Any Pinnacle Ramin 3+ owners?

[Max Effort]

Hello!
Just wondering if there are any more Pinnacle Ramin 3 plus owners on here.
What do you think of yours?
Made any modifications?
Any quirks or problems?
Thanks for looking

[Bearbonesnorm]

No longer an owner but I thought mine was fantastic. No drastic changes but things like tyres, gearing were altered and the bars were an ever-changing thing. Should be some write ups on the News / Reviews section.

[Max Effort]

No longer an owner but I thought mine was fantastic. No drastic changes but things like tyres, gearing were altered and the bars were an ever-changing thing. Should be some write ups on the News / Reviews section.

You & your reviews are the reason I have one!
This is my 2nd 3+.
I messaged you about buying this particular bike a little while ago.(Peter W).
I'd be interested in which tyres & bars you changed to, if you have time.
Cheers

[frogatthefarriers]

Me.

I’ve had mine since 2017 and it’s my go-to bike for bikepacking. Bought pre-owned (second hand) from somebody in Cornwall. He’d bought it on a cycle-to-work scheme and must have spent quite a few bob on it, then decided to sell. He’d put a few bits of bling on, - and 11 speed NX gears, fancy red pedals, an oval 34T chain ring, replaced the standard shimmed-out seat post and fitted Ragley gold (can’t remember which version) handlebar.

It was like new - no signs that it had been used at all. I bought it for £650. At the time Evans were selling the standard one for I think, £950.

After a few rides I found the stem too long and didn’t like the bars so changed ‘em out. It’s got Jones look-a likes from PX on now. The 34T chain ring was too steep for my poor ole legs so now I have 30T. A year ago, I found cracks in the rear rim. ‘S got a new one now but I couldn’t get a like-for-like replacement. Oh, and last year as well, the brakes started screaming horribly and nothing I did would stop it. In desperation, I changed the whole lot for 4 pot ones. Now they only squeal after getting wet but a few pumps of the lever to dry them, they’re OK.

Is it a good bike? I dunno, I don’t ride enough different ones to make a comparison, but it’s done me for 97 BaMs plus at least 20 extra bivvies, so I guess for me, it’s good enough. I have no plans to change it.

[redefined_cycles]

I had one as a second owner. It was lovely. Only sold it to ensure I could build the SC Highball. Hoprocker who I bought it off originally is the one that bought the frame back.

Buy it and ride it. It's lovely. I can't say I miss it but it equally never missed a beat. Just be aware that mech hangers might be hard to come by now.

[Max Effort]

Me.

I’ve had mine since 2017 and it’s my go-to bike for bikepacking. Bought pre-owned (second hand) from somebody in Cornwall. He’d bought it on a cycle-to-work scheme and must have spent quite a few bob on it, then decided to sell. He’d put a few bits of bling on, - and 11 speed NX gears, fancy red pedals, an oval 34T chain ring, replaced the standard shimmed-out seat post and fitted Ragley gold (can’t remember which version) handlebar.

It was like new - no signs that it had been used at all. I bought it for £650. At the time Evans were selling the standard one for I think, £950.

After a few rides I found the stem too long and didn’t like the bars so changed ‘em out. It’s got Jones look-a likes from PX on now. The 34T chain ring was too steep for my poor ole legs so now I have 30T. A year ago, I found cracks in the rear rim. ‘S got a new one now but I couldn’t get a like-for-like replacement. Oh, and last year as well, the brakes started screaming horribly and nothing I did would stop it. In desperation, I changed the whole lot for 4 pot ones. Now they only squeal after getting wet but a few pumps of the lever to dry them, they’re OK.

Is it a good bike? I dunno, I don’t ride enough different ones to make a comparison, but it’s done me for 97 BaMs plus at least 20 extra bivvies, so I guess for me, it’s good enough. I have no plans to change it.

Thats quite a testimonial!
I love the way you can can chop and change components and how it doesn't need the latest expensive gear.
But best of all, it fits me so well! No stupidly steep seat angles that tip all your weight onto your hands.
Really saves my knackered old shoulders.

[Specialist Hoprocker]

Yup, i sold mine when i needed to buy an ebike to keep me riding during some health issues. Thankfully Shaf sold it back to me when I'd mostly recovered!

I've tried it in various guises. Even ran it drop bar for a while. I think my fave set up was singlespeed rigid semi-fat mullet. It just seemed to keep rolling.

Sadly i don't have the wide rim mullet wheels anymore so it's rolling on 29x2.4 for the SSUK Champs in September.

Also love it with a decent rise on the bars. And wiiiiide bars!

[Max Effort]

Me.

I’ve had mine since 2017 and it’s my go-to bike for bikepacking. Bought pre-owned (second hand) from somebody in Cornwall. He’d bought it on a cycle-to-work scheme and must have spent quite a few bob on it, then decided to sell. He’d put a few bits of bling on, - and 11 speed NX gears, fancy red pedals, an oval 34T chain ring, replaced the standard shimmed-out seat post and fitted Ragley gold (can’t remember which version) handlebar.

It was like new - no signs that it had been used at all. I bought it for £650. At the time Evans were selling the standard one for I think, £950.

