Believe it or Not: Ibis Reveals new Ripley 29er

After 3+ years of development, a crumload of anticipation and we finally get to see the latest creation from Ibis: The Ripley 29er. I’m a huge fan of the Ibis Mojo and most people anticipated that they would simply take the Mojo and adapt it to fit big hoops. Well, the Ripley is nothing like the Mojo and the DW-Link suspension is quite hidden within the inner-workings of the rear triangle/seat tube/bottom bracket area.

Without seeing the Ripley in person, I’m having a hard time seeing the pivot points in my mind, but I’m not doubting that the DW-Link goodness will shine through on this full-carbon 29er trailbike. With 120mm of travel, it’s just above the 100mm mark found on most XC-race 29ers, but is right about the sweet spot, in my opinion for a 29er trailbike.

Sporting a tapered head-tube, the Ripley has actually been built to handle up to 140mm forks. And, with Fox’s new 34 FLOAT and TALAS 29 forks hitting bike shops now, the Ripley will likely be clad with them as perfect matches to the Kashima-coated Fox RP23 rear shock. A 140 front 120 rear 29er is definitely less common than a 100/100 or 120/120, but are 29er riders ready for all that squish to go with their big wheels? 2012 will be a great year to find out.

Ibis Ripley 29er Specs:

• 29″ wheels (news flash)
• 120mm rear wheel dw-link travel
• Twin angular contact composite bearing eccentric linkages
• Full carbon fiber monocoque with sacrifical core molding
• Tapered head tube (Cane Creek AngleSet & Chris King InSet compatible)
• Kashima coated Fox Float RP23 with Adaptive Logic Boost Valve technology
• Clean cable routing with molded carbon cable stops and provisions for cable-actuated adjustable seat posts
• BB92/Press GXP style integrated BB is lighter and stiffer and better for molding
• 142mm Maxle rear axle provides high axle stiffness with QR ease of wheel removal and installation
• 160mm carbon fiber post mount rear brake mounts
• High direct front derailleur, mounted to swingarm
• Geometry designed to work with 120-140mm forks
• 34mm fork stanchion approved
• 4 Sizes (S, M, L, XL)
• Head angle – 71° with a 120mm fork / 69.5° with a 140mm fork
• 17.5″ chainstays
• Weight: TBD
• Price: TBD but in line with our other frames
• Delivery TBD, but not in 2011