Issue #047, Review - June 11, 2021

RAAW Jibb XTR Build in review – Good vibes not fast times

Jibb [dʒɪb] verb: having fun while mountain biking. The clue’s in the name: with the playful Jibb XTR, the German boutique brand wants to stand out from the crowd of increasingly capable bikes developed uncompromisingly for speed. However, not everyone will have fun with it on the trail.

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

**RAAW** Jibb XTR Build | 150 (+10)/135 mm (f/r)
14.8 kg (size L) | € 7,540 | Manufacturer-website

The Jibb is the second creation of Bavarian boutique brand RAAW. The little brother of the brand’s rowdy enduro rig, the Madonna, has lots in common with its sibling. The striking clear coated raw alloy frame shares many technical and visual features with the Madonna and offers 135 mm travel at the rear. Particularly noticeable are the large pivot bearings with hub-cap-style bearing covers, the massive rocker that drives the shock on the Horst-link suspension and the external cable routing. Unlike many bikes with internal cable routing, the Jibb is completely silent on the trail. That being said, the external routing isn’t the tidiest solution, especially around the bottom bracket and on the seat tube. The soft ribbed chainstay protector also helps keep things quiet downhill. While the Jibb was designed primarily for uncompromised trail fun, with its 29″ wheels and 150 mm travel it should also be able to handle rougher descents. A bottle cage and tool mount on the top tube allow trail minimalists to embark on long rides without having to carry a hip pack or backpack.

The spec of the RAAW Jibb XTR Build is almost perfect

Like the Ibis Ripmo V2, the spec of the RAAW Jibb XTR Build isn’t set in stone. On RAAW’s website, you can customise key components such as the dropper post and stem to suit your preferences and riding style. For an extra charge, the stock FOX DPX2 shock can be upgraded to an X2 air shock or DHX2 Factory coil. With the € 250 coil upgrade, our test bike costs € 7,540. The suspension is rounded off by a 150 mm FOX 36 Factory fork with a GRIP2 damper. As the model name suggests, a Shimano XTR 12-speed drivetrain takes care of the shifting, ensuring smooth and precise operation even under load. Shimano XTR four-piston brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear do stopping duties. In this regard, the guys at RAAW are miles ahead of the competition, favouring reliable braking performance and good heat management over lightweight components – even on a bike with less travel. Awesome! Not as great is the wheel/tire combination, which combines a high-quality NEWMEN ADVANCED SL.A30 carbon wheelset and MAXXIS tires with the thin EXO casing. The HighRoller II at the front and Dissector tire at the rear don’t live up to the rowdy potential of the Jibb, offering inadequate puncture protection and thus forcing you to ride with high air pressures to prevent pinch flats and rim damage. We recommend upgrading the tires to a more robust model in the tough DoubleDown casing, ideally for both the front and rear.

Riding position trumps low weight. While its robust components mean the Jibb isn’t the lightest bike in this test, the efficient pedalling position and suspension make it an excellent climber. We love the RAAW approach!

**The sound of silence**
The super-soft ribbed chainstay protector keeps chain slap in check. Although the external cable routing can’t keep up with the stylish internal systems, it helps keep the noise down.

**Backpack? No, thanks!**
A backpack is the last thing you want to carry around while having fun on the trail. The guys at RAAW know this perfectly well and furnish the Jibb with a tool mount on the top tube.

**Hard to reach**
The shock mount relies on big ball bearings instead of small bushings. Sitting right at the bottom of the shock, the high-speed rebound adjuster of the FOX DHX2 shock is hard to reach.

RAAW Jibb XTR Build

€ 7,540

Specifications

Fork FOX 36 Factory 150 (+10) mm
Rear Shock FOX DHX2 Factory 135 mm
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory 175 mm
Brakes Shimano XTR M9120 200/200 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XTR 1x12
Stem Acros MTB stealth 50 mm
Handlebar Acros MTB-Carbon 780 mm
Wheelset NEWMEN Advanced SL A.30 29"
Tires MAXXIS HighRoller EXO 3C MaxxTerra/DISSECTOR EXO Dual 2.5/2.4

Technical Data

Size S M L XL
Weight 14.8 kg

**Life at the limit**
RAAW combine a NEWMEN ADVANCED SL.A30 carbon wheelset with MAXXIS tires with the thin EXO casing. If you treat the Jibb the way it wants to be treated, the carbon rims won’t last long.