After a few rides I found the stem too long and didn’t like the bars so changed ‘em out. It’s got Jones look-a likes from PX on now. The 34T chain ring was too steep for my poor ole legs so now I have 30T. A year ago, I found cracks in the rear rim. ‘S got a new one now but I couldn’t get a like-for-like replacement. Oh, and last year as well, the brakes started screaming horribly and nothing I did would stop it. In desperation, I changed the whole lot for 4 pot ones. Now they only squeal after getting wet but a few pumps of the lever to dry them, they’re OK.

Is it a good bike? I dunno, I don’t ride enough different ones to make a comparison, but it’s done me for 97 BaMs plus at least 20 extra bivvies, so I guess for me, it’s good enough. I have no plans to change it.

Thats quite a testimonial!
I love the way you can can chop and change components and how it doesn't need the latest expensive gear.
But best of all, it fits me so well! No stupidly steep seat angles that tip all your weight onto your hands.
Really saves my knackered old shoulders.

[faustus]

and the designer of that bike frequents this forum btw...I always think they look very sorted, and wish I had got an XL one when the framesets were going fairly cheaply...

[Max Effort]

and the designer of that bike frequents this forum btw...I always think they look very sorted, and wish I had got an XL one when the framesets were going fairly cheaply...

Really?
He did a really great job on the design.
I always wondered why they didn't make more of them.
There was an XL frame on ebay recently. I think it went for about £130. Worth keeping an eye on there.

[jameso]

Here's mine ^
4 of us went to Nepal in 2017 on the way back from a Taiwan factory trip, me, a friend who's a great photographer and 2 guys from WTB. I've still got it, it's covered in signatures and drawings by kids in the villages as I took a sharpie with me to get some custom artwork along the way. Been meaning to do something fun with it more recently but struggling for time.

Thanks Max. I was the product manager at Pinnacle until it all came under Sports Direct, I moved on ~2019. Good times for a while, we made good bikes with good partners in Taiwan and the management at Evans was fully behind making credible bikes that we rode and tested before release. The Ramin wasn't an easy sell for Pinnacle because MTBs are more of a brand thing than the gravel and city bikes we did well with, but the Ramin 3+ wasn't really an MTB in many ways. It's nice that the bike is still rated many years after being discontinued. Backs up how I think bikes like this are fairly timeless - a good ATB just works.

[Max Effort]

Here's mine ^
4 of us went to Nepal in 2017 on the way back from a Taiwan factory trip, me, a friend who's a great photographer and 2 guys from WTB. I've still got it, it's covered in signatures and drawings by kids in the villages as I took a sharpie with me to get some custom artwork along the way. Been meaning to do something fun with it more recently but struggling for time.

Thanks Max. I was the product manager at Pinnacle until it all came under Sports Direct, I moved on ~2019. Good times for a while, we made good bikes with good partners in Taiwan and the management at Evans was fully behind making credible bikes that we rode and tested before release. The Ramin wasn't an easy sell for Pinnacle because MTBs are more of a brand thing than the gravel and city bikes we did well with, but the Ramin 3+ wasn't really an MTB in many ways. It's nice that the bike is still rated many years after being discontinued. Backs up how I think bikes like this are fairly timeless - a good ATB just works.

Wow! I wasn't expecting to get a reply from the designer!!
You did a grand job! Possibly my all time favourite!
It's a true classic workhorse that seems to fit me better than any other bike I've had.
I'm on the look out for anything Ramin 3+ related now.
Loving that blue colour by the way. Very nice!

[jameso]

Thanks Max, too kind. Glad you like it
Shout if there's anything specific you need and I'll check the spares box or old tech files.

[jameso]

@frogatthefarriers, I think we chatted briefly on a lane in the first few hour or 2 of this years WRT? You'd just visited the old house we'd passed.

97 BaMs

That's quite something! Plans to make the 100th is a special one?

[frogatthefarriers]

@frogatthefarriers, I think we chatted briefly on a lane in the first few hour or 2 of this years WRT? You'd just visited the old house we'd passed.

97 BaMs

That's quite something! Plans to make the 100th is a special one?

That was you? If only I’d known…

As to BaMs, I’d already done 29 (on a Trek Farley 6) by then, starting in January 2015. 100th BaM was on WRT last year. To celebrate, I cooked rib-eye steaks with proper deep-fried chips and mushrooms with spotted Dick (college pudding) and custard to follow and a bottle of red. Total to date is 115 - I haven’t missed one since I started. BaM 120 - ten years unbroken - will be in December this year.

Where’s the smug emoji when you need one?

[Dave Barter]

Thanks Max, too kind. Glad you like it
Shout if there's anything specific you need and I'll check the spares box or old tech files.

It’s a great bike so perfect for riding UK slightly squishy trails. I loved mine on the Ridgeway and Dartmoor. Sold it for buttons to someone who still needed more discount and wish I’d kept it

[The Cumbrian]

I bought my Ramin off someone on here and I love it. It's set up fully rigid and I've hardly touched my hardtail since I got it.

[gecko76]

Total to date is 115 - I haven’t missed one since I started. BaM 120 - ten years unbroken - will be in December this year.

Every right to feel smug. I think Reg isn't far behind you. Anyone done more?