Submitted by
Tutschel
a Weekend Warrior
from Ireland
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2009
Strengths: Rarity (only 269 ever made) thus holds its value excellently and carries the ultimate bling bling factor, unique design, frame material (Titanium if you must ask!) and no pivots to wear out. Ultra smooth and rides like new despite being over 8 years old.
Weaknesses: No serious ones really. Some say the stink-bug effect (sudden unloading of the rear end under sudden heavy downhill front braking forces, giving the impression of being ejected forward) is a weakness, but once you get used to the unique riding characteristics of this amazing frame/bike, then you adapt your riding technique to suit it. The good old saying "A good carpenter never blames his tools" jumps to mind. It took me by surprise the firt couple of rides even though I had read often enough about it, but once I adapted my riding style to accommodate this unique characteristic, it as good as "dissappeared". Possibly the cable guide placing on the outside of the top tube.
Bottom Line:
Words cannot do this bike justice. After having waited over 10 years to fulfill a dream to own one of these precious jewels, I can say hand on heart, every second was worth the wait! This is probably the most over-engineered MTB ever created and took some serious "think outside the box" ingenuity, with the result that more than a decade after its initial conception, nothing has even come close to competing with it. Yes it is expensive, but this is made to last... The ultimate ride and timeless masterpiece!
As far as I know, custom frames are still being built to order by the origional genius designer John Castellano, under the Castellano Designs label. If you have ca. $6K to splash out on the ultimate frame this is for you.
Similar Products Used: World Force VR1 - although similar travel (1" more) totally different design (parallelogram system) and user group focus (i.e. DH)
Bike Setup: Fox Talas RLC (06) fork (90-130mm travel), Chris King ISO disc hubs with Mavic 819 tubeless rims, Hope Mini Mono Pro disc brakes, Chris King headset, Spicer Ti riser bar, Moots laidback Ti seatpost & Ti mountain beam stem, Selle Italia Flite Ti316 Gelflow saddle, Manitou SPV shock, Full Ti cassette (11-34), Tune Fast Foot cranks with Ti 6Pack BB, Crank Bros Egg Beater 4Ti pedals, Race Face Race Rings (22/34/46), SRAM X.0 rear derailleur, XTR front derailleur, SRAM X.0 Twist Shifters, Schwalbe Tubeless Racing Ralph tyres, SRAM chain and Yeti grips. Full build weighs 11.8kg (26lbs).
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Marina del Rey, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2006
Strengths: Lightest, smoothest 4"+ travel bike of all time. More thoughtfully engineered than some cars!
Weaknesses: By 2006 standards; not rear disc compatible, 28.6 mm seatposts hard to find and selection limited, original shock (fox alps) is primitive by today's standards
Bottom Line:
I finally got my BowTi from Ebay in 05. Miraculously the frame was still new and had been found in the back of a bikeshop. I built it up with all new 05/06 parts and tweaks with help from John Castellano himself (via email). With modern equipment and especially the new pedal platform shocks this bike is truly outstanding. Easily the most impressive full suspension XC bike. Back in 98, 6 grand for a full bike was pretty shocking, but now in 06 more and more bikes approach or surpass that price and none of them weigh 21 lbs. If you own a BowTi and a Newsboy, you will never be more lucky.
Similar Products Used: There are no similar products
Bike Setup: RockShox SID race 80mm, Shimano XTR, Avid Ultimate brakes, Easton carbon bar and seatpost (w/shim, grrrrr...), Mavic SL wheelset, 06 Fox Float RP3 shock
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jared Andersson
a Weekend Warrior
from Chanhassen
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2003
Strengths: This bike had the most smooth suspension I have ever ridden. Lots of travel.
Weaknesses: The unified rear triangle design. I own a Klien Mantra and it also stink bugs when I brake.
Bottom Line:
Such a smooth ride. It is not worth the money but for years after riding it all I think about is the smooth suspention action. Maybe this would be worth the money to someone.
Similar Products Used: Klein Mantra, Trek Y, Fisher.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam Uyemura
a downhiller
from Gresham, OR USA
Date Reviewed: August 17, 1998
Bottom Line:
I bought my Ibis Bow-Tie for $6499.99, and got hit by a car the next day. It destroyed my Judy SL's, but the frame is okay. I'am afraid I will have to put some Indy S's on it and downgrade the components to Shimano SIS. I think the SIS Y-Brakes will have much more stopping power than the standard XTR V-Brakes. Anyway Huffy's that have SIS are made way better than an Ibis Bow-Tie.
