I think you covered everything, nice job! It's hard to compare your review to what people would be buying as complete Ibis builds, but I totally understand that was not the point of your review. What I think is great about that bike is...my understanding is that the frame is 1.5 lbs heavier than the carbon version. BUT....the carbon version is about a full pound lighter than most of the other carbon frames in its class, which means the AL version is still a very viable weight comparatively. What a lot of people are doing locally is buying the NX version for the price point, and then just upgrading as they need to replace those components (needing a new driver is a hassle, but I think the new Shimano drivetrain will fit it, and their 12 speed is getting great reviews!). Flat out...MANY people just don't want to have a lot of cash tied up in a bike, and they can get that bike for what reasonable used bikes are selling for, and have something brand new. I WILL ADD THAT I put the Works Components 1* angleset in my carbon Ripmo recently, and I LOVE IT. I've always liked riding bikes that are 65*, and that's where it lands now. I'm a bike leaner like you, and I actually prefer the feeling of the bike cornering with the slacker geometry. I'm running 170mm cranks, and haven't noticed any issues with pedal strikes with the DPX2 running at 15% sag, as recommended, even with the slight drop from the angleset. I can't find a single thing the bike doesn't do better with the angleset in it. I know that doesn't address the issue with progression on the rear shock, but I haven't really had issues with the DPX2 since it's a more progressive shock than the Float X2 (plus I'm not hitting things as big as you I'm sure). I give up some suppleness, but it makes the pedal platform very nice, and worth the slightly harsher ride to me. Oh...and I know you're sponsored by PNW, but the Bike Yoke dropper in 185mm works VERY well on the carbon Ripmo. It gets the seat well down out of the way, almost like a Dirt Jumper!
I think you covered that review very well. The low BB and the fact that you don't think it is a great east coast setup is what I needed to hear. I ride in Georgia, and we have a lot of punchy climbs with roots and rocks. I've had my eye on this frame since it hit the market, and I have seriously considered getting it. I think I'd be happier with the Ripley based on your information; Thanks for that.
Hi Jeff, hey is that up by N Rodeo Gulch & Mountain View? 1:10 I love it there. I grew up on Branciforte, the big house with the 4 pillars where they removed the dam, near the old Sanitarium bldg.
@@stevencole8880 Steven, the Ripley is IMO the best all around Ibis model for less mountainous areas, but I've also never personally ridden Georgia, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt! Hopefully you can demo them both, and get exactly the bike that will work best for ya! Cheers!!!
lol I wish! My $300 lav mic's cord is shorting out, hence the horrid audio interference part way through. This new corner of the warehouse should have better sound than the workbench I normally use, which is a pleasant surprise! I'll spend some time this winter working on acoustic treatments, I'd love to get these videos sounding like I'm not yelling! Thanks for watching!
Hahahaha thanks Seth! That's my mom, she tries to never swear around my sister or I, but one day she was driving my sis when they rear-ended the car in front of them. She meant to yell "what a cluster-F" but on accident yelled "what a c-f*ck". To commemorate, my sister got that custom "c-f*ck" mug printed for her.
Super honest and expert review not to mention you shred those bikes , after not riding mountain bikes for almost 15 years I'm getting a ripmo af , should be here in like a month , keep shredding Jeff !!
Well this sold me on the Ripmo AF. I've been watching this channel for a couple of years, but I've finally gotten serious about getting a good bike. I used your referral link!
Thanks Jon! I need to sell product as a sponsored rider and to keep the channel going but I don’t want to mislead anyone either! Going to do more product reviews through 2020 so stay tuned!
The one thing that I'd love to point out on this video is how honest you were about your opinion on AL vs Carbon. Great review. I totally didn't know the geo was different than the carbon version. Thanks for covering that! You rock!
Thanks man! I could care less if I'm riding steel, titanium, carbon or aluminum. As long as it works! The aluminum here works just fine, but it is heavier and a flexier than the carbon version, but I'd also rather travel with aluminum as it's more airlines baggage handler resistant!
Im so excited i ordered the silver AF NX from Jenson. They say 3 day delivery, but its on back order. Been 3weeks now, im losing my mind with anticipation!!!!
I was at an event a few months ago and was planning on demo-ing the AF. I was having a real blast riding so I kept putting it off and wound up missing my chance as they were closing up the demo by the time I decided to try it out. On the cranks thing. I'm 5'-6.5" and started using 165mm cranks this past year because the pedal strikes were getting on my nerves with 175's. Turned out to be a great move in my case!! Much better fit and pedal strikes all but gone. Nice Vid JKW. This bike is certainly in the running for my next ride.
Dave, great to hear you've been digging the 165s, there's a big study about crank length and they found that longer rarely means more power. I'm pretty pinned but I'd love to get some 165 SLX cranks onto this bike, I'm aware that my 170s could in fact be longer than ideal! The Ripmo AF is a great bike and if you read the owner reports, the vast majority of folks are STOKED on it! If this was my last bike for eternity I'd be pretty stoked too.
@@JeffKendallWeed yeah I think it was a study done by NASA or something that in summary says the shorter length of the crank can enable better knee extension and hip flexion which in turn means alittle more torque.
I demo'd the Carbon and AF back to back this past weekend! It's interesting that they are different versions of the bike. I really liked out how the AF is more grounded and really like how it pedals. My main concern was how it climbs. I did take it up a few hills, and although I may have to work a bit harder on the climbs due to the added weight ( but that's more a me problem!) but not much. I might get the NX build and see if I can get the bike yoke dropper instead of what it comes with ( too clunky). The Carbon version ( I've demo'd it previously) is more nimble - main difference in riding. But the AF is fairly nimble.
love your reviews. short, concise and you talk more about the bikes and frame rather than the components. I dont know why in bike reviews people hard on components other than the suspension... the variable is the frame not the components lol.
You aren’t lying when you’re saying it’s great value. $3000 is an amazing price for this bike. I wish there was an Ibis dealer in Denmark, so I could try some of their bikes.
Thanks Paul! I'd love to do something similar about the HD5, just working on a few other things first! FWIW I have more fun on my HD5 than on the AF, and generally prefer it, but I am NOT trying to go fast anymore, just jib around and huck!
@@JeffKendallWeed I used to race downhill and did a few enduro races but at 46 I'm more into just having fun and playing on my bike. The HD5 seems to fit that bill a little better than the 29ers. Still want to demo both in the spring...
1st: happy new year! 🎉😉 I wish you all a injury-free season! 😃 2nd: that's a super in depth review! thx for that! 😁 I'm a lucky owner of the carbon version of the Ripmo. I also noticed that it can bottom out on big impacts, so I eventually went for 3 spacers in the positive chamber of my DVO damper (80kg rider). Feels perfect now and also increased the bottom bracket height a bit. I addressed the "steep" head angle with a 170mm fork (instead of 160mm). Also great! ^^ This geo with the DW-Link is just awesome! :D
1 thank you!!! Doing everything I can for an injury free year as well! 2. I'd love to recommend a 170 fork to everyone but it's more than what Ibis recommends so I shouldn't do that! Enjoy your rad bike!
I’m plump…and old…and have no business mountian biking but I’ve been riding the af gx build in the bike park and on the trails in To-hell-u-ride and Durango and it’s flexie as punk when not landing perfectly straight. And under heavy cornering. When I feel the rear gettin loose and wild I just chill out a bit. ’m just trying to flow and it’s holding up under my 260 lbs. I added a one up bash guard/chain guide, a dvo 500# rear coil shock, and would like to upgrade the rear rotor to a 203 for sure. It’s great because it’s relatively cheap and I can pedal it from my shack to the bike park and back on the cross country trails. The gx build is a bit better but I wish I had a Fox 38 on it. I bought this bike for my son and he was being kind of a jerk so I tried it and kept it. These bikes are so much better than what we had in the 90’s! I may sell a kidney and get a yeti sb165, kinda miss the 650b in the park. The dw link is amazing by the way, pedals great, I forget to lock out the shock all the time and it’s actually really good fully open or middle. Still tweaking with the dvo onyx and it’s burly and pretty good but I’d love a Fox.
Jeff... did you get to ride it with the stock DVO suspension? If so how do you think it compares to the Fox shock and fork? I know the trust fork is awesome but just not in budget rn.
I'm also super curious about this. Been doing a ton of research on DVO this last week and apparently they rock and there's no downsides really to switching. Big upside is that you can service your rear shock at home rather than sending it in if you fancy that kind of stuff
That bike is an insane value, as it comes stock, your build well a bit more pricey. Sick bike Jeff and thanks for providing your thoughts on the Ripmo AF.
thanks Jeff, great review. Was really thinking the ripmo AF was good for me, but your last bit about where to ride and the lower bottom bracket may have convinced me otherwise. I'm out east so....yeah. Have a good one! Gonna go check out the ripley
I got a lot of flack about mentioning the low BB, but I’ve also noticed it on the V2. Plenty of folks have zero issues with it tho! Ripley is a great bike. I really like it with a fox 36 140 fork up front.
@@JeffKendallWeed Yeah, the Ripley looks like the natural fit for my style of biking, not hard hard core, but I do aspire to be able to create a flow like you do on your riding. It looks so light and fun. But so spendy for a rider like me. My reason for even looking at the Ripmo AF was for budget reasons. Do you know if Ibis is going to make an aluminum version of the Ripley to try and lower the price point? Also, what other bikes are similar to the Ripley. I like the Kona 134, but are there other makes out there that you'd recommend checking out? Thanks and good riding!
I really appreciated this video Jeff, I PM on Instargam about upgrades and I currently have a carbon Ripmo in the checkout stage, but I'm waiting for an email regarding suspension upgrades....the boys here in town tried talking me into the AF, but I've really been waiting to order the Ripmo. I think you've addressed a few questions I had, so thank you! See you on the trail!
I’ve been riding the NX build for a few months. I’d say your review is on point. Super fun bike. Climbs pretty well and descends like a champ. Coming from a more nimble steel hard tail the turning radius was a bit to get used to but as you said, leaning the bike into corners feels great. I am on the bigger side but haven’t noticed the flex particularly. Might be from my steel roots. I absolutely do have to deal with pedal strikes which is kind of a drag but all in all very happy.
