I was CALLED OUT, so I went back to a budget mountain bike 

Wow! Wasn’t expecting to see me in the vid 😂. Just for a point of clarification. I was a bit harsh in my comment. I do still love your content and watch every video! do love the expensive stuff. Hopefully you keep doing both budget and high end mix!

No idea why anyone cares what kind of helmet you prefer to wear. You’re the one riding, take the precautions you feel is necessary that will benefit you the most.

Ok I ABSOLUTELY LOVE how you kept video content running through your ad read with the split screen. Wish more people would do that

After riding a full suspension bike for a while now I really miss how sharp a hardtail feels compared to it, you learn to be a way better rider on a hardtail too. Maybe I'll get one again some day. I usually hate the sponsor messages mid-video, but having the actual video content running in a split screen is actually such a good way to do it.

I definitely recommend the idea of having an enduro bike and an aggressive hard tail. If you wanted to try a steel hard tail, Marino does custom builds for a good price

I completely agree about the full face helmet! Trails can be very harsh and using a lighter helmet isn't very smart imo, especially with mountain trails rather than more maintaned ones or bikeparks

I just wanna say that you are my favorite person to watch hit jumps, just the style that you've adopted from BMX is just so cool and satisfying

Changing contact points can make a huge difference to the feel of the bike as well as tire setup. I don't care how expensive your bikes are, I like that you are open to experiment with bikes. To me 2 bikes is the sweet spot. I have a trail bike for my normal mountainbiking and an old 26 inch bike to practice bike control and pumping

Swapping out parts to fit the bike to you and make your riding experience is not being a snob, it's just being a bike enthusiast and making your ride better. As far as helmets go, wear what makes you feel safe and comfortable. The better and more relaxed you are while riding, the less likely you'll need the helmet to do its intended job.

THat is a seriously budget build for a Ragley. I've ridden the steel version of this, the Bigwig, a lot and it definitely deserves a refined build and a mid/ high level fork. Will be an excellent upgrade platform I reckon. Fork will, as always make the biggest difference.

How the hell is a $900 Hardtail budget bike? I'm thinking $400-$500 is a budget Hardtail....

I have a Ragley Big Al for almost 2 years now and it is really good. On the frame geometry i agree it could have a steeper seat sube angle for 1-1.5 degrees more. The rest of the bike I had custom built, so its really good.

I love the fact that I'm not the only one who ditched half helmets and went with full face, it might be heavier but it could save your head better in case of crash and safety always comes first

Ragleys are dope they just price them were they should be.

Love the quote “any ride is better than no ride”. Great video! Thanks for sharing!

Great video, it’s easy to get caught up wanting the latest and greatest stuff out there. I like taking something decent and making it better or make it mine with my parts choices. You’re not being snobby at all, keep making great content!

Great video! I started on an Axum at the start of covid too. Recently upgraded to a Ripmo AF. You are absolutely right about riding full face. They can weigh barely more than a half shell and offer way more protection. One mistake landing on your face is all you need to see why. Ignore the critics. You should ride anyway you feel safe.

I have the big Al, mine is the model up though with the marzocchi z2. It's a amazing piece of kit. I must admit though, before I took it on the first ride I made it tubeless, changed grips. Getting the psi right is a game changer on a hardtail. I think your example is one of the reasons I never want a full sus, think I'll just get too hooked on how plush they are and forget how capable and easy a hardtail can be. My other bike is a gravel bike, the two suit my riding nicely.

Had my ragley for 3 years now, truly a do it all kind of bike. Taken it bike packing, on epic rides, tackles steep and gnarly, flowy trails, pump tracks, bmx tracks. And that's not to mention the ease of maintenance and repair costs. I don't miss the full suspension bikes one bit haha

You might’ve underestimated how much those clipless pedals change the hardtail game. First mod I always do on a HT

lol. This budget bike was the one I wanted and couldn't afford, with the shipping and import fees pushing the cost up. I ended up getting a Sync'r instead during black friday 50% sale, it gets me out on the trail which means it's good enough! It did come with a dropper and decent pedals which I can't imagine riding without now.

