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 35mm 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).
@@bikersedge too many categories these days lol. I've heard people call the Norco Range an "all mountain". I'd say this bike would have performed well at an EWS event, and I agree.. great bike that is >trail, while not quite an enduro these days. I'm a fan of companies that engineer a bottomless feeling, progressive leverage curve out of a 130->150mm bikes. The Fox 36 and Lyriks are about as good as a non-compromising, capable riding fork as you can find. Forbidden Druid here I come
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?
@@LocoDeerSlayer 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+.
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?
Would love an addendum to the review throwing in the previous model year for each of these bikes with the same scoring system. That would be really helpful in providing context for all of us with the previous generation of one of these bikes! ❤
I hear that! Being on the sizing cusp is always a compromise. I can get stability at the expense of comfortable standover/saddle height with a little struggle to get the front end up and over, or can size down and feel on top of a twitchy bike.
Great video.. the banter makes it even more fun and engaging. I've had a 2022 Mx Bronson for a while, just bought a Trail 429 Enduro. So i konw exactly what you mean when you say "its Santa Cruz", lol.. great bikes... not so great at climbing.. not bad, not great. The Trail 429 is buttery on almost everything... except the big hits, when i sometimes wish i was on my Bronson. ... what i'd really love to know is what trails were you riding? :) Moab is a close playground to Denver.. these trails look fun! ... thanks for another fun and informative video
@@bikersedge NIce! Mag 7 all the way to poison spider? i rode Mag7 a couple years ago.. exited the fire road. love Ahab. Love navajo rocks.. Surprise fun last trip was Big Chief out by Deadhorse point. good mix of sand, hard pack, small ledgy, great views... good reminder on Ahab, thanks!! always enjoy your vids... wish i could buy something from you guys to help support the chanell... some day ... wife won't leave town without me anymore.. every time she leaves for 3 days, i buy a new bike. lol. be well.
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.
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.
This was a great video/comparison with a lot of helpful insight. I'm currently looking at the Sentinel V3 vs Ripmo V3 vs SB140LR. I know it's been awhile since you reviewed the SB140LR, but how do you think it'd compare to these bikes?
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.
I am overbiked on the MT2 and am seriously considering switching to HT4 or possibly Sentinel. While I'm never bummed on the MT2 when pointed downhill in terms of plush suspension, even though I do not ride it nearly as aggressively as intended, I find the pedalling sluggish and steering slow. Half my rides are single track and fire roads. I've done 2 HT4 demos days, and it definitely feels more Hightower than Megatower in spite of similarities on paper. Better pedalling, better steering, easier to get off the ground. Getting deep into the suspension was more challenging but I feel like I could tune it softer to find my preference zone. My hardest choice is the sizing. I'm exactly on the line of L and XL and have to compromise either way. Centered stability with too much standover/saddle height, and difficulty to get the front end up and over, or sitting on top of the bike feeling twitchy.
Just how different is the climbing between the Sentinel v3 and Hightower V4 in characteristics (as the Sentinel scored 12 and Hightower only 6)? Conversely, how much descending capabilities and suspension plushness in steep or chunky does the Sentinel give up to the Hightower?
@@ABHORRANCE831 I mean I don’t know how to quantify it more than we already have. They’re pretty different in both of those aspects. The sentinel is noticeably quicker uphill and more manageable in technical terrain. The HT is much more confident on the DH.
I wouldn’t want to run it that way. It already moves through the stroke fairly easily. It would lose some of that fun factor that makes it great. And I don’t think you’d make any gains from a capability standpoint. It’s already plush and sticks to the ground well.
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.
@@fcbotieno I don't think you can long stroke the Hightower. The backtire will hit the rear seat tube. The Ripmo can do 160 with plenty of tire clearance.
@travelthenarrowtrail8660 yes, I was wondering where that limit was...being that there is a range you can work with as the HT at 150mm of travel, is at the bottom end of shock stroke limitation(230x57.5). It can be had with 60mm, 62.5mm, or fully unlocked at 65mm of shock stroke. Do you have the capacity to test those ranges?
@travelthenarrowtrail8660 at 160 rear wheel travel, will the tire hit the seat tube? My bike doesn't arrive for a while...just wondering if you had your hands on one?
Like this. Individual bike reviews are worthless or close to it because the viewer has no baseline. A great climber means little if not compared to another bike. But I get why they are popular, it makes manufactures happy, reviewer gets free bikes to review and everyone wins except the viewer. This kind of review can upset some companies.
