Currently I'm 205 riding and have a Ripley LS and HD4. I do feel a difference in chunk and rooty runs, but the Ripley shocks me how well it rides. Still takes the odd small to med drop just fine. Don't really notice any flex.

That being said, there are a couple Ripmo riders that are doing the same big days that like the bigger bike for the geometry. They feel safer on the descents.

1. Really hard to gauge what you consider a big aggressive descent. The new Ripley will outgun my LS and my LS stacks up pretty good against my HD4 90% of the time.
2. Don't think you'll notice flex. Just a bit more arm pump, little more reactive, and ride around the big drops.

 

The new geo of the Ripley being almost a carbon copy of the Ripmo is what really has me leaning toward it. Currently, I'll do some ~30' jumps and ~6' drops. I'm kind of leaning toward getting the Ripley and an open face helmet, then steering clear of features that I would want a bigger bike and full-face helmet for lol.

 

Yep...I know i'll get shredded for this:

Ripmo will be phased out and the 29r HD5 and Ripley V4 will be left.

 

I don't think that sounds too crazy. It is a lot like what Santa Cruz has done with their lineup. The current difference between the Ripmo and the Ripley doesn't quite lead me to feel justified owning both of them, so I can certainly imagine the Ripmo transitioning to full enduro, with the Ripley holding down the trail end of the spectrum. If that happened though, I would expect them to keep the Ripmo name for the new Ripmo.

I could also see a situation exactly like what SC did, which would include the Ripley as light trail, Ripmo as all mountain, and then the 29er HD4 as the full on enduro brawler.

 

Ripley V4 wasn’t out yet or announced when I got my Ripmo last October, but it may have been the sweet spot Bike I was looking for. I love how the Ripmo rides and handles more than I can throw at it. The fact that it can out climb my old Jet 9, which is closer to an XC bike, but descend and handle chunk like a downhill bike (or close to it) is pretty amazing.

However, I don’t do any of the drops or jumps like you describe. I will hit 2 or 3’ drops or flatter riser jumps of 4’ or so. I’m 50 with much higher life consequences if a bad crash takes me out for 6 months than When I was 22.

The Ripmo has allowed me to clean some downhill sections where I ride with the fastest time for the year, which still stands today, and all-time fastest for my age on Strava. That’s crazy. The Ripmo gets a lot of credit for it.

I am thinking that my next bike may be the Ripley V4, as I am probably not using the Ripmo to its full potential. I’m also interested in reading what others who have ridden both bikes say.


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I weigh 190 and ride the V4 Ripley in Pisgah several days a week with long epics on many weekends (40-50+ mile days). I also own a GG Smash which is fairly equivalent to the Ripmo capability wise.

The Ripley does a really amazing job handling most of the Pisgah gnar but I do run a Fox 36 at 140mm on it. If you weigh 180+ and ride aggressive in tough terrain I would recommend a a bit bigger fork.

The Smash is certainly more capable at high speeds and bigger drops but I ride the Ripley much more and just dial it back and enjoy the long rides. I am 46 with kids that rely on me, also too many injuries over 25 years mountain biking make the Ripley a better fit for me.

The one problem with the Ripley is it feels really capable and can get you into trouble as it is easy to push it past its comfort zone in really gnarly terrain. Just gotta remind yourself to dial it back a bit and all is good.

 

I weigh 190 and ride the V4 Ripley in Pisgah several days a week with long epics on many weekends (40-50+ mile days). I also own a GG Smash which is fairly equivalent to the Ripmo capability wise.

The Ripley does a really amazing job handling most of the Pisgah gnar but I do run a Fox 36 at 140mm on it. If you weigh 180+ and ride aggressive in tough terrain I would recommend a a bit bigger fork.

The Smash is certainly more capable at high speeds and bigger drops but I ride the Ripley much more and just dial it back and enjoy the long rides. I am 46 with kids that rely on me, also too many injuries over 25 years mountain biking make the Ripley a better fit for me.

The one problem with the Ripley is it feels really capable and can get you into trouble as it is easy to push it past its comfort zone in really gnarly terrain. Just gotta remind yourself to dial it back a bit and all is good.

