Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 review £2,000.00

A stout and playful bike which comes alive on the downs

Ty Rutherford

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Dec 5 2022

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Bikes

Overall

Quality

Performance

Value

What's good?

Nimble bike, very playful
Sensbile weight for the sturdiness
Very smartly specced

What's not?

Climbing efficiency is lacking
27.5 wheels do hang-up on the rough stuff

Buy if...

you're looking for a well-specced, sturdy bike aimed towards having fun down the trails

Ragley’s Mmmbop is a burly 150mm hardtail with some serious descending capabilities. The spec is well thought out and attractively priced for the performance on offer. It’s a hoot on the downs although the climbing abilities have been sacrificed somewhat in the pursuit of a lively and playful bike. Read on to see how it rates among the best hardtail mountain bikes.

Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 - Technical details

Ragley’s Mmmbop is a 27.5-inch aluminium hardtail which Ragley claims is “slack, aggressive and built to hang with your full suspension friends.” With a 150mm fork, the Mmmbop is Ragley’s burliest alloy bike and its descending intentions are clear when you look at the geo numbers on offer. There are two spec levels available with the 1.0 being top of the range (only available in the Parma Violet colourway) and the 2.0 which is more budget-friendly.

> Buy now: Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 Hardtail Bike - Parma Violet from Chain Reaction Cycles for £1499.99

The frame is constructed from industry-standard 6061 aluminium and has all the good technical standards – a boost rear end, tapered headset, threaded bottom bracket and ISCG 05 tabs. There is clearance in the rear for a 2.6in 27.5-inch tyre which is more than enough.

The rear brake hose and derailleur cable are externally routed to keep things simple, with the exception of the dropper cable which is the only thing internally routed. As expected on a hardtail, there is room for a full-size bottle.

Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 - Sizing and geometry

The Mmmbop comes in four sizes ranging from small to XL, which according to the size guide covers people from 5’3” (160cm) up to 6’6” (200cm).

Ragley built the Mmmbop for fun times and describe it using buzzwords such as slack and aggressive. With a 63.75-degree head angle and snappy reach numbers, on paper, it looks like Ragley has delivered on its intentions.

The reach number is where I like to get a real idea of sizing (check out our mountain bike geometry buster if you’re not familiar). Small gets a reach of 420mm, the medium is 440mm, large is 460mm and X-Large tops out at 480mm. These are a little on the conservative side, but with a relatively slack 74-degree seat angle, any larger would compromise the seated position.

425mm chainstays are common across the sizes which are on the snappier side, this suggests the bike will be agile and easy to flick around.

Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 – Specification

RockShox takes care of the fork with its stout Yari RC fork, this is the entry-level enduro fork which shares the same chassis as the Lyrik. Offering 150mm of travel with rebound and low-speed compression control.

Drivetrain duties are handled by Shimano with bang-up-to-date 12-speed SLX shifting which uses a wide range 10-51t cassette and clutch-assisted rear mech.

The Mmmbop 1.0 employs Shimano Deore brakes paired with 203mm front and 180mm rear rotors.

Ragley branded bar and stem are smartly specced with wide bars (780mm for small/medium and 800mm for large/XL) and a 50mm stem.

It's good to see appropriate length dropper seatposts for the sizes here too – 125mm for the small, 150mm for the medium and 170mm for the large and XL. Finally, the Nukeproof Neutron wheels are wrapped in Maxxis rubber with EXO+ casings and MaxxTerra compound.

Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 – Setup

The setup on a hardtail is about as simple as mountain biking gets. The fork air pressure is set using the guide on the fork leg as a starter, and a quick car park bounce to get the rebound feeling good. A couple of stops to get the brakes to bed in and we’re off to hunt down some trails.

Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 – Performance

Let's start with the climbing – it’s clear the intentions of the Mmmbop are to descend and have fun. Climbing is dispatched in a fuss-free manner, but I wouldn’t say it's zippy or particularly efficient. Being a hardtail, the efficiency is arguably better than full suspension counterparts but compared to other hardtails in a similar class, it is on the sluggish side.

