Just in: Ragley mmmBop
We’ve already tested the Ragley Ti and steel Blue Pig frames, so we were keen to check out their alloy sibling, the mmmBop.
Ragley designer Brant Richards flew this frame halfway across the world and then rode it halfway up Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales to meet us mid-ride so we could get on it ASAP.
After a month of hard hammer we can confirm that it’s a standout ride even in the fast evolving hardcore hardtail category.
Rather than just templating the same design across all three materials (titanium, steel and alloy), Brant has tweaked each to accentuate the advantages to the maximum.
In the case of the Ragley that means sub-4lb frame weight but massive strength and stiffness. The big barrel head tube is 1.5in, 1.125in or tapered steerer compatible with the appropriate headset, and the main tubes are similarly stout.
Big tapered seatstays mean there’s no need for a rear bridge (besides a small web gusset), and the innovative ‘3 finger’ chainstay plate design means equally huge tyre clearance behind the bottom bracket, so you can run the fattest tyres you’ve got without worry.

The chainstay mounted brakes reduce seatstay stress, while multiple bolt-on cable and hose clip options let you route brakes and gears however you want. Frames will be supplied in plain painted finish with sticker kits so you can be similarly individual with your final look.
In terms of ride the mmmBop - named after an infamous Calderdale descent - is as uncompromising as it looks. The whole frame and oversized Nuke Proof seatpost is seriously stiff so it’s not a bike you’ll want to stay in the saddle over cobbles on.
What this translates to in technical situations though is pinpoint precision from the RockShox Revelation fork with Maxle and maximum feedback through the Super Tacky Maxxis Minion tyres. As long as you’re fluid enough to keep the rear wheel connected, power delivery is phenomenally direct for surging up the steepest slopes like a Saturn V.

The geometry is designed to be at home in the most extreme situations too. A slack 67.5-degree head angle (with 140mm forks) and long top tube are designed to work with a super-short 50-70mm stem and wide bar (the Nuke Proof Warhead kit here is ideal) without constricting breathing or pushing you too far over the front.
The frame stiffness really helps in tight, turning-in-on-the-brakes situations where flexier bikes can stumble and tuck under. The 16.75in chainstays keep the rear end stable when you let go of the Hayes brakes and let the landscape get hazy instead.
Ragley have definitely delivered an outstandingly direct, top value assault on the hardcore technical trail bike market with the mmmBop. We’ll have a full first ride report plus more reviews on the expanded Nuke Proof range in print and online form soon. RRP is £275.99.

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User Comments
There are 15 comments on this post
Showing 1 - 15 of 15 comments
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BoardinBob
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 11:39 am UTC Flag as inappropriate
Nice.
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Remy_98
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 12:04 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
that is a really good price; frame looks sweet
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chewymk4
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 1:50 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
"the Nukeproof Warhead kit here is ideal"
And so are many other brands no doubt!
So what kickbacks did you get this time for product placement?
Another totally independent, non-biased review?
Somehow i think not.
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Northwind
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 2:17 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Funnilly enough Chewy, when the Brant/Nukeproof P7 light got a bad review the other month, everyone said "Oh, they just gave it a bad review because Nukeproof don't pay enough advertising". Even though there was a full page Nukeproof ad in that same issue for the same light. Now, they get a compliment and it must be because the reviewers are crooked, right?
Here is a newsflash- Brant is also affilliated with Nukeproof- designs parts for them at least, not sure how much more- and I do declare both use the same distributer. So, when Brant builds a Ragley frame up for a mag review, no surprise he tends to use that stuff. And when Bikeradar review the bike he's built, they might just mention the bits that were on it, because you can't ride a frame without the other parts.
So, was there a reason you picked out Nukeproof, and not Maxxis, Rockshox or Hayes? Other than that they don't fit in with the bribery theory?
Your conspiracy theory is awarded a D ;)
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dunnnooo
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 2:44 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Well said Northwind.
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chewymk4
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 3:01 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
In my opinion there was no need to plug the brand of stem and bars.
If you read the text without the insert regarding Nukeproof the paragraph canters well enough without it and adds no value to the review.
Like i said, just my opinion but seemed to me like blatant product placement.
Could be wrong...........
:-)
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RACEPACE
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 3:23 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
"Nice" - BoardinBob
mmmmmmm, not sure about that, looks a bit of a pig to me! Headtube especially looks minging, like an old scaffold pipe!
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littleorangechunks
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 3:37 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
... and they just couldn't resist mentioning the Saturn V... as if the space programme needs any more publicity. I wonder how much NASA had to spend on advertising to get such a blatant plug ;-)
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legin
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 3:44 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
glad i just paid a deposit on one.my friends have the steel and ti versions which have impressed me.cant wait to build it up.
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passout
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 5:26 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Looks good. I'd find it hard to choose between steel & alu. though (ti costs too much). I'll be interested to hear how the two compare as the frame geometry on the Ragley website looks the same.
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Super Fatty
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 9:13 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
1.5 headtube - Cannondale have been doing this for years on all their hard-tails.
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audiophile
Posted Mon 2 Nov, 10:07 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Great price, but not so sure about a chainstay mounted disc boss and bolt on cable hangers. Think these will make everything look untidy.
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MrChuck
Posted Wed 25 Nov, 6:35 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
>>"the Nukeproof Warhead kit here is ideal"
And so are many other brands no doubt!
No doubt, but the other brands weren't on the bike, were they?
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legin
Posted Wed 2 Dec, 1:08 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
had mine for just over a week what a bike been really impressed it feels so stiff you get the feeling it will go wherever you point it and it climbs better than any bike ive owned and ive had some nice hardtails.i have built it with an xt groupset thomson seat post carbon dh bar hope xc hubs on 5.1 rims and it comes in at 27lb.so ideal for everything with scope to make it lighter.it just feels right all of the time which is quite an acolade.
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alexjcrossland
Posted Mon 11 Jan, 9:15 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
I have a Ti frame (32 Talas 150, XT, Hope Pro2 / Mavic 317, High Roller 2.35, 12.5kg) and also bought a MmmBop to run the parts off my Intense 6.6 on - the 1.5" headtube sold it (36 Talas, XT, Hope Pro2 / Mavic 819, Minion 2.5, Hope Tech V2, 15kg). I love the Ti frame - a total whippet with serious gravity ability but the MmmBop is awesome down a hill! The slacker angle, stiffer forks and wide bars plus the big tyres makes for an awesome ride, totally different from the Ti build. And I can vouch that they work with brands other than Nukeproof ;o) The 1.5" headtube looks less like a scaff pole with a 1.5" steerer tube thru it and my Straightline 50mm stem tops it off a treat!
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