, stack of the dropper etc, you may get away with a 175mm.
Hey Adam, I can compare with the 2020 Meta HT AM I had but believe the 2021 onwards addressed some of the concerns I had. The Meta is a beast, in that it feels like you could crash it through a wall and the frame would take it, the frame would likely take any abuse that could be thrown at it. Sounds overbuilt and they are but this did have some draw backs for me. Compliance, proper hard ride, on small chattery stuff I found it unbearable! Weight, the frame is a proper porker. I also found the Meta wasn't overly long but the seattube was pretty high, so couldn't upsize to an XL. The Big Al is more compliant, lighter, the sizing is better for me (so more comfortable), I've not needed the frame to be any more built than both the Big Wig and Big Al's are so reliability for me is the same. Hope that helps anyway :-)
@@churchofdirt-mtb great, yes helps a heap, my Commencal is the 2020, good to get feedback from someone who's had both bikes. Thinking i might trade the Meta HT frame for a Big Al frame, currently in stock.
@@churchofdirt-mtb I bought the Meta, I wanted a rowdy Hardtail, which it delivered. However, I've since built up a full sus enduro, so looking for a softer Hardtail more XC orientated, but still capable. The Big Al looks like it will fit the bill, I can swap the parts from the Meta.
Thank you Steve :-) Is it playful? hhhmmm ish.....OK that doesn't answer the question and I haven't actually ridden this bike yet. Based on the Big Wig and the Big Al I built last year, the problem in regards to "playful" is it's a 29er. For a 29er and with the fork tuned to be "poppy", it is playful for what it is, but because 29er wheels spinning provides more stability than a 650b or even 26er wheel, it won't be as playful as say an mmmbop. Hope that provides some sort of answer to your question :-)
You mentioned the fox transfer o a older build, what lever did you use? I'm building my ragley with a transfer and need a budget compatible lever. Tnanks. Great build
I tend to pair transfer droppers with transfer levers but too be honest most levers will work, just might not feel as nice which erodes some of the benefits of a premium dropper
My same frame will be here by the weekend, excited to see it in person. It's too bad I can't get my hands on the new tech 4 hope brakes here in the states yet. Waiting to see the color in person before I decide if I am going to lace some wild wheels and mix in some orange components, or cover up the orange and keep my all purple component setup. Fox 34 elite fork.
Ah yes the new Hope Tech 4's, they will hopefully be available soon, they have barely been available in the UK but I'm sure Hope are producing them as fast as they can get raw materials in. Best of luck with your build :-)
@@churchofdirt-mtb Yeah I tried to order a nukeproof BB and headset as well but they turned out to show in stock on our(US) site but were not. I already have the hope rotors, torn on waiting for the tech 4's or going Hayes dominion. At any rate I got the frame! He threw in a more expensive Canes creek headset since his nukeproof stuff showed in stock when it wasn't. So that's cool at least.
TBF the Canes Creek headset may be better than the nukeproof one, I personally tend to use Hope headsets which although tight work quite well :-) As for brakes, I can't comment on the Hayes as I've personally not used them, prefer Shimano but its all each to their own :-)
@@churchofdirt-mtb Well still waiting for my frame! I got a tracking # that shows Wednesday now. The shop pressed the headset for me and gave me a $30 break in shipping cost. I am having a wheelset built but due to lead times I ended up picking up a set of the new Stan's mk4 flow front and rear with m-pulse hub rear for this build. Save the carbon hoop set for a FS build this winter. Excited to see these colors in person!! That HT badge is going to look like a Mercedes coming down the trail!
@@JimmyBeanz13 Thats a good wheelset and did you really want carbon rims on a HT? (I've not ridden many carbon rims but they aren't that compliant in my experience).
All subjective, I prefer it over 140mm and 160mm. Tiny bit less steep climbing ability sacrificed for DH performance but still comfortable with the reach.
Thank you :-) this bike has a 150mm Marzocchi Bomber Z1, the headangle is about 64.5 ish degrees unsagged if I remember correctly. (I'll check Friday).
