Issue #047, Review - June 11, 2021

Ibis Ripmo V2 in review – More than just an enduro bike?

The Ibis Ripmo V2 is no stranger to the ENDURO team. We’ve already tested and reviewed the Californian trail ripper in our search for the best enduro bike of 2021, but how does it compare to less downhill-focussed mountain bikes?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best mountainbike of 2021 – 22 models in review

**Ibis** Ripmo V2 | 160/147 mm (f/r)
13.78 kg (size L) | € 8,285 | Manufacturer-website

The Ibis Ripmo V2 previously faced up against 12 thoroughbred long-travel rippers in our best enduro bike of 2021 group test. On that occasion, it impressed our test team with its outstanding all-round characteristics, blurring the boundaries between bike categories. The Californian cult brand enters this race with the same bike, so how does it fare against a completely different test field and respond to different test criteria under different conditions?

The second-generation Ripmo is distinctly recognisable as an Ibis: the striking Dave Weagle suspension, the super-short seat tube and distinctive top tube are all typical of the Californian brand. Even when stationary, the Ripmo V2 lets you know that it wants to rip the most demanding trails, even though the 160 mm fork is combined with a relatively “conservative” 147 mm travel at the rear. The elegant carbon frame is packed with well-thought-out details. The high-quality paintwork and bolted-on Ibis head badge, with its classy look, are amongst the visual highlights. But Ibis place just as much value on practicality as they do on aesthetics, using several TPU guards to protect the frame from stray rocks and flying debris. That being said, the chainstay protector and cable routing don’t live up to the eye-watering € 8,285 price of the Ripmo V2, not preventing a loud background noise during rough descents – what a shame! There’s enough room in the frame to squeeze a large water bottle under the shock. Unlike the Nukeproof Reactor and Specialized Stumpjumper Evo, the Ripmo V2 doesn’t feature a tool mount or integrated storage compartment.

Repeat offender: the Ibis Ripmo V2 has already had the chance to prove itself in two of our big group tests this year.

Room for choice – The spec of the Ibis Ripmo V2 can be customised

Like the Orbea Rise, the spec options of the Ripmo aren’t set in stone. There’s a total of six standard specs that can be modified with several suspension, wheelset and tire upgrades to suit your needs and preferences. As the name suggests, our XT build comes equipped with a 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain and matching four-piston brakes, paired with a small 180 mm rotor at the rear. On our test bike, the DVO suspension of the standard XT build was upgraded with a FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 fork and Float X2 shock.The shock has Ibis’ Traction Tune, with lighter compression and rebound damping to suit the kinematics of the DW-link suspension platform. The second upgrade on our test bike is the 29” wheelset with Industry Nine Hydra hubs and super-wide Ibis S35 carbon rims. The wheels roll on 2.5“ MAXXIS ASSEGAI tires in the puncture prone EXO+ casing. Including all upgrades, our Ripmo V2 XT test rig hits the scales at 13.78 kg. A high quality 185 mm BikeYoke Revive dropper and Ibis’ in-house 800 mm Hi-Fi carbon handlebars round off the harmonious spec. Unlike the Canyon Spectral, the Ripmo doesn’t rely on Shimano’s I-SPEC clamps and uses four conventional clamps instead – not the tidiest solution out there!

**Super efficient**
The DW-link suspension of the Ripmo V2 is extremely efficient. So efficient in fact, that Ibis could easily dispense with the climb switch on the shock. Even fully open, the suspension doesn’t bob on flat trails yet continues to react extremely sensitively to small obstacles.

**Minimal damping**
Ibis rely on their Traction Tune to adapt the FOX Float X2 shock to the kinematics of the Ripmo V2. The custom tune uses minimal rebound and compression damping and combines lots of pop with great traction.

**That’s how it’s done**
The seat tube of the Ripmo V2 is extremely short but still allows for long travel dropper posts. This creates great freedom of movement and lets you choose between at least two frame sizes.

