nmrt
02-12-2015, 06:46 PM
Wanted to share my experiences with all you guys who might be thinking about getting a full suspension mountain bike.
So, some of you may remember that I was in the market for a FS mountain bike in November 2014. Since then, I test rode the following mtbs:
Yeti SB5c (27.5),
Yeti SB95c (29er),
Yeti SB66c (26er)
Santa Cruz 5010 (27.5),
Santa Cruz Tallboy c (29er),
Specialized Stumpjumper evo FSR (27.5),
Specialized Enduro expert (29er),
Specialized Stumpjumper evo FSR (26er)
Cannondale Jeykll (27.5),
Trek Remedy 9.8 (27.5),
Trek Fuel ex 9.8 (27.5)
Pivot Mach 429c (29er)
My test drive included renting these mountain bikes and taking them on local trails for a day.
I ended up buying an Ibis Ripley! I have slowly been building it up since January and today was the second time I took it for a spin on the gnarliest trails around. I live in the CO front range so many trials here are pretty rocky.
All I have to say is that this bike gives me exactly what I was looking for -- a 29er that most closely matches the handling of a 26er with about 140 mm of front travel. The Ripley really feels blithe. It is easy to corner, aggressive on the downhills and eager to pedal uphill over large and small rocks with nary a useless suspension bob. I attribute the cushy ride to the wonderful DW link and the aggressiveness to the steep HT angle. I rode many of the bikes above on the same trails I rode the Ripley and I feel that this bike inspires just so much of confidence. I can charge into corners and whip the bike (almost) like a 26er. The beauty of the DW link makes the bike stick to the trails and I lose no traction.
I could go on and on. I am smitten. Sorry, if to some I come across as a fanboy but this is my first FS bike that I have owned having sworn off them after getting my HT Ti Blacksheep. I used to tell myself, FS will never be for me.
But alas, look how the tables have turned.:):)
So, some of you may remember that I was in the market for a FS mountain bike in November 2014. Since then, I test rode the following mtbs:
Yeti SB5c (27.5),
Yeti SB95c (29er),
Yeti SB66c (26er)
Santa Cruz 5010 (27.5),
Santa Cruz Tallboy c (29er),
Specialized Stumpjumper evo FSR (27.5),
Specialized Enduro expert (29er),
Specialized Stumpjumper evo FSR (26er)
Cannondale Jeykll (27.5),
Trek Remedy 9.8 (27.5),
Trek Fuel ex 9.8 (27.5)
Pivot Mach 429c (29er)
My test drive included renting these mountain bikes and taking them on local trails for a day.
I ended up buying an Ibis Ripley! I have slowly been building it up since January and today was the second time I took it for a spin on the gnarliest trails around. I live in the CO front range so many trials here are pretty rocky.
All I have to say is that this bike gives me exactly what I was looking for -- a 29er that most closely matches the handling of a 26er with about 140 mm of front travel. The Ripley really feels blithe. It is easy to corner, aggressive on the downhills and eager to pedal uphill over large and small rocks with nary a useless suspension bob. I attribute the cushy ride to the wonderful DW link and the aggressiveness to the steep HT angle. I rode many of the bikes above on the same trails I rode the Ripley and I feel that this bike inspires just so much of confidence. I can charge into corners and whip the bike (almost) like a 26er. The beauty of the DW link makes the bike stick to the trails and I lose no traction.
I could go on and on. I am smitten. Sorry, if to some I come across as a fanboy but this is my first FS bike that I have owned having sworn off them after getting my HT Ti Blacksheep. I used to tell myself, FS will never be for me.
But alas, look how the tables have turned.:):)