After I first heard that Ibis was releasing a brand new Ripley, I’ll admit, I had blended emotions. The Ripley v4 was one in all my favourite bikes of all time – how would Ibis enhance on close to perfection?
The reply, in fact, is by updating the geometry (with an extra measurement!), making it extra versatile, and including inside body storage. On paper, this looks as if the usual system for updating any mountain bike today. However in typical Ibis trend, they’ve gone above and past with the main points in order that the brand new Ripley (and Ripmo) stand out amongst the gang.
STOW Inside Storage
There’s loads that’s modified on the brand new bike, however the obvious must be the addition of inside body storage. Even at this time, this characteristic is a hotly debated matter. Some love the comfort of using the area that’s already within the downtube for storing your instruments, spare tubes, jackets, snacks, and so on. Others argue that reducing an enormous gap within the body or extra appropriately, molding round it, leads to a compromise in construct energy or body weight, solely to finish up with storage that’s exhausting to entry, rattle-y, and doubtlessly mildew and mildew-prone.
Ibis didn’t take this determination calmly and spent over a 12 months creating the inner storage system which was seen as a very separate mission inside the model. Within the course of, Ibis examined all the things they may get their palms on, which included visiting native bike retailers to check out different methods. This included surveying riders about what they really rode with, and even had a Google kind to submit photos of riders’ device kits.
In line with the model, their Pork Chop baggage have been a profitable different to inside body storage, however they elicited a love-it or hate-it response. The baggage additionally meant that riders on greater frames would have extra cupboard space than these on smaller frames. Hoping to provide everybody equal body storage, the Ibis STOW (Snacks, Instruments, or No matter) system was born.
Beginning on the door, Ibis felt that the STOW system needed to be straightforward to function – even with gloves. Because of this, the door opens with a single lever that’s straightforward to function and has a optimistic detent making it clear when it’s latched. Calling it waterproof, the door has a number of seals to maintain water out and lower down on noise. Word that it’s not water-proof, however in case you fully submerge your bike, water will are available in from different locations anyway.
The body opening is pretty massive, which permits quick access for greater gadgets or the included storage baggage. Ibis needed to accomplice with a model on the baggage with comparable values as an organization (together with truthful labor and environmental practices), so that they teamed up with Cotopaxi to create the Ibis STOW Roll and STOW Pouch. These are designed by Ibis, however manufactured by Cotopaxi utilizing cloth remnants for the inside which means virtually each bag is exclusive.
Extra importantly, the baggage have a number of particulars that make for a greater storage system. In testing, Ibis discovered that you may both have baggage that match loads, or baggage that have been rattle-free. They opted for the rattle-free method, although there’s nonetheless quantity of storage within the two baggage. The black exterior of the bag is a thicker rubberized materials to guard the bag and its contents, whereas the inside cloth is a brighter shade that can assist you see the contents of the bag. Each baggage have pull loops on both finish that can assist you take away them from the downtube, and the baggage might be organized in an effort to entry the STOW Pouch zipper with out eradicating it from the body.
At present within the STOW Roll, I’ve the brand new WTC EnCase 40cc pump with tubeless plugger, their EnCase chain device, and an 8-bit Pack Plier. Contained in the Roll you’ll discover elastic straps to carry numerous instruments in place, in addition to a zippered pouch, all within the identify of maintaining issues quiet. A velcro closure then lets you wrap issues tightly, once more to assist stop motion and noise.
Within the STOW Pouch, I’m carrying a WTB NanoAir TPU 29er tube, which leaves me with sufficient room so as to add my automobile keys when I’ve to drive to the trailhead. With the ability to entry the contents of the Pouch with out eradicating it from the bag makes utilizing it to your keys a lot much less of a trouble.
On a latest trip, I wanted to tighten a lock-on grip, so I timed myself on how lengthy it will take to get all the things out, fastened, and again driving. Even with out taking off my gloves and dropping a device bit on the bottom, I had all the things put again in beneath two minutes. As promised, the system may be very straightforward to make use of – and fully silent.
On prime of that STOW System you’ll discover a typical water bottle cage mount with sufficient room to suit a full measurement 26oz Purist bottle on all sizes besides the small, which can match a 22oz bottle.
Measurement Particular All the pieces
A whole lot of manufacturers have touted the advantages of size-specific design, however Ibis takes it to the following degree. Not solely do the frames have size-specific tubing sizes, seat tube angles and chainstay lengths, however even the underside bracket heights are totally different, with greater sizes having larger BBs to forestall crank strikes by bigger riders who sometimes run longer cranks (and have longer wheelbases which decreases breakover angle). Totally different backside bracket heights additionally imply modifications to the middle of gravity used for calculating suspension kinematics, so every measurement additionally has its personal size-specific kinematics as properly.
On the subject of body sizing, Ibis has added a brand new measurement known as “Further-Medium.” Sitting squarely between Medium and Giant, the brand new XM measurement ought to be a well-liked measurement for riders who discover themselves in the midst of the sizing bell curve.
When it comes to geometry, the Ripley v5 is an effective deal slacker up entrance than v4, with a 64.9º head tube angle (identical because the outgoing Ripmo v2). In truth, a whole lot of the geometry is similar to the Ripmo v2 with the medium now operating a 76.9º seat tube angle, and the attain has bumped up 10mm within the medium measurement to 460mm. Despite the fact that the attain is longer, I discovered that the medium with a 35mm stem felt too quick. After bumping as much as a 50mm stem, I’m pleased with the match.
