Submitted by
Stewart Harris
a Cross Country Rider
from Gallatin, TN 37066
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2006
Strengths: price, shipped very fast
Weaknesses: can not try before you buy
Bottom Line:
I was torn between the trophy 770 and the Trek 4900 and figured I would try the 770 since Ibex offers the 30 satisfaction guarantee. I ordered the 770 and it arrived within a couple days. It wasnt exactly what I was looking for but still a good bike for the money. I knew it wasnt what I wanted as soon as I unpacked it and rode it one time so I immediatly repacked it as it came from the factory using the factory packing materials. I called Ibex to get the RA# and shipped it back at a cost of $35 shipping (wich I knew up front would be my responsibility). When I recieved my credit back to my card I noticed it was $20 less than I had paid so I called to see why. Jack claimed it had been scratched up in shipping so he had to take an extra $20. I advised him I had packed it with the exact materials they had shipped it to me he claimed the front wheel was loose and it "beat up the front fork real good" This is still a decent bike for the money but if your hopeing to use the 30 day satisfaction guarantee to try out the bike, be prepaired to get credited whatever they see fit when you return it.
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Longmont Colorado
Date Reviewed: February 29, 2004
Strengths: As all the other reviews have mentioned, the bike has great components for the price, the frame is strong and well balanced, and the overall performance is better than comparable modes I looked at. I'm no expert when it comes to mountain bikes, but I was happy with the first bike I bought online (Voodoo Hoodoo) and started looking at reviews when I was ready to pass that bike on to my son and look for a slight upgrade. The reviews I read sold me on the company, and my experience since then with the bike already has me waiting for the next opportunity to get pass a bike down the line in my family and get a new one (and it will be another IBEX). I also spoke to the Jack and had all my questions answered before buying the bike. I couldn't be happier.
Weaknesses: None based on my expectations. I have experienced friends who can help when I have technical questions, so I haven't missed the support of the LBS.
Bottom Line:
This really is a great bike for the $. I'm a picky consumer always looking for the best buy for the $, and I feel like I found it with IBEX.
Similar Products Used: VooDoo Hoodoo, Looked at Trek 6700
Bike Setup: stock
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Pete Colan
a Weekend Warrior
from Granger, IN USA
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2003
Strengths: I "found" mountain biking on my Specialized Hard Rock without suspension forks and survived almost two years with it, watching what everyone else was riding for my next, and hopefully final, upgrade. I was willing to spend a lot of $dough for a great ride and found IBEX. Seemed like all the bike shops wanted me to upgrade to components and hardware I didn't really need for my style, but Jack was incredibly honest and helpful... never tried to sell me anything more than I needed, got my fit PERFECT, and saving a lot of money.
When I actually got the bike, like someone mentioned on another post, I gave up dinner to put it together and WOW what a beautiful bike!!! Took a few weeks to tweak the seats, shifters, and everything to fit me perfectly and make it sing to me, but it really does SING! Hardware, shifters, brakes, everything is flawless after 3 months and about 500 miles of hard trails, shocks are incredible, tires grip in all conditions (just change the air pressure a little depending on wet/dry trails), no need for rear suspension.. the frame and seat have a unique shape that absorbs some of the shock that my Hard Rock used to send right to my butt. Where I used to downshift climbing hills, I know find myself upshifting. And it was SOOOOO cool a few weeks ago to be able to dig thru some deep sand right past a guy who bogged down on his much-more-expensive-I-wont-name-names brand bike, and shortly after pass another guy who wiped out on mud on a steep hill on another very expensive bike where I was very accustomed to doing the same.
Weaknesses: Ibex website could use some more extensive tips on how to fit the bike. I got the right bike, and finally the proper fit after some trial-and-error.
Bottom Line:
This is hands-down the best value in a mountain bike. Great-looking, light weight, outstanding performer. Will buy my next road bike from Ibex, also.
Bike Setup: Amazingly fast. Most of it is already assembled. All the parts are there. Took me less than an hour. You need to have some patience for getting the right fit, which is all about trial and error. No matter where you get your bike from, even with expert setup from a bike shop, you may still need to move things around depending how it really feels after a couple hours on the trail, which you can't do at the bike shop.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tris
a Cross Country Rider
from Hightstown, NJ, US of A
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2003
Strengths: Price, components, service.
Weaknesses: None yet.....
