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Submitted by
mark
a
from halifax
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | fitzpatrick mtn | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | nimble and climbs unreal. | | Weaknesses: | hard to get | | Similar Products Used: | ibis silkti - had to have a softail after that. owned a sugar 4+ that snapped, and used a specialized epic for 3 weeks, but the the only thing "similar" to the ripley is that they had 2 wheels. | | Bike Setup: | (bought frame only) xtr shadow derailer, xt crankset, avid bb7 disc brakes, mavic crosstrail wheelset, ritchey climbmax | | Bottom Line: | haven't found anything that compares to an ibis/castellano softail. can't believe there are not more softails being made. have already climbed several steep loose rocky pitches i hadn't been able to get up on my sugar 4+ or loaner epic. ultra low maintenence, great handling, all the pluses of a hardtail with a comfortable ride and better climbing. great bike for the cross country rider not wanting big jumps and a big bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Weekend Warrior
from Minneapolis
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Lebenon Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Trail smoothing ability, nice welds...it's an IBIS nuff said | | Weaknesses: | Ha ha ha that's funny | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing like it, though I did see a Ritchey softail once.... | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Bomber Z2, XT cranks , BB, & shifters XTR brakes, and rear deraileur, Ibis stem, Titec bars, Salsa Seatpost, WTB saddle, FSA headset Time ATAC pedals | | Bottom Line: | The bike is sweet....that's all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill
a
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bought frame used | | Strengths: | Light and agile on the trail. Stiff for climbing and smooths out rough stuff very well. | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Bike Setup: | Mars fork, Grip shift shifters and rear, XT front, XTR V brakes, Sun Ringle' RPM wheelset, XTR Ti cog, Easton bar, Thompson seat post, Kenda tires | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike! I never thought I could own such a cool bike, but the frame came to me used ( six rides ) for a price I couldn't turn down! It rides like a dream, and has put a whole new element of fun back into riding. Highly recommend checking out the now available Fango. This bike is for anyone wanting to give up the harshness of a hardtail and doesn't want the monkey motion of a duely. Ride it, race it, doesn't matter. Just get one!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Troy
a Weekend Warrior
from Honolulu, HI
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | St. Louis Heights | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Demo (frame) | | Strengths: | Climbs insain. Feathery light. No maintenance. Sick design. | | Weaknesses: | Que? | | Similar Products Used: | Kleins. First Soft Tail. | | Bike Setup: | Full XT Build Kit. Syncros: Stem/Post/Bar. Yata, yata, yata... | | Bottom Line: | This bike is money. Outclimbs my Klein and tracks perfectly while literally erasing bumps. Was too prideful for a full suspension rig. This frame is the perfect all around x country ride- period. Ibis is legendary but sadly no more. Highly recommend checking out Fango. Castellano's rebirth of the Ripley. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross Country Rider
from Ann Arbor, MI
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Potawatomi | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$895.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheels in Motion | | Strengths: | See my first review below; after one year and over 2000 miles of trails this bike is still the cat's meow. | | Weaknesses: | Um...? I have to work, so I can't ride it all day. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots and lots | | Bike Setup: | All the parts needed to make it go | | Bottom Line: | The real news here is that John Castellano, the designer from Ibis, has started making Ripleys again. Only now the company name is now Castellano, and the bike is now called the Fango. Here's a web site with some info: http://www.dreambike.com/fangobikes.htm
As I said above, I have a year and a lot of miles, including two laps of the Maah Daah Hey, on my Ripley. If I had to buy another frame I would call up John and get the same one. I posted a review a few months after getting this frame and my opinion has not changed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike 'Jasko' Jaskiewicz
a Cross Country Rider
from Silverthorne, CO
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Monarch Crest/Rustler's Loop (CO)/The Glades (Reston, VA) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Mountain Pedaler, Minturn, CO | | Strengths: | 'Tour-de-Force' suspension design, frame sizing to fit lots of differently-sized riders, geometry allowing head angle tuning based on tire/fork used, color (understated to bold) | | Weaknesses: | Availability now that company is gone. But the patents are safe?!, Availability now of small parts (derailleur hanger, shock elastomers, seatpost clamp) needed over time to maintain frame longevity, need for downtube graphics to be under not over clearcoat | | Similar Products Used: | 1986 Fisher Montare, 1990 Bridgestone MB-2, 1998 Ibis Szazbo U.R.T. | | Bike Setup: | Parts primarily cannabalized from my 98 Ibis Szazbo. Emphasis on Clydesdale durability (I'm 6'-7" and weigh 245), performance, and getting a great fit. R.I.P.ley size XL frame in 8-Ball black. Top of saddle to floor = 44 inches. Total built weight = 28+/- lbs.
