[Closed] Anyone own a NS Bikes RAG+, Question

I can check tonight.. from memory I think I just bought the longest bolts and then cut them down to suit.

cheers, buying everything blind has been difficult especially re the brakes, mounts etc. what do you think of it. What headset do you use.

Yes, I built up a frame and had similar fun with the brake mounts. I think I went for a Cane Creek 40 headset.

I really like it, although do find the toe overlap annoying on tight, twisty stuff. Was tempted to go up a frame size (CRC sale) but it doesn't seem that much longer. Would like to try it with 650b wheels at some point too.

Cheers, building it with hope red stuff, hope wheels, sram rival fizik and thomson. Can't wait. curious to see how 650b wheels will fit, will try my sons.

It’s a nice bike, I used to have one. Fitted some dirt drops (Woodchippers) and it was pretty good fun as an all rounder. I just missed my mountain bike and only have space and funds for one bike.

Are there any gravel type bikes that don’t have toe overlap? It was the only annoying thing about it.

I've built one up recently, so a couple of things that may be useful to know (which I didn't):

Fork is full-carbon including the steerer tube, so you'll need a compression plug for that rather than a star nut. Headset-wise It's an IS42/52 Integrated, I just went for a cheapy initially:

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/brand-x-headset-integrated-tapered-steerer/rp-prod130924

Rear brake bolts I can't tell you the right size, but I can tell you that M5x35 is too long, and M5x20 is too short! I'd say it's 25-28mm, 20mm doesn't engage with the thread at all. I'm using 160mm adaptors though so length isn't as critical because the caliper bolts to the adaptor with the special supplied bolts and the adaptor then bolts to the frame.

Wheel-wise I'm running 650B Mavic Crossmax MTB wheels initially, 2.0 Slicks fit with plenty of room and so do 650Bx42c WTB Resolutes (a knobbly-ish gravel tyre).

2.2" Continental X-Kings physically fit, but it's so close that the demoulding bobbles on the tyre side knobs actually touch the seatstay so there is zero mud clearance with that setup.

Also I'm sure you're aware but it's a 15mm front axle, not 12mm so if you were planning to fit 700C road wheels rather than 29" MTB wheels that might make things awkward.

Are there any gravel type bikes that don’t have toe overlap? It was the only annoying thing about it.

It does seem to be a common trait.. generally not a problem but definitely annoying in low speed, tight corner situations where you tend to have your feet level. Maybe 650b will give a slightly smaller diameter - I am currently running 42x700c.

can't remember the rear bolt lengths but I can measure later - however I just added washers under the bolt head so they were flush with the top of the mount.

Fitted an FSA headset, had one on my last bike and it survived with minimal maintenance. Haven't found toe overlap to be a major issue but you wonder if it makes more sense for this type of bike to be longer in the TT with a shorter stem

I really like mine, currently got full guards on it and 700x37c gravelkings for winter commuting but am going to fit some fatter tyres in the spring. It feels like a tough old bike and is no featherweight but should take a hammering. The only real negatives for me was some faff with the fork brake mounts, the paint finish isn't the toughest (but is easy to touch up and the rear tyre clearance (with 700s) looks to be limited by the chainstay bridge more than anything else.

Cheers guys, I have a hope headset ordered. I am going to run hope Five20 wheels 700c they have hope pro4 hubs, I have adapters for 15mm and 142 12mm they came with the wheels but not attached yet as using the wheels on my boardman with qr9. Will likely get some 650b wheels for the rougher stuff. toe overlap concerns but will see. Already ordered a hope head doctor. will be running a 1x11 11-42 and 46 at the front, May need to drop to 42, Have been so use to a 2x10. I have never used Sram hydraulic discs before Rival 1, used TRP cable before. It was going to be a cheap build initially its gone a bit mental now. I am think the red Hope everything will look great with the grey frame. Mid life crisis.

joemmo - what mudguards are you using?

I've just put 700x40c Nanos on mine, there's s hardly any room to the seatstay bridge but it rides better than 650x2.0, just feels bit faster, bit more stable and just as comfy. The diameter difference is significant between the two, more than I thought it would be after reading about 650b on gravel being similar diameter.

The flat mount brackets are 20mm apart. I used an adapter for PM calipers so used 30mm bolts.

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Everything was changed over from my old Pro6 frame although I did get a new Brand X headset. Tyres are currently Gravel King SKs 38 front 35 rear which <span style="background-color: #f6d5d9;">measures up</span> at 40 and 38 respectively. The off the shelf build comes with 43c GK SKs so there is more room to upgrade once current tyres need replacing.

Interesting to hear that there is no difference in comfort between 40c on 700c and 2.0@ on 650b,

@frogstomp - SKS Bluemels. They're a good fit but I swapped the front stays for some SKS chromoplastic type as I found them a bit wobbly. Had to bend one stay slightly to clear the front brake otherwise no problems.

here's mine looking urban and commutery. On a bridge, obvs.

Well if we're doing a photo share!

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it seems like we are 🙂 Nice, I see you have fully embraced the brown accents. I thought about some brown tape... and then red and eventually went for grey - but I do like skinwall tyres. Just so #gravel aren't they?

20mm bolts + a few washers on the rear with a TRP160 flat mount adapter.

I may have gone "over-brown" but I'll be swapping out the saddle shortly as it was just one I had lying around.

I think I'll make the switch to some 29" MTB wheels when a bargain comes up, I've found the 42C on 650B wheels perfectly comfortable so the same width on 29"/700C versions of the same/similar tyre will retain that and presumably help rolling speed/rollover angles with the bigger OD.

I went with 650B originally as I was worried that it would be too harsh, but I was basing that solely off my old Bianchi road bike on skinny rock-hard tyres, I didn't realise how much the extra ~20mm of tyre (and presumably the frame design) would make a difference so I needn't have worried. (I also had a set lying around to use, so effectively free!)

I'm tempted to try some 650b wheels, might use it as an excuse to build my own (first time) - any chance you could post a closer pic showing the clearance on the back with those on?

I'll try and grab one this evening. I tried to get a 2.2" MTB tyre on the back (continental X-King, so not overly knobbly) and the demoulding bobbles on the side knobs were brushing the chainstay as the wheel turned so I abandoned that one! Plenty of room with a 2" slick, and the current 42c WTB Resolutes though.

yeah I tried to wedge my MTB wheels in to check but they are boost and 2.3 so it was a pointless exercise..

I got Mavic pulse 2.1 in and also fast tracks 2.0, both sets for sale plus 650b wheels if anyone's in the market.