Thanks for the reply, and I do think it is a super useful comparison because from the numbers and ride reports, the GG Smash and Ripmo are very similar bikes.

Do you find that the Ripley is significantly more playful and poppy off of small features, pumping, and at lower speeds than the smash? The Ripmo is already fun in those situations, but getting even more in those areas would be a key reason for the switch.

 

Since I got my Ripley V4, I don't know that I'll keep the Ripmo. They're so similar but the Ripley is just more fun for me most of the time. Poppier, faster, and can still handle most of what I'm willing to do (if not all, lol) at 60 yrs old with 5 kids (including twin kindergarteners). And with a 140mm fork, the difference becomes even smaller. They're REALLY similar bikes except for the travel and progressivity of the rear end.

 

Great feedback. Sounds like you are in a similar situation to me. If I did the switch, would it make more sense to buy the V4 frame and swap components over or buy complete bike? I would probably sell the Ripmo frame or complete bike.

For 90% of the riding I'm doing, more of a trail bike would be a better fit.

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I’m making the switch from Ripmo to Ripley, I have a full season on the Ripley LS and 2 seasons now on the Ripmo. I love the Ripmo, so playful and amazing climber. Feels like you can take your hands off the bars in the steep loose stuff it’s so stable. But I do miss a bit of the supe quick pop of the Ripley. Ideally if one both, but I bet if I did I would reach for the Ripley 60% of the time

 

I've owned a Ripmo for two seasons and spent a couple long rides on a Ripley V4. I was stunned by how different the bikes ride/perform. Given the near-identical geo, I thought they would be more similar than different. I was wrong. The difference between the bikes is not subtle.

The Ripley is a rocket ship. Soooo fast. Much easier to rail corners on XC tracks. Was better working through low-speed tech maneuvers. But, most of all - pop. The Ripley launches off all those little trail features the Ripmo kind of "smooshes" through. I was able to easily clear tabletops and doubles where I can't get enough entry speed on the Ripmo to avoid coming up short.

The trade off is of course, plushness and capability.

My Ripmo is a high-end, light build, with fast-rolling tires. I love it. It's still pretty quick on XC-ish trails and I can smash stuff when I'm riding bigger lines. I'll happily pedal it on a 50-mile day. That said, I have considered doing a frame swap for the V4. Ibis backorders have prevented me from seriously considering it during the season. My plan was to ride the snot out of the Ripmo this year and then make a decision come fall or next spring.

I'll either sell the Ripmo frame and move everything over to the Ripley. Or, i'll keep the Ripmo and add a Pivot Mach 4SL. Need to spend some time on the Pivot before making a decision.

 

I've owned a Ripmo for two seasons and spent a couple long rides on a Ripley V4. I was stunned by how different the bikes ride/perform. Given the near-identical geo, I thought they would be more similar than different. I was wrong. The difference between the bikes is not subtle.

The Ripley is a rocket ship. Soooo fast. Much easier to rail corners on XC tracks. Was better working through low-speed tech maneuvers. But, most of all - pop. The Ripley launches off all those little trail features the Ripmo kind of "smooshes" through. I was able to easily clear tabletops and doubles where I can't get enough entry speed on the Ripmo to avoid coming up short.

The trade off is of course, plushness and capability.

My Ripmo is a high-end, light build, with fast-rolling tires. I love it. It's still pretty quick on XC-ish trails and I can smash stuff when I'm riding bigger lines. I'll happily pedal it on a 50-mile day. That said, I have considered doing a frame swap for the V4. Ibis backorders have prevented me from seriously considering it during the season. My plan was to ride the snot out of the Ripmo this year and then make a decision come fall or next spring.

I'll either sell the Ripmo frame and move everything over to the Ripley. Or, i'll keep the Ripmo and add a Pivot Mach 4SL. Need to spend some time on the Pivot before making a decision.

That's funny, I feel like my Mach 4SL is further from my Ripley than my Ripley is from my Ripmo. But I have a 100mm fork on my Pivot. But the Ripmo/Mach 4SL combo would be about perfect, pretty much covering everything except pure DH.

 

I made the switch, and I’m happier with the Ripley 90% of the time.