Thanks Shane! Glad you're enjoying yours!!! It's a great bike AND a solid price point. The flex thing, like I mention, isn't going to apply to most people. The low BB can mean some pedal strikes but it also means really good high speed handling, so yeah, not exactly a con for everyone either!
Hey Abhinav, thanks for the note! I really like the bib knickers as a base layer, the knicker bit means my kneepads have something to grip to. I mostly use the Haskell pants, and if it is warm/dry enough for shorts, then I use the Origin shorts. Up top I wear their base layer (it's like an undershirt, but they no longer offer them) then I REALLY like the Cyclone tee, and use those with arm warmers for most rides. When it's in the mid 40s and colder I use the Escalator jersey which is crazy warm- it's made from Polartec Powerwool and kicks butt. If it's pretty warm out, I'll go for a Superflow jersey, but those are crazy cold, so I rarely wear one below 75/80 degrees. The Escalator and the Super Flow are both pretty extreme in what they do. That's the kit I run for 90% of my riding! Cheers!!!
Timing couldn't be better for me with this video. Ripmo AF is in my shortlist of 3 for a new FS bike in the spring, still very high in my priority too.
Really solid review and mirrors our impressions of this bike. Because we all know the question is coming, Ripmo AF or HD5? Which would you recommend for an enduro rider?
Can you recommend this bike as an all rounder? In Texas we have flat smooth single track to rocky and hilly. I have a Hightower and love it as an all rounder. I am helping a friend decide between the Ripmo AF and Hightower within a $3000 budget. The Ripmo AF seems a better spec for the price, just worry it might be too much bike. Thanks and love your channel.
Mario V I can see this being an absolute ripper at Spider mountain and some of the more DH oriented trails like the few DH runs we have an Sansom Park in Fort Worth. I’m in north Texas and places like North Shore in Flowermound are too tame for this bike. You’re really going to notice that extra travel and slack geo on the punchy ups and downs we have here in Texas. I think it might “soak up” some of the fun given our flatter terrain too. The AF would be a great second bike for park days at spider, trips to Bentonville and taking it out west to Angler Fire and Trestle but I don’t think it would be the best one bike quiver for the majority of Tx trails.
For North Texas the Carbon Ripmo should be a better fit for jumps and drops...IMO Spider Mountain doesn't really require much travel if you travel to Colorado and Bentonville the AF will shine more. If you are not into Enduro or gnarly drops then a bike like the Ripley or Tallboy will be a better all around bike.
Mario if a Hightower works for your buddy then the Ripmo AF would be a great bike for that sort of stuff. I'd say stick with air suspension and check crank length so your pal can pedal through more of the rocky flat stuff without snagging. Ripley could be a great choice but it's outta the budget.
Great feedback Parker! At Cat Mtn and Reveille both near Austin, I could see the Ripmo AF being a good set up, but it's also personal preference. Thanks for weighing in!!!
Been considering this as my first full sus bike which I've been saving up for. I live in new England currently and the trails are as you described. Rocky, short punchy climbs, sketchy descents and that is part of what has made me want to get a full suspension. Probably won't buy for at least a while. I'm also still trying to figure out how much travel I really need. I want to get a little more adventurous than I am on my hardtail with 140mm like on it currently, but I could also definitely push that bike harder. Anyone in a similar situation to me owner a ripmo and like it? Hoping for something that will grow with me
Im in the same boat as you. Seems like the Ripmo might be a little bit too much bike for the tight and twisty NE trails. Was considering the new Giant Trance X
@@sinnops where do you ride? I actually had the 140mm hardtail stolen and replaced it with a 150 and aside from not having rear suspension it feels pretty good. I'm starting to get into the harder stuff and riding park so I'm wondering if the ripmo might actually be a good idea after all and to keep the hardtail for smoother stuff. I'm also looking into the fezarri delano peak which seems similar but carbon and less travel. I kind of want Alu more tbh. Carbon makes me nervous although I would have a warranty
@@Slinkylinky179 I ride in southern New Hampshire, in the Manchester area. Currently have a 2011 Giant XTC hardtail with 100mm of travel that I have been riding for years and i do pretty well on it but would love some more cush over the chatter! I borrowed a Kona Process 153 the other day on the trails and it was a totally different experience although I was not pushing the bike anywhere near its capability and the modern geometry and full suspension takes some getting used to. But the specs on that bike are very similar to the Ripmo so I would think it would be totally suitable for the local trails. I'll be keeping the hard tail for smoother stuff as well. I asked another youtuber who did a review on the ripmo AF and he loves it and said it handles great on short technical climbs. ruclips.net/video/l4iyjKCZQpo/видео.html&lc=UgxIXKHvmnX6ZmzXESt4AaABAg.9CrwKtj1otD9CrwjEO6NZf
@@JeffKendallWeed Just for shits and giggles, threw my AF on the scale and came up with 32 lbs. It's got the DVO Diamond fork, DVO Topaz air shock, Ibis carbon wheels, Ibis carbon Bars, DHR front tire, Aggressor rear tire, Satellite saddle/with titanium rails, Raceface Chester pedals, SLX build. As measured by my (trusty?) luggage scale.
So, not recommended for east coast rocky trails, but what about Sedona OR the place with all the best trails that you still need to visit....PRESCOTT, AZ?! 😃👍
i have about 500 miles on mine in sedona, it pedals so damn well. i'm usually a weight weenie but i don't care with this bike. get one and don't look back.
great video, Everything seems spot on, but i had no idea about the low bb but it does make sense. Also i haven't yet hucked it to notice the torsion you mentioned, seems logical though. I have an xl with a coil. such a dream to ride. love the in-depth feedback.
Esteban, it's not crazy low, but I did prefer the slightly taller fork. The downsides I mentioned are all pretty minor, and most of them are the result of having some additional bonus (like better handling with the BB/more price point friendly rotor options with the brake mount/lower frame cost with the cable routing).
@@JeffKendallWeed yea exactly its all compromises that make sense. And thanks for always replying to my comments! This isnt the first time! Much appreciated.😁
I have one and live on east coast. I have about one pedal strike per ride so not too bad. I have 170mm cranks though and I also have the DVO topaz. I put lighter casing tires on it and don’t notice any flex.
Thanks for the great feedback Kurt!!! Your first hand east coast experience is great. I’ve ridden Pittsburgh PA, Seven Springs PA, Asheville/Brevard, and Santos/Alafia but that’s it! Are you on flat pedals or clip less? My flats are pretty wide, possibly why I’ve noticed it more lately, but it’s not so bad that I’d call it a deal breaker. Our high speed mega jumpy trails here in the steep PNW will make flex differences pretty apparent quick! My jumpy style also makes me notice it more.
Kurt it might be frame size related. Mine is a medium. I don’t think ibis sent me anything special, it might be pre-production since I got it before it officially launched but they made no mention of it being different.
@@kurtmccann137 hey bud. Also on east coast and wondering if I should sell my carbon V1 to get the AF. I'm super attracted to DVO for at home serviceability and thinking I'd go with the coil Jade x. Only hard thing for me is will I hate the aluminum over the carbon. Would love to hear your perspective!?
Great video Jeff, really appreciate the honesty. This bike checked all the boxes for me and I've been enjoying it very much. I've been able to tackle features I didn't feel comfortable doing on my hardtail. I do understand why you built it up how you did but I would have liked to hear what you think about the DVO suspension the bike comes with. Anywho, it's still a great review and thanks for creating great content.
Right on Mike, glad to hear you got one and have been enjoying it! I do have the DVO shock here, I need to get around to trying it. I'll be surprised if it's a huge difference from the X2. I also need to try the DPX2 on here as well.
Hello Jeff I wished you made more comparisons against the Carbon Ripmo. I am assuming that the Carbon is more playful, snappy and with more pop. Is this the case? Also for technical climbs can you confirm that the Carbon Ripmo had less pedal strikes due to BB height?
Hi Rata, the Carbon Ripmo has less jumping pop as it'll bottom out sooner on steep take offs due to the more linear suspension. The handling is similar, but with the steeper head angle, it requires a slightly more upright riding style of turning the bars more and leaning the bike less. Same BB height on the two bikes of 341mm. The 2lbs of extra weight that the AF carries can be noticeable on flatter trails. The "ultimate" set up in my eyes would be the Ripmo Carbon with a -1.0 or -1.5 Works Components angle reducing headset.
@@JeffKendallWeed Looking a little bit at the carbon ripmo, but have some concern with the linear suspension and riding bigger park stuff. I'm just over 200 lbs. Also looking the the Revved gg Smash, but have some concern it won't be as responsive climbing out of the saddle.
@@MattPayne1 ... I have no insider information at all, but my guess would be that Ibis will likely make some changes to the carbon version for 2021. It's just a pure guess, but it takes a while to recoup the costs of developing carbon moulds, which is why some Mfr.'s come out with AL first to work out the bugs, and THEN tweak it before making a carbon version (Transition being one example). Maybe depending on your timeline, you could reach out to Ibis and inquire about that? We have a local rider who is a ripper...AM Cat 1 CO State DH champion for his age group 40-49 in 2016 or 17, Billy Dale, and he's from Arkansas! He's 210 lbs and rides HARD. He's on the Rimpo carbon with the Float X2. He has maximum volume spacers in it, and has looked into getting it custom valved. At this time...no one is doing that for that shock. I won't blow smoke...he fights it bottoming out, and runs his bike as stiff as anyone I know. I did hear that someone is now offering a progressive coil that will fit the Ripmo, but I'm not aware of anyone running it. You might research it a little. If you are 2 bills and plan to ride park and hit the biggest features, I would probably not target the carbon Ripmo. I would bet Jeff would agree.
@@willbros1499 if you could go v1 carbon ripmo or AF alloy with the new Geo which would you rather be on? I currently have a V1 NX build and I need to do some upgrades to it but if I sell I can hop on the AF while saving money. Just want to make sure alloy doesn't suck compared to carbon
You are right on with the handling, I demo'd one in Denver and loved it!, Do I dare say it handles better than the Ripley for my riding style? So very close, more lean than steer!
4RX, for me, the Ripmo AF handles MUCH better than the Ripley. Ripley is more poppy and easier to change directions with on slow trails, but I don't have nearly the confidence or cornering consistency on the Ripley as i do on the AF.
@@JeffKendallWeed I think that is exactly it, the confidence/ease of cornering is what I feel on the AF vs the Ripley. The AF feels more 'balanced' to me, with less effort with the Ripley being precise and agile! Great videos btw!