Parts: Shock: 98 White Bros. SC70XC (70mm) with extra-heavy springs, XTR V-brakes, ceramic pads, Thomson post, Terry Fly saddle, Koski 135mm, 10 degree 4-bolt stem, White Bros. 1.5" Ti riser bar with Ibis Rosie barends, XTR/Gripship 9.0 SL 8 speed shifters/derailleur, King headset, SPDs, RaceFace 180mm cranks. Wheelset: Front [Hugi hub, 32 spokes, Mavic 517 ceramic rim, 2.4 Motoraptor tire (cush)/2.1 Velociraptor tire (fast)], Rear: [Phil Wood cassette mtn. hub, 36 spokes, Mavic 618 ceramic rim, 2.1 Velociraptor tire], Salsa skewers. | | Bottom Line: | Perfect ride for me, at age 44. Lee Bridgers of Moab's DreamRide said it best in his webpage review of the Silk-Ti, "...perfect for an experienced full suspension rider who wants to get that 'old feeling back'." Old feeling as in my nimble, quick, 90 Bridgestone MB-2 hardtail, albeit with a little cushion to offset a decade of rigid riding and body pounding. After getting a U.R.T., I realized that long-travel rides are great if you have a trialsin mentality of getting mental penalty points for each foot dab on rough trails, and racing your friends on each ride. I personally have never been into that, so a full-on freeride machine is overkill for me. My new R.I.P.ley brought back that joy of riding, exploring new trails, and returned the silly grin to my face like I had back in 1985 when I first rode a mountainbike and when I rode my Bridgestone. It's quick handling allows me to revert back to my hardtail riding style that hibernated while I rode a U.R.T. that necessitated a seating position to activate the suspension.
I often find myself gazing at wonder at it, and imagining reriding all my favorite trails across the U.S. on it. Simply the best. Hats off to the designers and builders for bringing this design to fruition. Hopefully the current Ibis demise won't relegate this frame design to becoming simply yet another of Pres. George Bush'es 1000-points of light and a blip on the evolution of the suspension mountain bike's design. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Byron Williams
a Racer
from Arkansas
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Womble,Little Blakley | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | I wanted to come back and do another review after I had put her through some serious rides and races. I love this bike more every time I ride it. I pull off extremely technical sections with regularity now. You can jump out of the saddle on very steep climbs and pound the pedals and she will stick. If you love to race but don't have a ton of cash to spend, this bike is a STEAL,it is a serious singletrack racing weapon. For the recreational rider, this will probably be the last bike you will buy. I'll bet this bike will be one of the all time best designed frames ever, and will not be outdone by anything .......maybe ever! If you know someone who has one, don't ride it unless you plan on buying one (Ripley or Silk TI).Trust me, the mountain bike gods smiled on Ibis when they thought this one up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Racer
from Yuma, Arizona
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Marty's Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Sweet ride, climbs like a mountain goat, hold aline like mothing I've ridden before. It really lives up to the point and shoot description the guys at Ibis told me about.
