Ibis

Ripley LS Mountain Bike Frame - 2016

Whether you’ve been under the Ripley’s spell for years now or you’re building up a dream bike after years of riding stock parts, trust the new Ripley LS Mountain Bike Frame to deliver enduro confidence far beyond its XC/trail roots. From machine-built flow to old school singletrack, this version of the Ripley has grown up—the LS distinction stands for Longer Slacker—and it’s hungry for terrain befitting of its new enduro physique. With a longer top tube and slacker head tube angle, the Ripley LS craves committing lines and weekends on slickrock, but it manages to retain the quickness that earned it such a devoted following.

Through ledgy descents and jackhammering rock gardens, your old Ripley may have hesitated slightly, but the LS Ripley’s stabler, slacker geometry will keep it barreling aggressively without making you feel like you’ve gone through a washing machine. Its DW-Link suspension, newly reworked this year, delivers a consistent, responsive pedaling platform that won’t leave you bottoming out on rollers, and 4.7in of rear cush smooths crunchy terrain and remains quick in tight switchbacks.

As for the frame, prepare to run out of excuses on your regular climbing loops. Sure, you’re getting a slacker bike with a greater affinity for enduro, but Ibis meticulously shapes the LS Ripley from the same monocoque carbon layup as its predecessors. The frame feels feathery on climbs, and the precise manufacturing process eliminates the need for filler or excess material to hit impressive strength-to-weight ratios.