I really appreciate the budget builds you do. There are lots of RU-vidrs with $6,000 bikes. When hardtail party reviewed the Big Al he said it handled better with a 50mm stem than the 40mm he was used to. And just get a damn dropper

Was very happy to see the Ragley!! I was in the process of getting a hardtail as well and the decision was between this, the nukeproof scout and the Dartmoor hornet, went with the last one. I was coming from fully, never ridden a hardtail in a long time, but unlike your first impression mine was actually really good! Still have to hit some harder stuff, but for now I am really happy! Oh yeah, I didn't buy a complete bike but instead built it up, what I had to get was only the frame. Oh yeah, personally I find the upgrades u did are the right ones, everyone would pretty much do the same

Looks like a pretty decent budget hardtail. IMHO first upgrade I would do is add a dropper, also great that they have the wheels pre-taped for tubeless out of the box. I didn't even know Sun Race made derailleurs. At that price range I would normally expect MicroShift Advent X or Deore 10 speed

Dude I'm the same with the full face, I had a crash a couple months ago that got me on the thumbnail of Friday fails, and if I wasn't wearing a full face I would 100% have a broken jaw. Love the vids too bro!

I have a suggestion. If you put a tyre insert like Cush core in the rear you can run really low tyre pressures and still do the knarliest downhill sections . Plus it will protect your rim.

So glad you talked about using only the full face helmet. I have been exclusively using a FF for a couple years now, even riding on sidewalks. I threw away my half dome so it’s not an option. The comfort is acceptable and the protection is 10X. And yes I live in Iowa and it gets to 100 degrees at times and I wear it, I get just as hot and sweaty as my friends without a FF, that is 100% hot and sweaty. If I get exhausted in the heat and fall at least I’m wearing real protection.

Great video as always. The BMX style is pretty cool, just get over everything as quick as possible

Evan this vid is terrific. Your insights are continually more on point and well developed. Nice work. I’ll stay a bike snob tho😂

Still loving my Trek Marlin 5. My first MTB and ill use it till I cant no more. Does everything I need it to. Took it on a super rough 20 mile trail and it held very well. Decent bike and a good rider makes all the difference.

Just got back from a trip to Bentonville I had a great time riding some of those trails on my own bike, a Giant Fathom 1 29 (2021) It's a hardtail with a 130mm air fork and 2.6 inch tubeless tires I knew I didn't have the ability to ride Cease and Desist because I haven't ridden anything like it before (I live in west Michigan where we have sandy XC trails) but I sized up the Drop the Hammer drop and, while I didn't hit it, thought it looked completely manageable on my bike. My main reason for not hitting it was my riding gear, just a half shell and a XC race jersey, nothing that would protect me if I messed up. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, you have a lot more confidence in hardtails when it's all you've ridden. I didn't look at anything on my trip and think "I'd hit that if I had a full suspension" but rather "I'd hit that if I had practice on features like this" On a separate note, while I didn't have the experience or confidence for a lot of the jump trails, I found the climbs to be rather enjoyable, specifically Copperhead Road, I'm a lot stronger than most people in places like Bentonville so I found myself passing ebikers on climbs even on my 5th or 6th lap of something like thunder dome. The takeaway from this being, your confidence in your equipment and own abilities, as well as your training, is always more important than how much travel you have.

I am definitely glad to see you break yourself out of the "the more expensive the bike the better it will perform" mindset. I was beginning to think you had forgotten that it should always be about the ride, not the bike! I still enjoy riding the crap out of my five '92-'04 Cannondale's. Yeah I know the haters will say the Cannondale is hardly a budget brand, but the only one I ever purchased at full price way my 1992 M700 that I bought brand new in 1992 and STILL ride it! I did recently build up a NIB 2020 Cannondale Habit frame though because as much as I love riding a 2001 Jekyll with a Lefty fork on the trails and the crazy looks I get while doing it. I am getting very reluctant to really send the bike because a 22 yr old Lefty is almost IMPOSSIBLE to find repair/replacement parts for the fork. So to avoid the wear and tear, I built up a more modern 2020 Habit frame. Gotta say, the improvements in geometry do make the ride feel different and more easy to repair if I should happen to break anything. I would love to see more about your impressions of the SRAM DB8 brakes though. I use SRAM 12 speed drivetrains on nearly all my bikes and have been considering adding the DB8's since I like the idea of an all SRAM bike. I use Magura MT5's on all my bikes so I wonder how they'd feel and perform against them. I still think SRAM has been in error by sticking to DOT fluid brake and the maintenance hassles that come with them.

