Raft XC Sram X01 mix 1x12sp

The Ridley Raft XC is Ridley’s modern interpretation of the full-suspension cross-country race bike, but it is notably built with more range than a narrowly focused World Cup machine. Introduced for 2023, it uses a lightweight carbon frame and a shared platform approach with the longer-travel Raft TR/Trail, with rear travel altered through shock stroke rather than a separate frame. In practice, that makes the Raft XC distinctive as a modular XC/marathon chassis: nominally a 100mm bike, but one designed from the outset to support slightly broader use cases and more aggressive terrain than older short-travel XC bikes.

Its design choices reflect that dual race-and-distance brief. The flex-stay rear end avoids an additional rear pivot for lower weight and reduced complexity, while practical details such as multiple bottle, tool, and bag mounts, UDH compatibility, Boost rear spacing, internal routing, and provision for a remote lockout show that Ridley was targeting both competitive XC riders and marathon riders who care about serviceability and day-to-day usability. The result is a bike that sits in the increasingly crowded "downcountry-leaning XC" part of the market: more progressive and versatile than a traditional pure XC bike, but still clearly centered on efficiency, low weight, and race-oriented responsiveness.