That will largely depend on how good you are at wheelies, it would be better than a bike that is longer and slacker but not as good as a DJ or BMX. Bikes that are shorter with steeper headangles, smaller wheels and slacker seattube angles are easier to wheelie but worse at MTB trails and descending.
Love Ragley. Getting my 2nd Big AL. Find-it to be more comfy than Nukeproof & better geometry/component package than NS & Dartmoor. Using Suntour Auron 35boost 140mm fork with Halo vortex enduro, on the front & Halo vapour 35 in the rear with a 2.35 tire. Probably take the components off the 2020 model, and put'em on the 2022. Nothing wrong with the 2020, just want a fresh 2022 brother. Ride-it every damn day.
😎had my ragley big al for over a year now, just wodered did your seat tube flare out a smidge just under the seat clamp collar, just big enough to put your nail in😆just noticed it on mine, may be its normal🤔no sign of a crack though?
Interesting that the tube has flared there, is the seatpost 31.6mm exactly? I didn't run any of my Big Al's for very long, I ultimately kept going back to my Bigwig which I preferred. Although one of my former Big Als (red one) I still see every so often and it seems fine. (Other than a dent which the frame came with). It's a shame you can't get remediation from Ragley now 😞
@@churchofdirt-mtb 👍thanks for the reply, it only flares out a little🤔may be i over tightened the seat clamp, ive torqued the seat clamp to 5nm🤔no sign of any cracks around that area👍hopefully very little damage or may be the seat tube was designed that way, to relieve stress around that area, bloody smooth ride though😎😆yep the dropper is a 31.6👍
Got the ragley big al 2.0, purchased the same size in the large, im a smidge over 6ft, but looking for a dropper post now🤔what size would you say, im a 33" inside leg also? I didnt want to go for the XL frame, cause i reckon it wouldve been to big for me so settled with the large👌
Hey Steve, I have the same inside leg measurement but I just tend to buy 150mm droppers. Depending on the saddle, stack of the dropper etc, you may get away with a 175mm.
@@churchofdirt-mtb 👍😉thanks for replying
very nice considering the big al and the mm bop cant make my mind up whats it like of techy singletrack
Tbf it does a really good job of techy single track. Mmmbop if you want something more playful.
Nice build 👌 I'm glad to hear that Ragley (or CRC?) have the packaging & QC sorted out for 2022 💪
Thanks for the kind comment :-)
How does the Big Al compare to the Meta HT AM? I have the later but quite like the look of a Big Al.
Hey Adam, I can compare with the 2020 Meta HT AM I had but believe the 2021 onwards addressed some of the concerns I had.
The Meta is a beast, in that it feels like you could crash it through a wall and the frame would take it, the frame would likely take any abuse that could be thrown at it.
Sounds overbuilt and they are but this did have some draw backs for me.
Compliance, proper hard ride, on small chattery stuff I found it unbearable!
Weight, the frame is a proper porker.
I also found the Meta wasn't overly long but the seattube was pretty high, so couldn't upsize to an XL.
The Big Al is more compliant, lighter, the sizing is better for me (so more comfortable), I've not needed the frame to be any more built than both the Big Wig and Big Al's are so reliability for me is the same.
Hope that helps anyway :-)
@@churchofdirt-mtb great, yes helps a heap, my Commencal is the 2020, good to get feedback from someone who's had both bikes. Thinking i might trade the Meta HT frame for a Big Al frame, currently in stock.
@@harrogateflyer depends on what you believe the meta isnt giving you tbh, anything about it leading you to think about changing?
@@churchofdirt-mtb I bought the Meta, I wanted a rowdy Hardtail, which it delivered. However, I've since built up a full sus enduro, so looking for a softer Hardtail more XC orientated, but still capable. The Big Al looks like it will fit the bill, I can swap the parts from the Meta.
@@harrogateflyer I think It'll fit the bill then :-)
👌great build, like the geometry, is it playful and easy to throw around👍🤔
Thank you Steve :-) Is it playful? hhhmmm ish.....OK that doesn't answer the question and I haven't actually ridden this bike yet. Based on the Big Wig and the Big Al I built last year, the problem in regards to "playful" is it's a 29er. For a 29er and with the fork tuned to be "poppy", it is playful for what it is, but because 29er wheels spinning provides more stability than a 650b or even 26er wheel, it won't be as playful as say an mmmbop. Hope that provides some sort of answer to your question :-)
@@churchofdirt-mtb Mmmbop? You mean the one I ordered, and is a few days away from being delivered! Come on DHL! Move it!