Ibis Ripmo V2

€ 8,285

Specifications

Fork FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 160 mm
Rear Shock FOX FLOAT X2 147 mm
Seatpost BikeYoke REVIVE 185 mm
Brakes Shimano XT M8120 200/180 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XT 1x12
Stem Thomson Elite X4 50 mm
Handlebar Ibis Carbon Hi-Fi 800 mm
Wheelset Ibis S35/Industry Nine Hydra 29"
Tires MAXXIS ASSEGAI EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra/ASSEGAI EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.5

Technical Data

Size S M L XL
Weight 13.78 kg

**Grip, grip, grip**
The Ripmo V2 rolls on MAXXIS ASSEGAI tires front and rear. While these take the edge off damp roots and slippery steep trail sections, their high rolling resistance will cost you some sweat uphill.

**Not always perfect**
The bolted Ibis head badge is stylish and high-quality. We would love to see the same attention to detail with the cable routing. Unfortunately, the cables aren’t clamped at the ports and make a loud rattling noise despite running through internal channels.

Free choice of sizes? The geometry of the Ibis Ripmo V2

The Ibis Ripmo V2 is available in four sizes: S to XL. Our size L test bike has a 475 mm reach and, despite the long fork, a relatively low front (628 mm stack). However, the real highlight is the super short seat tube (432 mm in L), which allows you to choose between frame sizes. However, you’ll want to be careful with the XL, because the huge increase in seat tube length (to 485 mm) restricts freedom of movement, particularly if you have short legs. As soon as you swing your leg over the saddle, the Ibis Ripmo V2 makes you feel at ease. Like the Nukeproof Reactor, the Ibis’ riding position is pleasantly upright and extremely comfortable. Nevertheless, the steep 76° seat tube angle (without a kink in the seat tube) positions the rider centrally on the bike, making it easy to weight the front wheel on steep climbs.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	368 mm	406 mm	432 mm	483 mm
Top tube	573 mm	603 mm	632 mm	655 mm
Head tube	90 mm	100 mm	110 mm	120 mm
Head angl.	64.9°	64.9°	64.9°	64.9°
Seat angle	77.0°	77.0°	76.0°	76.0°
Chainstays	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm
BB Drop	30 mm	30 mm	30 mm	30 mm
Radstand	1,187 mm	1,219 mm	1,238 mm	1,267 mm
Reach	433 mm	460 mm	475 mm	500 mm
Stack	609 mm	619 mm	628 mm	640 mm

**Helmet** Giro Manifest Spherical | **Glasses** Smith Optics Wildcat | **Hippack** USWE Zulo 2
**Shirt** DHaRCO Gravity Jersey | **Pants** DHaRCO Gravity Pants
**Shoes** Ride Concepts Men’s Transition Clipless

The Ibis Ripmo V2 on the trail

Uphill, the suspension pedals neutrally even with the shock fully open, allowing the Ibis to steam past the Nukeproof without too much effort. It could potentially keep up with the Canyon Spectral and Propain Hugene, but the high rolling resistance of the ASSEGAI tire at the rear slows you down significantly. While on hard-packed fire roads the Ripmo V2 requires strong legs and stamina, on technical climbs, it rewards you with huge amounts of grip, especially in wet and slippery conditions.

The Ripmo V2 delivers an impressive performance but the rattling cables and loud chain slap are annoying

Tuning-tips: clamp the cables at the ports | add mastic tape to the chainstays

Turn its nose downhill and the Ibis shouts, “Freedom of movement!” at the top of its voice. Together with the 185 mm dropper, the low seat tube and low-slung top tube let you shift your weight around the bike easily. That’s exactly what you have to do on steep and fast trail sections because, like the SCOTT Ransom, the Ibis positions you on top of the bike rather than integrating you between the wheels. Here, the Nukeproof Reactor inspires way more confidence, making you feel more integrated with the bike. If you manage to get your weight over the front, the Ripmo V2 rewards your efforts with its playful character, lots of grip and huge amounts of fun. Compared to the Stumpjumper EVO, the Ibis is more agile, easier to pop onto the rear wheel and keener to take off.

