That's a really cool comparison because these three bikes are, in my opinion, the most desirable offerings in the all mountain category right now. Also, these trails look like the absolute dream...
I shot out the new Ripmo against the new Bronson recently. Bronson felt more stable and planted, from memory almost like a mega tower but the Ripmo just made me smile a lot more. So poppy, so flickable. So Ripmo it is for next year. Some taller bars, and maybe some lighter/narrower wheels and it should be even more of a toy. The fork was really noisy, but I guess worst case it's a damper swap to a X2. But I think it's more likely that fox just put all the grease into that fork that they forgot to put into the others clogging it up. Awesome review. Cheers. :)
I will always have a soft-spot in my heart for the Hightower. If you are going on an all day adventure where finishing fast isn't an issue, on varied terrain where you don't know the trail, it just has so much capacity in case something unexpected pops-up/. You have the confidence to power through anything. Plus, with the plushness you'll be a lot less beat-up at the end of the ride.
Just took delivery of my Ripmo V3 XT build in Medium. I'm 5'8.5" and right in between M and XM. It was very confusing and stressful to order. The guys at the shop were really hard pressed to help figure out which size I should order as well. I should also mention that it was an online purchase and couldn't sit on the bike before ordering. When the bike arrived, I felt it was a little bit small. However, I swapped the stem and bars (Raceface Turbine 35 50mm stem, Raceface SixC 35mm bar) and the bike now fits perfect. The stock bars have a weird sweep to them that I didn't care for and the size medium Ripmo has a 40mm stem. I have long arms and come from a BMX background. This bike feels like a big BMX. Very happy with it.
I'm definitely not a fan of the new "XM" size. If they'd just renamed the L and XL as XL and XXL, respectively, and made the new size L, it'd be both easier to understand and more accurate compared to their competition (e.g. Ripmo XL has 10mm more reach than the XXL Sentinel).
Thank you for this! Great review and comparison. Does your 1-5 rating scale connect to your recent Hightower -2 to +2 rating scale? -2 would be 1, +2 would be 5?
Great format, appreciate the level of detail and debate on each category. One unsolicited feedback, as hopefully this format continues and evolves: stay tight on definitions, so categories like versatility aren't impacted by suspension/ride-versatility, etc. Also... surprisingly different take on the Sentinel vs. the Pinkbike crew. Maybe it's the trails, but you guys didn't seem to find the shock sat too deep, and no mention of noisy rattling...
@@ultimatist thanks! I’ve ridden three different sentinels v3s at this point and haven’t had a single one rattle. I wonder if those guys a weird one. Plus we all know the pink bike guys don’t know what they’re talking about…..😂
@@bikersedge right, I'm sending them Allen keys for Christmas. It's possible there's too much QC variance, or just the bike had some miles and bolts got loose. Either one isn't good, and is solvable by Transition with attention and loctite. The shock tune topic is interesting, cause all three of you look like big boys, and it was the skinny crew that was complaining about lack of support. Maybe Fox also to blame?
PB isn’t the same anymore after Levy left and the surge of newcomers to the platform during Covid. Their reviews were barely even reviews in comparison to what we see here. Half of their complaints of the new sentinel was a low engagement hub which should only be a minor talking point at best since you can easily modify/replace that.
@@bikeguy6800 I personally know most of the guys over there and they’re all really good dudes, really good at bikes and good at making bike media. Just love poking fun every chance I get though.
@@ultimatist haha. Not sure why some bikes rattle more than others. I had a MT2 that was dead quiet but a good friend’s is one of the loudest bikes I’ve ever heard. Not sure on the shock tune. I’ve ridden it with both Fox and RS. Both felt really good to me. Very supportive and I weigh 200lb. All of us in the video are 200+.
