The Ripmo is still probably the best all around 150ish travel bike out there. Holds a line extremely well on steep sections and through rock gardens. Also tech climbs like a beast. It's also an absolute rocketship on flow trails. Very stable jumper even if the back end is a tad linear, a cascade link makes it way poppier and more supportive. I've had mine on the nearly vertical slab rolls on Whole Enchilada (the super steep ones on UPS) and I never felt like it wasn't slack enough. It also flew through the high speed rock gardens on Porcupine Rim like it was on an enduro stage, fast and smooth. You going to try an Exie for your next bike? Seems really downhill focused for an XC bike
Came for the review but was blown away by Hannah killing the waterfall on stair steps. I went otb so hard on my ripmo af there a month ago. Mad props to both of you guys making it look easy.
Thank you Mo for justifying my Ripley purchase this May! Just a month after meeting you at the Hurricane Mtb Festival I took the plunge. I’m loving it! But 23 years on my Ti hard tail would probably have me loving almost anything new today! Happy Holidays 🎄‼️
@@LastAphelion A 1998 Mongoose XTR Ti 10.9 w/ Crossmax wheels. The TST-built frame was quite nice, despite the tarnished Mongoose name with Wal-Mart connections. Still a wonderful bike, despite its age and old-school wheels & geometry.
Great video and it sort of nails the issue. During COVID at one point in time I had both (Ripley AF and V2 Ripmo) and I got so sick of staring at each bike for 20 minutes trying to decide which one to throw in the car for a given days ride (each one is great for different reasons) I had to pick one just to simplify decision making. I live in Oregon and am always looking for an edge going down so I picked the Ripmo, but it wasn't easy. The Ripley was so lively and fun/snappy. It honestly feels like trying to pick which one of my two kids I like better. :)
I had a heck of a time getting my Topaz to feel plush enough in high speed chatter and big hits on my Ripmo V2 … other than that I have loved mine - I definitely think it’s the best climbing trail/enduro bike out there (comparing to bikes like SB130, Enduro/Stumpy, and Sentinel) that holds its own at the DH park if you need it to. (No, it’s not the plushest bike out there but it doesn’t need to be )
Great review, dude. I hear you on the 'too aggressive' part. I think there's something to be said for a sweet spot where a bike isn't so stable that the fun is gone on most typical trails. Looking forward to seeing what you all do next!
Great review, as always - I watched all your videos on the Ripmo before buying the AF. Helped me a lot. The AF is the best bike I have ever owned hands DOWN. I came from stumpie ST in carbon to this aluminum beast 😁 The only gripe I seem to have is the noise the Onyx is making when taking medium to bigger hits. It's like a suction noise, or maybe squeaking? Is it normal in this model or should I be sending my brand new fork for repairs?
That was a great review especially about which bike suits which geographical area best. Based on your reviews and a few others, it seems like the bike for me would be a ripley (probably the AF) since I live on the east coast (eastern part of Virginia). I am just a 61 year old dude that is trying to get some fitness and have a lot of fun in the process.
I have a ripmo v2 and ripley v4. The Ripley v4 is overall a more fun bike, easier to pedal, snappier, and just better on the majority of my trails (blue to black/double black sections). The ripmo is good but it doesnt corner as fast, a little slower uphill, and you feel it on the longer rides. The ripmo does provide more stability on higher speed chunk and bigger rock features, but the ripley can still handle those sections, you have to choose a better line.
Couldn't agree more! I've a 4 year-old SC Hightower and a Ripley v4. I enjoy the Ripley way more on relatively longer days in the saddle; but must be way more selective on my lines and speed. BTW, I'm 75 YOA, help coach a high school MTB team, and hope to stay healthy enough to ride into my 90's!!!! Rubber side down .... Rule #1 is FUN!!! 🙂
Seems like the biggest deciding factor is whether you want more cushion going down on the chunky sections at high speed, would be the only reason to justify a ripmo. I have a ripley V4 and it's definitely not meant to bike park. I've taken it twice and always wished I had ripmo -at that moment. Then I go local and feel better again. Was thinking about getting a second hand dh even though it would only be a few times throughout the year.
So Mo. in this review you mentioned that the Ripmo v2 required time to figure out where to position yourself for the DH. Where /how did you position ??
Another excellent review. Very well articulated. So, I am trying to decide between a 2022 Ripmo, and the 2022 Rocky Mountain Instinct. I am in ST. George and have to climb from my house to the tops of the trails, so I need a good climber. I know the Ripmo is about as good as it gets for climbing, but I like the look of the Instinct much better. Any idea how much I would give up in the climbs with the instinct? Not too concerned with the downhill, all bikes go downhill well, it is all about the bikes climbing ability. Any other stand out climbers I should consider? (140-150 rear travel).
The Ripmo is still probably the best all around 150ish travel bike out there. Holds a line extremely well on steep sections and through rock gardens. Also tech climbs like a beast. It's also an absolute rocketship on flow trails. Very stable jumper even if the back end is a tad linear, a cascade link makes it way poppier and more supportive. I've had mine on the nearly vertical slab rolls on Whole Enchilada (the super steep ones on UPS) and I never felt like it wasn't slack enough. It also flew through the high speed rock gardens on Porcupine Rim like it was on an enduro stage, fast and smooth. You going to try an Exie for your next bike? Seems really downhill focused for an XC bike
Came for the review but was blown away by Hannah killing the waterfall on stair steps. I went otb so hard on my ripmo af there a month ago. Mad props to both of you guys making it look easy.
Thank you Mo for justifying my Ripley purchase this May! Just a month after meeting you at the Hurricane Mtb Festival I took the plunge.
I’m loving it! But 23 years on my Ti hard tail would probably have me loving almost anything new today!