Sylvain, the pedals are what stick out furthest and hit most stuff and they cause more of a crash when they snag, so they matter more than the smooth end of the crank arm.
Here you go cue: bit.ly/FeedbackStandJKW That stand works fine but it's not perfect. It only fits up to around a 2.5 tire, we have to really mash on the 2.6 tires on my wifes bike to get it in there.
Justin, that would be awesome! I'm with you, I'd love to see Ibis do more alloy bikes. If I had a dream wish list for such a bike, I'd love for it to be more progressive and 3 full degrees slacker in the head angle. Not sure what they'll do, but my desires are probably different than the average customer's!
Jeff Kendall-Weed oh cool, thanks! It looks much more effective that what I’ve used in the past. Is it secured with zip ties? Also didn’t realize you were from Santa Cruz, I didn’t grow up there but I lived there for about 8 years. I need to go ride there soon.
Thanks Leo! I'm working on improving the audio acoustics in that corner now, I'd like to shoot more there! Yeah 35 pounds is heavy. I don't mind it much but I also spend a lot of time in the gym and gave up on climbing fast years ago!
Hi Jeff, great balanced, honest video. Helps that your riding style is awesome too. Is the Fox Float X2 shock you mounted custom tuned by Ibis too for the AF?
Great review, glad your all healed up. I also have a recently purchased AF, loving it so far, pedals better than it should. Mine came in a bit lighter, 30.5lbs, not using double wall tires, it is a personal build as well with Sram XO and a couple other light bits. I was able to fit a 210mm one up dropper post pretty easy, I have a medium with a 31” inseem, so my post is pretty high. I did notice the low bottom bracket right away, lots of pedal strikes, but just became more mindful of timing my pedaling through rocks. I don’t go as big, or charge as hard as you so I don’t notice any flex at all. Alas, all the big rowdy trail I’m dying to take it on are snowed in.
Can you help me out? Currently have the V1 Carbon Ripmo and thinking of selling it. Current plan is to get the Ripmo AF to replace it. However going from Carbon to Alloy is a bit of an unknown for me and I want to make sure I won't hate it. I also want to go to the AF for the DVO T3 and Diamond because they are more serviceable by the DIY mechanic rather than being nitrogen charged having that bladder style over IFP. Could you please help me understand if this would be a good decision? I heard that Ibis EWS guys hated the V1 kinematics and V2 geometry solves that with the AF. Any insight would be super helpful. Thanks!
How do you find the Ripmo AF on the rocky, rooty, wet climbs versus the carbon Ripmo? I tested a carbon GX Ripmo today and it was so much fun - it wanted to jib and boost off every little hit on the trail. It could also climb some tech I never thought I could climb. Does the Ripmo AF still have that jibby jammin vibe and willingness to climb? Great video!
Hey Bango, the Ripmo Carbon is significantly lighter, which as much as I hate to admit, does make those climbs easier. 2lbs is noticeable. The steeper head angle isn't a big deal as the steep seat angle puts so much weight up front as it is. On the down the AF is every bit as jibby- if anything, I'd say it's more so. The more progressive suspension is more poppy and more forgiving, and the slacker head angle is more confident when it gets sketchy.
@@JeffKendallWeed Thanks for the reply, great info! If the cost was the same, would you get a carbon or aluminium Ripmo for the riding around Bellingham? Pretty similar to what we have here in BC
Nice video. I have one myself with a dvo coil shock and 165 mm xt cranks. Coming from a 2019 stumpjumper with 170 cranks I notice less pedal strikes and better climbing. Both have the same bb height und the stumpi has a bigger drop but 8 mm less travel in the rear.
Jeff, very difficult to get a large ripmo af here on the eastern side of canada, i am 5'9 so in between the size med and large. if i compare the geometry with my large 2018 trek remedy i have about the same reach even longer with the med ripmo. what do you recommend. i ride basically all type of terrain.
Hey there, I’m about a half inch shorter and I would ride a large if I were still racing. Usually at 5’9” most folks are fine with a large. Kinda depends on preference but If your heart is set on a large I’d say wait it out!
haha, my bikes tend to be "heavy" as well as i build for reliability and survivability, my 19 Bronson v3 C comes in around 34.5lbs. I did just install my first set of WTB tires and went 2.8 vigilantes front and rear and like you i went Tough casing for both, high grip front, fast rolling for the rear. I definitely need to play with pressure or learn the tire more as i keep getting a two wheel drift going on i never experienced on DHF / HR2 combo i used to run. Technical and general grip and performance has been great with a few rides in i just gotta watch those corners 😅
Wow Guineson, I haven't tried the 2.8 Vigilantes yet, but I am surprised to hear they are MORE drifty than the DHF combo! I just saw a post in the Ibis Facebook group from a guy who tried the Vigi 2.5 after riding the DHF and he couldn't believe how much more it hooked up at a steep lean angle. Often the plus size tires float more rather than dig in, I wonder if that's going on, but not having tried that variant of the tire I can't really say. Anyhow I hope you get sorted soon!!!
Hey, thanks for the review! Do you think the bike feels more like an enduro bike or an AM/aggressive trail bike? I’m seriously looking at this or a YT Capra, and struggling lol. Leaning towards the Ibis though for the climbing and supposedly minimal losses in descending compared with the Capra
I don't know if he's done it or not, but I have. Do it! I know they are touting their trail number with the reduced offset fork, and all that jazz...but I can tell you that I haven't found a single thing the bike doesn't do just as well with the Works Components 1* angleset in it. I got the sucker on sale for black Friday, but I think they still have them marked down. I think it took about 7 business days from when I placed the order, to receive it. I'm curious if you ever had an occasionally uneasy feeling landing jumps where it felt like the bike sort ot "stuck" and you had to fight not to get thrown forward? I also had times on really right corners, where if I hit so much as a pebble, I would feel like I might go OTB. The angleset fixed BOTH of those issues. The bike is NOTICEABLY more stable descending, and slow speed rock tech is a little more confident as well. I think you can't go wrong, and especially not for the price. I have had the Cane Creek product in the past, and those moving gimbals never worked right, and they will creak, and occasionally slip. I would stick to the Works Components product from UK. I will say...I'm not real impressed with the lack of seals. It's just metal on metal, so it's going to need more frequent cleaning as things infiltrate the cracks, and that's kind of annoying. I still feel it's worth it for the performance improvement. HUGE WORD OF CAUTION!! There's a weird lip inside my headtube, and I think it's on all cabon Ripmo's. The headset cups don't butt up against it, but it's VERY close to the top of the cups. If you use the Park Tools cup remover tool, and you aren't VERY careful that it doesn't "spring out" and get past that lip, and you bang on it, it might wreck your frame! I suggest using a punch, and going very slowly around the existing headset cups to punch them out, so you don't have to worry about possibly damaging your carbon frame. I was LUCKY that I took mine into the LBS to borrow that and the headset press tooll, and the mechanic warned me about that issue...and he was dead on! Good luck...and if you don't love it, I'll be SHOCKED!
You mentioned you're 5'8" and normally ride 170 cranks but were striking with the 175s on the Ripmo AF. I'm also 5'8" and my medium bike came with 175, would you say 170 is more appropriate for our height, leg length? I've wondered if the 175 offers better stability and pedal force given that it has more leverage and a wider stance when you have the pedals level... but could I have too much stance separation, any thoughts on my assumption? Trying to figure out if there's benefits to switching to 170 outside of pedal clearance...
Josh, as many others have commented, the shorter cranks almost always feel better for both pedaling biomechanics AND for clearance during aggressive riding. I'll swap these 175s for some 165s, I've been meaning to give 165s a solid try for years now! A big study came out a while ago that showed that shorter cranks often have big benefits. There's a lot of traditionalists that still want long cranks for whatever reason.
@@JeffKendallWeed Thanks for the reply, you're really great about replying (not the first bit of useful info I've gotten out of you haha). The more I think about it, the shorter crank might help get my knee over the pedal better as well. Small frame was too small but the medium I bought is a hair too big in terms of where the crankset falls under me, even with the seat cheated forward. Keep the awesome videos coming!
Ok, I have a stupid question: is the color more red or orange? I've seen tons of pics online. In some it looks bright orange. In others it looks more dull, even red in some. How would you describe it? Bright orange is my favorite color, but I'm worried I'll get this and just be disappointed. Trying to decide between this and the silver and I have no Ibis dealers anywhere close around here. Thanks
I have a dillema: I recently cracked my V1 Ibis Ripley frame. I decided to get it repaired and it's in the process. I'm considering once my Ripley is repaired, to use it as a backup bike and possibly get the Ripmo AF (SLX build) or the new Ripley. I'm thinking I can use a bike that is a bit more forgiving (Ripmo AF), however I really like the nimbleness of the Ripley. Thoughts on this? Thanks.
I'm curious what you ended up deciding. In a similar position but looking to sell my V1 and go to the AF for the better build as there are things I'd like to upgrade on my V1 and it makes more sense financially to just sell and buy a AF in this case. Only thing holding me up is going from carbon frame to alloy.
@@russm195 I got the V1 Ripmo (Carbon), NX build. I won a bid on Ebay. I liked the Nimbleness on the Carbon more than the Alloy. The Ripmo is like a RIpley on Steroids! If you do get an NX build, you will probably want to upgrade the brakes eventually. I went ahead and upgraded mine to SLX 4 piston. The AF is very capable. You should demo it. Good luck!
@@NDemanuele1 thanks for the reply man! I have an NX build V1 Ripmo already. Similar position as you and the brakes are reliable but don't grab for shit on the NX build so I'm looking to upgrade. Instead of spending a ton of money upgrading stuff I'm thinking of selling my V1 while it still has most of it's value and upgrading to the AF with the better geometry and kinematics for the rear. Also DVO fucks compared to fox is what I'm learning.
@@russm195 See if you can get one with a good groupset. Not sure if you want to buy new or used, but a good groupset is worth every penny! I wanted a better one than NX, but the bike had very low miles, practically new. So I went with it.
@@russm195 Honestly, I don't know how much different the AF is. I demo'd the V1 and Alloy back to back on the road ( they were floor models) and noticed the AF seemed a bit more planted ( maybe the weight?). The V1 seemed more nimble. All I did to my V1 is upgrade the brakes - that's all it needs. Everything else will be addressed when necessary. You could sell your V1 and then get a better build AF? Maybe SLX or GX. It shouldn't cost much more, if not cheaper.