 

You have to ask the question if the bike will actually make you back it down. Or will you find the limits of the new Ripley frame, and risk overwhelming the chassis. Thereby placing you in a position of going down. With as capable as this new breed of Ripley is, you'll probably need to change your riding area, and not go to the place with 30 foot jumps and 6 foot drops.

(Although if you just want a new bike, go for it! That's half the fun of this sport is trying all the new gear! You can always get another Ripmo)

 

You pretty much hit my situation all around! I will definitely need to stay away from the big stuff, and a lot of my desire is just to try something new. I was an XC racer/roadie once upon a time, and went straight from there to enduro, so I am interested in trying more of the trail/all-mountain style of riding in between. And as you said, there will always be a shiny new Ripmo waiting to lighten my wallet if the Ripley doesn't tickle my fancy.

 

I found the Ripley V4 and the Pivot 429 Trail to be very similar. The Ripmo is not like those, but for what it gives up in Pop or Quickness, I think it is minimal. But what it gains in gnarly descents or chunky rock gardens is huge.

The Ripmo climbs so much better than it should. I like it more every time I ride it. A one bike quiver for sure.

I intend to mount a McLeod in the next day or two to the Ripmo. I think it might help with some of the missing Pop.

 

I did a demo on the Ripmo and Ripley the past 2 weekends (Thanks to Velorangutan for the demos).

I've currently got a stable of 3 bikes - A Spec Epic, a Giant Trance 29, and a Canfield Riot. The Ripley would replace the Epic and Trance. The Ripmo would replace the Trance 29 and Riot. (Also have an SS, but not really factoring that into decisions)

I decided to go with the Ripmo soon. My experiences:

Ripley/Ripmo - 76STA takes some getting used to on either bike. I felt like I was using slightly different muscles than usual and had a bit more fatigue, but I imagine I'll adapt to it.

Ripmo - This bike was a joy to ride on technical trail and soaked bumps superbly. It was a good climber, especially in technical terrain. Flat smooth stuff it was still a decent peddler, but this is where i mostly felt muscles burning a little. It handled drops like a champ. Overall, I could see using it for most of my riding where my Epic wouldn't suffice.

Ripley - This bike was fast, but not as plush. I could tell it wasn't soaking up the rock gardens as well, whether they were up, down, or flat. It handled descents well, but wasn't as composed as the Ripmo. Anything smooth or slightly bumpy was better than the Ripmo and technical climbs were almost as good. It felt like a long-legged XC bike speed-wise but handled things as well as my Trance 29. It definitely wouldn't replace the Riot, though.

It basically came down to whether I preferred the Ripley/Riot or the Epic/Ripmo. I felt that the Epic/Ripmo was a better compromise - giving me both an XC bike on the fast stuff and a capable bike when I do harder trails and bike parks (like Spider Mtn). The Ripley/Riot had too much overlap really.

 

I did a demo on the Ripmo and Ripley the past 2 weekends (Thanks to Velorangutan for the demos).

I've currently got a stable of 3 bikes - A Spec Epic, a Giant Trance 29, and a Canfield Riot. The Ripley would replace the Epic and Trance. The Ripmo would replace the Trance 29 and Riot. (Also have an SS, but not really factoring that into decisions)

I decided to go with the Ripmo soon. My experiences:

Ripley/Ripmo - 76STA takes some getting used to on either bike. I felt like I was using slightly different muscles than usual and had a bit more fatigue, but I imagine I'll adapt to it.

Ripmo - This bike was a joy to ride on technical trail and soaked bumps superbly. It was a good climber, especially in technical terrain. Flat smooth stuff it was still a decent peddler, but this is where i mostly felt muscles burning a little. It handled drops like a champ. Overall, I could see using it for most of my riding where my Epic wouldn't suffice.

Ripley - This bike was fast, but not as plush. I could tell it wasn't soaking up the rock gardens as well, whether they were up, down, or flat. It handled descents well, but wasn't as composed as the Ripmo. Anything smooth or slightly bumpy was better than the Ripmo and technical climbs were almost as good. It felt like a long-legged XC bike speed-wise but handled things as well as my Trance 29. It definitely wouldn't replace the Riot, though.