Happy Holidays 🎄‼️
So awesome!!! Happy Holidays!!!!
What was your hardtail? I'm kinda drooling over the new Binary Maniak and am so torn between keeping it old school or trying my first squish
@@LastAphelion A 1998 Mongoose XTR Ti 10.9 w/ Crossmax wheels. The TST-built frame was quite nice, despite the tarnished Mongoose name with Wal-Mart connections. Still a wonderful bike, despite its age and old-school wheels & geometry.
Great video and it sort of nails the issue. During COVID at one point in time I had both (Ripley AF and V2 Ripmo) and I got so sick of staring at each bike for 20 minutes trying to decide which one to throw in the car for a given days ride (each one is great for different reasons) I had to pick one just to simplify decision making. I live in Oregon and am always looking for an edge going down so I picked the Ripmo, but it wasn't easy. The Ripley was so lively and fun/snappy. It honestly feels like trying to pick which one of my two kids I like better. :)
I had a heck of a time getting my Topaz to feel plush enough in high speed chatter and big hits on my Ripmo V2 … other than that I have loved mine - I definitely think it’s the best climbing trail/enduro bike out there (comparing to bikes like SB130, Enduro/Stumpy, and Sentinel) that holds its own at the DH park if you need it to. (No, it’s not the plushest bike out there but it doesn’t need to be )
Great review, dude. I hear you on the 'too aggressive' part. I think there's something to be said for a sweet spot where a bike isn't so stable that the fun is gone on most typical trails. Looking forward to seeing what you all do next!
Great review, as always - I watched all your videos on the Ripmo before buying the AF. Helped me a lot. The AF is the best bike I have ever owned hands DOWN. I came from stumpie ST in carbon to this aluminum beast 😁 The only gripe I seem to have is the noise the Onyx is making when taking medium to bigger hits. It's like a suction noise, or maybe squeaking? Is it normal in this model or should I be sending my brand new fork for repairs?
Your Ibis ripmo and Hannahs did perform awesome at the gnarliest trails in Texas 🤙
Which vid was that?
@@jimjigga just youtube Roughrider canyon mo awesome ..or bkxc roughridercanyon...or van girl Yuka roughridercanyon.
That was a great review especially about which bike suits which geographical area best. Based on your reviews and a few others, it seems like the bike for me would be a ripley (probably the AF) since I live on the east coast (eastern part of Virginia). I am just a 61 year old dude that is trying to get some fitness and have a lot of fun in the process.
Mo’s next bike….. Rocky Mountain Element!!
Love the colour scheme of this 😍
I have a ripmo v2 and ripley v4. The Ripley v4 is overall a more fun bike, easier to pedal, snappier, and just better on the majority of my trails (blue to black/double black sections). The ripmo is good but it doesnt corner as fast, a little slower uphill, and you feel it on the longer rides. The ripmo does provide more stability on higher speed chunk and bigger rock features, but the ripley can still handle those sections, you have to choose a better line.
Couldn't agree more! I've a 4 year-old SC Hightower and a Ripley v4. I enjoy the Ripley way more on relatively longer days in the saddle; but must be way more selective on my lines and speed. BTW, I'm 75 YOA, help coach a high school MTB team, and hope to stay healthy enough to ride into my 90's!!!! Rubber side down .... Rule #1 is FUN!!! 🙂
@@jddallager1699 awesome! God bless I'm 52 hope to keep it going so I'm in your shape by the time I get there.
Seems like the biggest deciding factor is whether you want more cushion going down on the chunky sections at high speed, would be the only reason to justify a ripmo. I have a ripley V4 and it's definitely not meant to bike park. I've taken it twice and always wished I had ripmo -at that moment. Then I go local and feel better again. Was thinking about getting a second hand dh even though it would only be a few times throughout the year.
Thanks for a great review and channel I vote you don't sell but donate or raffle your bike to one of your thousand of followers :)
Need a scrunchie to deal with that wind. Love my ripmo AF
Thanks MO, did you increase ripley to 140? How about the headset, do you recommend an angle headset?
So Mo. in this review you mentioned that the Ripmo v2 required time to figure out where to position yourself for the DH.
Where /how did you position ??
If I only can ride or have one bike it will be the Ripmo !!
Evolved alpha 20 niner smoothest bike I have ever ridden
Will you be listing this bike for sale on PinkBike or another marketplace?
OMG Mo your hair seems to always drive you crazy lmao...maybe invest in some headbands or steal some hair ties from Hannah? lol ; p
When is that enduro bike shootout coming?
Question is… what’s the new bike going to be? Exie maybe?
What are you going to be riding instead?
My Trance 29 Adv Pro 1 is very similar to the Ripley''s geo
I really wish you would just compare it to the Stumpy EVO, or any other ~150mm 29r. Is it a deal with Ibis that is keeping you from comparing them?
If you could cheat on ibis would you get a stumpjumper, epic evo or spur?
Club Ride ftw
I think it is underrated
Another excellent review. Very well articulated. So, I am trying to decide between a 2022 Ripmo, and the 2022 Rocky Mountain Instinct. I am in ST. George and have to climb from my house to the tops of the trails, so I need a good climber. I know the Ripmo is about as good as it gets for climbing, but I like the look of the Instinct much better. Any idea how much I would give up in the climbs with the instinct?
Not too concerned with the downhill, all bikes go downhill well, it is all about the bikes climbing ability. Any other stand out climbers I should consider? (140-150 rear travel).
Both bikes look awesome. From what you mentioned, my guess would be the Instinct.
@@derrickj925 ,.....You are suggesting that the instinct is the better climber?
How does this compare to the giant trance x 29 2
its just better
heavier than the Trance, but pedals better and blows it out of the water downhill.
That bike is too small for you Mo
Get a haircut and a real job :D