Ibis Ripmo AF – Aluminium Shred Machine
WTF? In a move that nobody was expecting, Ibis, masters of the dark arts of carbon manufacturing just dropped an all-aluminium Ibis Ripmo AF. With a killer geo and killer price, we expect you should get your orders in fast if you want to secure one.
The Ibis Ripmo is a bastard child of a long-legged Ibis Ripley and hard-hitting HD4, and rather than being a half-way house, its a master of both. The carbon fibre Ripmo is an outstanding bike, fact! Its blend of versatility and blistering performance secured it the win in our Trail Bike Grouptest where we declared it the best Trail Bike of 2019. However, where we were most impressed was its ability to roll up its sleeves, and make light work of even the toughest enduro terrain. The only problem with the current Ibis Ripmo is that you need deep pockets to buy one. From today, you can now buy an aluminium AF version that’s not only slacker, but also more affordable.
New Ibis Ripmo AF at a glance
- 29” Wheels
- 160mm front travel
- 147mm dw-link rear travel
- 2.6” tire clearance
- Aluminum front and rear triangle
- Available in four sizes S-XL
- Frame weight of 8.25lbs for a medium with a DVO topaz shock
- Available with DVO JADE X coil shock
- Progressive suspension leverage ratio for compatibility with select coil shocks
- Slack 64.9 head angle
- 44mm Fork Offset
- Steep 76 degree seat tube angle
- Threaded BB (73mm BSA)
The new Ibis Ripmo AF
With a 100 % carbon fibre lineup, seeing Ibis produce a 100 % aluminium framed bike is unanticipated. But, on paper at least, what an impressive debut it is. The Ibis Ripmo AF brings the same sizing and geometry as the carbon fibre version, with the same class-leading DW link suspension design. However, with a one-degree slacker head angle, 64.9° compared to 65.9°, it’s targetted even more at the ‘shredder’ market. This slacker head angle gives the AF model a touch more length in the wheelbase but we are delighted to see Ibis has kept the carbon Ripmo’s impressive 76° seat tube angle for efficient climbing. This increase in rowdiness is reflected in the build kits too, all no-nonsense with rugged durability in mind.
Geometry of the Ibis Ripmo AF
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 355 mm | 381 mm | 419 mm | 469 mm |
| Top tube | 573 mm | 603 mm | 632 mm | 655 mm |
| Head tube | 90 mm | 100 mm | 110 mm | 120 mm |
| Head angle | 64.9° | 64.9° | 64.9° | 64.9° |
| Seat angle | 77° | 76° | 76° | 76° |
| Chainstay | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm |
| BB Drop | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1185 mm | 1216 mm | 1237 mm | 1262 mm |
| Reach | 431 mm | 458 mm | 475 mm | 495 mm |
| Stack | 613 mm | 620 mm | 629 mm | 642 mm |
Pricing of the new Ibis Ripmo AF
The new Ibis Ripmo AF will be available as a frame only for €1,999 or €2,039 with a DVO Topaz or JadeX respectively. There will also be 3 complete builds from €3,299 to €4,599. Frames come with a seven-year warranty, while the bushings come with a lifetime warranty.
Ibis Ripmo AF kit NX: €3,299
The NX build kit Ibis Ripmo AF comes with a DVO Diamond 160 mm fork and DVO Topaz Air shock. The drivetrain is a SRAM NX Eagle with 11-50 T cassette, and the brakes are SRAM Guide T’s with 200 / 180 mm rotors. The bike runs on Ibis S35 aluminium rims with Maxxis Assegai EXO+WT 2.5 tires front and back. The dropper post is a KS Rage-i.
Ibis Ripmo AF kit SLX: €4,279
The SLX build kit Ibis Ripmo AF comes with a DVO Diamond 160 mm fork and DVO Topaz Air shock. The drivetrain is a Shimano SLX M7100 12-speed drivetrain with 10-51 T cassette, and the brakes are Shimano SLX M7120 4 pots with 180 / 180 mm rotors. The bike runs on Ibis S35 aluminium rims with Maxxis Assegai EXO+WT 2.5 tires front and back. The dropper post is a Bike Yoke Revive.
Ibis Ripmo AF kit GX: €4,599
The GX build kit Ibis Ripmo AF comes with a DVO Diamond 160 mm fork and DVO Topaz Air shock. The drivetrain is a SRAM GX Eagle with 10-50 T cassette, and the brakes are Shimano Deore MT520’s with 180 / 180 mm rotors. The bike runs on Ibis S35 aluminium rims with Maxxis Assegai EXO+WT 2.5 tires front and back. The dropper post is a Bike Yoke Revive.
Our thoughts on the new Ibis Ripmo AF
The Ibis Ripmo AF has the same group test winning DW suspension layout as its carbon sibling, wrapped up in a rowdier, slacker and more affordable package. This is one bike we cannot wait to get our hands on for a full test.
For more information, check out the Ibis website.
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Words: Photos: Ibis/Ian Collins