First off, great video gentlemen. Ok, missed intangibles on the Ripmo, I have two. I have told Connor it can be run at 160mm of travel, 230X65 rear shock. Connor cannot say that because Ibis does not mention this. Therefore, being a dealer that sells Ibis could get B.E. in trouble as a dealer. I detail this in my Ripmo Video Review. With that said, hopefully Ibis will sell the Ripmo with a 230X65 shock calling it the Ripmo LT or something like that soon. Kind of like what Yeti did with the SB130 and did the SB130 Lunch Ride. So that is an intangible. --Another ding in score for me... The Fox rear shock is terrible for the Ripmo. The bike, the guys all said and I agree, it will get thrown off line. But, if Ibis went with the Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate with the linear air can, or the Vivid as an option, it rides totally different! Rockshox has the Ripmo riding more stable, while maintaining the climbing and playfulness. I would like to compare these bikes again with Ripmo on the Rockshox suspension.
Great review man! Do you think there's a lot of difference on pedaling performance, climbing, descending and handling manners between the yeti sb160 and ripmo v3? They are very close in geometry, travel and weight.
@@abouvet1 there are huge differences. The Ripmo is really poppy and playful. The SB160 is firm and supportive. The handling is very different too. The Yeti feels more like the Sentinel in terms of handling.
IBIS made a bold move to make a versatile frame that is going the opposite direction of biking down to Light Trail as opposed to beefing up to Enduro high speed rock smasher.
@ it’s one of the few frames I would consider because I could morph it into a perfect my setups as needed. Personally I like using different wheel sets, different shocks and tinkering with different settings.
Thanks! No, I don't think the Mega is irrelevant at all. There's still a huge difference between them on the descents. All the scores from this video are relative to this category, not every bike.
Great review!. How much better all around is the hightower v4 to the v2. I've got a 22 hightower just weighing the option of upgrading or adding new stuff to my v2. I want to stick with Santa cruz due to warranty reasons. Thanks
I think the 4 makes a lot of improvements over the 2 especially in geo and climbing performance. Putting different components on your v2 wont necessarily get you to a v4.
Interested to know how the ripmo v3 scores against the v2. Is the old ripmo better or have other bikes caught up? V3 reviews have it pretty average where it once was the standout.
It’s been too long since I’ve ridden a V2 to go back and score it fairly. As for the V3 it’s a standout in the playful and poppy category. I think it’s less of a standout in climbing performance. Not because it’s worse but because the other bikes got better.
MTB YUM YUM and Jeff Kendall Weed both discuss this in their reviews. The take away I got from them was they saw the V3 as an evolutionary improvement, but one also said if you find a deal on a V2, would grab and save the money. We have hit the point where geometry and suspension kinematics have gotten pretty close with most bikes in a category. It is not good v bad, but which best fits the terrain, rider, and preference best.
@@Tinytruckcustom haven’t done that yet. It might add a tiny bit of that but I doubt it makes a big impact on the kinematics. It’s just an extra 2.5mm of shock stroke.
Would be curious to hear comparisons between the HT V3 and Sentinel V2 vs the new models. Currently have a V2 and feels like too much of a smasher sometimes where I’d rather have a spire for example. I was thinking about replacing it with a HT V3 which seems to be less on the enduro side like the sentinel V2 and HT V4. Thoughts?
I don’t think the HT3 is “less enduro” than the HT4. They’re both very capable on the DH and have a fairly versatile ride quality. The Sentinel V2 is much more “enduro” than the V3.
I originally scoffed at the new Hightower because I thought they made it too close to the Megatower but the more reviews I see of it the more I think I'd like one should I feel the need to replace my Megatower v2. It sounds like they took everything good about the Megatower and dialed it back so it's more approachable for more riders.
@@azzy9532 suspension kinematics mostly. The MT gets into the travel much easier. It rides deeper and more bottomless. Handling is slower. Less lively.
Im surprised the Ripmo get squirely at times with all that suspension, do you think they made too many compromises with sharing the same frame as the Ripley and the frame storage?
Nope not at all. I think it’s a kinematics and geo thing. It’s the steepest bike in the group. Also the shortest. The suspension is less progressive. But because of those same things it’s the most playful bike in the group. A bike can’t be perfect at everything.
Ride the bike that suits the terrain you ride daily, not the bike for vacations or the yearly trip to the bike park. Rent a demo for those times. The Hightower would be my pick. Great vid and comparison.