Just bought the V2 sentinel before the v3 came out and really enjoy it. I ride a patrol and a pnw relay as well. Relay has the same chain stays as the v3. Id love to hear some opinions on the difference between the V2 and v3. They seem like they are completely different bikes but maybe not?
@bikersedge Ah! Yes. I appreciate it. Great comparison! Thanks for that review. They make a great bike all around. You guys do the best reviews on the block!
Honestly, what I want to hear is durability, issues, engineering misses. This is why I like consumer’s report. Do long term testing and just tell the audience how it is. Honestly, pro mountain bikers, we ride stiff suspension, stiff frames, small frames, why if you don’t know then I don’t know what to say. The suspension, well with so many options, it comes down to adjustments and rider adapt to the suspension. With that, ok review.
Love this….live in the SE and looking for big brother for my OG spur with the Sid stuff…in the past 3 years I’ve had a sentinel V2 which felt dead and a new model smuggler which was awesome but rubbed my calf raw and didn’t have a ton of spread from the spur…so, would a tallboy be a nice in between and provide enough difference from the spur or would a light sentinel be the ticket? I know travel #,s don’t tell the tale as my bike before the spur was a regular occam at 140 with fox 36 and that bike was fast up and down Thanks and great reviews
@@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.
@ oh interesting thank you! Out of these 3, seems like you all feel the transition is the most versatile, would you say that’s the case too on more mellow undulating terrain vs strictly climbing and descending? Or does the Ripmo have an advantage there?
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.
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.
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.
Did Ibis actually improve the Ripmo? It seems that the majority of reviews I've seen on the bike have been lukewarm. Did they make a mistake in building a "2 for 1" bike?
@@curiosgeorge16 it does seem to have been pretty hit or miss. Personally I love how playful and poppy it is. I can see why it’s not everyone’s favorite though.
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.
Nice review. Now please be first to review the sentinel with 160mm rear travel! Would be interesting to see if that would bring the dh capability closer to v2
Did you watch Pinkbike‘s review by any chance? They really didn’t like the Ripmo on rougher stuff and said it felt twitchy. Would you agree? It seems on the other bikes you guys agree.
@@juliuss2305 I try to not watch reviews until I’ve made mine. Don’t want to skew my opinions. I need to go watch theirs now. But yes I think I’d agree that the Ripmo gets knocked around more than the other two in the rough. I still love it for how lively and fun it is though.
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.
Thanksgiving Day- Walden’s Ridge outside Chattanooga TN first time so some stops to scope features- 2000 ft vert in 1 hour 20 on my Ibis Oso. Could not have done that on an analog. Still have my Bronson and love it, but an emtb is a game changer.
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.
is it just the availablillity of the bikes you're able to test, or have you fellas been unaware there are like.. 50 mtb frames out there. my 2 cents: the orbea occam and the spot mayhem will blow away any of these big brand LBS kits. hands down.
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.
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.
No In cable for the cc sc ht knock is stupid. Then just buy the C build. I’m glad the cc build doesn’t have the in cable housing. It’s not for the peasants
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.
Probabile the best review ever becasue of the format, please keep this kind of approch, your work is the best on RUclips
Thanks! I appreciate it!
Alright this is the best scoring format
Thanks!
I love this shop. All the people are great.
@@MrMiyagi94 thanks for the kind words!!
Like this format! Keep it going!
Glad you like it!
Great review, thank you. Well structured and fun. I appreciate the clear descriptions, easy grading scale, and humor.
Thanks! Glad you liked 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
Superb video guys! Thanks for taking time to evaluate and communicate the nuances of these 3 great bikes.
@@cla2549 glad you liked it!
spot on. together with the review of the specific bike, i don't think it is possible to gather more valuable information without testing the bikes.
@@a.r.8850 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.
You did an amazing job. Best review channel on earth, even though you sell these bikes
@@Cg-fh5re thank you! I appreciate the kind words.
Just a couple of goats sharing love for bikes! Thanks for the fun review!
Glad you liked it!
digging this format. great video!
Thanks!
Great content and video, and just absolutely stunning shots of Moab.
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Very entertaining and informative! Great review
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Great format. You guys always explain the finer pints of the bikes well
Much appreciated!
Turkey and Bike reviews. Thankful!
@@mhowell13 best combo meal since Arby’s 5 for 5.
A video to be truly thankful for!
Plus, post-its to show the score: 🤙
I listened!
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.
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 35mm 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.
Too small
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!
This is the review people are looking for - 3 top AM bikes of 2024, head to head
@@jawzzy3 enjoy!
Really cool format and great matchups. All the bikes I am considering
@@cberg9480 thanks! Glad you liked it.