Great video! It’s pretty wild that small changes can make or break how a bike feels. The narrower bars and lower pressures with the tubeless setup is what made this bike feel that much better 🤠

That helmet is badass, I would not go back either. PLEASE do not let haters hold you back!! You ride whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want….just keep making quality content like you always do. Just remember to not lose focus on what makes YOU happy. Looking forward to the next video drop

First time seeing your videos! Cool to see a youtuber riding our local trails. I was a hardtail rider for a long time and Copperhead Road is a rough tech climb on them. Much easier on the full sus for sure. Looping fireline was much nicer on the hardtail though, the jumps are more fun to me and the climb back to the hub was much easier without the extra weight and less pedal power getting robbed by suspension.

I've just got a big al first ride very soon looking forward to it! Interesting video! Fair play for hitting that big drop on it!

Got the exact same frame and I love it. If you go back to back between the meta and the ragley I'm sure you'll notice the suppleness. Also I've never ridden a better cornering hardtail so I got a bit worried when you had cornering issues :) Great value bike, that frame should cost way more for how well it handles.

My opinion: it is 100% not a snob thing to upgrade a couple parts. Especially a dropper post. Best upgrade, period.

That Bike-park looks amazing, I just came home from a relaxed 2 hour Trailride and wish we had something like that where I live in Switzerland🙂

I just pared down from 6 bikes to 4. I have a trail FS, a road bike, a fat bike, and a commuter hardtail. I do miss having a trail hardtail, and maybe in the future I'll get one again. I hear awesome things about the Ragley Mmbop.

Xo1 cranks with rockshox recon? Still nice bike i am very excited for the video!

Great video. As a big Al fan, you had me at the edge of my seat the whole time. I was waiting for this video and it's banger. Worth the wait. But don't let th haters calling you a bike snob. Put a good fork and droper on that bad boy. Edit: and 30 psi!?! No wonder why the bike felt the way it did and screw the hates talking shit about full face helmets.

Impressive seeing those parts on a budget mtb. Usually the ones around 900$ like a trek, u get mt2000, Suntour coil fork, and basic drivetrain with a clutch.

Evan, I love the riding footage of this video! Personally I don't think you need the speedometer and all that data, I'm more then happy just seeing it how it is like this video, and if it is really relevant to the video(Power or speed or time) you could just put that in the corner. But overall I don't think it adds much and i'm sure it takes up your valuable time to add it.

Put dh forks on a hardtail🙏🔥

Bruh since when is 900$ budget?

I have a full suspension and a hardtail. My hardtail is a Ragley Blue Pig ( the MMBop is the aluminum budget version) and I love it. I’ll take both my full suspension Sentinel and my Ragley to the the Bike Park. The Ragleyis so fun on blue trails! The Blue Pig carves corners! The best upgrade anyone can do is a dropper post. Makes riding so much more enjoyable! A budget bike with the right upgrades can be amazing! Keep up the great videos!

I've bought my fancy full sus mtb in late 2021 used, and i love it. Still, sometimes i love to go out with my commuter bike (a 90's rigid mtb) and i just love to be underbiked and ride the usual trails with way more challenge. So i guess going back to hardtail wouldn't be bad at all. The only thing i would NEVER give up is a dropper post. Absolutely the best mtb invention after suspension forks and disk brakes

It’s crazy how tubeless can give you a much different feeling then tubes 14:50

3:45 bye bye water bottle. Oh you got it back! Lol

I ride a Big Al. I was worried at the start that youvwere going to miss out on the awesomeness! Glad you felt it at the end. Absolute screamer of a bike! I would say for watchers that getting the upgrade version is worth it as the fork is considerably better and there's a decent dropper. So well worth the price difference. Great content as always. Thanks!

