Ibis bikes and the word “playful” go together like peanut butter and jelly. But what happens when “playful meets capable”? It turns out you get the Ibis Cycles Ripmo V3. The Ibis Ripmo V3 is hands down one of the best 29er’s Ibis has released as well as the most capable. Why then did it not win the award for “Personal Favorite” in our Awesome MTB Trail Bike Buyers Guide? Well before we get into that we need to first start off with explaining what is new with the Ibis Ripmo V3?
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New for 2025 we have a 150mm rear travel 29er with a 160mm of travel up front. The third iteration sees a slacker front head angle, coming in at 64.5 degrees as well as size proportional chainstays and a new straight top-tube which also makes this version of the RipMo the best looking bike Ibis has released. This Ripmo also features internal frame storage as well, with an added detail of Cotopaxi custom frame bags, a detail that was much appreciated.
How Does It Ride?
Climbing: When it comes to climbing the Ripmo V3 stays true to its Ibis roots and is very efficient on climbs both in and out of the saddle. If you have ever ridden an Ibis, this is no surprise to you. Ibis bikes have been known to be some of the best climbing bikes on the market, utilizing a DW-Link suspension design. The V3 Ripmo has a very good pep in its step when you put the power down on the pedals. However this iteration also has a bit more added traction in its initial stroke that was very welcomed on techy climbs. The BB height is also slightly higher than some other bikes in this category, another welcomed addition for more tech style climbs! The seat angle feels perfect as well, and it is all smiles uphill.
Downhill: Now some of you probably skipped straight here and that is okay, this is after all where the fun begins! The Ripmo V3 is hands down one of the most fun enduro bikes I have ridden by Ibis. Having reviewed the Ibis HD6 earlier this year, something that stuck out to me about the HD6 was how I just wanted that bike but with 29in wheels front and rear. The new Ripmo V3 feels like exactly that!
With a burliness in its attitude that inspires you to take gnarlier lines every time you are out on the trails, the confidence that this new version of the Ripmo was exactly the changes needed to really make this platform compete with bikes in the “All Mountain” category. The real magic however is acquiring that confidence but retaining the classic playful nature of it being an Ibis, which makes it still feel like an awesome trail bike as well! It has this very unique ride feel where it wants to go straight fast, however when you want to gap sections of trails or whip the rear end around, it reminds you that its and Ibis and your playful request are its “Scot Nicols” commands!
How does it feel in comparison to the previous Ripmo V2?
Much more predictable suspension wise and also much more capable, while sacrificing very little when it comes time for playfulness. If you have every wanted a bit more bite out of your Ripmo, the changes are exactly what I think were needed to make the Ripmo Rip Mo! Okay I’ll stop…
So Why Did The Ibis Ripmo V3 Not Win The Trail Bike Buyers Guide?
While I really love the new Ripmo V3, something that didn’t work out this time was sizing and I think this will help a lot of people out there! Something I can’t recommend enough is to pay attention to the new sizing chart. Ibis recently added a “Extra Medium” and also tried to approach sizing a little differently. I ended up on a Size Large test bike (I am 6'2) with a reach and top tube length the same, if not bigger, than the other 10 XL test bikes in this test. At the end of the day, the bike itself felt like a size large out on the trails. While I really do not like being that guy giving feedback while on the wrong size bike and I do not think it was fair to the Ripmo, this 100% would have been the size I would have ordered for myself if I was going purely based off the geo chart.
So with that being said, I think the Ripmo in an XL would have been exactly what would have been needed to push this bike into the top 3! With the 10 other bikes in this test fitting me like a glove in a size XL with the same geo numbers on paper in regards to reach, it is just how it played out this time. So if you are reading this, reach out to either Ibis or Jenson USA if you don’t have access to a demo, but if you can I highly recommend attending a demo! Ibis does a very good job with their demo program so it should be very manageable but they also answer all of their emails, and if you have any questions they will be able to help! I will also try to follow this up with a Size XL Ripmo test in the future!
Final Thoughts:
The new Ibis Ripmo V3 is an awesome direction for Ibis Cycles and a truly capable trail bike that retains the classic Ibis playful feel! If you want to go fast and have fun, this is your bike! Just pay attention to sizing.
-Mo Awesome
Ibis RipMo V3 Video Review: https://youtu.be/uQn-FtgYEfk
My Dream Ibis Ripmo (affiliate links):
Frame Size XL (I'm 6'2): https://alnk.to/44WEHCh
Suspension: DVO Onyx / Topaz https://dvosuspension.com
Drivetrain: https://alnk.to/bitIV5Q
Brakes: https://alnk.to/cSIxKrz
Handlebars: https://alnk.to/6mQvsgE
Dropper Post: https://alnk.to/gp1HmMf
Wheels: https://alnk.to/6xLgr6t
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