MMMBOP Bandwagon

essex_stu

Well, after deciding that reaching 19st is far to much for my 5ft 11 frame I decided to try and get back in shape once again. Loved biking at the gym but hated the whole gym thing so decided to buy a bike for the first time in 10 years.
After seeing a Boardman Pro Ht at work and loving the look of it I set a budget of £350 and started looking for a bike. The budget soon rockerted to £800 but I realised I would still have to change quite a few bits to the spec I wanted so binned the buying a bike idea in place of building my own bike. This is how my original spec started:-


Frame: On one summer season lime - Size 18"
Forks: RS Tora 302 air
Bars: Fsa Gravity
Stem: EA50
Headset: FSA pig
Grips: Race face

Front Brake: Avid juicy 3 160mm
Rear Brake: Avid juicy 3 160mm


Shifters: deore
Front Mech: deore
Rear Mech: Deore


Seat: Charge Spoon
Seat Post: Race face

Cranks: deore
Chainring(s): deore
Pedals: wellgo v8 copies
Bottom Bracket: hollow tech

Front Wheel: Shimano MT15

Back Wheel: Shimano MT15




This soon got changed to this though:-

Frame: Ragley MMMbop lime - Size 18"
Forks: RS Recon 351 solo air
Bars: EA50 mid rise
Stem: Kore B52 75MM
Headset: Undecided
Grips: Lizard skins logo lock on lime

Front Brake: Avid code 5 203mm
Rear Brake: Avid code 5 185mm


Shifters: deore
Front Mech: deore
Rear Mech: Deore


Seat: Charge Spoon
Seat Post: Nukeproof Warhead

Cranks: deore
Chainring(s): deore
Pedals: DMR v8 Flourescent green
Bottom Bracket: hollow tech

Front Wheel: Halo freedom

Back Wheel: Halo freedom



Most of the bits above are ordered and are sitting in the national hub awaiting delivery.The pedals are already here as is the saddle but I still need to order the Wheelset and decide on a headset then I can start the build. Photos to follow tomorrow

cat_with_no_tail

You know, a 75mm stem on an Mmmbop is VERY long. 50-60 is about normal. With such a long stem, you may find steering a bit sluggish.

essex_stu

CWNT you are probaly right about the stem but it's a cheap alteration if I do need to change it.The frame and other bits arrived today and when I picked up the box I thought they had forgot to put the frame in, the box was really that light.I can't believe how something so light can support my body weight but time will tell.will upload a few photos later

shieldsy94

sounds nice, agree with CWNT, too slow and slugish. buy something like a 50mm stem instead and you will notice a hell of a lot of difference.

headset, people have bought superstar headsets and have found them to be not the correct sizing. it works but there is a tiny gap which doesnt affect it. Heard that token headsets fit perfect.

essex_stu

Thanks for the advice guys. im going to send the Kore back and get a Easton Vice DH stem 50mm on order. Shieldsy, you dont know who has the token headset in stock do you. CRC dont have any in stock and dont know when they will be getting any more.

Found the token headset at Rutland cycling

essex_stu

Cancel that idea. I cant find a Easton Vice DH 50MM 31.8 anywhere. Any other good stems to look at?

cat_with_no_tail

Price?

essex_stu

Upto £50

cat_with_no_tail

Why not stick to the original plan of the Kore B-52? I had the 55mm version on mine and it was spot on.

http://www.highonbikes.com/kore-b52-mtb ... nhill.html

Leaves you with an extra £30 to spend on other shiny things too

phz

stemiwse i have these on two of my hardtails and love them

(especially for the current price)

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=3907

EDIT - ignore - forgot i dont run 31.8 bars (except - perhaps bizarrely - on my road MTB commuter thing)

slainte 8) rob

essex_stu

Either going to get the Kore in 55mm or the new Ragley stem in 55mm. Decisions Decisions

essex_stu

UPDATE. Kore B52 sent back and a 55mm version is on its way. Token 1.5 headset on way insted of hope headset and going to give EL Gallo freeride wheels a try insted.

essex_stu

Better update this list as all parts are either here or ordered and my frame and forks are currently having the headset fitted at the lbs so can finally start the build at the end of the week. The spec now is:

Frame: Ragley MMMbop lime - Size 18"
Forks: RS Revelation air u-turn 110-140mm
Bars: EA50 mid rise
Stem: Race face Evolve downhill 50mm
Headset: Token 1.5 reducer
Grips: Lizard skins logo lock on lime

Front Brake: Shimano xt 203mm
Rear Brake: Shimano xt 203mm


Shifters: Sram x7
Front Mech: Sram x5
Rear Mech: Sram x7


Seat: Charge Spoon
Seat Post: Nukeproof Warhead

Cranks: SLX
Chainring(s): SLX
Pedals: Superstar nano tech purple
Bottom Bracket: hollow tech

Front Wheel: Sun ringle equaliser rim on sun ringle hub 20mm

Back Wheel: Sunringle equaliser rim on xt hub qr

So as you can see the spec has changed quite dramatically but Im just looking forward to finally getting it built up.

Northwind

50mm stem, try Pro FRS or Gusset Staff, both great, light and inexpensive.

essex_stu

Already got the stem thanks mate. 50MM race face evolve downhill

Northwind

Ooh nice 8) I need a new one I think, I've got 60s and 70s and both my bikes need 50s now and I've only got one of them

getonyourbike

Spec sounds awesome, but 203mm rotors on the back? Anything more than 160mm is just deadweight unless it's being used for extreme downhill. The best compromise on most bikes unless doing downhill is probably 180mm front and 160mm rear

essex_stu

I'm a big bloke though so an extra 200grams isn't going to make a massive difference to me. Finally started the build last night and have the forks,stem, bars, front mech, bb, crank and chainstay protector on. Taking pictures but my camera really does not do the colour justice

alexj2233

It's not just a matter of weight, having too big a rotor on the back can mean that you lose some control and just end up skidding about, although this al depends on you weight etc, so everyone is different.

It'll be nice to see a green one, sort of wishing i'd gone for green now just to be a bit different.

essex_stu

It really is a fantastic colour, I just wish the camera would catch the colour more

Northwind

Yeah, the green's the colour to have but a mate had already snaffled it so I had to settle for ugly blue. Still nice enough though. Might still get it powdercoated mind.

essex_stu

UPDATE. everything is built and ready to go except the poxy x7 shifter has stopped worked so is currently off the bike and ready to be replaced with x9 shifters and a x9 rear mech. Oh how I love upgrades . Carbon bars next

beardytwo

How are you finding the mmmBop Essex? I think the green is much faster....Any Pics?

Grizzle

Yeh i think pics is slightly important when "showing off" your ride lol.

joshtp

hmm, id have to agree.... what does it look like?


:P

essex_stu

Finished tonight, had nothing but trouble with front mech and rear shifter so changed shifters to sram x9 and front mech to Shimano XT and all works fine now. Pics will be up tomorrow with final spec

essex_stu

essex_stu

essex_stu

Frame: Ragley MMMbop lime - Size 18"
Forks: RS Revelation air u-turn 110-140mm
Bars: EA50 mid rise
Stem: Race face Evolve downhill 50mm
Headset: Token 1.5 reducer
Grips: Lizard skins logo lock on lime

Front Brake: Shimano xt 775
Front Rotor: Shimano 203mm rt75
Rear Brake: Shimano xt 775
Rear rotor: Shimano 203mm rt75


Shifters: Sram X9 trigger shifters
Front Mech: Shimano xt m770 top swing
Rear Mech: Sram x7
Cassette: Sram pg970
Chain: KMC X9 93

Seat: Charge Spoon
Seat Post: Nukeproof Warhead
Seatpost clamp: Thomson

Cranks: SLX
Chainring(s): SLX
Pedals: Superstar nano tech purple
Bottom Bracket: hollow tech

Front Wheel: Sun ringle equaliser rim on sun ringle hub 20mm

Back Wheel: Sunringle equaliser rim on xt hub qr

Front tree man sticker chosen by my niece

essex_stu

Only changes planned are Ritchey WCS carbon bars, Sram X9 rear mech and Thomson Elite seatpost

getonyourbike

Its very nice mate, they really look like lovely frames, people are going to want Ragley to make some more now they're gone.

I bet the reason so many are popping up is because of CRC letting them go for £150, bargain. You'll never get anything better for that money.