Nice bike, It will be interesting to see if the rear derailleur holds up. I guess you did not like the longer stock stem, it makes you swing the bar instead of rotate it. No wonder it felt weird. Things I wish Ragley implemented: more larger sizes, for it to fit me I would need to slam stem and use high riser bar, and the stock stem or longer adjustable sliding dropouts to adjust chain stay. would be nice with barrel nuts at post mount for easy repair if threads get destroyed. Upgrade I would do: dropper post, oval chain ring, oval bash guide. but those are must have features for me. but I would test the stock parts see how they do.

Love to the see the hardtail reviews! Need to see more of those hardtail reviews!! Midrange 1k-2k hardtails

I bought a Ragley Big Al Frame in 2021 after Steve @hardtailparty reviewed it and talked about how good it was for the price. I had been riding FS for many years and got in the HT game for local trail because my Reign SX was too much bike. The Big Al is a fun bike. I love it. But I haven't taken it on any features that big so this was a great video. It's one of my favorite for sure. I didn't really mind your nicer bikes but having fun on less expensive bikes is more interesting. Those Boutique parts look good most dont improve riding. Glad to see this type of vid though I would upgrade the fork :)

Nice, more info on the upgrades could be helpful for those not familiar with the choices made. What full suspension bike or bicycles you recommend for the budget handicapped?

I love my ragley Marley that I built up. Found some great deals on some used parts to keep it a budget build. Dropper post, fork and wheels all helped me save money to get a 11sp GX group set.

I also have a trail hardtail and an enduro bike. Between the two, you have just about every discipline covered pretty well.

Hardtail essentials if you are going to ride hard. Dropper post and clip pedals. Clips because you will bounce around more. My Ragley Big Al has a mullet wheel setup plus Tannus tyre armour for tubes, running 2.6" Maxxis Minions @ 18psi rear and 12psi rear. So important with a hardtail to get the tyre casing wall tensions appropriate.

Evan, I’ve been looking towards new cranks for my hardtail. My cranks is 170mm but I want to look towards cranks like 165mm or even 160mm. Do you have any suggestion of which cranks are the best?

In my eyes, it is absolutely fine having multiple bikes!!! I have a "bike problem" too - Niner Rigid SS, an old Klein Road Bike, Cannondale "Townie" bike, Surly Bikepacking rig, REEB Hardtail, and my new one, a REEB SST full suspension...AND I want at least three more! I've built them all up from the frame up. So, they've been a lot cheaper than buying complete bikes. Some have even been eBay buys N+1

I owned a Big Al for 5 months 240 miles of riding. It was a spectacular bike until it wasn’t. The seat tube cracked at the dropper cable entry point. This is not an isolated issue on just my frame. Buying new has its perks - warranties are great.

Great video! Glad your back to budget stuff. I’m an educator and can’t afford a lot of stuff for my bike. I enjoy watching the budget mtb channels 😊

i have a ragley big al 2.0 2021 with Shimano M4100 brakes and deore shifter and rear deraileur and it`s perfect! the only thing that I added was a dropper from ascend and it works wonders can`t wait to see how you are going to build it!❤

Got my first MTB in 2020 during COVID. $500 hard tail from my local bike shop. 9mm qr wheels, 100mm suspension (spring) good times! Since then I’ve upgraded every single part on the bike (:

I think the work you do to dial a bike in to your riding style and fit is a great thing any rider can take with them on any bike. . .budget to big-shot.

the camera angle and transition is getting more awesome.