One thing that is lacking information on this video is at the start of the video you guys did not go into what build of each bike was that was it at the XX full top-of-the-line or was the base models being used this definitely can create an issue when people are looking to purchase the bike because of you are basing your reviews on the base model. The base model is not going to handle the same as the top end models
We never really talk about build and components. In the big picture components have a minimal impact on ride quality. The base model will certainly handle the same as the top end build. Geo and kinematics are the biggest factors in how a bike handles. Luckily those are the same across all build kits.
I'm a big fan of your videos for your unbias and honesty, but on this one, I can't really understand what you tried to do. I felt terrible about the way you treated the other two guys, telling them all the time that they were wrong. Who are you who tell them how they should rank it? They should be able to put their own rank without you telling them that yours is the only truth, I think you failed on this one.
Thank you for this! Great review and comparison. Does your 1-5 rating scale connect to your recent Hightower -2 to +2 rating scale? -2 would be 1, +2 would be 5?
O, and meant to ask on your Ripmo sizing, I demoed a L, and am 6'2" also, and it felt a little small for me. I'm wondering if an XL would be better, or if it's more a nuance of how the new Ibis line feels overall, and an L is still good.
We did this slightly differently because we didn’t want this to get mixed up with the 0 - or +. This video was specifically these three against each other. We had a L Ripmo. We all typically ride XL.
Alright this is the best scoring format
Thanks!
Turkey and Bike reviews. Thankful!
@@mhowell13 best combo meal since Arby’s 5 for 5.
Like this format! Keep it going!
Glad you like it!
That's a really cool comparison because these three bikes are, in my opinion, the most desirable offerings in the all mountain category right now. Also, these trails look like the absolute dream...
Thanks! We really don't think you could go wrong with any one of these.
Agreed, plus the Pivot Firebird.
@@JRudd Firebird is more of an enduro bike. Switchblade would be the all mountain choice - which coincidentally, blows all three of these bikes away.
@ Gotcha!
Switchblade , Sb140
digging this format. great video!
Thanks!
Superb video guys! Thanks for taking time to evaluate and communicate the nuances of these 3 great bikes.
@@cla2549 glad you liked it!
Great review, thank you. Well structured and fun. I appreciate the clear descriptions, easy grading scale, and humor.
Thanks! Glad you liked it?
Very entertaining and informative! Great review
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
I shot out the new Ripmo against the new Bronson recently. Bronson felt more stable and planted, from memory almost like a mega tower but the Ripmo just made me smile a lot more. So poppy, so flickable. So Ripmo it is for next year. Some taller bars, and maybe some lighter/narrower wheels and it should be even more of a toy. The fork was really noisy, but I guess worst case it's a damper swap to a X2. But I think it's more likely that fox just put all the grease into that fork that they forgot to put into the others clogging it up. Awesome review. Cheers. :)
Perfect job! I like the format a lot. Greetings from The Netherlands
@@henksalomons8010 thanks! I appreciate the kind words.
Great review guys 👍
Hey thanks!
Great content and video, and just absolutely stunning shots of Moab.
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Also love the new way you do the reviews.
Thanks!!
I will always have a soft-spot in my heart for the Hightower. If you are going on an all day adventure where finishing fast isn't an issue, on varied terrain where you don't know the trail, it just has so much capacity in case something unexpected pops-up/. You have the confidence to power through anything. Plus, with the plushness you'll be a lot less beat-up at the end of the ride.
@@REB4444 totally agree.
Really cool format and great matchups. All the bikes I am considering
@@cberg9480 thanks! Glad you liked it.
Awesome job, great comparisons.
Thanks!!
Just took delivery of my Ripmo V3 XT build in Medium. I'm 5'8.5" and right in between M and XM. It was very confusing and stressful to order. The guys at the shop were really hard pressed to help figure out which size I should order as well. I should also mention that it was an online purchase and couldn't sit on the bike before ordering. When the bike arrived, I felt it was a little bit small. However, I swapped the stem and bars (Raceface Turbine 35 50mm stem, Raceface SixC 35mm bar) and the bike now fits perfect. The stock bars have a weird sweep to them that I didn't care for and the size medium Ripmo has a 40mm stem. I have long arms and come from a BMX background. This bike feels like a big BMX. Very happy with it.
