If there is any bike in this test that looks like a superhero, it’s the Ibis: even the red and blue colour scheme remind us of perhaps the most iconic of heros, but would the Mojo 3 XT 1x prove to have super powers on the trail?
Resplendent in bright red, the distinctive lines of the Ibis Mojo 3 look incredible, like a supercar poster on a 13-year-old’s bedroom wall. Ibis have been making carbon frames for a long time now and that experience shows in the smooth, sculpted lines. The linkage hardware is very well thought out and home mechanics will be delighted with the very clean integrated cable routing ports to ease cable installation. Ibis offer the bike in many customizable builds and we received the XT spec for testing, with an XT drivetrain and Raceface Turbine crank. A Boost standard fork and rear end with good clearance means that the Ibis can be run with Plus tires, and we were excited to see the wide 30 mm (internal) Easton ARC rims allowing fitment of up to 2.8-inch tires (although we tested with 2.35 Schwalbe Nobby Nic’s). The build is finished with Shimano M8000 XT brakes, a 50 mm Thomson stem and 760 mm wide Ibis carbon bars.
We were hoping for a super performance and the Ibis Mojo 3 did not disappoint. On the trails, it’s a rocket ship. The massive frame stiffness and DW linkage strike a perfect balance between accuracy on burly lines and buttery smooth suspension performance. The 140 mm RockShox Pike RCT3 works in perfect balance with the FOX Factory Float DPS EVOL rear shock. On sinuous trails, the Ibis Mojo 3 makes rapid progress and when faced with repeated hard strikes. It holds momentum well, ramping up firmly to provide impressive support. At 12.41 kg, the Mojo 3 punches up climbs with enthusiasm, but we were most impressed with the handling. The combination of 30 mm wide rims and the burly carbon frame result in huge traction through the turns, with agile and nimble handling. The 66.8 degree head angle keeps the bike confident in steep terrain. Intermediate riders will enjoy the confidence-inspiring handling, while more experienced riders will be able to push the bike well into the red zone. Even on full bore DH terrain, the red rocket never felt out of its depth.
Specifications of the Ibis Mojo 3 XT 1x
Fork: RockShox Pike RC SoloAir 140 mm
Rear Shock: FOX Float Factory DPS
Brakes: Shimano XT
Drivetrain: Shimano XT 1×11
Seatpost: KS LEV Integra
Stem: Thomson Elite X4
Handlebar: Ibis Carbon 760 mm
Wheelset: Easton ARC 30 27.5″
Tires: Schwalbe Nobby Nic
Weight: 12.41 kg
Price: € 6,198
The only thing we didn’t like was the Shimano M8000 XT brakes with their vague wandering bite point. The Pace Star Schwalbe Nobby Nic rear tire also soon got out of its depth, but that’s more a testament to the Mojo 3’s super hero aspirations that soon sees you in bigger terrain than should be expected of a 130 mm rear travel bike.
Conclusion
The Mojo 3 is an outrageously good bike and steals the win in our group test. Striking the perfect balance between agile cornering and complete confidence at speed, it scored top marks with all our testers. The potential to run 2.8 tires on the standard Easton ARC30 wheelset make the Ibis Mojo 3 as versatile as it is brilliant.
+ Sublime handling
+ Plus compatible
– Pace Star tire
– XT Brakes unpredictable
Further information you will get on the Ibis website.
[/emaillocker]For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: Battle of the super powers: 9 of the best trail bikes in comparison
All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral CF 9.0 EX | Cube Stereo 140 C:62 SL | Giant Trance Advanced 1 | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 650B | Radon Slide Carbon 140 10.0 | SCOTT Genius 710 Plus | Whyte T130 C | Yeti SB 4.5c X01
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