Ragley Bagger 288 build - updates (22/1/13)
ilovedirt
Posts: 5,798
So, I just placed an order for a Ragley Bagger 288, 18" in Dad's Denims. I've been wanting a hardtail again for a while, something that's lower maintenance than the Slayer. Running two full sus bikes is very expensive, as I've found out!
Anyway, I'm basically moving all the kit from my slayer accross to it, so I wanted something that could handle BIG forks, had nice slack geometry (the geo on the slayer is a bit dated), full gear cable runs etc and able to handle being ragged down downhill tracks for a laugh. I had my eye on a Cotic BFe, but the lack of full cable outer runs put me off, and the geo on the Ragley appealed to me a bit more, despite not being much of a looker (it's not the nicest looking frame really). Though they seem to look a little nicer in the larger sizes and fully built.
So mine will be built on 170mm Lyriks, 1x9 SRAM drivetrain, SLX cranks, Gamut chain guide, Hope Pro II on DT EX500 (for XC and trail riding), short 50mm stem with 750mm wide bars, Avid Elixirs with 203mm rotors and hopefully a 12mm rear axle and spare downhill wheelset with dual ply downhill tyres for when I want to get silly, so it'll be a full on downhill build!
It should look something like this, bar the dropper post and 2x drivetrain
Anyway, I'm basically moving all the kit from my slayer accross to it, so I wanted something that could handle BIG forks, had nice slack geometry (the geo on the slayer is a bit dated), full gear cable runs etc and able to handle being ragged down downhill tracks for a laugh. I had my eye on a Cotic BFe, but the lack of full cable outer runs put me off, and the geo on the Ragley appealed to me a bit more, despite not being much of a looker (it's not the nicest looking frame really). Though they seem to look a little nicer in the larger sizes and fully built.
So mine will be built on 170mm Lyriks, 1x9 SRAM drivetrain, SLX cranks, Gamut chain guide, Hope Pro II on DT EX500 (for XC and trail riding), short 50mm stem with 750mm wide bars, Avid Elixirs with 203mm rotors and hopefully a 12mm rear axle and spare downhill wheelset with dual ply downhill tyres for when I want to get silly, so it'll be a full on downhill build!
It should look something like this, bar the dropper post and 2x drivetrain
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Gutted you're getting rid of the slayer, always thought they were great bikes, looks like this gonna be nice though!
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Yeahh, the slayer was a lot of bike, but the geo was a bit weird, and it was a bit hefty. Though this does only drop a pound or so. It should be silly fun anyway, and hopefully make me a slightly better rider 0
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The frame turned up a few days, I'm just waiting to shift the rocky mountain before I can afford the headset, seatpost and clamp, so far no interest at all... :evil:
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Last parts ordered - nukeproof headset, ragley seat clamp and SS seatpost. Should hopefully all be here monday and be fitted up mid-week some time.0
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So I got the final parts for the bike today, Nukeproof headset, Ragley seat clamp and a Superstar seat post turned up the other day. So I got it built! No real dramas.
One thing I was pretty chuffed with though was my home made headset press, cost me £3 for a length of threaded bar, of which I only used a small offcut, and then just used a couple of thick offcuts of oak flooring with a hole drilled through the middle of each one, couple of washers and a nut at each end and it worked a treat. Just had to give it a bit of a tap with a hammer if it was going in a bit wonky.
Anyway, photos:
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Oh and i figured this might interest some people, my new lid. Got one of those new O'neal Airtech lids, they seem silly good for the price (around £100). Not the best made thing ever, but it seems sturdy as hell compared to my old 661 lid, more like a MX lid, and pretty trick too with the magnetic catch etc.
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Very nice, was tempted by a Bagger myself, what's happened to the slayer then?0
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Sold it, I decided trying to maintain two full sus bikes was a little too costly.0
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Nice bike- really like the look of the bagger frame, if it rides anything like my ragley it should be a good 'un!0
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So I went for a quick spin yesterday to some local trails, got a bit of air on some smallish jumps, first impressions - the bike handles nicely, pedals well, really stable in the air. Wasn't much of a test though. Took it to the peaks for a nice long ride today though, and I love it! Really nimble over the techy rock sections, climbed really well (of course it's no XC race machine, but i didn't expect it to be) - front wheel tracked better than on the slayer, which wasn't as slack - that surprised me, really stable at speed, jumped well, manualled like a dream, really good down the gnarly steep sections, of which there were quite a few, geo felt really comfortable in in general, I'm really pleased with it! I had my reservations about using such a short stem with it as well (40mm), as it was a bit on the short side on my slayer, but as I say, it's really comfortable as it is. It's exactly what I had hoped it would be. Really chuffed
Only thing is though, I forgot how much hard work hardtails are on the descents! I was keeping up with my mate on his full bouncer the majority of the time, but I think I was having to work a lot harder, my thighs were starting to cramp up by the end, so I think I need to get out and ride it some more! It was really hard work on some of those descents with the loose baby head rocks though, just getting chucked about more than anything else, and not really able to pedal to pick some speed up and skip over them.