Nice! Enjoy!
Ripmo Mx is the top of my list.
I'm definitely not a fan of the new "XM" size. If they'd just renamed the L and XL as XL and XXL, respectively, and made the new size L, it'd be both easier to understand and more accurate compared to their competition (e.g. Ripmo XL has 10mm more reach than the XXL Sentinel).
@ agreed.
Great review
@@LiveFast135i thanks! Glad you like it!
This is the review people are looking for - 3 top AM bikes of 2024, head to head
@@jawzzy3 enjoy!
Love the review format! I think it would be cool if at the end each reviewer said which bike was their favorite and why. Happy thanksgiving 🦃
@@mr_sweez thanks! if you add up the scores you’ll probably be able to see which was the favorite!
Thank you for this! Great review and comparison. Does your 1-5 rating scale connect to your recent Hightower -2 to +2 rating scale? -2 would be 1, +2 would be 5?
Great format, appreciate the level of detail and debate on each category. One unsolicited feedback, as hopefully this format continues and evolves: stay tight on definitions, so categories like versatility aren't impacted by suspension/ride-versatility, etc.
Also... surprisingly different take on the Sentinel vs. the Pinkbike crew. Maybe it's the trails, but you guys didn't seem to find the shock sat too deep, and no mention of noisy rattling...
@@ultimatist thanks!
I’ve ridden three different sentinels v3s at this point and haven’t had a single one rattle. I wonder if those guys a weird one. Plus we all know the pink bike guys don’t know what they’re talking about…..😂
@@bikersedge right, I'm sending them Allen keys for Christmas. It's possible there's too much QC variance, or just the bike had some miles and bolts got loose. Either one isn't good, and is solvable by Transition with attention and loctite. The shock tune topic is interesting, cause all three of you look like big boys, and it was the skinny crew that was complaining about lack of support. Maybe Fox also to blame?
PB isn’t the same anymore after Levy left and the surge of newcomers to the platform during Covid. Their reviews were barely even reviews in comparison to what we see here. Half of their complaints of the new sentinel was a low engagement hub which should only be a minor talking point at best since you can easily modify/replace that.
@@bikeguy6800 I personally know most of the guys over there and they’re all really good dudes, really good at bikes and good at making bike media. Just love poking fun every chance I get though.
@@ultimatist haha. Not sure why some bikes rattle more than others. I had a MT2 that was dead quiet but a good friend’s is one of the loudest bikes I’ve ever heard.
Not sure on the shock tune. I’ve ridden it with both Fox and RS. Both felt really good to me. Very supportive and I weigh 200lb. All of us in the video are 200+.
Great reviews!!! Had a Sentinel in the past, felt it was too serious, would probably lean towards the Ripmo today…
@@andresdavila4500 Good choice. The Ripmo is easily the most fun kit of these three.
First off, great video gentlemen. Ok, missed intangibles on the Ripmo, I have two. I have told Connor it can be run at 160mm of travel, 230X65 rear shock. Connor cannot say that because Ibis does not mention this. Therefore, being a dealer that sells Ibis could get B.E. in trouble as a dealer. I detail this in my Ripmo Video Review. With that said, hopefully Ibis will sell the Ripmo with a 230X65 shock calling it the Ripmo LT or something like that soon. Kind of like what Yeti did with the SB130 and did the SB130 Lunch Ride. So that is an intangible. --Another ding in score for me... The Fox rear shock is terrible for the Ripmo. The bike, the guys all said and I agree, it will get thrown off line. But, if Ibis went with the Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate with the linear air can, or the Vivid as an option, it rides totally different! Rockshox has the Ripmo riding more stable, while maintaining the climbing and playfulness. I would like to compare these bikes again with Ripmo on the Rockshox suspension.
Love this comparison format. That said, I still can’t figure out what I’m replacing my v2 ripmo with. Too many good bikes these days!
Close your eyes and grab one. Can’t go wrong.
