Ibis Ripley 4 Dream Build: Long finding phase with history

Test / Dream Build: I was looking for a new bike for a long time. About three years ago I bought a new bike. Back then it was a Bulls Black Adler carbon race hardtail  become. With the ulterior motive to go back to racing a little more after having been active as an XC racer in my youth. After 2-3 races of the season the plan evaporated again and interests shifted a little more towards touring and trail riding. It became clear to me - a fully is needed for this - it turned out to be an Ibis Ripley 4.

At first I was looking for an XC fully because of my background. At some point I toyed with the idea of ​​buying an XC fully with 120 mm travel and trail-ready equipment. But somehow no bike was really convincing and the decision to buy was delayed. A test for Velomotion allowed me to test the Niner RIP extensively and I liked the extra travel. However, 150/140 mm spring travel would have been a bit too much for the area of ​​application in the Bavarian Forest. So I came up with the idea of ​​buying a trail bike in the 130/120 mm travel category and the research began.

There were a few candidates here: whether from Cube, Niner or Pivot. But when it came to Ibis, I was a bit branded. It must have been 2011 when I got to know Brian Lopes at the World Cup in Offenburg. Yes, really! Brian Lopes was on the XC World Cup circuit in 2011. He was then and still is on Ibis bikes and the brand has hooked me ever since. In the same year, Ibis also introduced the first Ripley, which I was quite impressed with at the Eurobike. When I then discovered the newly presented 2019 Ripley, the choice was made quickly: After about two years of searching, the Ibis Ripley 4 should be my new bike.

Frame and geometry in detail

Holding the frame in your hand was a special feeling. Especially since the processing and the design speaks for itself. I chose the blue variant "Blue Steel", especially since I wanted a little more color in contrast to the all-black variant. The color also reminded me of the motorsport icons in the well-known Gulf livery. It was also nice that the frame is already protected in important places. The drive side chainstay is protected with rubber and there is a replaceable PVC protector on the down tube.

In 2019, Ibis completely redesigned the Ripley based on its big brother, the Ibis Ripmo. The "dual-eccentric-link" concept with an eccentrically mounted rear end was thrown overboard. Instead, the traditional dw-link rear triangle is used. With a virtual pivot point, the rear triangle offers a unique combination of climbing ability and downhill performance. Furthermore, a high-quality carbon fiber is used for the frame and weighs around 2700 grams in size L with Fox Factory DPS damper and seat clamp. The ISCG05 can be used without any problems, because you simply put an adapter on the bottom bracket and you can already mount a chain guide there.

Nice detail: Everyone likes the clean look of internally routed cables, but assembly is often nerve-wracking – not with the Ripley. A separate channel was incorporated into the carbon for all lines and cables. Push the cable or cable through the channel and you'll come out in the right place. Really great solution!

Longer, Slacker, Steeper: These three words are emblazoned on the Ripley's product page. Ibis has not reinvented this trend in geometries, but rather follows the general trend on the MTB market. With a long reach (475 mm in L) and a slack head angle (66,5°) you get a fairly long wheelbase and a spacious main frame. Especially at high speeds and in technical passages, this brings smoothness and the driver more confidence. The chainstays are short at 432 mm so that the bike still remains manoeuvrable. Despite the short chainstays, there is room for 29 x 2,6″ tires in the rear. To ensure that the bike also works well on uphill ramps, the seat angle (76°) was designed to be rather steep so that you sit centrally over the bottom bracket and can pedal properly.

At the rear, the Ripley offers 120 mm of travel. Ibis states that you can combine your Ripley with suspension forks of 120 - 140 mm. Depending on what you get, you get a marathon bike with trail capability, a trail bike or almost a mini enduro with 140 mm at the front. Depending on the equipment, the Ripley can portray different characters.

Ibis still gives the frame sizes in S, M, L and XL. However, the seat tube was kept so short that you can choose your frame size depending on the reach. In size L, the seat tube length is just 418 mm. It's a bit off-putting at first, but then it actually fits. On the one hand, this principle enables a lot of legroom even for small drivers. In addition, you can use dropper posts with significantly more stroke without the seat height becoming too high.

The structure

As mentioned above, the Ripley can be set up with different travels at the front. At first I thought about building the bike with a 120 mm step-cast fork. But since the weight savings wasn't that big and I didn't want to rob the bike of its trail potential, I decided to go with the 130 mm version. Matching the Fox Float Performance DPS, it became a Fox 34 Float FIT4 Factory with 130 mm and a golden Kashima coating. Speaking of the Kashima coating: the retractable seatpost also comes from Fox: the proven Transfer Factory with 150mm travel. Although 175 mm would have easily fit into the frame, I personally don't like a saddle that is too deep. The support is controlled via an ergonomic Fox lever on the left side of the handlebar.

The brand new Shimano XT was chosen as the switching group. With a 12-speed configuration and a wide range of gear ratios, it's the ideal choice for a trail bike like the Ibis Ripley V4. The beautifully simple black XT crank was equipped with a 32 chain ring. The rear wheel moves a 10-51 cassette to allow for maximum gear range. Therefore, a shifter on the right end of the handlebar is sufficient. As is typical for Shimano, the shifter is very simple but ergonomically successful. The new rubber coating on the levers is immediately positive, with which you don't lose grip even in the biggest mud fight. There is also braking power from the Japanese bicycle giant. The usual comfortable brake levers were combined with the 4-piston variants, additional cooling fins and 180 mm brake discs at the front and rear for optimal braking performance.

The Ripley aims to be a light, agile trail bike with good uphill performance. That's why I chose the lightweight Crankbrothers Synthesis XCT 11 wheels. With carbon rims, Sapim CX-Ray spokes and noble Industry Nine hubs, the entire package weighs in at a light 1.519 grams. The front and rear wheels are specifically optimized for the requirements. The front wheel has been designed to be less stiff than the rear wheel to provide a smoother ride. The rear wheel is stiffer to offer the best acceleration and cornering performance. This is achieved through a specific number of spokes and spoke tension. In addition, the rim has an internal width of 26,5 mm on the front wheel and 24,5 mm on the rear wheel, as you tend to drive a wider tire on the front wheel.

As a reference, I decided to start with the tried and tested Schwalbe Nobby Nic with a width of 2.35″. These offer a good compromise between rolling resistance, weight and grip and fit well with the versatile character of the bike. The tires were of course mounted tubeless with sealant. In the course of the year, however, a number of other test tires will find their place at the Ripley.

Ritchey components ensure contact between bike and rider. A Ritchey WCS Streem Carbon is used as the saddle, which weighs only 145 grams and still offers good comfort. The cockpit also comes entirely from Ritchey. Handlebar and stem come from the WCS Trail series. The stem was not chosen too short at 60mm and the carbon handlebar offers a comfortable seating position with a width of 780mm and a rise of 15mm. The handlebar is supplemented with light Ritchey silicone grips, which should offer good grip and cushioning.

In this way, the scale remains at 12,5 kg without pedals - despite the overall robust construction. I would say mission accomplished. Now the bike just has to prove itself on the trail.

Due to winter and injury, it has only been the first set-up rides so far and I am looking forward to testing the bike extensively for you in the coming weeks. In addition, individual parts will be presented in more detail in the coming weeks and there will also be an update on the overall impression. Stay tuned!