Ridding in the desert you really need something to take off the edge of the rocks and the washboards. This thing rides like a hardtail, only better. | | Weaknesses: | I can't say I have found any. | | Similar Products Used: | Never been on a softtail before this one showed up on my door. | | Bike Setup: | Full XT, Thompson stem and seatpost, xtr brakes upgrade(so worth it)monkeylight bar, mar super fork, with the lockout | | Bottom Line: | If you race hard, unforgiving courses, buy it. Not tomorrow, today. I would give it 10 flaming turds if I could. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chip Mosteller
a Racer
from Columbia, SC
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | CBC, Dupont, Pisgah | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | VeloShoppe.Com | | Strengths: | Climbs like a goat, doesn't slip, a confidence inspiring ride. | | Weaknesses: | This is a reach. The only thing that I can find is a somewhat low BB. I've noticed the crank arms hitting things that they never used to hit. BUT, small adjustments in riding style has all but eliminated the problem. | | Similar Products Used: | I rode a Ti hard tail for years. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!
I've been set free from the grips of Ti. | | Bike Setup: | XT shifting, WTB laser beam rims, Race Face H.S. and Next Crank, Salsa saddle, post and stem, Titec 118 bars. | | Bottom Line: | I brought this bike in as a demo in my store. For the last 3 months it has reminded me how fun mountain biking is. I highly recommend this bike to anyone looking for a light, sturdy, forgiving and fun bike to ride. The price for the frame ain't bad either. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Guerette
a
from Madison, CT
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycles of Madison | | Strengths: | This bike has an amazing feel. When you ride it you can't tell that you are on a bike with any rear suspension at all, granted that it is only 1.25 inches of travel, but this is a softail. It feels as if you are riding on a hardtail b/c you don't feel the travel, although the one and a quarter inches of rear wheel travel takes the edge off on those really bumpy trails or decent hits. The bike provides a very smooth plush ride that any rider would be psyched about. There is a substantial amount of laterall ridgidity that comes out of the flat chainstay but it allows for free movement on the vertical axis (plush travel). All around a great bike and available in some sweet colors... I have "warm beer metalic" and it looks really nice. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing yet, but my only worry is how the elastomer shock will perform in very cold weather. I know that on onlder elastomer technology below freezing temps were a prbolem but I have yet to see how the ripley will perform. | | Bike Setup: | I have the bike set up kinda strange considering it is really a cross-country frame. I have it set up almost looking like a free-ride bike... minus the 6 inches of rear wheel travel. I have a marzocchi Z3 coil spring with the travel adjusted to 100mm, avid mechanical discs, tompson seatpost, raceface stem, LX shifter pods and derailures, XTR brake levers, and a Truvative Hussefelt crank set with a 22, 32, and a bash gaurd. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line on this bike is that it rocks. I couldn't be happier with it. People are still a little afraid of the bendable alluminum chainstay, but I figure they have a lifetime warranty on them so it is like a challenge to see if I can brake it. Anyone who is looking to get into the market of high end soft tail bikes but not wanting to spend all the cash for titanium should look no further than the Ripley from Ibis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al McWilliams
a Racer
from Ann Arbor, MI
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Glacier Gorge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Wheels In Motion | | Strengths: | Light (21.5 lbs built), Extremely responsive on sigletrack, grip like velcro on the steep rooted climbs, takes the edge off the nastyness without sacrificing an ounce of power. | | Weaknesses: | Ibis offers 10 colors... its sooo hard to choose. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 9.9 (not a soft-tail but the Ripley rivals it in acceleration) | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, Mavic UST, SID SL | | Bottom Line: | My previous race bike was the Trek 9.9 and I have always been a die hard-hard tail racer. I'm light and I want a bike that climbs fast, accelerates fast and doesn't loose a joule of power. Therefore I was a little leary of the soft tail idea... the aluminum stays on the Ripley transfer that power to the ground as well as any hardtail I've ridden.
Basically, the Ripley accelerates like a steel hard-tail. However, when you go to climb over that root, it wont bounce like a steel hard-tail. The 1.25" of travel sticks that rear tire to the ground.
If I had the legs for it... this bike could climb trees.