PL, I think that's the case. With the slacker HA I'm leaning the bike a bit more though, and the pedals get closer to the ground. I've also switched over to flat pedals, which are a touch bigger than my old SPDs. It's on the low side, but both bikes have still worked great for me on all kinds of tech climb challenges all over Arizona and in Utah- spots where folks often complain the most about low BBs.
@@JeffKendallWeed yeah I did Utah with my Stumpjumper 650b which has 335 bb height..flat pedals also. Led me to change crank for 170! Im really considering the AF as my next bike, thanks so much for the reply:)
LOL that's funny Tobias, I know the mullet thing is trendy but I tried it (even filmed it too) and didn't enjoy it much. Check the Pinkbike tests to get their feedback on the one mullet bike in the group. Having a bike that isn't balanced was not enjoyable for me.
Hahaha I'm not 100% that the BB height is that big of a deal, but I'd love to run a 170mm fork if using a stock set up, that would raise BB and slacken head angle even more.
Ripmo AF is huge in comparison. Harder to corner and jump. Ripmo AF is faster on all the straight aways. More consistent in the turns. For the racers, the RAF is the way to go. For folks that ride for fun, I'd say HD5.
Hey Jason, I have not had ANY cable rattle. None. The cable guides are VERY tight and I think that is to prevent rattle. Feel free to ask around, but I have not heard of cable rattle being a problem for anyone else, either.
Thanks for the note Mike! I have no idea if they will do an e-bike. I can say that I am trying hard to get an e-bike now, I need to spin more for training, and I'm eyeing up the Intense Tazer and the Norco E-Sight.
Hi jeff, i noticed the same flex before a jump. But at 185 lbs, i din't need many g force, and i have to pay attention to stay inline. A bit dangerous. Too much pedal strike with 175mm crank, my advice is a 30mm drop is too much. Sorry for my bad english, im from france. For french speakers, u can watch my ripmo af test on my channel. Ride hard👍
Awesome review thanks. I love how honest you are and how you state the pros and cons of a given design decision in detail. I really enjoy watching stuff like bible or bikes but imo they get to far from actual analysis. Anyway thanks for the content!
Thanks Mike! I watched the Bike Mag vid after I finished shooting this one, and was really surprised when the one guy mentioned he wanted to ride it out east. Who knows, it's not fair to lump all "east coast" riding into one basket either!
Congrats on your Carbon Process, that's a great bike! For anyone else that's reading this, always check around for older closeout models. I really, really liked the XT 11 speed stuff, and would not hesitate to ride my old Ripmo Carbon with 11 speed for eternity.
@@suzukibassman I got my bike on pinkbike from a bike shop in California. However I went to the kona bike shop in Bellingham about 2 months ago if you are local, and they had similar pricing on 2018 models. The 2018, 2019 are the same exact bike, just different builds. Just did a quick search, definitly better deals than this. www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2601763/ I would go to your local bike shop and check out the deals on last year models, that way you get help and warranty from your local shop.
Fair point, the Yeti has the same amount of rear travel (150 and 147 is the same, no one will notice a 3mm rear travel difference) yet an 8mm higher BB. The other bikes all have higher BBs, a touch more travel, but it gets complex as they have longer forks as well. What I can say is that once I put the longer fork on my AF I preferred the resulting slightly higher BB.
@@JeffKendallWeed .... I know you're a tech head, so I'm curious. Did the AF's BB lower versus the carbon model as a result of the change to the rear linkage to change the leverage curve to make the rear more progressive? I haven't noticed any issue with my carbon model, but I loved it so much during demo that I never thought to even check the BB height! Adding the angleset....best decision ever, and compared to my previousTransitions with 35% sag in the rear to get them to handle right....I KNOW pedal strikes really well! :-)
@@JeffKendallWeed .... Yep...I looked it up after my post. Should have done that prior! Were you running the recommended 15% sag on your carbon Ripmo? That's WAY less than I ran on my Scout and Patrol, and it's right in the Ibis Ripmo book...or I would have been running it with much more than that if I hadn't read the manual. It's odd, because with the DPX 2, the bike feels to me like it rides high in the travel, and while I have occasionally had some harsh landings, it's usuallly because I tail cased something from not having enough speed. I do have four friends with the Ripmo, and ALL of them have the Float X2, and they have all mentioned that it feels like they blow through the travel too easily. I really don't feel that way with the DPX 2 unless I make a mistake, but medium size (15-20') tables and doubles is all I tackle. But on things at Coler and Leatherwood...no problems with bottoming, other than very rarely. I will also readily admit that I do miss the ability to tune the high speed compression, and the finer adjustments to make the bike skate through rock gardens a little better....but there are always some trade offs, as you said right in this video!
Hey Jeff; very comprehensive vid as usual. Keep up the fine work. But, at 7:20 "plumper riders" might be happier with "stouter riders". Some people might be kinda sensitive.
That's a great review, pros and cons, real world experience, not just hyperbole, good comparisons to other bikes, custom setup explanation, and best trail use. What more could you ask for.
@@JeffKendallWeed Ya, seems pretty spot on. I have noticed it sits a bit low. I might switch to 170 mm cranks. I have 175mm now on an XL frame. I love how quick and sporty it feels for the amount of travel on it. Seems like it would feel bigger to me but I think it handles really well and is pretty playful for what it is but still plows through chunk really good too.
Great review! I live near Santa Cruz and have one on order from Jenson. My only concern is cornering come from. 27.5” bike to 29” but it’s probably just something I’ll have to get use to. Would like to see more videos of you riding this bike!
Thanks Josh! Yeah the 27.5 is easier to handle and throw through tighter corners, and easier to jump, but the 29 stays more composed when things are rough and fast. I'm not trying to go crazy fast anymore, so I'm stoked on 27.5, but the majority of the market has fully converted to 29 again.
So what did I miss in the review? Let me know your BURNING Ripmo AF questions!!! Cheers!
I think you covered everything, nice job! It's hard to compare your review to what people would be buying as complete Ibis builds, but I totally understand that was not the point of your review. What I think is great about that bike is...my understanding is that the frame is 1.5 lbs heavier than the carbon version. BUT....the carbon version is about a full pound lighter than most of the other carbon frames in its class, which means the AL version is still a very viable weight comparatively. What a lot of people are doing locally is buying the NX version for the price point, and then just upgrading as they need to replace those components (needing a new driver is a hassle, but I think the new Shimano drivetrain will fit it, and their 12 speed is getting great reviews!). Flat out...MANY people just don't want to have a lot of cash tied up in a bike, and they can get that bike for what reasonable used bikes are selling for, and have something brand new.
I WILL ADD THAT I put the Works Components 1* angleset in my carbon Ripmo recently, and I LOVE IT. I've always liked riding bikes that are 65*, and that's where it lands now. I'm a bike leaner like you, and I actually prefer the feeling of the bike cornering with the slacker geometry. I'm running 170mm cranks, and haven't noticed any issues with pedal strikes with the DPX2 running at 15% sag, as recommended, even with the slight drop from the angleset. I can't find a single thing the bike doesn't do better with the angleset in it. I know that doesn't address the issue with progression on the rear shock, but I haven't really had issues with the DPX2 since it's a more progressive shock than the Float X2 (plus I'm not hitting things as big as you I'm sure). I give up some suppleness, but it makes the pedal platform very nice, and worth the slightly harsher ride to me.
Oh...and I know you're sponsored by PNW, but the Bike Yoke dropper in 185mm works VERY well on the carbon Ripmo. It gets the seat well down out of the way, almost like a Dirt Jumper!
I think you covered that review very well. The low BB and the fact that you don't think it is a great east coast setup is what I needed to hear. I ride in Georgia, and we have a lot of punchy climbs with roots and rocks. I've had my eye on this frame since it hit the market, and I have seriously considered getting it. I think I'd be happier with the Ripley based on your information; Thanks for that.
Hi Jeff, hey is that up by N Rodeo Gulch & Mountain View? 1:10 I love it there. I grew up on Branciforte, the big house with the 4 pillars where they removed the dam, near the old Sanitarium bldg.
@@JAFO. @JAFO, good guess! But no, that's off Summit very close to demo forest, right where I grew up!
@@stevencole8880 Steven, the Ripley is IMO the best all around Ibis model for less mountainous areas, but I've also never personally ridden Georgia, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt! Hopefully you can demo them both, and get exactly the bike that will work best for ya! Cheers!!!
Really liking honest review knowing you are sponsored by ibis. Makes it even better.
Thanks Stumpe!
Your audio is so good that the rain just sounds peaceful in the background.
lol I wish! My $300 lav mic's cord is shorting out, hence the horrid audio interference part way through. This new corner of the warehouse should have better sound than the workbench I normally use, which is a pleasant surprise! I'll spend some time this winter working on acoustic treatments, I'd love to get these videos sounding like I'm not yelling! Thanks for watching!
Maybe some sound deading in the new spot?
That pan shot from the coffee mug to her smile was priceless!
Hahahaha thanks Seth! That's my mom, she tries to never swear around my sister or I, but one day she was driving my sis when they rear-ended the car in front of them. She meant to yell "what a cluster-F" but on accident yelled "what a c-f*ck". To commemorate, my sister got that custom "c-f*ck" mug printed for her.
Super honest and expert review not to mention you shred those bikes , after not riding mountain bikes for almost 15 years I'm getting a ripmo af , should be here in like a month , keep shredding Jeff !!
Love to see you talking about budget stuff. For most of us that is our bread and butter!
Thanks Brick!!!
Well this sold me on the Ripmo AF. I've been watching this channel for a couple of years, but I've finally gotten serious about getting a good bike. I used your referral link!
Thank you!!! I really appreciate that. The AF is a good bike and I think you’ll really like it!
Even though you're sponsored by Ibis and can make any bike look amazing, it's great to see such a thoughtful and honest review. Thanks!
Thanks Jon! I need to sell product as a sponsored rider and to keep the channel going but I don’t want to mislead anyone either! Going to do more product reviews through 2020 so stay tuned!
The one thing that I'd love to point out on this video is how honest you were about your opinion on AL vs Carbon. Great review. I totally didn't know the geo was different than the carbon version. Thanks for covering that! You rock!
