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Im looking to get one of the following the Ragley MMMBOP or the Sonder Transmitter. Both of these seem to be the kind of bike i like,, however i have just seen the Octane One Sour on offer at Wistanleys for 649.99 so that has thrown itself into the mixer.
I dont know much about the Octane at all so any reviews would be welcomed 🙂
and i suppose whilst im here, is there much difference between the MMMBOP and the Sonder - both are fairly local and i intend to use the bike as an all-rounder
Don't know much about the Octane either but the spec on the 650 quid one is pretty low rent (as expected for that price).
I assembled an mmmbop the other week, as far as I'm aware you won't find a new one now so used examples only, but I very much like the frame and I'm happy with the used one I bought.
I have since still been looking at similar HT frames and I'm mulling the idea of a second "Hardcore HT" for use with a longer fork my browsing has including the Transmitter, and I noticed the Sour but thought it's geometry was just a bit more 'conventional' than the other two (66.5deg HA / 74.5deg SA) so had written it off, but that's just me.
The transmitter is available new as a frame from Sonder today for a pretty good price (£200), the Geometry is similar to the mmmbop with the most notable exception being the Head angle is 2 degrees steeper (75deg) than the mmmbop, that could well suit if your intended use is more general trail riding.
One other thing I note on that cheap Sour is the spec includes an RST fork. I don't know if they've improved over the years but RST were never a particularly sought after brand in the past (IMO/IME) vs an RS 35 for on a basic complete Sonder build(?).
I'm running my mmmbop mulleted, that has pulled the stock 63deg HA back to about 61, which sounds a little extreme perhaps, but it's actually good in most situations, and the Seat Angle is still measuring as 75deg so climbing is fine. I'm actually really liking it, the bike definitely enjoys being pointed down.
Reach for me at 5'10" meant I fitted a Medium mmmbop, where I would be going for a Large Transmitter, that is something to consider for your own sizing on whatever bike you choose, Reach is a more useful figure in many ways as that dictates where you're body will be positioned fore/aft in most riding situations.
All your suggestions appear to be 27.5 - are you small, or do you not like 29'ers?
The Big Al seems to get more people waxing lyrical about Ragleys than the Mmbob (myself included) I don't know if the big wheels just suit the geometry a bit better
I like my Transmitter and run it on 2.8s - my take is that although plus-sized tyres are out of fashion, they work really well here in the Peak, where there’s more rock than corners, on natural trails anyway. If you’re into hard cornering, maybe not so supportive. I guess 2.6s would be a good compromise. Great, fun bike at a bargain price. I’m tempted to run it with a. 29” fork, but don’t have one handy.
I honestly don’t know if two degrees slacker would be better. I tend to ride the bike I have and it works for me as it is. I didn’t realise that Ragley was still an option post Wiggle’s demise, but then I’m not really in the market for a new hardtail.
There was Sonder 29er option that looked very like a bigger-wheeled Transmitter, which I’d maybe consider, but it seems to have disappeared from their website? Maybe 5hey should have done/called it a Transmitter 29.