If Bob Marley rode a bike, this would surely be it. Assuming he could be resurrected from the dead and coaxed away from the reggae cigarettes for long enough to hit the trails. Question is, will the new Ragley Marley cause Positive Vibration or will its eye-searing ‘acid green’ paintjob prompt an Exodus from bike shops?
Bad puns aside, the Marley is basically an alloy version of Ragley’s steel Piglet, with added Rasta stripes and dreadlocks. It’s available as a frame only (£349.99/US$559.99) or as a trail-ready full build (£1,249.99/$1,999.99), complete with RockShox Sektor air fork, SRAM X7 2×10 gearing, Mavic XM 319 Disc wheels, Maxxis High Roller tyres and own-brand cockpit kit.
Weight on our office scales is a hair over 28lb, without pedals. But none of that really matters, because chances are you’ll have decided whether you love or hate the Ragley Marley the moment you set eyes on it. More info at www.ragleybikes.com.
Ragley's usual pig logo gets a Rasta makeover on the Marley
The 44mm head tube can be used with 1.125in, tapered and 1.5in forks. Head angle is 67°
Ragley's new metal head tube badge sets things off a treat
Braking is taken care of by Avid Elixir 7s
An air-sprung RockShox Sektor does damping duties. The Marley can be used with 130-150mm forks
Not sure about the acid green paintjob? The Marley also comes in black
The Rastafarian theme continues out back. The 34.9mm seat tube will take a 31.6mm dropper post
A seatstay gusset boosts rear end stiffness
SRAM take care of drive duties with an X7 double. ISCG 05 tabs are provided
Ragley's Three Finger chainstay bridge allows use of tyres up to 2.5in
Cutouts in the rear dropouts save a little weight
Ragley have gone with IS rather than post mount disc tabs
Another view of the Three Finger chainstay design
Maxxis High Roller tyres are seated on Mavic XM 319 Disc wheels
The frame is made from hydroformed, triple-butted 7005 T6 series aluminium and comes in 16, 18 and 20in sizes