Nice feature, enjoyed that one! I drooled on the Ragley's quite some time, but when finally pulling the trigger very end of '21 almost no bikes around. Solution: entry Canyon Stoic. Came from old worn out 26" FS, but needed something basic to start it all again. And I think that is the idea behind these HT bikes; either something for the starter who's progressing OR for the ones that realizes maybe something purely general purpose but not over performing. The Big Al seemed to have just a bit more components than the Stoic, but these are getting slightly upgraded always, aren't they? In my mind, upgrades should also reflect the more durable than high price/high performance parts. I'd love to see a Bomber Z1 on this one.

I got a set for SRAM DB8 brakes used off of eBay and I love them, mine are super grabby and essentially 1 fingerable, I understand that people detest some companies for reasons… but for someone on a budget I think these brakes a rad, and because of the SRAM brake hate, you will be able to get them used on the cheap haha. Great video Evan, Thanks!

The comment wasn't wrong though lol. He'd say in one video how the cheaper bike was built just right and you don't need expensive parts to have fun. Then literally the next video he would replace all the cheap parts with top end components. A bit contradictory but it's whatever, he's gotta make content.

I bought the exact same frame, built up with a fox36, beefy tires and xt drivetrain besides my forbidden dreadnought, a giant reign e+ ebike and a gravel.. First ride with the hardtail was so much fun .

Suppleness from a hardtail is basically splitting hairs. However, it can be perceived, and is real. I had an aluminum Rockhopper many years ago, before disc brakes, and it was super stiff. My feet would get numb from the vibration. I had a different aluminum bike, and I didn't notice a harshness at all. Compared to full suspension, no comparison! I rediscovered hardtail riding, after a full suspension for years, and really love it again. Glad you are enjoying it too. Get the dropper post!

This is Vsauce with a MTB channel “MTBsauce - EVAN HERE!”

This is comical cuz a lot of the people that say you should go back to budget bikes said the opposite back in the day when your channel was new. I’m not a hater (infact your my favourite RU-vidr), but it’s true that the videos went from dissing Chads to reviews of expensive stuff. At the end it doesn’t matter if it’s a video about budget parts, expensive parts, or just riding, I love all kinds of videos you make!

I think you should do a type of high low series that you buy an expensive frame and a cheap frame, on the cheap frame, you put expensive parts on it, and with the expensive, you cheap parts on it

I wouldnt call this Ragley a "budget" bike but I guess it depends if you live in eastern Europe or not:P Regarding full face helmet - if you're an adult, have a family, have a job that requires you to get up in the morning each day - I'd say wear as much protection as you possibly can. It's not worth loosing teeth or breaking jaw/ribs/collar bones. People often forget mountain biking is still an extreme sport. It's very easy to say you dont need FF or other protective gear for flow trails and its true.. until you crash :P

I went from full suspension back to hard tail (rocky mountain growler 50 with upgrades). Couldn't be happier. :)

Had my brand new Big Al for a week or so, 1st time out on it tomorrow, I can't wait, been riding a 14 yo 26er GT Avalanche for many a moon. Hoping to feel some differences.

Man, i got the Marley frame a few weeks ago. Is now completed with all the extra parts I had laying around and some also very budget. Haven't riden it yet, but I have it as a 29er.

I think the five parts I’d change immediately on any bike I get would be tires, grips, bar, stem, and pedals. Outside of that I’d happily run whatever came stock on the bike until it breaks.

Next video should for sure be your gripes and upgrade plans/installs with a pre ride and post change comparision

Watching this after having built up an aggressive hardtail (Nukeproof Scout 290) to go with my Meta SX Enduro. Way to go!

3:47 dude you dropped your bottle 😂

Great video I really enjoyed riding that bike when you allowed me to. I was quite surprised on how it rode for being such a small bike as I am 6’2”. Also I hadn’t been on single track in 14 years!!

i used to do smaller dirt jumps with an open face and then i crashed, broke my nose and a lot of bones on the right side of my face, always wear a full face when hitting jumps

You dropped something at the beginning of your ride...SOLID RIDE!!!

I got a ragley big al a year ago but built it frame up and even tho having 6 different bikes that’s the bike I would take anywhere and ride every where it’s fully upgraded with axs and trp brakes you just have to pick your lines with a hardtail

Great video, You know that social media has gone crazy when you have to apologize for protecting your head. Damn!