Also love the new way you do the reviews.
Thanks!!
hightower truly is a mini-duro that pedals pretty well
I think it’s far more versatile than that. Wouldn’t say it’s an enduro or even mini-enduro. It’s an all mountain bike.
@@bikersedge too many categories these days lol. I've heard people call the Norco Range an "all mountain".
I'd say this bike would have performed well at an EWS event, and I agree.. great bike that is >trail, while not quite an enduro these days.
I'm a fan of companies that engineer a bottomless feeling, progressive leverage curve out of a 130->150mm bikes.
The Fox 36 and Lyriks are about as good as a non-compromising, capable riding fork as you can find.
Forbidden Druid here I come
@vrwgq3q anyone calling the norco range an all mountain bike is a bit confused. Ha.
Awesome job, great comparisons.
Thanks!!
Great review guys 👍
Hey thanks!
Nice e job guys!
@@edandayan1635 hey thanks!
Great insight.. Still hoping to see you on a Druid and Dreadnaught some time 🤞
If forbidden could get us some bikes we could make it happen.
Need to see the revel rail 29 vs yeti sb 140 vs ripmo! Love the video you guys are killin it
@@darenmcguire3253 thanks!
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?
@@LocoDeerSlayer 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+.
@@LocoDeerSlayer agree. That said I really love some of the stuff they’ve put out recently.
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?
Would love an addendum to the review throwing in the previous model year for each of these bikes with the same scoring system. That would be really helpful in providing context for all of us with the previous generation of one of these bikes! ❤
@@TheMirrorVision it’s been too long since I’ve ridden the previous version to really score them fairly.
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.
I love the sizing on the ripmo, finally 6’0-6’2 doesn’t have to be in the no man’s land between large and xl
I think the biggest problem is in how they named them. Basically the XM is a L, the L is an XL and the XL is a XXL.
I hear that! Being on the sizing cusp is always a compromise. I can get stability at the expense of comfortable standover/saddle height with a little struggle to get the front end up and over, or can size down and feel on top of a twitchy bike.
Great video.. the banter makes it even more fun and engaging. I've had a 2022 Mx Bronson for a while, just bought a Trail 429 Enduro. So i konw exactly what you mean when you say "its Santa Cruz", lol.. great bikes... not so great at climbing.. not bad, not great. The Trail 429 is buttery on almost everything... except the big hits, when i sometimes wish i was on my Bronson. ... what i'd really love to know is what trails were you riding? :) Moab is a close playground to Denver.. these trails look fun! ... thanks for another fun and informative video
Thanks! Glad you liked it. We rode Ahab, Mag 7 and Navajo Rocks.
@@bikersedge NIce! Mag 7 all the way to poison spider? i rode Mag7 a couple years ago.. exited the fire road. love Ahab. Love navajo rocks.. Surprise fun last trip was Big Chief out by Deadhorse point. good mix of sand, hard pack, small ledgy, great views... good reminder on Ahab, thanks!!
always enjoy your vids... wish i could buy something from you guys to help support the chanell... some day ... wife won't leave town without me anymore.. every time she leaves for 3 days, i buy a new bike. lol.
be well.
@rogerb3927 just did Mag to Arths corner.
Thanks for the support! We’ve got some e-commerce bikes on the website now if you need to shop from home!
@ thanks ! My wife will cut off internet too maybe. lol.
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.
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.
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.
Which one would you chose to take down Grafton DH trail?
@@stuartthomasson5027 Hightower. But I’d want the sentinel on More Money.
This was a great video/comparison with a lot of helpful insight. I'm currently looking at the Sentinel V3 vs Ripmo V3 vs SB140LR. I know it's been awhile since you reviewed the SB140LR, but how do you think it'd compare to these bikes?
Hey thanks! I think the Sentinel and SB140 are the most similar.
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.
@@bikersedgewhat do you think the effects would be of putting a 35mm stem on the MT2?
I am overbiked on the MT2 and am seriously considering switching to HT4 or possibly Sentinel. While I'm never bummed on the MT2 when pointed downhill in terms of plush suspension, even though I do not ride it nearly as aggressively as intended, I find the pedalling sluggish and steering slow.
Half my rides are single track and fire roads.
I've done 2 HT4 demos days, and it definitely feels more Hightower than Megatower in spite of similarities on paper. Better pedalling, better steering, easier to get off the ground. Getting deep into the suspension was more challenging but I feel like I could tune it softer to find my preference zone.