The Ripmo V2 converts tree stumps and rock slabs into valuable airtime and encourages you to play with the trail. Nonetheless, the active suspension and grippy MAXXIS ASSEGAI tires always generate good traction, particularly on root carpets and chunky gravel. Fast and aggressive riders will benefit from the agile character and great traction, which let you ride fast and have fun on both flowing trails and rough enduro stages. Only on really hard impacts does the “conservative” 147 mm travel rear suspension reach its limit. Offering similar amounts of travel, the Canyon Spectral provides slightly more reserves.

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 Ripmo V2 refuses to stick to just one discipline and delivers an impressive performance, both up and downhill. Experienced and fast riders will be able to unlock the full potential of the bike. The Ripmo V2 scores with an elegant look, versatile character, customisable spec options and a clever geometry concept which allows most prospective buyers to choose from at least two sizes. However, given the eye-watering price of € 8,285, some of the frame details could still be improved.

Tops

very efficient climber
hungry for speed
wide range of applications – from long rides to rowdy trail sessions

Flops

frame details like the chainstay protector and cable routing
very loud going downhill

Find more information here: ibiscycles.com

The testfield

Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best mountainbike of 2021 – 22 models in review

This scale indicates how efficiently the bike climbs. It refers to both simple and technical climbs. Along with the suspension, the riding position and the weight of the bike all play a crucial role.↩
How does the bike ride and descend? How spritely is the bike, how agile is it through corners, how much fun is it in tight sections and how quickly can it change direction?↩
Is the bike stable at high speeds? Is it easy to stay in control in demanding terrain? How composed is it on rough trails? Stability is a combination of balanced geometry, good suspension and the right spec.↩
This is all about how balanced the bike is and particularly about how well it corners. Balanced bikes require little physical effort from the rider and are very predictable. If a bike is unbalanced, the rider has to work hard to weight the front wheel to generate enough grip. However, experienced riders can have a lot of fun even with unbalanced bikes.↩
How sensitive is the suspension over small bumps? Can it absorb hard impacts and does it soak up repeated hits? Plush suspension not only provides comfort and makes a bike more capable, but it also generates traction. The rating includes the fork and the rear suspension.↩
This aspect mainly comes down to the suspension. How much pop does it have, does it suck up the rider’s input or is it supportive, and how agile and direct is the bike?↩
We don’t calculate value for money in an excel spreadsheet or based on how high-end a bike is specced. We are more concerned with how a bike performs on the trail and how the bike benefits the rider. What good are the best components if the bike doesn’t perform well on the trail? Expensive bikes with a lower-end spec can offer very good value for money – provided they excel where it matters. Just as supposedly cheap bikes with good components can get a bad rating if they don’t deliver on the trail.↩
No, it’s not about racing, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along flowy singletrack and gravel roads need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret XC more like the Americans do: big back-country rides instead of a marathon or XC World Cup with the ultimate in lightweight construction! Uphill-downhill ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
...also known as mountain biking. Classic singletrack with roots, rocks and ledges – sometimes flowy, sometimes rough. For this, you need a bike with good all-round qualities, whether climbing or descending. Uphill-downhill ratio: 50:50↩
Even more extreme and challenging compared to Trail riding, riddled with every kind of obstacle: jumps, gaps, nasty rock gardens, ruts and roots. For this, you need (race)proven equipment that forgives mistakes and wouldn’t look out of place on a stage of the Enduro World Series. Climbing is just a means to an end. Uphill-downhill ratio: 30:70↩
Strictly speaking, a 200 mm travel downhill bike is the best choice for merciless tracks with big jumps, drops and the roughest terrain. Those would be the black or double-black-diamond tracks in a bike park. But as some of the EWS pros (including Sam Hill) have proven, it’s the riding skills and not the bike that define what you can ride with it. Climbing? On foot or with a shuttle, please! Uphill-downhill ratio: 10:90↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩

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