**Exemplary**
“Reliability over lightweight.” is RAAW’s motto. The Shimano XTR brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear won’t let you down!

**Grows with the size**
The chainstay length scales with the frame size and grows from 440 mm in size S to 445 mm in sizes M and L, all the way to 450 mm in the biggest XL size. On top of that, you can adjust the chainstay length to suit your riding style and preferences.

The geometry of the RAAW Jibb

With four sizes available, there should be a suitable Jibb for anyone between 1.58 m and 1.99 m tall. According to RAAW, the pedalling position and suspension play a decisive role in the climbing performance of a bike, while weight only plays a subordinate role. With its super steep 77.5° seat angle, our 14.8 kg test bike in size L positions its rider very centrally and almost directly above the bottom bracket. On flat terrain, this position puts too much pressure on your hands, making the Jibb rather uncomfortable for long rides. Instead of cruising around the lake in a leisurely fashion, the Jibb prefers to get to the trailhead as quickly and directly as possible, proving to be a real climbing artist on steep trail sections. While other bikes like the Specialized Stumpjumper EVO position their rider further back over the rear wheel and tend to sink into their travel on steep ramps, the Jibb feels comfortable and efficient uphill. Although it struggles to keep up with the super-fast Propain Hugene on flat and moderate uphills, the Jibb convinces with super-easy handling on steep technical climbs.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	395 mm	420 mm	445 mm	470 mm
Top tube	561 mm	589 mm	619 mm	648 mm
Head tube	100 mm	115 mm	130 mm	145 mm
Head angle	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°
Seat angle	77.5°	77.5°	77.5°	77.5°
Chainstays	440 mm	440 mm	445 mm	450 mm
BB Drop	35 mm	35 mm	35 mm	35 mm
Wheelbase	1,177 mm	1,203 mm	1,240 mm	1,276 mm
Reach	420 mm	445 mm	470 mm	495 mm
Stack	608 mm	622 mm	636 mm	649 mm

**Helmet** Giro Tyrant | **Shirt** Vans Checker Longsleeve | **Pants** Fox Flexair
**Kneepads** AMPLIFI MKX | **Shoes** Five Ten Kestrel Lace | **Socks** Stance

For pros only – The RAAW Jibb on the trail

Who’s taking who for a walk? The terrier emblem suits the RAAW Jibb perfectly. Much like an energetic pup pulling a little schoolboy around the park on a leash, the JIBB requires a skilled owner, erm… rider, to behave on the trail. Despite the long chainstays (445 mm in size L), you’ll have to ride actively and shift your weight forward to keep the front wheel under control. Beginners will be better off with a more docile bike, like the Nukeproof Reactor, which is more intuitive and easier to control. But if you like to hammer through a berm at Mach 10 with your nipples rubbing the stem, the lively Jibb might be your new best friend, allowing you to play with the terrain and pull off the funkiest tricks and wildest manoeuvers. Contrary to what the beefy look, burly spec and geometry suggest, the Jibb is more agile than it is smooth.

Downhill, the RAAW Jibb is demanding but rewards an active riding style with lively handling and great fun. However, if you’re not focused, it will try to buck you off.

Tuning-tips:tires with a more robust casing, especially at the rear (e.g. MAXXIS Doubledown) | before buying, calculate your exact spring rate (can be selected in the configurator)

While 135 mm travel may sound a little conservative, the rear end of the Jibb harmonizes well with the coil shock. Like the Nukeproof, the rear suspension is plush, generates tons of traction and still offers plenty of reserves without bottoming out in response to big hits. On top of that, it provides lots of support, making it easy to pull the Jibb into the air and turning every obstacle into a ramp to take off from. In direct comparison, the Santa Cruz 5010 is just as keen to take off but makes it easier for beginners to attempt their first jumps.

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 RAAW Jibb is more a specialist than it is an all-rounder. Instead of going for long rides, it prefers to get to the top of the mountain in a straight line, preferably on steep trails, only to surf its way back down into the valley with as much style and fun as possible. While the handling can be demanding for beginners, it allows experienced riders to convert the smallest obstacle into air time. The typical RAAW alloy frame was developed for maximum durability and the spec is well thought out, except for the tires.

Tops

skilled riders benefit from the agile handling
technical climbs
totally silent

Flops

very demanding downhill
not very comfortable on long rides

Find more information here: raawmtb.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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