Need to see the revel rail 29 vs yeti sb 140 vs ripmo! Love the video you guys are killin it
@@darenmcguire3253 thanks!
Great review man! Do you think there's a lot of difference on pedaling performance, climbing, descending and handling manners between the yeti sb160 and ripmo v3? They are very close in geometry, travel and weight.
@@abouvet1 there are huge differences. The Ripmo is really poppy and playful. The SB160 is firm and supportive. The handling is very different too. The Yeti feels more like the Sentinel in terms of handling.
Let’s go!!!
@@D_Allsen enjoy!!
IBIS made a bold move to make a versatile frame that is going the opposite direction of biking down to Light Trail as opposed to beefing up to Enduro high speed rock smasher.
I’d still say this is very much in the all mountain category.
@ it’s one of the few frames I would consider because I could morph it into a perfect my setups as needed. Personally I like using different wheel sets, different shocks and tinkering with different settings.
@ yeah. It’s pretty cool for doing that!
Great video! So helpfully for wen it’s time to choose a new bike. Is the megatower now irrelevant because the Hightower feels so good descending?
Thanks! No, I don't think the Mega is irrelevant at all. There's still a huge difference between them on the descents. All the scores from this video are relative to this category, not every bike.
Great review!. How much better all around is the hightower v4 to the v2. I've got a 22 hightower just weighing the option of upgrading or adding new stuff to my v2. I want to stick with Santa cruz due to warranty reasons. Thanks
I think the 4 makes a lot of improvements over the 2 especially in geo and climbing performance. Putting different components on your v2 wont necessarily get you to a v4.
Interested to know how the ripmo v3 scores against the v2. Is the old ripmo better or have other bikes caught up? V3 reviews have it pretty average where it once was the standout.
It’s been too long since I’ve ridden a V2 to go back and score it fairly. As for the V3 it’s a standout in the playful and poppy category. I think it’s less of a standout in climbing performance. Not because it’s worse but because the other bikes got better.
MTB YUM YUM and Jeff Kendall Weed both discuss this in their reviews. The take away I got from them was they saw the V3 as an evolutionary improvement, but one also said if you find a deal on a V2, would grab and save the money.
We have hit the point where geometry and suspension kinematics have gotten pretty close with most bikes in a category. It is not good v bad, but which best fits the terrain, rider, and preference best.
Did you guys try running the sentinel at 160 in the rear? I wonder if that would improve the bump sensitivity / “plush” you commented on
@@Tinytruckcustom haven’t done that yet. It might add a tiny bit of that but I doubt it makes a big impact on the kinematics. It’s just an extra 2.5mm of shock stroke.
Would be curious to hear comparisons between the HT V3 and Sentinel V2 vs the new models. Currently have a V2 and feels like too much of a smasher sometimes where I’d rather have a spire for example. I was thinking about replacing it with a HT V3 which seems to be less on the enduro side like the sentinel V2 and HT V4. Thoughts?
I don’t think the HT3 is “less enduro” than the HT4. They’re both very capable on the DH and have a fairly versatile ride quality. The Sentinel V2 is much more “enduro” than the V3.
Happy Thanksgiving Day, Gents
Same to you!
I originally scoffed at the new Hightower because I thought they made it too close to the Megatower but the more reviews I see of it the more I think I'd like one should I feel the need to replace my Megatower v2. It sounds like they took everything good about the Megatower and dialed it back so it's more approachable for more riders.
@@azzy9532 there’s still plenty of difference between this and the MT2 especially in terms of suspension feel.
@@bikersedge Like what?
@@azzy9532 suspension kinematics mostly. The MT gets into the travel much easier. It rides deeper and more bottomless. Handling is slower. Less lively.
Can you review dartmoor rocbird? A polish brand 🙂
Greetings from PH
@@jasonpatrickdeleon4701 thanks. We won’t be able to make it happen unfortunately. We don’t carry dartmoor.
Im surprised the Ripmo get squirely at times with all that suspension, do you think they made too many compromises with sharing the same frame as the Ripley and the frame storage?