@@winnguyen443 did you go for a frame only or built bike? If built, 1.0 or 2.0? :-)
@@churchofdirt-mtb full build Mmmbop bro !
@@winnguyen443 hope you enjoy it and it comes soon :-)
cool! know how much it weighs? what size frame? thanks
Trying to remember the weight, I think it was cira 14kgs. Frame size large.
It's a beauty. What is the size of the dropper?
Thank you, its a 150mm dropper, 31.6mm post size
@@churchofdirt-mtb Enjoy it! thanks.
You mentioned the fox transfer o a older build, what lever did you use? I'm building my ragley with a transfer and need a budget compatible lever. Tnanks. Great build
I tend to pair transfer droppers with transfer levers but too be honest most levers will work, just might not feel as nice which erodes some of the benefits of a premium dropper
My same frame will be here by the weekend, excited to see it in person. It's too bad I can't get my hands on the new tech 4 hope brakes here in the states yet. Waiting to see the color in person before I decide if I am going to lace some wild wheels and mix in some orange components, or cover up the orange and keep my all purple component setup. Fox 34 elite fork.
Ah yes the new Hope Tech 4's, they will hopefully be available soon, they have barely been available in the UK but I'm sure Hope are producing them as fast as they can get raw materials in.
Best of luck with your build :-)
@@churchofdirt-mtb Yeah I tried to order a nukeproof BB and headset as well but they turned out to show in stock on our(US) site but were not. I already have the hope rotors, torn on waiting for the tech 4's or going Hayes dominion. At any rate I got the frame! He threw in a more expensive Canes creek headset since his nukeproof stuff showed in stock when it wasn't. So that's cool at least.
TBF the Canes Creek headset may be better than the nukeproof one, I personally tend to use Hope headsets which although tight work quite well :-)
As for brakes, I can't comment on the Hayes as I've personally not used them, prefer Shimano but its all each to their own :-)
@@churchofdirt-mtb Well still waiting for my frame! I got a tracking # that shows Wednesday now. The shop pressed the headset for me and gave me a $30 break in shipping cost. I am having a wheelset built but due to lead times I ended up picking up a set of the new Stan's mk4 flow front and rear with m-pulse hub rear for this build. Save the carbon hoop set for a FS build this winter. Excited to see these colors in person!! That HT badge is going to look like a Mercedes coming down the trail!
@@JimmyBeanz13 Thats a good wheelset and did you really want carbon rims on a HT? (I've not ridden many carbon rims but they aren't that compliant in my experience).
Scary similar to my build I’m currently doing haha.
Hope your build is going well :-)
I’m getting one of these frames, how do you find running it at 150mm travel?
All subjective, I prefer it over 140mm and 160mm. Tiny bit less steep climbing ability sacrificed for DH performance but still comfortable with the reach.
That's a great bike!!! I am riding the same What's your fork? What's your head tube angle?
Thank you :-) this bike has a 150mm Marzocchi Bomber Z1, the headangle is about 64.5 ish degrees unsagged if I remember correctly. (I'll check Friday).
@@churchofdirt-mtb mine is 63,7 with a 150mm yari..this bike is a beast
Where can I find the specs for this frame? Headtube seat tube,chainstay,reach on medium. Thanks!:)
On their website.....when it works. Hopefully the website will be back Monday
@@churchofdirt-mtb ok thanks..... is that a large?
@@johnsonjay60 it is a large, yes
@@churchofdirt-mtb kk ty
👍cut my bars down from 800mm-780🤔more comfortable, just dialing in the ride now👌
Great stuff Steve :-)
Is this bike good for wheelies
That will largely depend on how good you are at wheelies, it would be better than a bike that is longer and slacker but not as good as a DJ or BMX. Bikes that are shorter with steeper headangles, smaller wheels and slacker seattube angles are easier to wheelie but worse at MTB trails and descending.