Issue #041, Review - January 10, 2020

Ibis Mojo HD5 on test – radical geometry meets 27.5″ wheels.

The Ibis Mojo is a bike with a long history and a loyal fanbase. After the success of the Ripmo, which fills the gap between the Ripley and the Mojo, it was only a matter of time before Ibis would update their classic. That’s just what they’ve done with the Mojo HD 5.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2020

**Ibis** Mojo HD5 | 170/153 mm | 13.84 kg | € 8,498

We have to admit, we were quite surprised to see Ibis continuing with smaller 27.5″ wheels on the new Mojo. However, the geometry is on-trend as the Californian brand has made the bike significantly longer and slacker. The reach has grown by 20 mm compared to its predecessor and the head angle has been slackened by 0.7°. The seat tube angle is a whole 2° steeper, which promises a relaxed pedalling position on the climbs. The new Mojo HD5 offers 153 mm travel at the rear and is paired with a 170 mm fork. As with all of Ibis’ full-suspension bikes, the rear end features a virtual pivot point DW linkage , which is controlled by a FOX X2 Factory shock on our test bike. The shock features an extra light compression and rebound damping tune to offer maximum traction, but more on that later. Ibis leave the build for their customers to choose. This allows you to configure the bike to suit your preferences and budget. Our Ibis Mojo HD5 came specced with a Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain, a FOX Factory GRIP2 fork, a 185 mm BikeYoke REVIVE dropper post and wide Ibis S35 carbon wheels. The 2.5″ MAXXIS ASSEGAI WT EXO+ tires inflate very wide on these wheels, promising to offer a lot of traction and comfort. On closer inspection of the Mojo HD5, you’ll see the attention to detail Ibis are renowned for. The frame protectors and other hardware make a strong impression. The only thing that annoyed us was the rattling brake pads in the Shimano XT four-piston brakes, which we encountered on several of the bikes in the test field.

**Premium product**
The Mojo HD5 lives up to its premium claim and impressed us with its outstanding build quality and lots of attention to detail.

**Outdated**
The only component we weren’t convinced of was the Thomson X4 stem. Although it is an absolute classic, its bulky shape looks a little outdated.

**Unique**
The small 27.5″ wheels don’t suit the concept of the Mojo HD5: their rollover characteristics limit the potential of the bike’s suspension and geometry.

**Super plush**
The rear suspension of the Mojo HD5 is super plush and feels like it offers much more than the specified 153 mm travel. Unfortunately, the light shock tune absorbs a lot of the rider’s input.

Ibis Mojo HD5

€ 8,498

Specifications

Fork FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 170 mm
Rear Shock FOX FLOAT X2 Factory 153 mm
Seatpost Bike Yoke Revive Dropper 185 mm
Brakes Shimano XT 4-Kolben 200/180 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XT 12-fach 32 - 10/51
Stem Thomson Elite X4 50 mm
Handlebar Ibis Carbon 800 mm
Wheelset Ibis S35 Carbon 27,5

Technical Data

Size S, M, L, XL
Weight 13.84 kg

Specific Features

**Loads of room**
The 185 mm BikeYoke REVIVE together with the short seat tube means that you have all the freedom of movement you need. This instils you with confidence on the steep descents where the Mojo feels most at home.

**Tons of grip**
The 2.5″ MAXXIS ASSEGAI tires inflate very wide on the 35 mm rims, offering tons of grip and traction.

**Annoying**
The brake pads in the XT four-piston brakes rattled loudly on the Ibis as well as the SCOTT Ransom. Too bad, because otherwise, the bike is nice and quiet.

Geometry and size of the Ibis

Compared to its predecessor, the geometry of the new Ibis Mojo HD5 has been brought up to date in every respect. The reach is longer, the head angle is slacker and the seat tube angle is steeper. We loved the very short saddle and the low slung top tube, both of which allow for maximum freedom of movement on the bike. We were struck by the long head tube and the resultingly high stack, which makes you feel at one with the bike.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	356 mm	368 mm	419 mm	470 mm
Top tube	582 mm	606 mm	635 mm	669 mm
Head tube	109 mm	126 mm	142 mm	158 mm
Head angle	64.2°	64.2°	64.2°	64.2°
Seat angle	76.0°	76.0°	76.0°	76.0°
Chainstays	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm	430 mm
BB Height	351 mm	351 mm	351 mm	351 mm
BB Drop	7 mm	7 mm	7 mm	7 mm
Wheelbase	1,184 mm	1,211 mm	1,243 mm	1,280 mm
Reach	427 mm	447 mm	472 mm	503 mm
Stack	595 mm	611 mm	626 mm	640 mm

**Helmet** Fox Dropframe | **Glasses** Fox Vue | **Jersey** Fox Ranger Fox Head | **Shorts** Fox Ranger | **Knee pads** Fox Launch Pro

The Ibis Mojo HD5 on the trail

As on the Ripmo, the pedalling position on the Mojo HD5 is central, upright and super comfortable. The suspension responds sensitively and offers loads of traction on technical terrain, thanks also in part to the voluminous tires. Monotonous climbs will have you reaching for the climb switch to suppress the slight pedal bob. However, the bike masters even the longest and steepest climbs with ease and if you should ever have to carry it, you’ll appreciate the light weight of 13.84 kg.

The rear end of the Mojo HD5 sticks to the ground and offers an unimaginable amount of traction.

On the descents, we immediately noticed how much traction the suspension of the Mojo HD5 is able to generate. With their so-called “Traction Tune”, Ibis have tuned the rear shock with minimal rebound and compression damping to allow the rear to respond extra sensitively and keep the wheel stuck to the ground. The 153 mm of available travel feels like a lot more and it harmonises perfectly with the 170 mm fork up front. However, there is a downside: the bike absorbs too much of the rider’s input, which makes it less fun to ride on flow-trails. It is evident that the Ibis Mojo was designed primarily with steep, demanding descents in mind. The slack head angle and short chainstays demand a very active riding style to keep the front end sufficiently weighted to generate enough traction. Unless you’re careful, you’ll quickly lose control of the front end, but thanks to the tall stack height, you feel confident on the bike and it invites you to push your limits.

For a bike trimmed towards traction and control, the small 27.5″ wheels don’t make much sense.

How does the Ibis Mojo HD5 fare against the competition?

The Nukeproof Mega 275 Carbon is the only other 27.5″ bike on test. In direct comparison, the rear end of the Ibis is noticeably more sensitive despite having less travel, but it also feels less defined. The Ibis requires a much more active riding style to generate enough grip on both wheels, while the Nukeproof is more forgiving and balanced. When things get rough and demanding, the Mega, with its longer chainstays is more composed, allowing you to conserve energy while going faster.

Tuning tip: none – if this is the kind of bike you’re looking for, it’s perfect

Riding Characteristics

Uphill

sluggish
efficient

Agility

cumbersome
playful

Stability

nervous
confident

Handling

demanding
balanced

Suspension

harsh
plush

Fun Factor

planted
poppy

Value for money

terrible
very good

Intended Use

XC

Trail

Enduro

Downhill

Conclusion

The Ibis Mojo HD5 is a great choice for those who prefer pedalling themselves to the top of the trail-head and tend to ride down particularly steep, tight and technical trails. However, it can’t keep up with the competition on faster trails with its smaller wheels while the suspension is too vague and the geometry too radical to have fun on flow-trails.

Tops

very plush suspension offering lots of traction
agile in tight terrain
high-quality finish

Flops

you have to actively weight the front wheel
the suspension absorbs too much of the rider's input
27.5

You can find out more about the Ibis Mojo HD5 at ibiscycles.com

The test field