Nope not at all. I think it’s a kinematics and geo thing. It’s the steepest bike in the group. Also the shortest. The suspension is less progressive. But because of those same things it’s the most playful bike in the group. A bike can’t be perfect at everything.
@@bikersedge Is it still smoother and more plush than the Ripley?
@ yes. Very much so.
Ride the bike that suits the terrain you ride daily, not the bike for vacations or the yearly trip to the bike park. Rent a demo for those times. The Hightower would be my pick. Great vid and comparison.
Yeah that’s solid advice!
@@bikersedge Which bike is Gusher approved for downtube storage?
@ both the sentinel and Ripmo. Go ham with the gushers.
how does the sb140LR compare? I like that sentinel.
@@johngarcia206 it’s probably closest to the sentinel our of this group.
I wonder how unbelievable this would be bumped up to 160. Would that change some opinions?
@@nicholashines7686 which one?
How about a comparison to the Norco Sight?
Haven’t ridden it. We stopped carrying Norco a few years ago so we haven’t thrown a leg over the new stuff.
ah yes, the 160mm all mountain category
@@mikerotchburns1622 these are all 150mm
Who else after watching this video just wants to go to Moab now haha.
I want to go back already.
Navajo Rocks?
@@stevedzurilla2436 yup! And Mag 7 and Ahab.
Ripmo got a lot of criticism from Pinkbike recently. Sounds like you guys thought differently
It seems to have been hit or miss with media. I’m personally a big fan. It’s super lively, poppy and easy to get along with.
Middle and left dudes look similar
@@Lenser we’ve been mistaken for brothers about 32,000 times. We’re unrelated - I think.
One thing that is lacking information on this video is at the start of the video you guys did not go into what build of each bike was that was it at the XX full top-of-the-line or was the base models being used this definitely can create an issue when people are looking to purchase the bike because of you are basing your reviews on the base model. The base model is not going to handle the same as the top end models
We never really talk about build and components. In the big picture components have a minimal impact on ride quality. The base model will certainly handle the same as the top end build. Geo and kinematics are the biggest factors in how a bike handles. Luckily those are the same across all build kits.
I tried a transition patrol and sentinel, good bikes, idk not long ago nobody was talking about transition and recently they're in all the tests 🤔
I mean Transition won Pinkbike bike of the year back in 2016. They’ve been hot for a long time now.
I'm a big fan of your videos for your unbias and honesty, but on this one, I can't really understand what you tried to do. I felt terrible about the way you treated the other two guys, telling them all the time that they were wrong. Who are you who tell them how they should rank it? They should be able to put their own rank without you telling them that yours is the only truth, I think you failed on this one.
@@GeR360 I’m clearly being sarcastic and joking. I laid it on pretty thick.
Zach here. I think there might be a little bit lost in cultural differences. I never once felt demeaned or denied of my opinion.
@@zachchatelain936 go away Zach.
Anyone saying these represent the most desirable all mountain bikes doesn’t get out much.
@@spiffpilot2589 what’s the most desirable then? Sounds like you get out a lot….
You guys need to stop with this anti-I wanna run an old-school wire to my derailer get off of it already. I’m so sick of it.
@@Schwabz33 you might just have to be sick of it then. I’m a big fan of cable drivetrains.
Old school? Electronic drivetrains are on less than 10% of mountain bikes.
@ yeah but to ding Santa Cruz just because they took away the ability to run a cable actuated derailer makes no sense to me
@Schwabz33 sure it does. You’re limiting the bikes versatility and practicality. And for what? What is the advantage?
@@bikersedge The advantage is their pocketbook. Which sucks for consumers.
Thank you for this! Great review and comparison. Does your 1-5 rating scale connect to your recent Hightower -2 to +2 rating scale? -2 would be 1, +2 would be 5?
O, and meant to ask on your Ripmo sizing, I demoed a L, and am 6'2" also, and it felt a little small for me. I'm wondering if an XL would be better, or if it's more a nuance of how the new Ibis line feels overall, and an L is still good.
We did this slightly differently because we didn’t want this to get mixed up with the 0 - or +. This video was specifically these three against each other.
We had a L Ripmo. We all typically ride XL.