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Possible can of worms here:
Following my post a few weeks ago about steel hardtails I had many interesting suggestions, thank you. Further investigation has lead me into all sorts of interesting directions. And most unusually budget creep has gone down instead of up.
I've got three bike tabs open on my browser at the minute and would be interested to hear experiences of those who have owned or ridden the bikes in question.
Bike the first: Ragley Big Wig. Pros: looks lovely, steel (is that a pro?), well specced. Cons: maybe slightly over forked for what I need?
Bike the second: Whyte 909. Pros: XT gruppo, I like the colour scheme, 27.5 so I won't need to buy new inner tubes. Cons: I have no expereince with Fox forks so don't know if the Fox Float Performance 34 is good or not?
Bike the Third: Radon Cragger 8.0. Pros: Fork gets amazing reviews, looks to be very well specced for the money. Cons: slightly plain looking (not that important, but the other two do look pretty), is direct sales from Germany still cheap post Brexit or are there hidden costs?, and warranty/repair issues if you have to box up and send the bike back. More pros: Look at that lovely green fork though!
Obvs, will need to have a go on them if we're ever allowed to do demos again, but just would like to hear any relevant experience of these particular bikes.
Forgot to mention that the Ragley is the Big Wig Race
Onza Jackpot 29er £700 job jobbed
Sorry, the Onza spec is woeful compared to the three bikes I'm actually interested in.
We've had 2 Ragleys in my house and both were/are great.
29in wheels make total sense on a hardtail, even more than a full bouncer. You can use 27.5 inner tubes in 29er wheels too if you can't get a tyre to seal.
The Big Wig Race looks like a great bit of kit to me, but the Radon does look very good value for money if you're happy with SRAM rather Shimano.
Not much in it, but the Radon looks a touch more conservative than the big wig, which in turn is more conservative than the Whyte.
Whyte looks to have a more balanced frame and 12 speed XT but is 27.5.
Tricky.
The full build prices for the ragley seem pretty high tbh, I quickly costed it up when they came out and honestly it didn't seem any cheaper than just buying the bits. And not everything's what I'd choose- it's crying out for more dropper frinstance.
I have a 2018- the previous model- and it's been really good. The frame's heavy and there's really not much "steel feel" but the geometry is good, it's well made and all that. Would happily have another Ragley in future.
I wouldn't necessarily say the Lyrik is too much fork for you- it's a big fork of course but it's extremely well behaved and they're not that massively heavy any more. It wouldn't put me off basically though I think if I was building it I might fit Pikes or 34s.
(I had 3 original Mmmbops and all were defective, balanced out by a Ti which was absolutely bloody magnificent)
That Big Wig looks lovely. That would be my choice.
Another vote for the Wig. I considered one and then found a barely used well spec’d Soul at a bargain price.
We're on third Radon in the house.
Great bikes, well made, ride superbly.
Absolutely shocking warranty support and (alongside Rutland cycles) has made me say I will never buy a bike online again....
As a whyte 905 owner I would go with the 909. Will be lighter than the big wig, geometry is sorted, spec is great.
All nice to be fair.
Thanks for the info chaps, something to mull. Will need to ride them before making any sort of decision so that may be a few weeks off!
Any thoughts on the Fox Float Performance 34 forks as fitted to the Whyte? What are the equivalent Rock Shox just so I have an idea what I'm making comparisons to?
Any thoughts on the Fox Float Performance 34 forks as fitted to the Whyte?
We've an 32 Evo CTD Fit, 34 Fit4 and 34 Grip.
Grip seems more adjustable and smoother from the off.
The Fit4 seems to be better in burlier terrain, at the cost of a lack of small bump compliance.
The CTD Fit seems a blend of both.
Fwiw, I much prefer our Fox's in feel when riding and servicing ease to our RS, with the exception of eldest_oabs to of the line Lyrik RCT2 which feels teh awesome.