My hardest choice is the sizing. I'm exactly on the line of L and XL and have to compromise either way. Centered stability with too much standover/saddle height, and difficulty to get the front end up and over, or sitting on top of the bike feeling twitchy.
Just how different is the climbing between the Sentinel v3 and Hightower V4 in characteristics (as the Sentinel scored 12 and Hightower only 6)?
Conversely, how much descending capabilities and suspension plushness in steep or chunky does the Sentinel give up to the Hightower?
@@ABHORRANCE831 I mean I don’t know how to quantify it more than we already have. They’re pretty different in both of those aspects. The sentinel is noticeably quicker uphill and more manageable in technical terrain. The HT is much more confident on the DH.
This review is funny good.
Glad you like it!
Fantastic format!
Wonder where the YT Jeffsy would stack up. And throughts?
@@ewheeldrive thanks! We don’t carry YT so I haven’t ridden a Jeffsy for a long time. Couldn’t say.
@bikersedge curious about how you think a coil shock would affect the ripmo?
I wouldn’t want to run it that way. It already moves through the stroke fairly easily. It would lose some of that fun factor that makes it great. And I don’t think you’d make any gains from a capability standpoint. It’s already plush and sticks to the ground well.
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.
How much can you get from an HT V4? It too is under stroked
@@fcbotieno I don't think you can long stroke the Hightower. The backtire will hit the rear seat tube. The Ripmo can do 160 with plenty of tire clearance.
@travelthenarrowtrail8660 yes, I was wondering where that limit was...being that there is a range you can work with as the HT at 150mm of travel, is at the bottom end of shock stroke limitation(230x57.5). It can be had with 60mm, 62.5mm, or fully unlocked at 65mm of shock stroke.
Do you have the capacity to test those ranges?
@@fcbotieno I stand corrected. If it can run a 230X65, its at 160.
@travelthenarrowtrail8660 at 160 rear wheel travel, will the tire hit the seat tube? My bike doesn't arrive for a while...just wondering if you had your hands on one?
Like this.
Individual bike reviews are worthless or close to it because the viewer has no baseline.
A great climber means little if not compared to another bike.
But I get why they are popular, it makes manufactures happy, reviewer gets free bikes to review and everyone wins except the viewer.
This kind of review can upset some companies.
Are the bikes tested all the same size?
No. We had XL for the Sentinel and Hightower and L for the Ripmo
Just bought the V2 sentinel before the v3 came out and really enjoy it. I ride a patrol and a pnw relay as well. Relay has the same chain stays as the v3. Id love to hear some opinions on the difference between the V2 and v3. They seem like they are completely different bikes but maybe not?
@@ML-wl9rz if you go watch the sentinel review we published I discuss those differences in more depth.
@bikersedge Ah! Yes. I appreciate it. Great comparison! Thanks for that review. They make a great bike all around. You guys do the best reviews on the block!
@ hey thanks!
Honestly, what I want to hear is durability, issues, engineering misses. This is why I like consumer’s report. Do long term testing and just tell the audience how it is. Honestly, pro mountain bikers, we ride stiff suspension, stiff frames, small frames, why if you don’t know then I don’t know what to say. The suspension, well with so many options, it comes down to adjustments and rider adapt to the suspension. With that, ok review.
After watching your review of the instinct I'd be curious to see how you think it compares with these 3 bikes?
It reminds me quite a bit of the Ripmo in terms of ride quality, although with a slightly less robust feel to it.
Love this….live in the SE and looking for big brother for my OG spur with the Sid stuff…in the past 3 years I’ve had a sentinel V2 which felt dead and a new model smuggler which was awesome but rubbed my calf raw and didn’t have a ton of spread from the spur…so, would a tallboy be a nice in between and provide enough difference from the spur or would a light sentinel be the ticket? I know travel #,s don’t tell the tale as my bike before the spur was a regular occam at 140 with fox 36 and that bike was fast up and down
Thanks and great reviews
@@davidvelez7693 the tallboy would dot between the Spur and Sentinel. Although it’s much closer to the Spur.
@@bikersedge thank you! wish I could have all 3 but in '25 less is more and might go down to just a TB and build up my old hardtail All the 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.
What sizes were the bikes?
XL for the HT and Sentinel and L for the Ripmo
Curious how the v3 Hightower compares since it seems they made the v4 even more descending focused..
@@ryanzimmerman3678 I think it grew on the descending capability side without giving up much/anything on the climbs.
@ oh interesting thank you! Out of these 3, seems like you all feel the transition is the most versatile, would you say that’s the case too on more mellow undulating terrain vs strictly climbing and descending? Or does the Ripmo have an advantage there?