Thanks man! I could care less if I'm riding steel, titanium, carbon or aluminum. As long as it works! The aluminum here works just fine, but it is heavier and a flexier than the carbon version, but I'd also rather travel with aluminum as it's more airlines baggage handler resistant!
Im so excited i ordered the silver AF NX from Jenson. They say 3 day delivery, but its on back order. Been 3weeks now, im losing my mind with anticipation!!!!
Great review! Really appreciate the sincerity. I hope Ibis do as well. You're a great ambassador for the brand.
Thanks Squirrel!
I was at an event a few months ago and was planning on demo-ing the AF. I was having a real blast riding so I kept putting it off and wound up missing my chance as they were closing up the demo by the time I decided to try it out.
On the cranks thing. I'm 5'-6.5" and started using 165mm cranks this past year because the pedal strikes were getting on my nerves with 175's. Turned out to be a great move in my case!! Much better fit and pedal strikes all but gone.
Nice Vid JKW. This bike is certainly in the running for my next ride.
Dave, great to hear you've been digging the 165s, there's a big study about crank length and they found that longer rarely means more power. I'm pretty pinned but I'd love to get some 165 SLX cranks onto this bike, I'm aware that my 170s could in fact be longer than ideal! The Ripmo AF is a great bike and if you read the owner reports, the vast majority of folks are STOKED on it! If this was my last bike for eternity I'd be pretty stoked too.
@@JeffKendallWeed yeah I think it was a study done by NASA or something that in summary says the shorter length of the crank can enable better knee extension and hip flexion which in turn means alittle more torque.
Hahaha Nasa? But seriously, that's about what I recall from the synopsis of that study as well.
I demo'd the Carbon and AF back to back this past weekend!
It's interesting that they are different versions of the bike.
I really liked out how the AF is more grounded and really like how it pedals.
My main concern was how it climbs. I did take it up a few hills, and although I may have to work a bit harder on the climbs due to the added weight ( but that's more a me problem!) but not much.
I might get the NX build and see if I can get the bike yoke dropper instead of what it comes with ( too clunky).
The Carbon version ( I've demo'd it previously) is more nimble - main difference in riding. But the AF is fairly nimble.
I think this is my next bike. Thanks for helping me solidify my decision.
love your reviews. short, concise and you talk more about the bikes and frame rather than the components. I dont know why in bike reviews people hard on components other than the suspension... the variable is the frame not the components lol.
You aren’t lying when you’re saying it’s great value. $3000 is an amazing price for this bike. I wish there was an Ibis dealer in Denmark, so I could try some of their bikes.
It's definitely a great price! Maybe it's worth a short flight to elsewhere in Europe where they are available? Germany likely has tons!
hi...cykelkraft... I guess Göteborg is nearest
Awesome review Jeff! I really appreciate the thoughtful comments and criticism. Could you please do a similar video with the HD5? Pretty please?
Thanks Paul! I'd love to do something similar about the HD5, just working on a few other things first! FWIW I have more fun on my HD5 than on the AF, and generally prefer it, but I am NOT trying to go fast anymore, just jib around and huck!
@@JeffKendallWeed I used to race downhill and did a few enduro races but at 46 I'm more into just having fun and playing on my bike. The HD5 seems to fit that bill a little better than the 29ers. Still want to demo both in the spring...
I was sold until you said flex in the rear. I’m 240 kitted, not really plump. I require a stiiiiiff rear end. The hunt continues!
Love the vid Jeff! The rain in the background is great. Keep the good stuff coming 👍
Thanks Mike! It was POURING that night, I had to yell to be heard over it!!!
It's honest reviews like this that create more confidence in the ultimate purchase of a bike. This is the best review available.
1st: happy new year! 🎉😉 I wish you all a injury-free season! 😃
2nd: that's a super in depth review! thx for that! 😁
I'm a lucky owner of the carbon version of the Ripmo. I also noticed that it can bottom out on big impacts, so I eventually went for 3 spacers in the positive chamber of my DVO damper (80kg rider). Feels perfect now and also increased the bottom bracket height a bit. I addressed the "steep" head angle with a 170mm fork (instead of 160mm). Also great! ^^
This geo with the DW-Link is just awesome! :D
1 thank you!!! Doing everything I can for an injury free year as well!
2. I'd love to recommend a 170 fork to everyone but it's more than what Ibis recommends so I shouldn't do that! Enjoy your rad bike!
I’m plump…and old…and have no business mountian biking but I’ve been riding the af gx build in the bike park and on the trails in To-hell-u-ride and Durango and it’s flexie as punk when not landing perfectly straight. And under heavy cornering. When I feel the rear gettin loose and wild I just chill out a bit. ’m just trying to flow and it’s holding up under my 260 lbs. I added a one up bash guard/chain guide, a dvo 500# rear coil shock, and would like to upgrade the rear rotor to a 203 for sure. It’s great because it’s relatively cheap and I can pedal it from my shack to the bike park and back on the cross country trails. The gx build is a bit better but I wish I had a Fox 38 on it. I bought this bike for my son and he was being kind of a jerk so I tried it and kept it. These bikes are so much better than what we had in the 90’s! I may sell a kidney and get a yeti sb165, kinda miss the 650b in the park. The dw link is amazing by the way, pedals great, I forget to lock out the shock all the time and it’s actually really good fully open or middle. Still tweaking with the dvo onyx and it’s burly and pretty good but I’d love a Fox.
Jeff... did you get to ride it with the stock DVO suspension? If so how do you think it compares to the Fox shock and fork? I know the trust fork is awesome but just not in budget rn.
I'm also super curious about this. Been doing a ton of research on DVO this last week and apparently they rock and there's no downsides really to switching. Big upside is that you can service your rear shock at home rather than sending it in if you fancy that kind of stuff
That bike is an insane value, as it comes stock, your build well a bit more pricey. Sick bike Jeff and thanks for providing your thoughts on the Ripmo AF.
Thanks Ryan!!!
thanks Jeff, great review. Was really thinking the ripmo AF was good for me, but your last bit about where to ride and the lower bottom bracket may have convinced me otherwise. I'm out east so....yeah. Have a good one! Gonna go check out the ripley
I got a lot of flack about mentioning the low BB, but I’ve also noticed it on the V2. Plenty of folks have zero issues with it tho! Ripley is a great bike. I really like it with a fox 36 140 fork up front.
@@JeffKendallWeed Yeah, the Ripley looks like the natural fit for my style of biking, not hard hard core, but I do aspire to be able to create a flow like you do on your riding. It looks so light and fun. But so spendy for a rider like me. My reason for even looking at the Ripmo AF was for budget reasons. Do you know if Ibis is going to make an aluminum version of the Ripley to try and lower the price point? Also, what other bikes are similar to the Ripley. I like the Kona 134, but are there other makes out there that you'd recommend checking out? Thanks and good riding!
I’m 5’9’’ and I get the AF size Large so far so good 😊
I am 5'9"(176cm) local shop recommended me M, how does that L work for you?
@@Kamza_ I swap the 50mm stem for a 35mm And fits well for me. Very secure at highs speed
@@RoigRivera Makes sense I haven't considered that, thanks.
@@Kamza_ My brother 5’7” bougth the AF médium I test it and I like better my set up.
I really appreciated this video Jeff, I PM on Instargam about upgrades and I currently have a carbon Ripmo in the checkout stage, but I'm waiting for an email regarding suspension upgrades....the boys here in town tried talking me into the AF, but I've really been waiting to order the Ripmo. I think you've addressed a few questions I had, so thank you! See you on the trail!
Hey Mike sorry to miss your DM, I often get flooded over there and my phone is so broken it's hard to see what people message me!
Got my custom build Ripmo and loving every bit of it
Congrats Cliff!!!!
I’ve been riding the NX build for a few months. I’d say your review is on point. Super fun bike. Climbs pretty well and descends like a champ. Coming from a more nimble steel hard tail the turning radius was a bit to get used to but as you said, leaning the bike into corners feels great. I am on the bigger side but haven’t noticed the flex particularly. Might be from my steel roots. I absolutely do have to deal with pedal strikes which is kind of a drag but all in all very happy.
Thanks Shane! Glad you're enjoying yours!!! It's a great bike AND a solid price point. The flex thing, like I mention, isn't going to apply to most people. The low BB can mean some pedal strikes but it also means really good high speed handling, so yeah, not exactly a con for everyone either!
Hey Jeff, I know you're sponsored by kitsbow. Could you do a break down of their products? I'm looking for some shorts for my next bikepacking trip.
Hey Abhinav, thanks for the note! I really like the bib knickers as a base layer, the knicker bit means my kneepads have something to grip to. I mostly use the Haskell pants, and if it is warm/dry enough for shorts, then I use the Origin shorts. Up top I wear their base layer (it's like an undershirt, but they no longer offer them) then I REALLY like the Cyclone tee, and use those with arm warmers for most rides. When it's in the mid 40s and colder I use the Escalator jersey which is crazy warm- it's made from Polartec Powerwool and kicks butt. If it's pretty warm out, I'll go for a Superflow jersey, but those are crazy cold, so I rarely wear one below 75/80 degrees. The Escalator and the Super Flow are both pretty extreme in what they do.
That's the kit I run for 90% of my riding! Cheers!!!
Jeff, are you happy with the medium size. I’m also 5’8 and seems like we right in between medium and large on Ibis recommendation. Thx
Timing couldn't be better for me with this video. Ripmo AF is in my shortlist of 3 for a new FS bike in the spring, still very high in my priority too.
Boom! Can't go wrong with the AF, it gets lots of good reviews for good reason!
Really solid review and mirrors our impressions of this bike. Because we all know the question is coming, Ripmo AF or HD5? Which would you recommend for an enduro rider?
Yes! Or even for a non racer with some heavy terrain that needs a bike that can easily pedal back to the top.
Hahaha!!! For the racer, the Ripmo is the ticket. For the guy who just wants to have fun and send jumps, the HD5.
Paul, I love the HD5. It jumps better and is more flickable in tight corners.
Getting mine tomorrow!
Can you recommend this bike as an all rounder? In Texas we have flat smooth single track to rocky and hilly. I have a Hightower and love it as an all rounder. I am helping a friend decide between the Ripmo AF and Hightower within a $3000 budget. The Ripmo AF seems a better spec for the price, just worry it might be too much bike. Thanks and love your channel.