Oh well, long story short, I'm really happy with it!
Here's a photo of it in it's natural habitat, the top of a hill near Edale
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I cant get to grips with the frame design, but i have to say that, in its natural environment, its kinda growing on me.
Glad its worked out so well for you!0 -
Yeah I know what you mean, it's a bit of an ugly duckling, but it just seemed perfect for me on paper, function over form and all that. It's a grower though for sure! It looks pretty different to the norm anyway, which I like 0
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Christ ive seen far uglier bikes than this one! I think the frame is just an "acquired" taste. I love the colour of it and the white forks really do it justice.0
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ahh, so by the design, you mean the angles? Fair enough, it's not everyone's cuppa tea, seems to suit my riding though
I'm still not sold on the colour really, but I don't hate it. It's a nice bike anyway 0 -
Bet that bike is great up in the peaks. Love taking the SS up there (well not the climbs) but I'd imagine your ragley is a fair bit lighter than it and a lot more fun.
Just out of interest what's the head angle on it, looks nice and slack
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Aye, I bet your SS is fun up there! Tell you what though, I'm impressed with how much more responsive this thing is than my old 456!
According to Ragley, it's supposed to be 65 deg static with a 160mm fork (67 deg sagged), but I'm running 170mm, so it's probably closer to 64 deg, or 66 deg when sagged 0 -
Got a few updates on the Bagger build, got some Schwalbe Hans Dampf rubber on there. Got them super cheap from germany, got the soft compound on the front and the harder one on the back. I got a new short cage X7 mech on there, as the X9 is going on the sunday when it's back (hopefully tomorrow), and I felt the cockpit needed changing a little. Got somer Superstar bars on there at the moment, uncut at 785mm. I quite like it but I'll see how I go, might cut them down eventually. Also got a Funn funnduro 45mm stem on there for a bit of bling.
There's also some Shimano trail SPDs on there now, got them over summer along with some fiveten hellcats. The platform might look small, but combined with the shoes, it really does help. Clipping back in, or at least staying on the pedals through techy sections is much easier! I'd recommend them!
Photos:
Went for a bit of a snowy ride today too
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Really great looking bike, tempted by getting the same frame to be honest. Out of interest where abouts in the Peaks are you riding, im over Ashbourne way
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Cheers, that photo was near Hope/Edale, I don't ride there often though as I'm usually in North Wales.0
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Can I ask how tall you and how you find the fit of the bike? There's one in the classifieds I've got half an eye on. Its a 17 inch apparently, and I'm 5 foot 8. Any info would be great!0
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I'm 6ft1 ish, it's an 18" and it fits perfectly. A 17" sounds like it could be on the money for you, as I do have a fair bit of seatpost on mine, as you can see.0
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Cheers for that.
Do you reckon 160mm is the sweet spot for them? I'm toying with speccing this frame with 150mm Revs, but could be open to a Lyrik or 36. I want to try and keep it (relatively) light, so I can ride it all day, but also take steep and rough stuff. I thought maybe 150mm forks might make it slightly more capable on climbs (which I'm not looking to be quick up), but if its going to mess the geometry up too much I might go 160mm.0 -
I'm running 170mm at the moment, coil lyriks. They're a bit weighty, but I don't notice it when I'm riding. I still climb as fast as everyone else I ride with (if not faster) and it absolutely shreds on the downs. I really wouldn't go lower than 160mm on one of these, kind of defeats the point. If you want a bike like that, get a blue pig. This thing really is a monster on the descents if you put a proper fork on it!0
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Looks fun!
LT HT for me next I think, then thats my fleet complete for now lol. Seen a bagger in the classifieds and the frames get great reviews, but damn are they fugly 0 -
Yeah, they're certainly an acquired taste, rides like a dream though! What are you thinking of getting?0