ED RULES!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Byron Williams
a Racer
from Arkansas
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Womble trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Chainwheel of Arkansas | | Strengths: | Light,super smooth ride, fits like it was custom made for me,cool paint job. | | Weaknesses: | Get real | | Similar Products Used: | Rode a unicoi once.I was a hardtail junkie. | | Bike Setup: | All XT ,Mavic 517's, Flite Ti seat,Thompsen post and
stem,Raceface low rise bars, 2002 Pyslo SL's. | | Bottom Line: | This is one awesome ride.If you race and have been looking for a serious single track weapon.....This is your ride.I only wish I could include a pic of the bike ,it is red with a white psylo fork, very cool. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CMK
a
from Philadelphia
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$995.00 | | Purchased At: | Trophy | | Strengths: |
It's real light, it absorbs the roots and rocks, it climbs swiftly and it decends real nice - real nice. It is very refreshing.
| | Weaknesses: |
I'll probably lose my fiance and my job b/c I'm on it so often.
| | Similar Products Used: |
Nothing is really similar, but I used to ride a ZaskarLE for years.
| | Bike Setup: |
Mars Elite, Avid SDs, XTR/XT, Kooka, WTB laserbeam w/Mavic hubs, THomson, Kore ...
| | Bottom Line: |
It sucks when your finished riding for the day. This bike makes you want to ride, and ride, and ride....
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jakob Kreutzfeldt
a Racer
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | This is a sweet bike. It is better than the bike you have now. Don't take my word for it. Weasel a ride on one any way you can. You will agree. | | Weaknesses: | I don't own one yet... but I'm gonna get mine asap. | | Similar Products Used: | Ibis Mojo, Yeti ARC, Yeti AS-R, Ibis Silk Ti (very similar product, but much more money) | | Bike Setup: | Duke, XT, Avid Mechanicals, Ringle DiscoTech wheels. | | Bottom Line: | A superb, quick handling bike that does everything a hardtail does, but better. Racers, if you have to buy your own stuff and want an advantage, score yourself one of these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, Texas (Alex, La)
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Ruston, Kincaid Lakeshore, Rocky Hill, Lajitas | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Red River Cyclery, Alexandria, LA | | Strengths: | lightweight, gives just enough suspension to take out the roots and rocks. rides like a hard tail, climbs like the back tire is glued to the trail. Best of all, I noticed that the suspension works great even when your out of the saddle. Sprints great . adjustable preload. easy to service shock if you even have too. looks cool. Ibis has a winner with the ripley. I love the powder coat finish. | | Weaknesses: | I have really been trying to find something wrong but I can't. Only problem (that really isn't a problem is people keep asking me is that Ti I tell them its aluminum, and they ask is it Ti? I say no its aluminum, and they ask is it Ti? this goes on for a while before i explain that aluminum can flex. They can't believe it. Plus strangers on the trail will want to ride it. | | Similar Products Used: | Haro Extreme (1992), Cannondale F1000(w/thudbuster hated it), Rocky Mountain Altitude (tange w/body shock.) | | Bike Setup: | Ibis orange ripley, Full XTR,manitou mars elite, thomson stem and seatpost, hutch pyhtons. | | Bottom Line: | This bike handles like my old steel hard tail, and is lighter. Bike jumps out of the corners, like the steel, it does'nt have that dead thud like most aluminums do, how did Ibis do it?The suspension design has no lateral flex no linkage. the bike is quick in the single track. Climbs like you would'nt believe even over loose rocks its grabs. 6 hours of Rocky Hill proved that. The price, the quality is excellent. If all you needs is small to medium bump relief this is your bike you can't go wrong. But if you want a bike for bailing off of 10 ft rock ledges this is not you bike. This is a sweet Cross Country racing machine. Ibis gives exactly what you need. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fast Eddie
a Weekend Warrior
from San Anselmo, CA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tamarancho | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Mikes Bikes | | Strengths: | Like the other guys said in previous reviews, great climbing, responsive, springy feeling for Aluminum.
