2021 Ripmo AF // Long Term Review

Every time I have talked with an Ibis owner, they have always had great things to say about their bikes. Being a fan of DW-linked bikes for a long time, I was rather stoked to get this Ripmo AF in my hands for a long-term review. When I found out I was getting the coil sprung version I was already planning some rowdy rides in my head to really put it to the test.

Ibis sent out a 2020 spec’d model as inventory was low for 2021, and there are some key updates to the 2021 model on the parts list that are explained below. I got this bike in late September and rode it in the PNW and down in Phoenix Arizona, offering a great range of conditions from greasy root fests through to scary dry days on completely blown out trails.

THE DIRT
I was lucky enough to get a variety of riding terrain and weather conditions during this long-term review. Up in Washington I rode some super rough cut single track with big rolling compressions, and down in Arizona I got my fill of undulating trails littered with loose rocks and unforgiving rock gardens. The Ripmo AF handled the different terrain in both zones well, allowing me to push the bike and my limits to the max, and I enjoyed the heck out of every lap.

During the time I had on the Ripmo AF, I logged around 30,000 feet of descent with next to no mechanical issues. I checked frame bolts around every 5th ride and not a single bolt wiggled loose throughout the test period. The burly clevis link on this bike does add some weight but the amount of stiffness and long-term durability is well worth a few extra grams in my eyes. If I were to purchase this bike, I would invest in some foam cable housing for the down tube as there is a fair amount of noise from the internally routed cabling. It is a cheap upgrade I do on my personal bikes, and one that would do a great job of quietening the Ibis down.

After an initial acclimatizing period, I found myself able to relax a bit behind the bars in the chunky rock of Arizona and let the bike really work through rough sections of trail. I found it easy to pick my line and stay committed to the end, even with loads of golf ball to softball sized rocks littered across nearly every trail. Even with this bike being larger than I am used to riding it still sported a playful feel when I wanted to get airborne or change direction to avoid a rattle snake - yes that really happened - managing to maintain a level of agility that reminds you it’s not a purebred enduro race machine. The 495mm reach sounded too long on paper but when riding the bike, it felt nearly perfect. I would have liked to have had a 35mm stem instead of the stock 50mm for riding in Washington, but in Arizona the longer stem helped keep more weight on the front wheel both when climbing and descending, aiding traction in the loose flat turns...

KEEP READING HERE:

Table of Contents
00:00 - 0:39 Introduction
00:40 - 8:20 Spec and Details
8:21 - 11:48 Climbing
11:49 - 14:44 Descending
14:45 - 15:29 Ride Impressions
15:30 - 19:05 Conclusion


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