MX Wheel Flip Chip
For the Ripley, all sizes will ship with 29″ wheels. Nevertheless, if you wish to run an MX or mixed-wheel setup in your Ripley, it has a flip chip to take action. This chip solely modifications the rear wheel peak – it doesn’t have an effect on geometry or suspension.
Change Your Ripley right into a Ripmo & Vice Versa
Need much more versatility? Swap out the inventory elements for a 160mm fork, metric 230 x 60 shock, and the appropriate shock clevis & shock eyelet {hardware}, and your Ripley is now a Ripmo. The identical is feasible with the Ripmo to show it right into a Ripley. For the reason that two bikes share the identical entrance and rear triangles and the vast majority of the suspension {hardware}, it’s easy-ish to provide your Ripley some longer legs when touring to a vacation spot that requires it.
Nevertheless, word that the Ripley now has barely longer journey to start with, now that includes 130mm of dw-link rear journey. That’s paired with a 140mm journey suspension fork which places the bike additional into the ‘Path’ class. The Ripley nonetheless ships with a Fox 34 fork chassis to maintain issues mild, and a Fox Float DPS EVOL rear shock. Due to the brand new mini clevis with bearings on the higher hyperlink, the body is now coil shock suitable as properly. Igus bushing are nonetheless used for the decrease hyperlink.
Extra Body Particulars
Tire clearance is capped at 2.5″ in each 29 and 27.5″ wheel sizes (inventory bikes include 29 x 2.4″ WT), which is completed with Enhance 148mm spacing and a typical 73mm threaded backside bracket (with an ISCG05 adapter obtainable). The frames are constructed round a 55mm chainline and have a UDH rear hanger to make them Transmission-compatible.
An enormous change for the brand new frames is the transfer to a 34.9mm seat put up which ought to permit for extra sturdy droppers. There’s additionally a whole lot of room for these droppers, with inventory bikes delivery with 125, 160, 185, and 213mm posts for S, M, XM, and L+XL respectively.
Moreover, the body beneficial properties burly molded rubber swing arm protectors, a downtube/BB guard, and an higher shuttle guard. There’s additionally a small little flap to maintain crud out of the decrease suspension hyperlink. A nod to the elevated potential of the brand new bike, there’s a 220mm most rotor measurement, with a 180mm rear put up mount brake customary.
Precise Weight
Body weights are claimed to be round 7.3lbs for the Ripley, with full builds coming in round 29lbs. Our medium pattern with an XT construct equipment and the Ibis i9 Carbon wheels got here in proper at 29.48lbs with sealant within the tires, a carbon bottle cage, and no pedals. That’s positively a bit heavier than the outgoing Ripley v4, however mild sufficient for a extra succesful bike.
Colours, Builds & Pricing
Supplied in both Inexperienced Flash or Blue Hour, the Ripley might be supplied in full builds beginning at $4,999 or as a body solely. Three Shimano builds might be supplied, together with two SRAM Eagle Transmission builds. The Ibis x i9 Carbon wheelset as examined provides one other $1,400.
First Impressions
I wasn’t certain about altering the Ripley at first, however after a day dialing it in, it’s clear that Ibis has finished their homework. I really feel that it’s necessary although to level out that that is positively a unique bike. Ripley v5 is a new-school path bike with a slacker head tube angle, steeper seat tube angle, and longer attain that’s extra playful and succesful out on the path. Now that Ibis affords the Exie for the XC crowd (and those who desire a steeper head tube angle), it appears apparent that Ibis would bulk up the Ripley.
I all the time beloved how the Ripley v4 dealt with old-school XC trails, however after driving the v5 on those self same trails, I discovered myself having extra enjoyable with a couple of changes. The slacker entrance finish and longer attain means placing extra weight over the entrance finish to rail corners, and moderately than choosing your means by roots and rocks, the v5 urges you to simply soar over them. But the v5 is such an environment friendly pedaler that the ‘agency’ setting on the Fox Float shock is pointless for something apart from pavement. Up to now, I’ve spent most of my time driving the bike within the Open-2 setting which continues to be very environment friendly and managed on root-filled trails.
I feel at one level I used to be evaluating the v4 to a different bike and said that the Ripley v4 wouldn’t be my first option to take to areas with extra aggressive terrain because it simply felt a contact quick on journey and geo – the v5 completely modifications that. Particularly when you think about you could flip it right into a Ripmo with the appropriate elements.
That’s earlier than we even get to the STOW system. Nonetheless a holdout on inside body storage? As soon as you utilize the storage system on the brand new Ripley, there’s no going again. Ibis appears to have addressed all the problems related to inside storage: the door is tremendous straightforward to open and shut, the STOW baggage preserve all the things protected and rattle-free, and sufficient sealing retains the internals dry. With the ability to preserve all of the necessities you want in your downtube so the bike is able to go at a second’s discover will change the way you prep for rides, and what you are feeling you have to carry in your again or in your pockets.
I’ve just some weeks on the Ripley v5, and whereas it’s a giant departure from the earlier mannequin, it’s filled with options that make it a simple candidate for Bike of the Yr. Time will inform.