Submitted by
Tom
a cross-country rider
from San Juan Capistrano
Date Reviewed: July 6, 1998
Bottom Line:
Superb craftsmanship and tremendous engineering effort makes this bike worth owning . Screw the idiots that downgrade its overall rating because of price. Screw the idiots that only cruise it along paved paths and don't take this bike and hammer it down technical trails. It's OK to crash! Just send it back to Ibis and they'll refinish it like new! For heavier riders use front suspension forks with minimul flex in the stancion tubes like a White Bros. SC90; works way better than a SID. I tried both for several months. The stiffer forks work better on what is essentially a flexible frame. Be patient when first riding this bike; there is a learning curve! I am deducting one chili for the inappropriate location of the cable guides located toward the rear along the top tube. They'll cut the inside portion of your knees when struggling on real technical sections. I believe Ibis will relocate the guides or alter them to prevent this from happening.
Submitted by
Drew
a cross-country rider
from Mississippi, C.S.A.
Date Reviewed: June 27, 1998
Bottom Line:
The bike looks cool and I only rode one once for about 15 minutes but it ruled Treks rule. Specialized rules, Bontragers rule, and pretty much anything but GTs rule. I just dont like GTs. I just dont like the way they ride and nothing can change my opinion about that.I am giving it 5 chilis for looks and a brief ride
I had to work with the setup a bit but this thing is now sublime. The problems I had with it not climbing well, not holding a line and hopping around on downhills went away when I adjusted the *FORK*. I have a SID on it which needed the heavier cartridge and a notch taken up on the negative spring.I think the performance of this thing is just stunning. It soaks up bumps even though you don't feel the suspension working. It doesn't quite have the traction of an LTS (my previous ride) when you are honking up a rough climb, but if you are seated it just rockets up compared to the boggy feel of the LTS. If you can't like this bike, you must be from another planet.As for it breaking - I have never had a bike yet which didn't break, so I don't think it will mean the end of civilization as we know it if the Bow-Ti cracks. They guarantee the thing for life anyway.
this bike is the complement to the IBIS EASY STREET tandem we own. While the price is dear, you get what you pay for: craftmanship, superior design and and solid factory support. Where else can you get a full suspension (5 rear travel) bike for less than 10kg ? When I get too old (only 42 now...) I'll give this to my son to beat on, and perhaps his after that.
Submitted by
Chris
a cross-country rider
from Iowa, USA
Date Reviewed: March 7, 1998
Bottom Line:
What can I say?? This bike is the mother of all bikes!! I put a SID, full XTR, syncros, Spinergy's, and some rosies and it is the best bike. I really like how as soon as you get off the seat, it goes stiff. Now, it's easier to sprint and to take bumps. Sit and it's plush!! Great design and the virtual pivot is amazing!! When I die, I plan on being buried with the bike.
this is my last bike because no others can compare. this is best bike on this centry the rear suspension save my life many times. i sujest this bike of parts of color use gold and ti, and i wait white brothers' sc70ul on my bike. if i can buy goldtec's ti chainring, my bike must be prefect.
Submitted by
Eric M
a cross-country rider
from Washington State
Date Reviewed: January 7, 1998
Bottom Line:
The Ibis BowTi is an excellent bike for all around use. It handled well on technical sections, and did a great deal to absorb both the big hits and the small, high frequency jolts. The BowTi excelled in reducing rider fatigue over differing durations of rides. It was exceptionally lightweight, but felt slightly sluggish during seated climbs.
Submitted by
Boinger
a cross-country rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: December 8, 1997
Bottom Line:
I rode one of these puppy's last weekend. All I can say is WOW that's a lot of money for that ride!!!! The ride is sweet, but the cost! Good Lord!!! I guess if you have money to throw away and want to look like you do it a good buy(?) I could see 5 grand MAX for this bike. Oh yah, the review part. It has great ride properties, but i didn't like the way it climbed. It was light and all, but I felt there was just too much flex for a hard climb. DH was really fun though. All in all I'd say its a cool doodad for the LA coffee house millionaire's club. Other than that, I'd go Breezer or Ventana (especially on tight single track) starting w/ 5 chilli's, 1 off for the price and another off for the fact that it isn't good in all conditions. Its fun for the sport of mt biking though to have it around. Someone will buy it, and other's will want to check it out.
I am looking for a Large Ibis Bow-Ti...the more high-end goodies on it the better. Please contact me and let me know if anyone has one of these for sale, or knows of one for sale. Read More »
Want to buy an RP23 HV shock for my Bow-ti, but unsure what E2E & stroke I need? Any owners on here care to let me know what they went for (if they replaced the ALPS5)?
And do I Read More »
Sorry if this is old hat.. can't seem to get the search function to bring anything up, and the MTBR reviews stink of too much kool aid.
Anyone here ride a Bow ti extensively? Th Read More »
What a day...
Left the garage open for a few minutes today and somebody stole my Ibis Bow Ti mountain bike. Just like that, my dream bike - gone. Spec'd with top-notch parts. Read More »
I posted a couple weeks ago in another forum (CO front-range), but a few people have mentioned that I should post in the IBIS forums as well....
2 weeks ago (Monday, January 23r Read More »