Mario V I can see this being an absolute ripper at Spider mountain and some of the more DH oriented trails like the few DH runs we have an Sansom Park in Fort Worth. I’m in north Texas and places like North Shore in Flowermound are too tame for this bike. You’re really going to notice that extra travel and slack geo on the punchy ups and downs we have here in Texas. I think it might “soak up” some of the fun given our flatter terrain too. The AF would be a great second bike for park days at spider, trips to Bentonville and taking it out west to Angler Fire and Trestle but I don’t think it would be the best one bike quiver for the majority of Tx trails.
Thanks Parker R.
For North Texas the Carbon Ripmo should be a better fit for jumps and drops...IMO Spider Mountain doesn't really require much travel if you travel to Colorado and Bentonville the AF will shine more. If you are not into Enduro or gnarly drops then a bike like the Ripley or Tallboy will be a better all around bike.
Mario if a Hightower works for your buddy then the Ripmo AF would be a great bike for that sort of stuff. I'd say stick with air suspension and check crank length so your pal can pedal through more of the rocky flat stuff without snagging. Ripley could be a great choice but it's outta the budget.
Great feedback Parker! At Cat Mtn and Reveille both near Austin, I could see the Ripmo AF being a good set up, but it's also personal preference. Thanks for weighing in!!!
Awesome review/impressions! Hopefully gonna get a ibis ripmo for my next bike! They make such nice bikes! And awesome video🤘
Thank you Ryan!!! Honestly the Ripmo AF is a solid bike for anyone that's considering a long travel 29. Give it a try!!!
sickest looking bike I've seen in a long time!
Thanks Benson!
Been considering this as my first full sus bike which I've been saving up for. I live in new England currently and the trails are as you described. Rocky, short punchy climbs, sketchy descents and that is part of what has made me want to get a full suspension. Probably won't buy for at least a while. I'm also still trying to figure out how much travel I really need. I want to get a little more adventurous than I am on my hardtail with 140mm like on it currently, but I could also definitely push that bike harder. Anyone in a similar situation to me owner a ripmo and like it? Hoping for something that will grow with me
Im in the same boat as you. Seems like the Ripmo might be a little bit too much bike for the tight and twisty NE trails. Was considering the new Giant Trance X
@@sinnops where do you ride? I actually had the 140mm hardtail stolen and replaced it with a 150 and aside from not having rear suspension it feels pretty good. I'm starting to get into the harder stuff and riding park so I'm wondering if the ripmo might actually be a good idea after all and to keep the hardtail for smoother stuff. I'm also looking into the fezarri delano peak which seems similar but carbon and less travel. I kind of want Alu more tbh. Carbon makes me nervous although I would have a warranty
@@Slinkylinky179 I ride in southern New Hampshire, in the Manchester area. Currently have a 2011 Giant XTC hardtail with 100mm of travel that I have been riding for years and i do pretty well on it but would love some more cush over the chatter! I borrowed a Kona Process 153 the other day on the trails and it was a totally different experience although I was not pushing the bike anywhere near its capability and the modern geometry and full suspension takes some getting used to. But the specs on that bike are very similar to the Ripmo so I would think it would be totally suitable for the local trails. I'll be keeping the hard tail for smoother stuff as well.
I asked another youtuber who did a review on the ripmo AF and he loves it and said it handles great on short technical climbs.
ruclips.net/video/l4iyjKCZQpo/видео.html&lc=UgxIXKHvmnX6ZmzXESt4AaABAg.9CrwKtj1otD9CrwjEO6NZf
Jeff, please do a video on how you fit up a bike. Also how tall are you and on what basis do you select frame size?
Is the Trust fork any heavier than the Fox?
Yes, it's slightly heavier than a 36, but not a ton more.
@@JeffKendallWeed Just for shits and giggles, threw my AF on the scale and came up with 32 lbs. It's got the DVO Diamond fork, DVO Topaz air shock, Ibis carbon wheels, Ibis carbon Bars, DHR front tire, Aggressor rear tire, Satellite saddle/with titanium rails, Raceface Chester pedals, SLX build. As measured by my (trusty?) luggage scale.
So, not recommended for east coast rocky trails, but what about Sedona OR the place with all the best trails that you still need to visit....PRESCOTT, AZ?! 😃👍
i have about 500 miles on mine in sedona, it pedals so damn well. i'm usually a weight weenie but i don't care with this bike. get one and don't look back.
erod781 good to hear! Thanks for the reply!
-Nick
"I look forward to riding it more in 2020" he said. If he only knew... 🤣
great video, Everything seems spot on, but i had no idea about the low bb but it does make sense. Also i haven't yet hucked it to notice the torsion you mentioned, seems logical though. I have an xl with a coil. such a dream to ride. love the in-depth feedback.
Esteban, it's not crazy low, but I did prefer the slightly taller fork. The downsides I mentioned are all pretty minor, and most of them are the result of having some additional bonus (like better handling with the BB/more price point friendly rotor options with the brake mount/lower frame cost with the cable routing).
@@JeffKendallWeed yea exactly its all compromises that make sense. And thanks for always replying to my comments! This isnt the first time! Much appreciated.😁
I want to see a Ripley AF
Me too!
I have one and live on east coast. I have about one pedal strike per ride so not too bad. I have 170mm cranks though and I also have the DVO topaz. I put lighter casing tires on it and don’t notice any flex.
Thanks for the great feedback Kurt!!! Your first hand east coast experience is great. I’ve ridden Pittsburgh PA, Seven Springs PA, Asheville/Brevard, and Santos/Alafia but that’s it! Are you on flat pedals or clip less? My flats are pretty wide, possibly why I’ve noticed it more lately, but it’s not so bad that I’d call it a deal breaker. Our high speed mega jumpy trails here in the steep PNW will make flex differences pretty apparent quick! My jumpy style also makes me notice it more.
Hi Jeff, I also wonder if the gusset you have on top your bb is because they used thinner tubes. I dont have the gusset.
I’m on flats btw. I think your riding style is definitely harder on the bike haha!
Kurt it might be frame size related. Mine is a medium. I don’t think ibis sent me anything special, it might be pre-production since I got it before it officially launched but they made no mention of it being different.
@@kurtmccann137 hey bud. Also on east coast and wondering if I should sell my carbon V1 to get the AF. I'm super attracted to DVO for at home serviceability and thinking I'd go with the coil Jade x. Only hard thing for me is will I hate the aluminum over the carbon. Would love to hear your perspective!?
It was a good video. Would have liked a discussion of the stock setup with say the NX or SLX build.
What water bottle cage are you using?
Great video Jeff, really appreciate the honesty. This bike checked all the boxes for me and I've been enjoying it very much. I've been able to tackle features I didn't feel comfortable doing on my hardtail. I do understand why you built it up how you did but I would have liked to hear what you think about the DVO suspension the bike comes with. Anywho, it's still a great review and thanks for creating great content.
Right on Mike, glad to hear you got one and have been enjoying it! I do have the DVO shock here, I need to get around to trying it. I'll be surprised if it's a huge difference from the X2. I also need to try the DPX2 on here as well.
Thanks for the advice Jeff. 👍
Thanks for watching!
Hello Jeff I wished you made more comparisons against the Carbon Ripmo. I am assuming that the Carbon is more playful, snappy and with more pop. Is this the case? Also for technical climbs can you confirm that the Carbon Ripmo had less pedal strikes due to BB height?
Hi Rata, the Carbon Ripmo has less jumping pop as it'll bottom out sooner on steep take offs due to the more linear suspension. The handling is similar, but with the steeper head angle, it requires a slightly more upright riding style of turning the bars more and leaning the bike less. Same BB height on the two bikes of 341mm. The 2lbs of extra weight that the AF carries can be noticeable on flatter trails. The "ultimate" set up in my eyes would be the Ripmo Carbon with a -1.0 or -1.5 Works Components angle reducing headset.
@@JeffKendallWeed thanks! looks like slacking the head angle on the Carbon Ripmo is the way to go
@@JeffKendallWeed Looking a little bit at the carbon ripmo, but have some concern with the linear suspension and riding bigger park stuff. I'm just over 200 lbs. Also looking the the Revved gg Smash, but have some concern it won't be as responsive climbing out of the saddle.
@@MattPayne1 ... I have no insider information at all, but my guess would be that Ibis will likely make some changes to the carbon version for 2021. It's just a pure guess, but it takes a while to recoup the costs of developing carbon moulds, which is why some Mfr.'s come out with AL first to work out the bugs, and THEN tweak it before making a carbon version (Transition being one example). Maybe depending on your timeline, you could reach out to Ibis and inquire about that?
We have a local rider who is a ripper...AM Cat 1 CO State DH champion for his age group 40-49 in 2016 or 17, Billy Dale, and he's from Arkansas! He's 210 lbs and rides HARD. He's on the Rimpo carbon with the Float X2. He has maximum volume spacers in it, and has looked into getting it custom valved. At this time...no one is doing that for that shock. I won't blow smoke...he fights it bottoming out, and runs his bike as stiff as anyone I know.
I did hear that someone is now offering a progressive coil that will fit the Ripmo, but I'm not aware of anyone running it. You might research it a little. If you are 2 bills and plan to ride park and hit the biggest features, I would probably not target the carbon Ripmo. I would bet Jeff would agree.
@@willbros1499 if you could go v1 carbon ripmo or AF alloy with the new Geo which would you rather be on? I currently have a V1 NX build and I need to do some upgrades to it but if I sell I can hop on the AF while saving money. Just want to make sure alloy doesn't suck compared to carbon
Is it good for SW Idaho desert riding. A lot of loose up and down
You are right on with the handling, I demo'd one in Denver and loved it!, Do I dare say it handles better than the Ripley for my riding style? So very close, more lean than steer!
4RX, for me, the Ripmo AF handles MUCH better than the Ripley. Ripley is more poppy and easier to change directions with on slow trails, but I don't have nearly the confidence or cornering consistency on the Ripley as i do on the AF.
@@JeffKendallWeed I think that is exactly it, the confidence/ease of cornering is what I feel on the AF vs the Ripley. The AF feels more 'balanced' to me, with less effort with the Ripley being precise and agile! Great videos btw!
170 mm an 175 mm crank are the same lenght.the hole is in a different position.is it??