It basically came down to whether I preferred the Ripley/Riot or the Epic/Ripmo. I felt that the Epic/Ripmo was a better compromise - giving me both an XC bike on the fast stuff and a capable bike when I do harder trails and bike parks (like Spider Mtn). The Ripley/Riot had too much overlap really.

Thanks for this! I have heard similar feedback from others as well, and like you, they often opted for a two bike stable that included either A. a Ripmo and a slightly smaller bike than the Ripley, or B. a Ripley and a slightly bigger bike than the Ripmo.

I'm curious, about when the Ripley started to feel overwhelmed. Was it the front or back end that you felt broke down first? I find the idea of putting a 150mm Lyrik or 140mm Pike on the Ripley, if the case is that it is the Fox 34 that gets overwhelmed. At 180+ in gear, the Fox 34 is the main part of the bike that gives me pause.

 

Here's a really good comparo of Ripley vs Ripmo that pretty much sums up how I feel. Granted, he sells them, but he picks part the differences and compares the similarities pretty much perfectly IMO. (Except for the fact that he says the Ripmo has 140mm rear travel instead of 145. D'oh!)

 

This a text version of this comparison. This what impacted me alot

....
Trails like Captain Ahab, The Whole Enchilada and Gooseberry Mesa would be the trails that come to mind when trying to find the perfect trail for the Ripmo. All of these trails include plenty of climbing, some of it technical, and some technical, bumpy descents.

...

Trails like the Wasatch Crest, BST, Mid Mountain and Zen come to mind as perfect for the Ripley. I just finished a Ripley 4 review. If you want to know more about the bike read/watch that one.
...

For me I have my Epic I would ride on Wasatch crest, etc, but feel it would be out matched for Moab. So this where the Ripmo comes in at least for me.

 

I watched the review and asked the poster a few questions. I think I am leaning toward the Ripley. Worst case scenario, I wish to be back on my Ripmo, the resale value of the bikes means than I could sell and be back on whichever my heart desires after having an extended rental period .

 

I'm in the market for a Ripmo, but might consider a Ripley instead. How do you guys feel about the Ripley in black diamond terrain? I generally steer clear of double blacks but black is totally on for me, even at 46 years of age. If anything these new bikes allow me to ride even harder than when I was younger. The older bikes just took so much more skill to ride that terrain safely.

 

I'm in the market for a Ripmo, but might consider a Ripley instead.* How do you guys feel about the Ripley in black diamond terrain?* I generally steer clear of double blacks but black is totally on for me, even at 46 years of age.* If anything these new bikes allow me to ride even harder than when I was younger.* The older bikes just took so much more skill to ride that terrain safely.

I'm curious to hear the answer to this as well. Mtb Yum Yum felt it was perfect for his terrain, which includes the black Jacob's ladder. Although I think that trail is a black that is more suited to the Ripley, due to being faster as opposed to chunkier.

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My last bike was an Evil Following and my Ripmo is ~3lbs heavier, 1lb+ of which is rotational (wheels, crank, cassette) and I’m setting climbing PR’s over times I set a few years ago when I was in much better shape. Even if the ripley climbs faster or is more poppy, the Ripmo is better in every category than the Evil so I’m plenty happy as is. I’m 6’6” 240 so the extra stiffness and burliness of the frame is appreciated.

I originally was going for the ripley but I found a much cheaper twice used Ripmo. Glad I did.

 

I have have the following Ibis bikes(all in size large):
Ripley LS V2 with pike 130mm(original Ripley LS)
HD3 with pike 150mm
Ripmo DPX2 with fox 36 160mm
Ripley V4 with Pike ultimate 130mm

I decided to add the Ripley V4 to try to keep up with my son's NICA team rides. I was doing a pretty good job on the Ripmo after my son grew into my Ripley LS and started riding it, but I knew a lighter bike with less travel would be much easier on my midddle aged body. I took delivery of my My Ripley while I was on vacation in SLC Utah at Salt Cycles in Sandy. While I was there I also had my Ripmo with me so I was able to grab whatever bike I wanted each day and had time to ride both at various locations. I agree that the Ripley is better for mellower trails like the Crest, and climbing tech climbs like Cathrine's pass but I was surprised that it also was faster on a long downhill trail like Big Mountain Trail at Snowbird (3K drop over 7.5 miles). Strava confirmed a 90 second faster time descending on the Ripley V4 over the Ripmo one day apart. My Ripmo is set up with Zee brakes vs the 4 piston XTs on the Ripley. I found the shorter wheel base to take the tight switchback berms much easier and faster.

