Description

2016 Ibis Ripley LS Mountain Bike Frame

Those two little initials camped out in the title of Ibis’ latest Ripley LS Mountain Bike Frame may seem innocuous, but they’ve got some outsized importance. LS is an initialism for Longer Slacker, and those awkwardly free-floating modifiers apply primarily to the top tube length, which gains 15mm, and head tube angle. The effects of these changes are felt throughout the frame in the form of a wheelbase that increases from the standard Ripley’s 1,125mm to the LS’s 1,167. Combined with a head tube angle that drops from 69.2 to 67.5 degrees, that bigger footprint empowers those of us who have already been treating the Ripley as a baby enduro sled. As Ibis puts it, the LS modifications take the Ridley from “sporty” to “gnarly.”

Other than those geometry changes, this is still the classic Ripley that we’ve been beating the hell out of across all manner of terrain. The construction process remains the same, beginning with an internal bladder that’s wrapped in a monocoque carbon layup that keeps the carbon fabric intact through joints. The precision of this method means that no additional molds or fillers are needed to keep the frame light and strong. The Ripley LS’s swingarm and clevis are still filled with foam glass microsphere cores to ensure their structural integrity while keeping weight down, and it has the same expanded dropper capacity as the regular version.

The Ripley includes the latest Fox Float DPS shock, which is tuned for the DW-Link suspension’s firm, consistent pedaling platform. Expect it to handle with nimble speed while accelerating out of turns and taking advantage of the suspension’s strong anti-squat tendencies. The 120mm rear travel, combined with the Ripley LS’s 67.5-degree head tube, makes for a surprisingly eager trail platform that combines the best qualities of XC and trail bikes.

Increasing rear stiffness was the key to this versatility, so Ibis engineers revisited the internals of the dual eccentrics used in the DW-Link suspension, modifying the cores and adding extra carbon to the frame for more responsive power transfer. In addition to adding tire clearance, the redesigned right-side upright and the return of a swingarm-mount for the front derailleur contribute to an overall stiffer rear triangle. The chainstays also contribute to stiffness by remaining impressively stubby, and the CNC-machined threads of the 73mm bottom bracket grant peace of mind with less creaking than a PressFit model.