Look out, it's another Ragley mmmBop!

frogstomp

I recently ordered in a blue mmmBop for my mate to replace his Carrera Vulcan frame (currently running 150mm Bombers - eek!) and, when it arrived, I liked what I saw so much I just couldn't resist snapping one up for myself.

Now, this was to be a budget build.. sourcing second hand parts where possible and generally taking my time with it as and when things turned up. Well, that's pretty much gone out the window now and the momentum of 'new bike fever' has gripped me bad so things have kinda snowballed!

So, anyway.. on with build! Will update as and when things arrive in the post and get thrown at the frame! I'll update the spec as I go along too..

Frame: Ragley mmmBop (16", blue)
Headset: Superstar Components Grande Bambino (blue)
Forks: Fox Vanilla RLC QR15
Chainset: Shimano SLX
Gearset: Shimano XT
Brakes: Avid Elixir 5 (white)
Handlebars: FSA Gravity Lite OS (black)
Stem: Kore B52 OS 75mm (black)
Seatpost: SDG Carbon i-beam
Saddle: SDG Bel Air SL
Chain: KMC X9
Wheels: WTB Speed Disc with Giant Tracker 15QR / Shimano 475 hubs
Cassette: Sram PG950 11-32
Grips: Superstar Components Supagripa (white / black lockrings)




16" frame.. hopefully be nice and chuckable!



Blue Superstar Grande Bambino reducer headset.. the colour isn't a perfect match but it's close enough and will probably blend in nicely once the forks etc are on.
As some people have found the external diameter doesn't quite cover the end of the headtube entirely.. will be looking to touch it up with a bit of paint at some point in the near future.

Tolk

Good choice on frame, absolutely loving mine (went for the green). Can't believe how light it is.

frogstomp

Tolk wrote:

Good choice on frame, absolutely loving mine (went for the green). Can't believe how light it is.

Looks a fantastic frame (light too as you say) and the blue is a great colour.. hoping for a much more chuckable and 'fun' ride than my Anthem X bullet..

Just wish the postman and ParcelForce would pull their respective fingers out and deliver my forks/chainset/brakes lol!

TheNorthernTrain

Can't wait to get mine finished! Spending £50 on the last bits for it today. I'm not too bothered by the headset, its a better match than i thought. My Parcel Force and Mail guys have been pretty good with their deliveries so far.

frogstomp

north-sure wrote:

My Parcel Force and Mail guys have been pretty good with their deliveries so far.

Yeah, tis very true.. it's just times like this when you want to deliver the stuff you ordered in the morning, in the afternoon lol!

Anonymous

i knd of really want one of them but i hate hardtails so i will resist.

Tolk

sheepsteeth wrote:

i knd of really want one of them but i hate hardtails so i will resist.

Get some cardboard either side of the rear stays, get some poster paint, and paint yourself some rear suspension. Sorted.

frogstomp

Postie turned up so I now have these..



SLX chainset (used, but in fab condition - see, this is a budget build!)
Kore B52 75mm stem
Lizard Skins chainstay protector

The Kore stem is probably a bit overkill but looks fantastic and I think the white detailing will go well with the bike..



Unfortunately the Lizard Skin protector will have to go back as it's too small, but on the plus side the colour is a great match to the frame.. just as I hoped! 8)

frogstomp

No forks or brakes today (hopefully tomorrow) so I thought I'd just 'dry build' the bars.. think they'll look pretty good!

Anonymous

i like that stem, looks coolio and the gangio.

frogstomp

Forks, chain and gears turned up today.. starting to look like a bike now!




Mmm, KMC white chain.. a bit bling but I think it works. Interested to see how well the colour wears!



Tried to go ultra-tidy with the brake cable routing. It just works for turning the bars but not sure how well it'll perform in practise..



Weighted in at around 26 lbs with just the saddle, seatpost and brakes to go.. so shouldn't be excessively heavy!

Anonymous

what size frame is that?

blister pus

16 he put below 1st pic

Mynameisdann

Now that is a nice bike, looks like it will be just at home jumping aswell as on the trails.

Anonymous

they look better in the smaller sizes i reckon as the top tube slopes down more. shame i would need an 18 if i was buying one.

cat_with_no_tail

Where did you get a KMC white chain from? CWNT both approves and wants!

Mynameisdann

Oooohhh you need to put the stickers on mate

orange_man

Looking real nice Not bad for a "budget build"

biker37

Just built an 18" up using the Superstar headset and Fox forks,i'm well impressed with the ride. I had to fit a 5mm split headset spacer to fork crown to prevent forks crashing into frame (you wanna check that out, just in case). Also finish inside seat tube was a bit rough and needed a bit of wet and dry.

Mynameisdann

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Where did you get a KMC white chain from? CWNT both approves and wants!

http://shop.d2leisuregroup.co.uk/produc ... 50265.html
not sure if thats suitable, only one i could find

frogstomp

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Where did you get a KMC white chain from? CWNT both approves and wants!

Got mine from Ribble, along with the XT set.. double discounts at the moment.

Mynameisdann wrote:

Oooohhh you need to put the stickers on mate

Yup, they'll definitely be going on soon... the white ones, of course!

orange_man wrote:

Looking real nice Not bad for a "budget build"

Thanks! Not quite as budget as originally intended, but should come in at a shade over 800

cat_with_no_tail

Awesome, although I think I'll see how well yours wears first :twisted:

Tolk

Those chains come in red too, I'll be getting one of those for the mmmbop at the end of the month!

frogstomp

Carbon i-beam seatpost and Bel Air SL saddle turned up yesterday so added them along with the white Elixir 5s and, for the finishing touch, the stickers!

It's the first bike I've built up from scratch with a particular 'look' in mind.. and I'm well happy!

All setup and ready to go!

bwfc4eva868

Looks stunning mate

frogstomp

bwfc4eva868 wrote:

Looks stunning mate

Cheers! Think it just needs some white rims to finish it off.. but they'll have to wait for a bit!

cat_with_no_tail

Good work, looks great!

I agree with Sheepsteeth, the small frames look better when built up than the bigger ones.

supertwisted

Very nice, hope mine looks as good when it's done.

How's it ride?

frogstomp

..and just to round it all off.. it's first 'proper' ride - around a very wet and sticky Swinley:





First impressions? Hard to say really.. it certainly felt nowhere near as quick as my Anthem X but that could have been the bike, the conditions or me (too many Fursty Ferrets?). I'm used to a racey cross-country frame so this one'll take a bit of getting used to!

On the other hand, it definitely feels more sprightly and confidence-inspiring on the downs and is loads more stable on the jumps - it loves a bit of air!

Long term I think i'll be maybe looking at changing the wheels as I think they are probably the weak link at the moment.. I may try my girlfriend's Mavic/Pro2 wheelset to see if that makes any difference to the feel of it..

Thewaylander

Mmm i kinda like that little sucker.

Im 6'2" but i think i would i would go 16" bit a little chuckable light bike i can jump a bit but still kinda blast round a short trail. Maybe even to ride a little light street on.. hmmmm I am now thinking.

frogstomp

Thewaylander wrote:

Im 6'2" but i think i would i would go 16" bit a little chuckable light bike i can jump a bit but still kinda blast round a short trail. Maybe even to ride a little light street on.. hmmmm I am now thinking.

The frames seem to come up quite large I think due to the long top tube.. I'm 5'9" and the 'small' certainly doesn't feel it particularly..