Unfortunately that's what I saw on my raceface cranks...yet it helps a little with pedal strikes
Sylvain, the pedals are what stick out furthest and hit most stuff and they cause more of a crash when they snag, so they matter more than the smooth end of the crank arm.
Do you have a link to the bike stand you had the Ripmo AF? Thanks
Here you go cue: bit.ly/FeedbackStandJKW That stand works fine but it's not perfect. It only fits up to around a 2.5 tire, we have to really mash on the 2.6 tires on my wifes bike to get it in there.
Great great video! Awesome as always 👍👍!!
Thanks Raheem!
Maybe a Ripley AF is in the works? That would be awesome!!!! How do you feel about it?
Justin, that would be awesome! I'm with you, I'd love to see Ibis do more alloy bikes. If I had a dream wish list for such a bike, I'd love for it to be more progressive and 3 full degrees slacker in the head angle. Not sure what they'll do, but my desires are probably different than the average customer's!
I’ve seen you in Santa Cruz before not sure where though probably riding
hey jeff cool video! What fender do you have on the fork? Thanks!
Thanks Sudo! It's something I cut myself out of a cutting board from the grocery store.
Jeff Kendall-Weed oh cool, thanks! It looks much more effective that what I’ve used in the past. Is it secured with zip ties?
Also didn’t realize you were from Santa Cruz, I didn’t grow up there but I lived there for about 8 years. I need to go ride there soon.
Nice new spot. Congrats. And 35 pounds is a very heavy bike for someone like me who doesn't know much about fun on a bike!
Thanks Leo! I'm working on improving the audio acoustics in that corner now, I'd like to shoot more there! Yeah 35 pounds is heavy. I don't mind it much but I also spend a lot of time in the gym and gave up on climbing fast years ago!
Hi Jeff, great balanced, honest video. Helps that your riding style is awesome too. Is the Fox Float X2 shock you mounted custom tuned by Ibis too for the AF?
Than you Heiril! The X2 is a stock Fox unit with normal aftermarket specs, it is not a light damping Ibis tune.
Great review, glad your all healed up. I also have a recently purchased AF, loving it so far, pedals better than it should. Mine came in a bit lighter, 30.5lbs, not using double wall tires, it is a personal build as well with Sram XO and a couple other light bits. I was able to fit a 210mm one up dropper post pretty easy, I have a medium with a 31” inseem, so my post is pretty high. I did notice the low bottom bracket right away, lots of pedal strikes, but just became more mindful of timing my pedaling through rocks. I don’t go as big, or charge as hard as you so I don’t notice any flex at all. Alas, all the big rowdy trail I’m dying to take it on are snowed in.
Thanks Shawn! Wow, that's a super light AF build!!! Bike Yoke posts get rave reviews, probably why Ibis is speccing them OEM now!
Can you help me out? Currently have the V1 Carbon Ripmo and thinking of selling it. Current plan is to get the Ripmo AF to replace it. However going from Carbon to Alloy is a bit of an unknown for me and I want to make sure I won't hate it. I also want to go to the AF for the DVO T3 and Diamond because they are more serviceable by the DIY mechanic rather than being nitrogen charged having that bladder style over IFP. Could you please help me understand if this would be a good decision? I heard that Ibis EWS guys hated the V1 kinematics and V2 geometry solves that with the AF. Any insight would be super helpful. Thanks!
How do you find the Ripmo AF on the rocky, rooty, wet climbs versus the carbon Ripmo? I tested a carbon GX Ripmo today and it was so much fun - it wanted to jib and boost off every little hit on the trail. It could also climb some tech I never thought I could climb. Does the Ripmo AF still have that jibby jammin vibe and willingness to climb? Great video!
Hey Bango, the Ripmo Carbon is significantly lighter, which as much as I hate to admit, does make those climbs easier. 2lbs is noticeable. The steeper head angle isn't a big deal as the steep seat angle puts so much weight up front as it is. On the down the AF is every bit as jibby- if anything, I'd say it's more so. The more progressive suspension is more poppy and more forgiving, and the slacker head angle is more confident when it gets sketchy.
@@JeffKendallWeed Thanks for the reply, great info! If the cost was the same, would you get a carbon or aluminium Ripmo for the riding around Bellingham? Pretty similar to what we have here in BC
@@JeffKendallWeed Sweet, thanks for the feedback!
@@bangoman2653 what was the answer I don't see the post here. If he could go carbon vs AF alloy what would he choose?
@@russm195 it doesn't matter now as the AF and carbon v2 Ripmos have the same geometry. Pick whichever your budget allows.
Nice video. I have one myself with a dvo coil shock and 165 mm xt cranks. Coming from a 2019 stumpjumper with 170 cranks I notice less pedal strikes and better climbing. Both have the same bb height und the stumpi has a bigger drop but 8 mm less travel in the rear.
Wow less pedal strikes, awesome!!! I need to finally spend some time on 165s. Thanks for watching!
Jeff, very difficult to get a large ripmo af here on the eastern side of canada, i am 5'9 so in between the size med and large. if i compare the geometry with my large 2018 trek remedy i have about the same reach even longer with the med ripmo. what do you recommend. i ride basically all type of terrain.
Hey there, I’m about a half inch shorter and I would ride a large if I were still racing. Usually at 5’9” most folks are fine with a large. Kinda depends on preference but If your heart is set on a large I’d say wait it out!
Jeff Kendall-Weed merci beaucoup
The real question is what is the new carbon ripmo going to be like? I can’t wait to find out
New carbon ripmo? If there is such a bike, I sure hope to get a chance to ride it!
I just am curious what they have up their sleeve for 2020
haha, my bikes tend to be "heavy" as well as i build for reliability and survivability, my 19 Bronson v3 C comes in around 34.5lbs. I did just install my first set of WTB tires and went 2.8 vigilantes front and rear and like you i went Tough casing for both, high grip front, fast rolling for the rear. I definitely need to play with pressure or learn the tire more as i keep getting a two wheel drift going on i never experienced on DHF / HR2 combo i used to run. Technical and general grip and performance has been great with a few rides in i just gotta watch those corners 😅
Wow Guineson, I haven't tried the 2.8 Vigilantes yet, but I am surprised to hear they are MORE drifty than the DHF combo! I just saw a post in the Ibis Facebook group from a guy who tried the Vigi 2.5 after riding the DHF and he couldn't believe how much more it hooked up at a steep lean angle. Often the plus size tires float more rather than dig in, I wonder if that's going on, but not having tried that variant of the tire I can't really say. Anyhow I hope you get sorted soon!!!
Hey, thanks for the review! Do you think the bike feels more like an enduro bike or an AM/aggressive trail bike? I’m seriously looking at this or a YT Capra, and struggling lol. Leaning towards the Ibis though for the climbing and supposedly minimal losses in descending compared with the Capra
What are your thoughts on adding an adjustable headset on the carbon RIPMO to get the head angle to 65?
I don't know if he's done it or not, but I have. Do it! I know they are touting their trail number with the reduced offset fork, and all that jazz...but I can tell you that I haven't found a single thing the bike doesn't do just as well with the Works Components 1* angleset in it. I got the sucker on sale for black Friday, but I think they still have them marked down. I think it took about 7 business days from when I placed the order, to receive it. I'm curious if you ever had an occasionally uneasy feeling landing jumps where it felt like the bike sort ot "stuck" and you had to fight not to get thrown forward? I also had times on really right corners, where if I hit so much as a pebble, I would feel like I might go OTB. The angleset fixed BOTH of those issues. The bike is NOTICEABLY more stable descending, and slow speed rock tech is a little more confident as well. I think you can't go wrong, and especially not for the price. I have had the Cane Creek product in the past, and those moving gimbals never worked right, and they will creak, and occasionally slip. I would stick to the Works Components product from UK. I will say...I'm not real impressed with the lack of seals. It's just metal on metal, so it's going to need more frequent cleaning as things infiltrate the cracks, and that's kind of annoying. I still feel it's worth it for the performance improvement.
HUGE WORD OF CAUTION!! There's a weird lip inside my headtube, and I think it's on all cabon Ripmo's. The headset cups don't butt up against it, but it's VERY close to the top of the cups. If you use the Park Tools cup remover tool, and you aren't VERY careful that it doesn't "spring out" and get past that lip, and you bang on it, it might wreck your frame! I suggest using a punch, and going very slowly around the existing headset cups to punch them out, so you don't have to worry about possibly damaging your carbon frame. I was LUCKY that I took mine into the LBS to borrow that and the headset press tooll, and the mechanic warned me about that issue...and he was dead on!
Good luck...and if you don't love it, I'll be SHOCKED!
I'd say go for it!
You mentioned you're 5'8" and normally ride 170 cranks but were striking with the 175s on the Ripmo AF. I'm also 5'8" and my medium bike came with 175, would you say 170 is more appropriate for our height, leg length? I've wondered if the 175 offers better stability and pedal force given that it has more leverage and a wider stance when you have the pedals level... but could I have too much stance separation, any thoughts on my assumption? Trying to figure out if there's benefits to switching to 170 outside of pedal clearance...
Josh, as many others have commented, the shorter cranks almost always feel better for both pedaling biomechanics AND for clearance during aggressive riding. I'll swap these 175s for some 165s, I've been meaning to give 165s a solid try for years now! A big study came out a while ago that showed that shorter cranks often have big benefits. There's a lot of traditionalists that still want long cranks for whatever reason.
@@JeffKendallWeed Thanks for the reply, you're really great about replying (not the first bit of useful info I've gotten out of you haha). The more I think about it, the shorter crank might help get my knee over the pedal better as well. Small frame was too small but the medium I bought is a hair too big in terms of where the crankset falls under me, even with the seat cheated forward. Keep the awesome videos coming!
Does it make sense to upgrade to X2 from the Topaz?
I got mine with the x2 it’s awesome. Read good things about the DVO so I don’t think you can go wrong with either 👍
@@joshmarks3954 Thanks! I'll be going for the coil though. Once I have money AND there are bikes available I mean.
@@YanDoroshenko cool!! They are great bikes for sure👍👍
Ok, I have a stupid question: is the color more red or orange? I've seen tons of pics online. In some it looks bright orange. In others it looks more dull, even red in some. How would you describe it? Bright orange is my favorite color, but I'm worried I'll get this and just be disappointed. Trying to decide between this and the silver and I have no Ibis dealers anywhere close around here. Thanks
Rich, it's a dull orange. I just saw it next to a red Mojo 3 at a local shop and WOW, it's far more dull orange. Almost like a carrot!