Man ride what you like! I would like to see you pull out your d7 on occasion, but then again if you are having fun it really does not matter. I appreciate your channel regardless.

Buying a used higher end mountain bike that may have some deferred maitenance can be a much better value depending on CListings locally. A reputable bike shop oowner who was retiring gave me this advice when I asked how to get the most bike for the least cost. Insted of the new $1000 Marin bike I wanted I found a Specialized alloy full suspendsion with comp grade components, dropper and tubeless same price. That eas three years ago and since then I have built and maintained several other bikes. I ride a low end hardtail with upgraded compoenents but its a perfect fit. Learning bike mechanic basics is really the best investment of time and money I wish I made sooner. Low end bikes can be great but often have heavy frames which most riders will want to ditch iif they are riding regularly and in shape.I am sure it varies regionally but in CA $1000 will get you a lot of MTB at or above Deore grade.

Lucky to be able to get one in the states!!! Theres like only one shop I've seen to carry them and Ragley doesn't do direct to consumers

great video !! All my rides are 90's Hard tails. but I'm hoping for a 90's full suspension in the future as I'm getting old and fragile.

There are some very fun HTs to be had for around a kilobuck. I ride my Polygon Xtrada-6 more than I ride my multi-thousand-dollar FS because it climbs like a goat and is generally faster. Also, it hones my skills; when my back tire is pinging to the side off of rocks, roots and little stumps, and I don't fall, I know I am doing it right. The down side is that drops to flat much over a foot high can get harsh.

Nice! I have a ragley marley with a 140mm pike, I9 hydra wheel set, 4 piston brakes, box 1 drivetrain and SDG dropper....it's a fun bike!

And i don't complain about my 360+€ MTB. Oh well. And the under/oversteer thing could be because you're used to the back compressing when you go into a berm.

Man you got better, i revisited your chanel and i am amassed by the progresion you made. Keep it going👌🏻💪🏼 love the vids

For Bentonville I can't fathom needing an enduro bike there. A trail bike with good geo, something like a Transition Smuggler or Trek Fuel EX is about perfect for there.

Nothing wrong with wanting better bikes and components. Most people who Mountain Bike get better and progress, like you. And sometimes your bike holds you back, which is why you upgrade and get better components. Yes sometimes MTB do get carried away and become bike snobs. But it's hard to go back to budget when you already know what at good bike can do. It's different when people buy components outside their capabilities. Or buy parts that way out of their budget. But then again who cares coz it's your money. It's like a Coil fork and then going to Air fork. You're not gonna go back to Coil. Good video as always.

I just got me self a SCOTT Scale 965 2022 , im looking forward to drive it , currently waiting for its arrival.

I really like hardtails because you can dress them up and kit them with the top tier stuff on the market, or just run F'ing Deore and still have a great experience. The best thing is that the more premium hardtails really only improve on the geometry for a target type of riding. The lower/budget ones tend to cast the widest net and make it as versatile as possible. My favorite hardtail of all time is my '16 Santa Cruz Chameleon with the rocker dropouts to run singlespeed or geared. Its fast and smooth with great build quality. I believe I paid $750 for the frame and was coming off a Honzo ST. The sage and purple colorway aesthetic is just amazing IMO. Its not built up with anything spectacular for a trailbike....GX drivetrain, RS Revelation RCT3 and XT brakes. It does need new wheels as it was fed the OEMs from my Ibis which were somewhat poorly built w/ spoke tension....which brings me the biggest problem w/ most budget HTs...the wheels. In the end though, its a simple reliable bike that's fun to ride..and that's really what its about.

dont let the full face hating people bother you....makes you stonger and keeps you warmer in the winter...makes your neck stronger too...which will also help in a crash...and having a strong neck makes you look diesel ... i ride full face too...went back to a half shell recently for every now and then riding but i use the full face most of the time...white onza porcupines would look good on that bike..i got a orange crush...similar-- want a mmbop frame next