@ryanzimmerman3678 as far as undulating terrain goes I think the Sentinel will be the fastest bike. It’s the most efficient and most responsive.
What trails were ridden? Mag7. Slick rock. Ahab? What else?
@@keithgarn9038 Ahab, Mag 7 and Navajo Rocks
Would love your thoughts on how the SB140LR compares to these three?
It’s closest to the sentinel. It’s been a long time since we’ve ridden it so we didn’t include it.
Let’s go!!!
@@D_Allsen enjoy!!
Which trails are you riding on in this video?
@@mariosselipas8967 we filmed in Moab. Rode a bunch of trails in the area.
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.
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.
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.
Did Ibis actually improve the Ripmo? It seems that the majority of reviews I've seen on the bike have been lukewarm. Did they make a mistake in building a "2 for 1" bike?
@@curiosgeorge16 it does seem to have been pretty hit or miss. Personally I love how playful and poppy it is. I can see why it’s not everyone’s favorite though.
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.
Nice review. Now please be first to review the sentinel with 160mm rear travel! Would be interesting to see if that would bring the dh capability closer to v2
With how different the suspension kinematics and geo are I doubt it rides like the V2. I’ll give it a go if I can find the right shock though.
Did you watch Pinkbike‘s review by any chance? They really didn’t like the Ripmo on rougher stuff and said it felt twitchy. Would you agree? It seems on the other bikes you guys agree.
@@juliuss2305 I try to not watch reviews until I’ve made mine. Don’t want to skew my opinions. I need to go watch theirs now. But yes I think I’d agree that the Ripmo gets knocked around more than the other two in the rough. I still love it for how lively and fun it is though.
@ Great to hear that you go into those reviews unbiased! I really enjoy watching them and thanks for clarifying!
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.
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.
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.
Would like to see the SB140LR in this comparison.
It’s been a long time. It’s closest to the sentinel though.
should of added the orbea occam LT into the mix!
@@zoomzoomgt we did these specifically because they all were launched this summer.
Enduro round?
We could probably make that happen.
Just missing the SB140
@@brookscurran it’s been too long since I’ve ridden that one.
Happy Thanksgiving Day, Gents
Same to you!
Why I got the ebike version of the Sentinel……the Transition Relay!
Roger that! Getting an ebike.
@@HorizonVertigo I’ll take two please!
Thanksgiving Day- Walden’s Ridge outside Chattanooga TN first time so some stops to scope features- 2000 ft vert in 1 hour 20 on my Ibis Oso. Could not have done that on an analog. Still have my Bronson and love it, but an emtb is a game changer.
Navajo Rocks?
@@stevedzurilla2436 yup! And Mag 7 and Ahab.
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.
is it just the availablillity of the bikes you're able to test, or have you fellas been unaware there are like.. 50 mtb frames out there.
my 2 cents: the orbea occam and the spot mayhem will blow away any of these big brand LBS kits. hands down.
We picked these three for this video because they all were launched this summer/fall. I’ve ridden and reviewed the Occam. I love that one too.
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.
Who else after watching this video just wants to go to Moab now haha.
I want to go back already.
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.
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!
ah yes, the 160mm all mountain category
@@mikerotchburns1622 these are all 150mm
@@bikersedge in the front?
@@mikerotchburns1622 bikes are typically measured by rear travel. These are all 150/160. Very much not enduro bikes with 160+ rear.
Santa Cruz can eat its own A for eliminating in-frame cabling for CC frames. That absolutely ruins SC. Shoresy says So dumb.
I’m not a fan. Limiting utility for no apparent benefit might not be the move.
I think Joey would be better at bikes if he had a full beard.
Clearly. It’s way more aero. Probably.
I’m here after PinkBike slammed the Ripmo
Felt like they slammed every bike this year.
@ yeah, but dead last out of the bunch
Not sure they can ride without training wheels. Makes sense.
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.
Switchblade would beat them all!!
These mop the floor with the switchblade
No In cable for the cc sc ht knock is stupid. Then just buy the C build. I’m glad the cc build doesn’t have the in cable housing. It’s not for the peasants
@@LCNismo yeah I like expensive things just for the sake of being expensive…..
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.
Sentinel hands down
@@treymann23 I mean I agree. But I’d be happy with any of them.
@bikersedge great content Gents!!! Keep it up
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.
@@bikersedge Thanks for the reply. Did you find that the L fit you well, or was there some debate?
@ it fit pretty much like every other XL I’ve ridden recently. Maybe just a tiny bit smaller but not enough that I’d consider the XL.