Ibis Cycles has launched an updated version of its long-travel 29er, the Ripmo. The Ripmo V2 features longer, slacker geometry and updated suspension kinematics that make it compatible with coil shocks. We were lucky enough to get a frameset in for an early test. Read on to see how the new Ripmo stacks up to the original.
Ibis Ripmo 2 Highlights
- Longer reach, slacker head angle, longer wheelbase than the original
- Slight (2mm) increase in rear suspension travel
- More progressive suspension leverage ratio
- Compatible with some coil shocks
- Threaded bottom bracket
- Frame weight: 6.3 pounds w/Fox DPX2 shock
- Frame pricing starts at $2,999
- Complete bikes start at $4,099
- Available now
- Visit www.ibiscycles.com for more information
The new Ripmo is available in Star Destroyer Grey and Zap Blue.
How is the new Ripmo different from the original?
Improving on the original Ripmo is a tall order.
No model from the Ibis line-up, save the original Mojo, has garnered as much praise from riders and as many awards from media outlets as the Ripmo. So why mess with a good thing? In this time of ever-changing geometry trends, Ibis sought to keep the Ripmo on track with its competitors and give riders the option to run coil as well as air shocks.
Ibis didnt spend too much time at the drawing board to update the Ripmo, since Ripmo AFs (aluminum frame) updated angles were a hit with riders.
Related: Ripmo AF Review
The Ripmo AF (aluminum frame) served as the testbed for developing the geometry of the new Ripmo.
Compared to the original Ripmo, version 2.0 has a head tube angle that is one degree slacker at 64.9 degrees with a 160mm suspension fork. Reach numbers across the four-bike size range are also longer. Reach on the small Ripmo grows by 2mm, 14mm on the medium, 4mm on the large, and 7mm on the extra-large frame.
Ripmo v2 geometry is slightly longer and slacker than the original.
The new bikes suspension kinematics were updated to make it more progressive toward the end of the suspension stroke. This additional ramp up makes the Ripmo compatible with some coil shocks, such as those offered by DVO and Cane Creek. (Fox and PUSH still dont recommend running their coil offerings with clevis-driven suspension designs.) Like the Ripmo AF, the adjustments made to the rear suspension serve up an additional 2mm of travel, bumping rear travel up to 147mm.
IGUS bushings, backed up by a lifetime warranty, are still used in the lower link.
Some things stayed the same. The Ripmo V2 has clearance for 292.6 tires and uses a 73mm threaded bottom bracket. The frame comes with a seven-year frame warranty and a lifetime warranty on the IGUS bushings used in the lower linkage.
Ripmo version 2.0 first ride review: the remix
First off, lets start with a bit of backstory. I enjoyed testing the original Ripmo so much that I ended up buying one. The balanced handling and impressive pedaling performance won me over. It was the perfect companion to tackle the rocky, often janky, trails I frequently ride in Colorado and Utah.
Then came the Ripmo AF, which is better suited to the direction the long-travel 29er category is heading. The bikes longer reach, slacker head angle, and extended wheelbase makes the aluminum Ripmo a more confident descender than the first-generation carbon frame, albeit by a matter of degreesone degree, if were being literal.
Given the snowy winter weve had in Colorado, my time aboard the new Ripmo has been very limited. (Note the use of stock images, rather than my own snowy and uninspiring slushy riding photos.) Even so, there are no major surprises here. Its a carbon counterpart to the AF and thats a great thing. Like the AF, the increased front center length requires more body English when navigating tight switchbacks since theres more bike to swing through turns. This is the trade-off for a bike thats more adept at steep and speedy descents. Im still dialing in the rear suspension, but it feels like theres more rear travel. Its not because there is actually 2mm more suspension to work with, but rather, because theres more ramp toward the end of the stroke, which keeps the Fox X2 shock from feeling like Ive reached the limit.
Some aspects of the Ripmo have stayed the same. The latest bike still pedals incredibly well and is much more of a do-everything rig than its competitors. For most riders, this will make the Ripmo a better option than some of the longer, slacker 29er enduro bikes on the market.
So there you have it, the 2020 Ripmo is evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. If the Ripmo were an early hominid, its opposable thumb would have a slight increase in dexterityall the better to grasp the dropper post lever with. Speaking of dropper seatposts, there is one small but meaningful difference between the frames. I only stumbled across this frame change because I swapped parts from my old bike to the new test frame.
Full internal dropper seatpost routing makes the new Ripmo compatible with longer dropper seatposts.
Dropper seatpost routing on the original Ripmo exited the seat tube above the bottom bracket before reentering the downtube. On the new Ripmo, the dropper is routed entirely through the frame. Heres why this matters: I felt that the dropper port was higher than it needed to be on the original frame. In some cases (including mine) the seat tube port limited maximum dropper seatpost insertion. The new, fully-internal dropper routing sits lower in the frame, allowing riders to run longer droppers. I can now run a 210mm One-Up dropper seatpost on my size medium Ripmo. This is amazing, since I stand just a hair over 58 with a 30 inseam and a 70.5cm saddle height. Nice job, Ibis.
Is it worth upgrading my current Ripmo to the Ripmo v2?
Are the changes to the Ripmo worth upgrading? It depends.
Outside of the desire to own the latest and greatest, there are only a handful of situations in which I can see current Ripmo benefitting from this upgrade. If you like your current Ripmo but want the option to run a coil shock, the new Ripmo with its more progressive leverage ratio makes sense.
In terms of the handling differences between the two versions, the geometry changes are small enough that I dont envision the previous generation holding riders backdont blame your current Ripmo for your shortcomings. But, if youre a gravity-focused enduro racer, the longer reach and slacker front end do improve the new Ripmos prowess on high-speed descents.
If, in contrast, you enjoy the challenge of slow-speed tech and picking your way through trail features, rather than blasting over them, the original Ripmo is slightly better suited to chess-match-style rockgarden riding.
Its hard to find a good reason to trade your AF for the new Ripmo.
If you already own a Ripmo AF, the reasons for upgrading to the new carbon Ripmo are even harder to conjure up. Theres a $1,200 difference in price between these two models. Do you really like how your aluminum Ripmo handles, but you also want to spend your hard-earned money just because you can? Well, youre in luck; new Ripmo is here to facilitate this transaction.
Early verdict
Overall, version 2.0 of Ibis long-travel 29er takes small but meaningful evolutionary steps that keep it on track to meet the needs of aggressive trail riders and enduro racers. As with the original Ripmo, its neither the longest nor the slackest in the category, but rather, a balanced mountain bike that performs exceedingly well across a wide range of speeds and terrains, and its this versatility that continues to make the Ripmo a category leader.
What do you think? Share your thoughts on the new Ripmo in our Ibis Cycles forum.
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