We’re going to say it right now, when it comes to enduro and aggressive trail riding, 29ers are the future. With this in mind, we are stoked to see Ibis drop their hard-hitting 29er, a bastard lovechild of the HD4 and Ripley, it’s time to check out the new Ibis Ripmo.
We have been waiting for this bike for some time from Ibis, and now it’s here. Eagle-eyed readers will have already seen the Ripmo this weekend as it carried Ibis team riders Robin Walner and Bex Barona to 3rd and 4th respectively at the opening round of the EWS in Chile! not bad Ibis, not bad. The new 29er Ripmo features 160/145 mm of suspension, a ‘hold-it-wide open’ geometry and enough punch to go toe-to-toe with the fastest bikes on the world stage.
The heart of the Ripmo is, of course, the well proven DW-Link which we have always found offers potent climbing and engaging fun on the way down. The geometry is bang up to date too, while the HD4 is no slouch, the Ripmo adds 25 mm to the reach and steepens up the seat tube to 76° for more efficient pedalling. With ‘offset gate’ about to rock the industry, Ibis have chosen to use a shorter 44 mm fork offset, lengthening the trail to help stabilize the steering for high-speed shenanigans.
Geometry of the Ibis Ripmo
The new Ripmo marks a small departure for Ibis who, have in all fairness kept their geometry on the more conservative side. With a 471 mm reach (in size Large) the Ripley is right in the mix with the latest hard chargers, while the 435 mm chainstays and 65.9° degree head angle look more ‘trail than enduro’, the 44 mm fork offset should make the head angle feel a lot slacker. The short seat tubes ensure riders can choose their bike size on reach, not seat height.
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 355 mm | 368 mm | 419 mm | 470 mm |
| Top tube | 573 mm | 602 mm | 632 mm | 655 mm |
| Head tube | 90 mm | 100 mm | 110 mm | 120 mm |
| Head angle | 65.9° | 65.9° | 65.9° | 65.9° |
| Seat angle | 77° | 76° | 76° | 76° |
| Chainstay | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1177 mm | 1197 mm | 1228 mm | 1256 mm |
| Reach | 431 mm | 447 mm | 471 mm | 495 mm |
| Stack | 613 mm | 623 mm | 632 mm | 641 mm |
The full-carbon frame is low-slung with ample standover, giving access to 170 mm droppers for taller riders, and has clearance for up to 2.6” tires, essential for those wanting to ride the new generation of awesome 2.5 – 2.6 tires. Of course, there’s still space for a water bottle. The frame will be available in four sizes, from S to XL, and with complete builds from 12.7 kg. Home mechanics will love the in-moulded frame cable tubes, making internal routing a cinch and a moulded downtube protector stops you crying when rocks hit the downtube. A 1x specific drivetrain and ‘hell yes’ threaded BB keep things simple and effective. The frame has a seven-year warranty and can be brought ‘frame only’ for € 3,398
Our impressions of the new Ibis Ripmo
The latest generation of fun-focused, race-ready long travel 29ers are kicking ass, and the Ibis Ripmo looks ready to throw down the gauntlet too – just look at the EWS results from the weekend. On paper, the Ripmo looks like a firecracker of fun, and while certainly not cheap, we cannot wait to throw one down something naughty.
For more information, check out the Ibis Website
The Ripmo will be available in 5 models
Ibis Ripmo NX – € 5,098
The most affordable Ibis Ripmo is the NX model, with a Fox Float 36 Performance fork (not the Factory as pictured) and a Float DPX2 shock. The full SRAM NX drivetrain with 11-42 cassette and 30T chainring should be able to handle most steep climbs, while the SRAM Level brakes with 180 mm rotors will be working hard to provide the stopping power. Running on well-proven 29 mm internal Ibis 938 aluminium rims with awesome Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5” / Aggressor 2.5” tires, with a 780 mm Ibis Lo-Fi bar the Ripmo NX should be ready to shred right out of the box.
Ibis Ripmo GX – € 5,698
For another €600, the Ibis Ripmo GX sees an upgrade to a 12 speed SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, with the mammoth 10-50T cassette and a 32T chainring. Surprisingly Ibis have mixed collar and cuffs and chosen to use Shimano Deore brakes with 180 mm XT rotors, not a bad brake, but perhaps SRAM Codes or Guides would have fitted better into the harmony.
Ibis Ripmo XT – € 6,798
The Ripmo XT takes a giant leap, including the sublime Fox Float Factory RC2 fork (not the Performance model as pictured) which is one of the best performing on the market, and matching Fox Transfer 150 mm post. A full Shimano XT drivetrain with 11-46 cassette and Shimano XT brakes should shift and stop with the precise accuracy we have come to expect from Shimano’s performance focussed groupset. The cockpit of the Ripmo XT is also a nicer place, with a carbon Ibis Hi-Fi bar and Thomson Elite X4 stem. For riders looking for maximum suspension performance, this is a great buy.
Ibis Ripmo XO1 – € 7,398
Just like the Ripmo XT, the Ripmo X01 again uses Shimano brakes with the popular and crisp XT models running on 180 mm rotors. The Ripmo X01 comes with a full 12 speed SRAM Eagle drivetrain, with a 10-50T cassette and 30T chainring.
Ibis Ripmo XX1 – € 9,798
The top-of-the-line Ibis Ripmo XX1 will not leave much change in the pocket from a heady €10,000 but does come running on the beautiful Ibis 942 carbon rims with a 35 mm internal width. Powerful Shimano Saint brakes should provide enough power to change the shape of your face under deceleration and the ‘angry wasp’ Industry Nine hubs will ensure that everyone hears you coming. ENVE bars, a KS Lev Ci seatpost and a full SRAM Eagle XX1 drivetrain finish the build that is sure to impress everyone but your bank manager.
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Words: Photos: Ibis