The seat angle leaves the seated position quite outstretched, not uncomfortably so, but it does hamper climbing by feeling like you’re sitting behind the pedals rather than on top of them. On the plus side, the 12-speed Shimano drivetrain gives plenty of range to spin up the climbs and the crisp shifting gives the confidence to attack the pedals.

On the downs, this bike comes alive. The 27.5-inch wheels mean this bike is a hoot, the nimble and flickable set-up loves to dart and jive along the trail. The smaller wheels do hang up on lumps and bumps more than their 29er counterparts, but that is the price to pay for this level of manoeuvrability. Being a hardtail, popping off lips and trail features is done with ease and in the air, the bike feels well-balanced.

The slacker head angle benefits you when the going gets steeper making the front wheel feel a little further away. It also improves stability at speed. The short back end makes the bike easy to pop and change direction, however, the downside to this is your weight is more biased to the rear axle and therefore requires a conscious effort to weight the front in corners to get the most grip.

Speaking of grip, the Maxxis tyres are bang on the money. With Exo+ casings and aggressive tread patterns, these are very well suited to the Mmmbop’s intended use. Another honourable mention goes to the Shimano Deore brakes which are impressively sharp and powerful given the price point.

The Yari RC fork is a smartly specced fork, it offers basic control but is built off the well-proven Lyrik chassis. The 35mm stanchions are plenty sturdy enough and 150mm is very confidence-inspiring when things rougher. In comparison, the rear end has a tough job to keep up with the 150mm front end. The forks do lull you into a false sense of security that the bike can handle more than it really should. The frame held up admirably to some serious abuse, but a 27.5-inch hardtail will find its limitations reasonably quickly.

Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 – Verdict

Ragley’s Mmmbop 1.0 comes in at £2,000 which, when compared to the rest of the market, represents good value. The spec delivers a tough and reliable build at a good price point.

The competition comes in the form of the Sonder Transmitter SLX which is £1,800 and has comparable intentions and geometry to the Mmmbop. The steeper head angle will be a little twitchier, and with the RockShox Revelation fork up front, it won’t feel as burly, but the Transmitter is still pretty good value.

Another option is the Ribble HT AL Pro sporting SRAM GX drivetrain for the same money as the Mmmbop. This has a longer reach and will feel more stretched out in the seated position. The Ribble has a Revelation fork which won’t feel quite as stout as the Ragley’s Yari.

The Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 is well-specced and good value. It’s a hoot on the descents and gets you up the climbs with minimal fuss. The lively and poppy nature of this bike means you’ll be having a blast on flowing singletrack and sculpted jumps but don’t expect it to be a whippet on the climbs.

www.ragleybikes.com

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Test report Ragley Mmmbop 1.0 review £2,000.00

About the bike

Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own :

Perfect for trail centres, local woods and bike parks. Aimed at the upper end of the budget market with good value spec.

Frame & Fork

How much suspension travel does the fork have?:

150mm

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.:

In the standing position, the sizing is a little small which adds to the agility of the bike. In the seated position it felt a little outstretched - this is due to the relatively slack seat angle.

How was the bike in terms of sizing and angles? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size and intent?:

Sizes range from Small to Extra Large which according to the size guide covers people from 5’3” (160cm) up to 6’6” (200cm).

Overall rating for frame

How much suspension travel does the rear end have?:

None - its a hardtail.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?:

It's a hardtail so felt stiff to pedal and snappy to respond, but it didn't feel overly stiff when the going gets rough.

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame:

Fit and finish of the frame can't be faulted.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame:

Snappy reach numbers and short chainstays give a lively ride that makes this bike agile. The head angle is on the slacker side to give a bit of stability when the trails get steeper.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame:

Aluminium 6061.