Bottom Line:
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if you haven't figured out what a great deal these bikes are, don't bother checking now! If you have difficulty figuring out how to dial in an SIS derailleur, skip the Ibex (not because you need to, which you probably should know anyway). When I pulled this bike out of the box, I couldn't help saying to myself over and over "are you kidding me?" It is amazing. Much nicer looking than on the web. Same frame as the Pro, but with the Deore stuff, and some other lowere end comps. So, when I bought it, I thought I might try to upgrade immediately (tires, stem, bar, pedals, etc.). They are nice enough in person that I am going to abuse them and then do it. Not sure about the Kenda tires still, but I'm willing to give them a chance.
Bottom line: Awesome bike, awesome price, and the product is worth every dime, and then some. Its a chili fiesta at my house!
Similar Products Used: Older Giant, tested a bunch of other bikes, including Fisher, Specialized, almost went FS but this bike stuck in my head.
Bike Setup: Stock (more below)
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Will
a Weekend Warrior
from Durham, NC
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2003
Strengths: Bought it for $499, can you find me a bike with these components and a frame this nice for that little money elsewhere?
Weaknesses: Unless you are a bike mechanic or very bike savvy, be prepared for a certain amount of reading the manual (or another maintenance resource) and trial-and-error fussing, most bikes from the LBS will have these things worked out or come with free ‘check ups’ during the initial phases of ownership. One of the reasons I bought the Ibex is that bicycling is a hobby that can have more dimensions than just the ride. I enjoy the opportunity to gain independence by maintaining my own bike.
Bottom Line:
Well, it finally arrived. I say finally because it was supposed to arrive on Friday. At around 7 pm, while making dinner, I had resigned myself to another weekend borrowing someone else’s mountain bike. But then at 7:05 the UPS driver arrived with my bike in hand, and even asked me some questions about it.
Needless to say, I abandoned dinner preparations in favor of putting together my new bike (I have a very understanding wife). This took 45 minutes, most of that spent peeling protective cardboard and plastic off the bike, not turning wrenches. Everything you read in the Ibex reviews here held true for me: it is easy to get together, it is outfitted as advertised, it cost truckloads less than a similarly equipped other-brand bike, Jack responded immediately to questions (all of which I had before I received the bike), and it looks great (yay).
The next morning I rode it to a nearby gravel footpath (not very challenging) and checked for loose bolts, rattles, shifting, proper braking, etc, all I ended up doing was making some saddle and peddal adjustments, everything was a go out of the box. The day after that I took it out on the trail and it handled quite wonderfully. I fell once, no scratches (on the bike, that is). -The brakes work very well, even when muddy and wet -The shock was exactly adjusted to my 165 pounds -I snapped out the snap-in pedal platforms and loosened the step-ins almost to their limits (a little too loose at first, but a half turn back in and they were great--easy out in panic, stayed in over large obstacles) -The tires gripped very well (except on damp roots, but that is to be expected) -It is not quite as quick up hills as my road bike, but close enough -The saddle is comfy (for a road biker) -It goes over logs like a monster truck and splashes through mud and streams like, well, like a monster truck
The derailleur cables both stretched a bit on the first ride, so by the end there was a bit of frustrating ghost-shifting in back and plate rubbing up front, but I was able to get that worked out when I got it back home, and did so with a silly grin on my face.
Similar Products Used: Years ago: GT, Gary Fischer, Specialized, Trek. Recently: A friend's older Cannondale rigid, another friend's Trek hardtail.
Bike Setup: Stock, so far, but Jack tells me that Ibex sells parts to Ibex owners, so maybe some upgrades in the future.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Maryanne Leblanc
a Weekend Warrior
from Burlington, CT USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2003
Strengths: The bike was easy to assemble and is responsive and feels light. The components (Shimano Deore) and frame quality are wonderful for the price. All questions answered promptly, both before and after buying the bike. Stops on a dime and goes where I aim it. Lets an unfit fifty-year-old go up steep hills without getting off. Looks far better in reality than the photos, that is, really good.
Weaknesses: Owner's manual is so-so.
Bottom Line:
I love my new Trophy!!! I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to go on single track through the woods, but doesn't need a fancy racing machine, as a great value. Save by buying direct.
Bike Setup: Shimano Deore components - fine tuning needed out of the box.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jayson
a Weekend Warrior
from Huntington Beach
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2003
Strengths: Good value, easy to ride and adjust
Weaknesses: color
Bottom Line:
I had recently been re introduced into MTB. I wanted a good bike but i wasnt willing to pay over 700 dollars for one. I found Ibex on e bay and started to look into them. The overall feedback from Ibex was good and after a consultaition of a good friend and longtime MTB racer, I decided on the Trophy 770.
I ordered the bike it came quickly and assembled with little adjustment. Since I am a novice rider it has been great for me and the components work flawlessly. The service at Ibex was excellent as well.
