As cycling bloggers, a good amount of review product rotates through the garage. Some of it returns to the manufacturer, but most of it accumulates in bins. And since no one likes to read about last years models, we make an effort to ride current models, which means frequent upgrades. A few months ago I came to the realization that I had enough gear and components stacked up to build up a new ride, so I picked up a Ragley Marley 27.5 hardtail frame.
I had been looking to spend some time on a hardtail with a longer front center, short chainstays, low stand-over and a relatively slack head angle. What it really came down to though, was the bang for the buck.
Ragley offers the Marley as a frame as well as a complete bike. The completes emphasize value as a package; my component picks, while cast-offs, are of a completely different level.
Highlights of the Ragley Marley
For the most part, details of the Marley frame are well thought out, featuring ISCG 05 tabs and a 44/56mm tapered head tube to keep the front stiff and low. It is made from custom butted aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum tubing. One thing the 2017 lacks though, is provisions internal dropper post routing, a feature that wasn’t added until the 2018 release.
- 65.5 static Head Angle (67º at ride height)
- Designed to be used with a short 40-60mm stem
- Short Chainstays
- ISCG 05 Tabs
- 5 Year Warranty and lifetime crash replacement
- ISO 4210 Certified
- Head Angle: 65.5˚Static (67˚ Sagged at 25%)
- Seat Angle: 73˚
- Chain stay length: 425mm
- Seat post: 31.6mm
- Rear Axle: 10mm x 135mm QR
- Seat Collar: 34.9mm
- Front Derailleur: 34.9mm
- BB Shell: 73mm BSA
- Headset: 44/56mm Tapered – ZS44/28.6 | ZS56/40
- Wheel Size: 27.5”
- Max Tyre Size: 2.4”
- BB Height: 305mm
- Size Options: S – 15”, M – 17”, L – 19”, XL – 21”
Geometry was the reason the Ragley appealed to me; well, that and the affordable retail price.
The geo reads as somewhat slack when static, but once the fork is preloaded the bike’s head angle is steepened to the desired amount.
