New Ibis Ripley released, updating its’ snappy, flickable, playful, fast, lightweight and versatile platform for 2019.
Taking lessons from the Ripmo, Ibis Cycles pdated the Ripley with cutting-edge geometry and a stiff, light carbon fiber chassis.
All New Chassis
The new Ripley retains the 130mm of front travel and 120mm of ultra efficient dw-link rear travel as the original, but has been given a fresh dose of the longer, slacker and steeper treatment.
The updated Ripley has been slackened out by one degree, to 66.5º. The seat tube has moved forward by three degrees, to 76º, which has pushed the reach out by ~45mm across all four sizes (S, M, L, & XL). Ibis also lopped 12mm from the chainstays, bringing them to a manual-happy 432mm. To go with its shreddy new style, the Ripley also receives more progressive suspension kinematics.
While offering the stability of a slacker head angle, Ibis has specced the Ripley with a 44mm fork offset, retaining the BMX like feel of their models.
Ibis has partnered with suspension guru Dave Weagle on the dw-link suspension platform, feeling that it provides an unparalleled combination of climbing efficiency and downhill performance that has been proven repeatedly at the highest levels of racing.
The Details
Switching to the lower link from the Ripmo allowed Ibis’ engineers to shave half a pound off of the updated Ripley. The result is a frame weight of just five pounds without shock, but with the same stiffness as the Ripmo. And, like all of Ibis’ frames and wheels, it’s backed by our seven year warranty.
Moving from the double eccentric to a Ripmo style chassis also came with significant weight savings. One big factor is Ibis’ unique combination of bearings and bushings. Bearings don’t last long in areas with high loads and minimal rotation, like their lower link or clevis. They’ve used hermetically sealed IGUS bushings in these locations, which extends maintenance intervals, increases stiffness, and helps ensure they have some of the lightest frames on the market. The Ripmo has been trouble free, so the Ripley will share the lifetime warranty offered on their suspension bushings.
The updated model also includes 185mm dropper post compatibility across most sizes (125mm on the small), internal cable routing and removable ICSG 05 tabs.
2.6” Tire Clearance
Ibis pioneered the wide rim revolution a few years ago and inspired a new crop of wider 2.4”–2.6” tires. When paired together, this combo can be run at ultra low pressures that produce elbow-dragging cornering traction without sacrificing speed.
What’s Changed?
- All new from-the-ground-up redesign
- Ripmo inspired chassis shares similar stiffness and lower link design
- It’s now .65 lbs lighter than the Ripley V3
- Headtube is one degree slacker, now 66.5º
- Seat tube is three degrees steeper, now 76º
- 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
Build Kits
The Ripley will be available as a framset for $2999, and completes will start at $4099 with aluminum wheels and a SRAM NX drivetrain.
The line peaks out with Eagle XX1 and XTR builds with carbon wheels at $9199 and $9399, respectively.
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