Ibis just announced an all new Ripley AF – AF, standing for Aluminum Frame, and man does it pack a lot of value in. With pricing of $2,999 and $3,299, both specs pack quite a punch. The bike 1º slacker head angle compared to its carbon fiber counterpart, and if the past is of any indicator, maybe the carbon bike could soon see an update? Anyhow, read on for the press release from Ibis for a closer look at the finer points of the new bike…
Details
• 29” Wheels
• 130mm front travel
• 120mm dw-link rear travel
• 2.6” tire clearance
• Aluminum front and rear triangle
• Available in four sizes S-XL, fits riders between 5’ and 6’6″
• Frame weight of 7.45 lbs. with shock
• Available with Fox Performance DPS shock
• Complete builds starting at 30.5 lbs / 13.04 KG
• Threaded BB (73mm BSA)
• ISCG 05 compatible with removable adapter
• 44mm fork offset
• Steep 76 degree seat tube angle
• Bottle cage mount inside front triangle
• Size M-XL compatible with 170mm+ droppers, 125-150mm for smalls • Molded rubber swing arm protectors
• IGUS bushings in lower link, bearings in upper link
• Metric 190 x 45 shock
• Post mount rear brake
• 203mm max rotor size
• 1x specific design
• Boost spacing
The Ripley AF is our beloved, category-defying, short-travel, singletrack-scorching Ripley—rendered in aluminum and with a touch more aggressive geometry. All the sizzle and pop of the carbon Ripley is now available as a complete bike at a wallet friendly, sub $3000. This bike is a multi-talented shapeshifter; a light, snappy, fast, fun, incredibly versatile bike that can get a whole heckuvalot more rad than its 120mm travel and gossamer weight implies. And making it out of aluminum only broadens the Ripley’s already broad appeal. It still rips like a Ripley. But it also costs a whole lot less than the carbon version, and is, well, more metal.
We already played up the whole “metal” theme when we introduced the Ripmo AF last year. Since this is a lighter, nimbler bike than the burly Ripmo AF, it would be easy to call it “Metal Lite”. However, the Ripley AF is too awesome, and too versatile, to get pigeonholed like that. Choose your own adventure, the Ripley AF is ready to go.
A trail-friendly 65.5-degree head angle (that’s
a degree slacker than the carbon version) and short (44mm) offset 130mm fork combined with 29” wheels makes for a super planted but still playful, precise but still nimble front end feel. Meanwhile, a 76-degree seat angle puts your power directly to the pedals, and the short chainstays and pedal-friendly dw-link kinematics deliver that power without squandering a single watt.
Pricing
• Complete builds start at $2,999
• Frame only w/inline shock start at $1,799
Our 15 years of collaboration with Dave Weagle has yielded unparalleled climbing efficiency and tractability. Incredible snap and responsiveness. And a whole mess of plush, chunder-eating, downhill-crushing goodness. All wrapped up together in the best suspension you’ll find anywhere. It’s that good.
Specs
Price point accessibility is no reason to skimp on the details. So, in order to quell your concerns while still respecting your wallet, we’ve sweated the details to the fullest of our capabilities. Boost spacing. Threaded BB and ISCG 05 compatibility. 2.6” tire clearance. Post-mount rear brake, 203mm rotor clearance. Super low standover, long-dropper friendly design. Seven-year frame warranty and lifetime bushing replacement. Metric 190x45mm shock, and room inside the front triangle for a water bottle. Cha-ching!
Photos: Lear Miller
