29er, Ibis Cycles, Ibis Mojo, ibis ripley, ibis ripley 4.0, ibis ripmo, News - April 30, 2019

Ibis Ripley Version 4.0 Unveiled

The sun has risen on the new Ibis Ripley Version 4.0, available now.

When the Ibis Ripley debuted back in 2011, it was used by some as a cross country racer and others as a trail bike. Well, the new v4.0 Ibis Ripley continues that trend, but it’s been given the modern longer, slacker, steeper treatment, with a new chassis that Ibis says is lighter, stiffer, and more progressive. But like the original, it retains 120mm of rear travel, paired with a 130mm front fork and 29” wheels. [Click on any image to enlarge.]

The “from the ground up” redesign, says Ibis, is the culmination of everything they’ve learned from 38 years of mountain bike development. This new Ibis Ripley has a one degree slacker headtube angle (now 66.5 degrees), a three degree steeper seat tube angle (now 76), and a reach that’s been extended by ~45mm across all sizes (475mm on a size large).

Less weight = more fun.

Ibis says it also shaved half a pound off the frame, shortened the chainstays by 12mm, increased stiffness, and made the suspension more progressive while maintaining pedaling characteristics. Despite all these changes, says Ibis, the Ibis Ripley remains the same snappy, flickable, playful, fast, lightweight, and versatile trail bike it’s always been.

Lighter weight, slacker head tube, steeper seat tube. What’s not to love?

What’s Changed

All new from-the-ground-up redesign
Ripmo inspired chassis shares similar stiffness and lower link design
Now .65 lbs lighter than the Ripley V3
Headtube is one degree slacker, now 66.5
Seat tube is three degrees steeper, now 76
Chainstays shortened by 12mm, now 432mm
Reach increased by an average of ~45mm across all four sizes
More progressive suspension kinematics
Removable ICSG 05 mount
Internal cable tunnels
1x specific design

In the process of developing the new Ripley, Ibis shed the double eccentric design. While that design worked well, it took up substantial room in the seat tube. And after giving many riders (M-XL) their first taste of 170mm + droppers on the Ripmo, Ibis knew they couldn’t go back to a shorter dropper.

Fans of long dropper posts rejoice.

Because the new Ibis Ripley can accommodate a long dropper and has low standover, you can size your frame based on reach. Ibis still use the standard “small, medium, large…” naming structure because it’s easy to understand, but the size of your seat tube is no longer a limiting factor.

Moving from the double eccentric to a Ripmo style chassis also came with weight savings. One big factor is their combination of bearings and bushings. Bearings don’t last long in areas with high loads and minimal rotation, like their lower link or clevis. Instead they’ve used hermetically sealed IGUS bushings in these locations, which extends maintenance intervals, and increases stiffness. The Ibis Ripley even gets a lifetime warranty on suspension bushings.

Cable routing is stealth as ever.

What You Need to Know

29” wheels
130mm front travel
120mm dw-link rear travel
2.6” tire clearance
Carbon front and rear triangle
Available in four sizes S-XL, fits riders between 5’ and 6’6
Frame weight of 5.6lbs
Available with Fox DPS shock
Complete builds starting at 25 lbs 14 oz

Key Details

Threaded BB (73mm BSA)
ISCG 05 compatible with removable adapter
44mm fork offset
Bottle cage mount inside front triangle
Size M-XL compatible with 170mm+ droppers, 125-150mm for smalls
Polycarbonate downtube protector and molded rubber swing arm protectors
IGUS bushings in lower link, bearings in upper link
Metric 190 x 45
Post mount rear brake
203mm max rotor size
Boost spacing
Complete builds start at $4099
Frame only w/ inline shock start at $2999
Seven year frame warranty
Lifetime replacement on bushings
Availability: Now

1x only, thank you.

FAQ

Can I run a shorter or longer fork on the Ibis Ripley 4.0?
Our stock build comes with a 130mm fork but you could pair it with a 120mm Step-Cast fork to create a BC Bike Race weapon. Or throw on a 140mm fork and burly tires to build a lightweight enduro bike.

Can I run a 51mm offset fork?
Yes, but the bike is optimized around a 44mm. The 51mm offset fork shortens the trail (the distance between the contact patch and the steering axis), which can cause the front end to feel less stable.

No more eccentrics here.

Why no eccentrics?
The dual eccentrics offered an efficient pedaling platform and supple suspension feel, but they took up valuable real estate in the seat tube. To make the Ripley compatible with the new crop of long dropper posts, we’ve transitioned to an all new Ripmo inspired chassis. In the process, we’ve significantly reduced the frame weight and increased stiffness.

Francis Cebedo’s First Ride Impressions

When I first got the invitation to test ride the new Ibis Ripley, I was lukewarm about it. It will be a longer and slacker Ripley I thought with some cool new colors. I respected the old Ripley but I wasn’t a huge fan as it was a little late to the 29er party and I felt it didn’t really one-up the dominant players of the scene. But then from the first moment we met, it surprised me at every opportunity. “Baby Ripmo” is the first thought that comes to mind as this new bike looks like a slender and athletic sibling of the Ripmo.

Baby Ripmo is a term we will hear often when folks see the Ripley V4 for the first time.

It’s worth mentioning that I love the Ibis Ripmo. I feel that it offers something in the marketplace, as it is the best in blending all the conflicting needs of a long travel 29er. It has near perfect geometry with the head angle, seat angle and reach being spot-on for the era. And the needs for a long dropper post, water bottle space, reservoir shock, top tube clearance, dropper post length, rear tire room are all optimized by the Ibis Ripmo better than any bike around. Weight and rear stay length are minimized too in this package. And on the test ride, it is incredibly fun and capable, rarely calling attention to itself but always complementing the rider on descents, corners and even climbs.

So for Ibis to steer the Ripley to that genome is a stroke of genius. Here is a bike that can get close to 26 lbs with a frame that .65 lbs lighter than the previous version. Headtube is now 66.5 and seat tube at 76 degrees, incorporating what folks are looking for in a modern trail bike. Chainstays were shortened by 12mm and reach grew about 45mm across all sizes. It’s fully modern and it all comes together in a sensible, attractive package.

New details illustrate how much has changed in the new Ripley.

On the trail, I got rowdy right away and took it to my favorite jump trail, urged on by that familiar bike position found in most of my 160mm all mountain bikes. Well, it didn’t go exactly as planned as I got bucked all over the place with my timing and my bike handling all over the place. This bike was light and poppy and I wasn’t quite ready for it. A light bike is not as planted and the suspension ramps up quicker in all stages of the travel.

So I went back the next day and worked my way up. I gave myself a chance to get used to the bike, the Schwalbe tires and set suspension a little softer. The Fox DPX rear is lively so I adjusted to ride and land a little smoother. The revelation with this bike is it is lively and it will launch a little higher in the air. Changes in direction are a little easier as well. It’s quite rewarding since the geometry is very aggressive and one sits low on that long, slack cockpit. On trails that are playful but not crazy rough, it is a very fun tool. It is “sendy” as it will launch high in the air and play. Just a little more care needs to be taken when landing. On the smooth, steep trails, it is a delight since the position is perfectly low and slack. One can move around the cockpit and feel confident taking lines and changing directions.

Side by side, one can see how different Version 3 and 4 are from each other.

After a short two days, I realized that I like the new Ripley. Hans Heim said there are 10,000 existing Ibis Ripley owners out there and I believe many of them will find a very good reason to upgrade. And this Ripley Version 4 will gain a new legion of fans.