Hey brother, solid video. Just a heads up, you want to have lower pressure in the front (better grip/traction) and more pressure in the rear (to absorb weighted impacts and avoid pinch flats). The lower pressure in the front will help your front tire conform to the trail better and dig in, also there is naturally less weight on the front end of the bike, so you don't need as much pressure. Heavier riders need more pressure, lighter riders need less pressure. Same with the weight applied to the front and rear tires. Just some friendly advice from 15 years of racing.
Definitely interested in seeing how the bike handles with a beefier combo. My suspicion is that a more substantial tire will definitely confirm this as a do-it-all bike.
Thanks for this video. I live in the same area and ride the same trails. I'm coming from the other direction with 100 mm travel hardtail that has a 69.5 head tube angle. I can ride all the stuff in JRPS with no problem and love the agile nature of my bike but I recently road Carvin's Cove and Massanutten. Definitely did not have enough bike under me for my skill level on those trails. Strongly considering the Ripley but want to make sure it's enough bike, though not too much. Have you ridden either or other just bigger technical stuff with the bike? Would love your impressions if you have. It's likely I'll do about 80% of my riding around here and 20% west of here on bigger stuff so trying to find a bike that can do both but don't need to go full Enduro. Anyway, we would love your thoughts.
Howdy! Great to hear from another local. This bike has been the best of both worlds. Perfect for any of the JRPS routes and Poca, but when bringing it to the mountains, it really shines! I’ve ridden it at Carvin’s, in the backcountry at Snowshoe, at the New River Gorge and a handful of others throughout the Blue Ridge. I’d fully back this as a do-it-all kind of bike.
@thekurrent Thank you for your response. No surprise, but my plan is to ride all the places you mentioned so this is really helpful. Headed to Riverside Friday to test drive one. Can't wait!
Hey Billy. I’m in love with it even more. Coming from a true enduro rig (160mm travel), I’ve crushed all my segments in town with this new bike… and even in my actual mountain rides, the bike has proven itself as a do-it-all rig. Asheville, West Virginia and out in the VA Blue Ridge, it’s performed exceptionally well, both climbing and descending. Highly recommended.
@@thekurrent I’m looking at getting a ripley, I live in New England where there’s a lot of tight technical single track. I’m coming off a 160/150 bike looking for a better pedaling bike that will allow me to ride longer with more energy. Are you happy with the bike in stock form? Would you consider running a 140 fork which would also slacken it out a tad bit or is dialed the way it is? Thanks
@@Sdm07120 Sounds like we were in a very similar position.. This bike has been an absolute game changer, especially from a climbing POV. Not to mention the drop in weight from my previous enduro rig (also a 160/150 travel bike) has helped a ton with nimble and poppy ability while descending. So far, I haven’t run into a situation where the 140 fork would make a world of difference. That said, the stock setup has been exactly what I’ve needed for the past 600 miles of trail riding.
@@thekurrent good to hear! I’m trying to decide between the ripley and the tallboy. I’m sure either one of them will be an upgrade for the riding I do.
Hey brother, solid video. Just a heads up, you want to have lower pressure in the front (better grip/traction) and more pressure in the rear (to absorb weighted impacts and avoid pinch flats). The lower pressure in the front will help your front tire conform to the trail better and dig in, also there is naturally less weight on the front end of the bike, so you don't need as much pressure. Heavier riders need more pressure, lighter riders need less pressure. Same with the weight applied to the front and rear tires. Just some friendly advice from 15 years of racing.
Rookie move on my part! Running this on my other bikes, but confused myself with the excitement of NBD. Cheers and enjoy the ride!
Great video. I have the same bike. I’ve tried dhf (front tire) dissector (rear tire). Not the lightest combo but great grip.
Definitely interested in seeing how the bike handles with a beefier combo. My suspicion is that a more substantial tire will definitely confirm this as a do-it-all bike.
Thanks for this video. I live in the same area and ride the same trails. I'm coming from the other direction with 100 mm travel hardtail that has a 69.5 head tube angle. I can ride all the stuff in JRPS with no problem and love the agile nature of my bike but I recently road Carvin's Cove and Massanutten. Definitely did not have enough bike under me for my skill level on those trails. Strongly considering the Ripley but want to make sure it's enough bike, though not too much. Have you ridden either or other just bigger technical stuff with the bike? Would love your impressions if you have.
It's likely I'll do about 80% of my riding around here and 20% west of here on bigger stuff so trying to find a bike that can do both but don't need to go full Enduro. Anyway, we would love your thoughts.
Howdy! Great to hear from another local. This bike has been the best of both worlds. Perfect for any of the JRPS routes and Poca, but when bringing it to the mountains, it really shines! I’ve ridden it at Carvin’s, in the backcountry at Snowshoe, at the New River Gorge and a handful of others throughout the Blue Ridge. I’d fully back this as a do-it-all kind of bike.
@thekurrent Thank you for your response. No surprise, but my plan is to ride all the places you mentioned so this is really helpful. Headed to Riverside Friday to test drive one. Can't wait!
@@mikeu362yall should ride together :)
GreaT VIDEO .. How tall are you , and what size bike are you riding ?
Thanks man! I’m 5’8 with a 30.5” inseam. The bike fits PERFECT.
what size bike?@@thekurrent
@@ToddVess it’s a medium
After six months do you still like this bike? I am also in RVA and looking at a Ripley or a Spur.
Hey Billy. I’m in love with it even more. Coming from a true enduro rig (160mm travel), I’ve crushed all my segments in town with this new bike… and even in my actual mountain rides, the bike has proven itself as a do-it-all rig. Asheville, West Virginia and out in the VA Blue Ridge, it’s performed exceptionally well, both climbing and descending. Highly recommended.
@@thekurrent awesome! I am on a ARC now and ride Poca 98% of the time so I am sure the Ripely is more than capable to crush those flowwy trails.
@@thekurrent I’m looking at getting a ripley, I live in New England where there’s a lot of tight technical single track. I’m coming off a 160/150 bike looking for a better pedaling bike that will allow me to ride longer with more energy. Are you happy with the bike in stock form? Would you consider running a 140 fork which would also slacken it out a tad bit or is dialed the way it is? Thanks
@@Sdm07120 Sounds like we were in a very similar position.. This bike has been an absolute game changer, especially from a climbing POV. Not to mention the drop in weight from my previous enduro rig (also a 160/150 travel bike) has helped a ton with nimble and poppy ability while descending.
So far, I haven’t run into a situation where the 140 fork would make a world of difference. That said, the stock setup has been exactly what I’ve needed for the past 600 miles of trail riding.
@@thekurrent good to hear! I’m trying to decide between the ripley and the tallboy. I’m sure either one of them will be an upgrade for the riding I do.
Ride More, Work Less. #skrrt
I picked up a 2023 Ripley AF SLX for local glory this season. 🙌 Came equipped with DHR2 up front and Dissector rear.
Such a fun rig! Enjoy the ride-spring can’t come soon enough 🍻