Thank you, Jeff. Great video as always.
I have a dillema: I recently cracked my V1 Ibis Ripley frame. I decided to get it repaired and it's in the process.
I'm considering once my Ripley is repaired, to use it as a backup bike and possibly get the Ripmo AF (SLX build) or the new Ripley. I'm thinking I can use a bike that is a bit more forgiving (Ripmo AF), however I really like the nimbleness of the Ripley. Thoughts on this? Thanks.
I'm curious what you ended up deciding. In a similar position but looking to sell my V1 and go to the AF for the better build as there are things I'd like to upgrade on my V1 and it makes more sense financially to just sell and buy a AF in this case. Only thing holding me up is going from carbon frame to alloy.
@@russm195 I got the V1 Ripmo (Carbon), NX build. I won a bid on Ebay. I liked the Nimbleness on the Carbon more than the Alloy. The Ripmo is like a RIpley on Steroids! If you do get an NX build, you will probably want to upgrade the brakes eventually. I went ahead and upgraded mine to SLX 4 piston.
The AF is very capable. You should demo it.
Good luck!
@@NDemanuele1 thanks for the reply man!
I have an NX build V1 Ripmo already. Similar position as you and the brakes are reliable but don't grab for shit on the NX build so I'm looking to upgrade. Instead of spending a ton of money upgrading stuff I'm thinking of selling my V1 while it still has most of it's value and upgrading to the AF with the better geometry and kinematics for the rear. Also DVO fucks compared to fox is what I'm learning.
@@russm195 See if you can get one with a good groupset. Not sure if you want to buy new or used, but a good groupset is worth every penny! I wanted a better one than NX, but the bike had very low miles, practically new. So I went with it.
@@russm195 Honestly, I don't know how much different the AF is. I demo'd the V1 and Alloy back to back on the road ( they were floor models) and noticed the AF seemed a bit more planted ( maybe the weight?). The V1 seemed more nimble.
All I did to my V1 is upgrade the brakes - that's all it needs. Everything else will be addressed when necessary.
You could sell your V1 and then get a better build AF? Maybe SLX or GX. It shouldn't cost much more, if not cheaper.
Hey Jeff, spec on jenson say bottom bracket height is 341mm wich is same as carbon Ripmo, is that so?
PL, I think that's the case. With the slacker HA I'm leaning the bike a bit more though, and the pedals get closer to the ground. I've also switched over to flat pedals, which are a touch bigger than my old SPDs. It's on the low side, but both bikes have still worked great for me on all kinds of tech climb challenges all over Arizona and in Utah- spots where folks often complain the most about low BBs.
@@JeffKendallWeed yeah I did Utah with my Stumpjumper 650b which has 335 bb height..flat pedals also. Led me to change crank for 170! Im really considering the AF as my next bike, thanks so much for the reply:)
Kudos to Ibis for reacting to customer critique. Too bad they didnt go full out and replaced the 29" back with a 27.5" while they were at it.
LOL that's funny Tobias, I know the mullet thing is trendy but I tried it (even filmed it too) and didn't enjoy it much. Check the Pinkbike tests to get their feedback on the one mullet bike in the group. Having a bike that isn't balanced was not enjoyable for me.
Sounds like you'd like a carbon AF with a slighty higher BB. ?
Hahaha I'm not 100% that the BB height is that big of a deal, but I'd love to run a 170mm fork if using a stock set up, that would raise BB and slacken head angle even more.
As long as any bike has orange on it, i'm sold! :) JKW - awesome video man!!
Hahaha it's an off-orange, but an orange none the less! Cheers Scout!
how does the AF corner compared to the HD5
Ripmo AF is huge in comparison. Harder to corner and jump. Ripmo AF is faster on all the straight aways. More consistent in the turns. For the racers, the RAF is the way to go. For folks that ride for fun, I'd say HD5.
Nice video Jeff
Thanks Tomi!
Yo - great review - can you let me know if there is any cable rattle when the bike is in use?
J
Hey Jason, I have not had ANY cable rattle. None. The cable guides are VERY tight and I think that is to prevent rattle. Feel free to ask around, but I have not heard of cable rattle being a problem for anyone else, either.
I'll ask this question since your a long time IBIS guy and have connections. When are they joining the "E" bike market ?
Thanks for the note Mike! I have no idea if they will do an e-bike. I can say that I am trying hard to get an e-bike now, I need to spin more for training, and I'm eyeing up the Intense Tazer and the Norco E-Sight.
What size is your Ripmo AF?
It's a medium. I'm 174cm/5/8" tall.
What size do you recommend if I am 6ft?
For most 6’ riders a large is great. If you are racing a ton and a super aggressive rider then an XL could be good.
Honestly chuck the trust fork put the DVO gear back on! Geometry and suspension mate!
He's sponsored by trust..
...
Hi jeff, i noticed the same flex before a jump. But at 185 lbs, i din't need many g force, and i have to pay attention to stay inline. A bit dangerous.
Too much pedal strike with 175mm crank, my advice is a 30mm drop is too much.
Sorry for my bad english, im from france. For french speakers, u can watch my ripmo af test on my channel. Ride hard👍
I would love it. I'm sure.
Awesome review thanks. I love how honest you are and how you state the pros and cons of a given design decision in detail. I really enjoy watching stuff like bible or bikes but imo they get to far from actual analysis.
Anyway thanks for the content!
Thanks Mike! I watched the Bike Mag vid after I finished shooting this one, and was really surprised when the one guy mentioned he wanted to ride it out east. Who knows, it's not fair to lump all "east coast" riding into one basket either!
I think this is going to replace my HD3. I hope it's just as fun to ride!
Right on Tucker!
Weird, I'm running a one up 210mm dropper in mine no problem.
Great video !
Thanks Thomas!
Thanks hobmarg!
Fun fact, the 2021 has a 180mm rear rotor :)
Sick bike! I wouldn't buy it though. 3k is pretty expensive.
2019 carbon models are all on sale. My 2018 Kona carbon 153 was 2.7k after everything.
Where is this???
Congrats on your Carbon Process, that's a great bike! For anyone else that's reading this, always check around for older closeout models. I really, really liked the XT 11 speed stuff, and would not hesitate to ride my old Ripmo Carbon with 11 speed for eternity.
@@suzukibassman I got my bike on pinkbike from a bike shop in California.
However I went to the kona bike shop in Bellingham about 2 months ago if you are local, and they had similar pricing on 2018 models. The 2018, 2019 are the same exact bike, just different builds.
Just did a quick search, definitly better deals than this.
www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2601763/
I would go to your local bike shop and check out the deals on last year models, that way you get help and warranty from your local shop.
It's more important for you to "buy a deal", some people buy what they really want and still feel fine.
3k is still expensive but the fact that you get such good suspension for that 3k is why its a steal
Love the Shimano SLX groupset, way smoother than SRAM
I agree! SRaM has its place too though, and it’s still good stuff.
Bb drop lower than a list of bikes with less travel? Makes sense, no? I didn’t look at geo charts correct me if I’m wrong
Fair point, the Yeti has the same amount of rear travel (150 and 147 is the same, no one will notice a 3mm rear travel difference) yet an 8mm higher BB. The other bikes all have higher BBs, a touch more travel, but it gets complex as they have longer forks as well. What I can say is that once I put the longer fork on my AF I preferred the resulting slightly higher BB.
@@JeffKendallWeed .... I know you're a tech head, so I'm curious. Did the AF's BB lower versus the carbon model as a result of the change to the rear linkage to change the leverage curve to make the rear more progressive? I haven't noticed any issue with my carbon model, but I loved it so much during demo that I never thought to even check the BB height! Adding the angleset....best decision ever, and compared to my previousTransitions with 35% sag in the rear to get them to handle right....I KNOW pedal strikes really well! :-)
Charles, as far as I can tell from the geo charts, both bikes have the same BB height.
@@JeffKendallWeed .... Yep...I looked it up after my post. Should have done that prior! Were you running the recommended 15% sag on your carbon Ripmo? That's WAY less than I ran on my Scout and Patrol, and it's right in the Ibis Ripmo book...or I would have been running it with much more than that if I hadn't read the manual. It's odd, because with the DPX 2, the bike feels to me like it rides high in the travel, and while I have occasionally had some harsh landings, it's usuallly because I tail cased something from not having enough speed. I do have four friends with the Ripmo, and ALL of them have the Float X2, and they have all mentioned that it feels like they blow through the travel too easily. I really don't feel that way with the DPX 2 unless I make a mistake, but medium size (15-20') tables and doubles is all I tackle. But on things at Coler and Leatherwood...no problems with bottoming, other than very rarely. I will also readily admit that I do miss the ability to tune the high speed compression, and the finer adjustments to make the bike skate through rock gardens a little better....but there are always some trade offs, as you said right in this video!
New spot looks chill add a green screen
Thanks Human!
Hey Jeff; very comprehensive vid as usual. Keep up the fine work. But, at 7:20 "plumper riders" might be happier with "stouter riders". Some people might be kinda sensitive.
Thanks for the note! My mistake, I thought plump would be a sensitive term! My bad!
Love mine!
Right on man! Did you agree with my review? Lemme know if you think I'm off base!
That's a great review, pros and cons, real world experience, not just hyperbole, good comparisons to other bikes, custom setup explanation, and best trail use. What more could you ask for.
@@JeffKendallWeed Ya, seems pretty spot on. I have noticed it sits a bit low. I might switch to 170 mm cranks. I have 175mm now on an XL frame. I love how quick and sporty it feels for the amount of travel on it. Seems like it would feel bigger to me but I think it handles really well and is pretty playful for what it is but still plows through chunk really good too.
Great review! I live near Santa Cruz and have one on order from Jenson. My only concern is cornering come from. 27.5” bike to 29” but it’s probably just something I’ll have to get use to. Would like to see more videos of you riding this bike!
Thanks Josh! Yeah the 27.5 is easier to handle and throw through tighter corners, and easier to jump, but the 29 stays more composed when things are rough and fast. I'm not trying to go crazy fast anymore, so I'm stoked on 27.5, but the majority of the market has fully converted to 29 again.
nice review.
Thank you!