I have returned back to my home trails in the rocky and rooty NE and I continue to be amazed at what the Ripley V4 can handle. I originally planned on running the Ripmo at rockier locations to get the max comfort, speed, and control but now I find myself grabbing the Ripley consistently. I was able to find the limits of the Ripley but it took a lot of nerve to go that fast in chunk and I won't be looking to repeat that experiment. The difference between the two bikes is quite astonishing to me with the Ripley being quicker laterally, more playful and jibby, able to pop off of roots and little rocks much easier than the Ripmo. The Ripmo can smooth out bad line choices and has more room to send bigger hits. If I was racing enduro or going to a gravity park I would grab the Ripmo but I think I'll be using the Ripley a lot more than I originally intended, even in the rough rocky areas. I would be hard pressed to pick between the Ripmo and Ripley for a trail like the Whole Enchalada that has some areas of chunk but plenty of pedaling as well.

 

I have have the following Ibis bikes(all in size large):
Ripley LS V2 with pike 130mm(original Ripley LS)
HD3 with pike 150mm
Ripmo DPX2 with fox 36 160mm
Ripley V4 with Pike ultimate 130mm

I decided to add the Ripley V4 to try to keep up with my son's NICA team rides. I was doing a pretty good job on the Ripmo after my son grew into my Ripley LS and started riding it, but I knew a lighter bike with less travel would be much easier on my midddle aged body. I took delivery of my My Ripley while I was on vacation in SLC Utah at Salt Cycles in Sandy. While I was there I also had my Ripmo with me so I was able to grab whatever bike I wanted each day and had time to ride both at various locations. I agree that the Ripley is better for mellower trails like the Crest, and climbing tech climbs like Cathrine's pass but I was surprised that it also was faster on a long downhill trail like Big Mountain Trail at Snowbird (3K drop over 7.5 miles). Strava confirmed a 90 second faster time descending on the Ripley V4 over the Ripmo one day apart. My Ripmo is set up with Zee brakes vs the 4 piston XTs on the Ripley. I found the shorter wheel base to take the tight switchback berms much easier and faster.

I have returned back to my home trails in the rocky and rooty NE and I continue to be amazed at what the Ripley V4 can handle. I originally planned on running the Ripmo at rockier locations to get the max comfort, speed, and control but now I find myself grabbing the Ripley consistently. I was able to find the limits of the Ripley but it took a lot of nerve to go that fast in chunk and I won't be looking to repeat that experiment. The difference between the two bikes is quite astonishing to me with the Ripley being quicker laterally, more playful and jibby, able to pop off of roots and little rocks much easier than the Ripmo. The Ripmo can smooth out bad line choices and has more room to send bigger hits. If I was racing enduro or going to a gravity park I would grab the Ripmo but I think I'll be using the Ripley a lot more than I originally intended, even in the rough rocky areas. I would be hard pressed to pick between the Ripmo and Ripley for a trail like the Whole Enchalada that has some areas of chunk but plenty of pedaling as well.

Thanks for that rundown! I really wish that I had the option to test ride one. For reference how much do you weigh, and how aggressive would you say that you are on chunkier features/drop? I already blow through my Ripmo's dpx2, so I am just nervous about the dps on the Ripley.

 

I find myself more and more interested in this topic. I'm coming back to the Ibis fold and am torn. I have owned a Ripmo previously and feel it was probably the best bike I've ever owned.

My LBS has both bikes in my size in stock. I am down to a one-bike stable at this time, riding mostly in Phoenix, but throughout Arizona. The solid move is to buy another Ripmo. But the Ripley is appealing. I drove it around the parking lot today and it feels super-light and snappy. I like that.