Handles well, and light! | | Weaknesses: | I do not do big air, so super rough stuff would not work well with this bike if that's what you are looking for.
Trade the nut killer seat that comes on the bike toward a Laser with Ti rails!! | | Similar Products Used: | Had a Bridgestone MB3 Steel Frame for the last 10 years before this bike, tested Rocky Mountain, and Cannondale. | | Bike Setup: | XT, Marrazochi Atom 80, Laser seat, Shimano XT disk, risers up front, Cane Creek stem, Thompson Elite Seat post | | Bottom Line: | A heck of a lot of fun, I'm getting closer to 40, and this bike has re-invigorated my passion for MT Biking. I keep up with the SC Superlight and Fisher Full Suspension folks on our killer trail, and kill them on the lesser rough single track downhill.
Flys down fire roads and Single Track. Uphill is real smooth, although I wish I had lock out on Front shock as well.
I agree with Ed from the other review that you have to stay on top of things when you are riding this machine. I've paid the price hard a few times with some nasty spills when I spaced for a second. The front end wants to jump and be aggressive.
JC it Ibis was great, put in a heavier rear shock stack for me cause I'm a bigger guy. All in All, GREAT BIKE!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chuck Cypert
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Flat Rock Ranch, Comfort TX | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Richardson Bike Mart | | Strengths: | I don't get big air so lots of travel was not what I was after. I am very impressed with the way it climbs, and with the finish. I got black and put a white Manitou Mars Elite fork on it.
I like the exclusivity of the brand, I also have a very high opinion of the reputation of Mr. Nichol and Mr. Castellano. They do build some quite tasty stuff.
| | Weaknesses: | It was a two month wait to get one in. That was sort of a hassle for the dealer, and for me, but it was well worth the wait.
The saddle that came with my frame was a Bontrager / Selle and that damn thing is a nut-killer. I threw that stupid thing away after a week of riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Ibis SilkTi, Klein Adept Race, Breezer Lightning | | Bike Setup: | XT group, XT disc brakes, Manitou Mars Elite, WTB Tri-Lite saddle, Fire XC Pro tires. | | Bottom Line: | I may not have 6 inches of rear travel but I don't care. This bike is more than I hoped for. My pals love it, the guys at the shop lust for it, and I am never going to part with it.
Superb machine, best bike I've ever had. And one of the prettiest. Ibis definitely knows what they are doing with this "flat chainstay" thing. It works great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Cross Country Rider
from Ann Arbor
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Poto | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$895.00 | | Purchased At: | Washtenaw Cycle and Fitness | | Strengths: | A big tube aluminum soft tail that rides like a super smooth steel frame. Better lateral rigidity than most soft tails. Affordable for a soft tail. Powder coated instead of paint. Great color choices such as “Lung Butter”, “Warm Beer Metallic”, and my favorite, “Pond Scum”. | | Weaknesses: | Having to answer so many #$%&@ questions from people asking about it! Not really a minus, but the sizing is a bit off from the normal. I took a medium while I usually take a large. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek STP, I touched a Moots once. Countless hard tails and full suspension frames. | | Bike Setup: | It's nice. You would be jealous. | | Bottom Line: | First of all, don't but this frame (or any soft tail) if you want a full suspension bike. It rides like a hard tail except the little bumps, washboard, sharp edges, etc. magically disappear. Somehow Ibis has tuned the aluminum to feel like a steel frame; it has a springy feel without ever being whippy, and it sprints well. The steering is very quick. Ibis designed for an 80mm fork, and something like a SID Race makes it steep enough that it can barely be ridden "no hands"! Be ready to explain, over and over, about how the flat chainstays are contoured so that they flex over the entire length and being flat instead of round allows aluminum to live a long and happy life flexing. I have done several semi-epic rides as well as some rides that, if sanctioned, would have been races, and the frame performs well in both situations. The only time it might bite back is if you ride lazy; I have found myself wandering off the line more than with other bikes on my “off” days. Overall, it’s a pretty sweet ride; I would buy one again! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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