Riding

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?:

Yes - it's a hardtail The seated position could be better.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive?:

Fairly neutral thanks to the slacker head angle

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?:

Climbing and descending the steering felt balanced. The bike felt stable on the downs and confidence-inspiring in the corners.

Rate the bike for sprinting:

Any comments on sprinting?:

Efficient as expected for a hardtail

Rate the bike for high speed descending

Any comments on high speed descending?:

Confidence-inspiring

Rate the bike for technical descending:

Any comments on technical descending?:

Easy to move around but does hang up in the holes

Rate the bike for flat cornering:

Any comments on flat cornering?:

Conscious effort needed to weight the front. Short back end means weight is over the back

Rate the bike for technical climbing:

Any comments on technical climbing?:

Slack seat angle doesn't give the most efficient position

Rate the bike for climbing efficiency:

Any comments on climbing efficiency?:

Slack seat angle doesn't give the most efficient position

Rate the bike for agility:

Any comments on agility?:

Short and snappy

Suspension

Rate the fork for performance:

Any comments on fork performance?:

Burly with enough adjustment

Rate the fork for durability:

Any comments on fork durability?:

No concerns

Rate the fork for efficiency:

Any comments on fork efficiency?:

On the weighty side but no concerns given the bikes intentions

Rate the fork for value:

Any comments on fork value?:

Good value proposition

Tell us some more about the fork. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any features which didn't work well together?:

As above.

Any comments on rear suspension performance?:

N/A

Any comments on rear suspension durability?:

N/A

Any comments on rear suspension efficiency?:

N/A

Any comments on rear shock value?:

N/A

Tell us some more about the rear suspension. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any features which didn't work well:

N/A

Any comments on the balance and performance of the suspension overall?:

N/A

Drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:

Any comments on drivetrain performance?:

Deore gave quiet and smooth shifting

Rate the drivetrain for durability:

Any comments on drivetrain durability?:

No concerns

Rate the drivetrain for weight:

Any comments on drivetrain weight?:

On the heavier side, lower end of the range

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well to:

Excellent performance for the price point.

Rate the drivetrain for value:

Any comments on drivetrain value?:

Good performance for the price

Wheels & tyres

Rate the wheels for performance:

Any comments on wheel performance?:

Sturdy set of wheels, no concerns

Rate the wheels for durability:

Any comments on wheel durability?:

Had no durability issues.

Rate the wheels for weight:

Any comments on wheel weight?:

Acceptable given their intentions.

Rate the wheels for comfort:

Any comments on wheel comfort?:

No unwanted stiffness in the rear end from frame/wheels.

Rate the wheels for value:

Any comments on wheel value?:

Good for the price.

Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so, wha:

Nicely specced for the intentions of the bike.

Rate the tyres for performance:

Any comments on tyre performance?:

Excellent as expected from Maxxis.

Rate the tyres for durability:

Any comments on tyre durability?:

MaxxTerra compound helps durability.

Rate the tyres for weight:

Any comments on tyre weight?:

Exo+ casing is a good balance between weight and support.

Rate the tyres for value:

Any comments on tyre value?:

Impressive for this price point.

Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so, what:

Classic tyre combo, can't be faulted.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:

Any comments on controls performance?:

Budget but functional.

Rate the controls for durability:

Any comments on controls durability?:

Budget but functional.

Rate the controls for weight:

Any comments on controls weight?:

Budget but functional.

Rate the controls for comfort:

Any comments on controls comfort?:

Budget but functional.

Rate the controls for value:

Any comments on controls value?:

Budget but functional.

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components?:

Well sized for the intentions.

Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad):

N/A

Summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike?:

Yes

Would you consider buying the bike?:

No - but only because its 27.5"

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike\'s performance? would you recommend any changes?:

Shimano Deore kit was impressive, crisp shifting, clutch-assisted mech and powerful brakes. Tyres were also well specced for the intentions of the bike.