I'd run it with a 140 Lyrik and real tires to survive Phoenix rocks, so more like a mini-Ripmo. It doesn't seem like enough travel for some of the bigger stuff on South Mountain and Sedona, but I've had pretty good success going fast on shorter bikes (Giant Trance, Banshee Phantom, etc.).

DVO will do a custom-stroked Topaz for it, too.

Love to hear more input.

 

This is very similar to the type of setup that I think I'd really like on the Ripley. That said, the going advice seems to be that if you want to build up a Ripley with an Enduro fork, you're probably better off just building up a lightweight Ripmo. The custom Topaz does seem like a pretty nice upgrade though, especially with the bigger fork. But it does take me back to wondering if I'd just be better off with the Ripmo.

Will you be able to take the Ripley out for a full-blown test run? If so, I would love to hear your thoughts on it compared to your Ripmo review, which incidentally helped me choose my Ripmo.

 

Nah, a parking lot ride is the best I'm going to get.

I understand the thought process, but I have a certain attraction to a slightly beefier Ripley. I'm not really sure how I could have lightened up the Ripmo. I guess I could have saved a few grams in wheels. But in this environment, the biggest weight target would be tires and light tires die a quick death in Phoenix.

I'm not much of a weight weenie, but I was a little shocked at how light even a cheap NX build Ripley seemed to be. I earn all my turns, so the idea of not humping a 32-pound bike up the mountain appeals.

 

I am from the Southeast, so I definitely feel you on earning your turns and wishing for a lighter bike on the ups. According to Fanatik, there is only about a .2lb weight difference between the Ripley and Ripmo frames without the shock in a size large. That is really what I think drives the line of thinking that weight savings aren't really a significant advantage of the Ripley, and that its all a part of how it's built up.

 

Yep. When I put my bigger wheel/tire set on my Ripley, it's less than a pound lighter than my Ripmo. Same build, only difference being the fork (Ribbon SL vs Ribbon) and shock (DPS vs DPX2). Frame weights are almost exactly the same.

 

I demoed a Large Ripley last weekend so I have now ridden both bikes on 20+ mile demo rides. I can say hands down I will not be buying a Ripley. I could not really notice a difference in climbing ability, but for descending the difference is by far in favor of the Ripmo. To me, it wasn't primarily about the travel, it was that the Ripmo felt a lot more stable on the descents.

 

Ah, thank you so much for weighing in with your experience after the test ride! Could you tell me how the Ripley felt as far as being poppy and easy to jib off of small features, in relation to the Ripmo?

 

To be honest, I couldn't tell much difference in how poppy it is. Both bikes felt good. I would go with what others have said. It climbs better and is more poppy, but for the way I ride, the difference is negligible. Every time I pointed the bike down something steep and rocky though, I missed the Ripmo.

 

Also, as to the OP, you seemed to be concerned about the stiffness of the Ripley. I find no difference in flex between the Mo and Ley. I'm a lightweight, but have never felt ANY flex in either bike. My Mach 4SL is the only bike I have where I can occasionally feel a hint of flex.

 

Yeah, up and down National would be an average trail ride. Probably the easiest system I commonly ride would be Hawes. I never ride Browns Ranch or Papago.

 

I had a Ripmo, swapped many parts over to Ripley v4 when it came out but didn't sell Ripmo frame and gradually built it back up with budget parts from Pinkbike buysell and I'm really glad I did.

I'd say if you're totally honest about avoiding chunk, bike parks, and bigger features, sure the Ripley will do exactly what you're looking for. However, if you forced me to make a decision I think I'd pick the Ripmo and put money into a second lighter wheelset/tire combo. IMO, the Ripmo is still really playful and fun. As nimble as the Ripley? No, of course not. But after 1 or 2 rides you just get used to the extra effort to throw the bike around and it'll pop off everything just the same... well, almost.

Oddly, I find the Ripley much more supportive and bottom it out less frequently where I find the Ripmo really blows through it's travel and has that hovercraft feel. I have some volume spacers on order for the DPX2. I also definitely take it easier on the Ripley though. Now the fork on the Ripley, I blow through the 130 really easily it seems and I'm running 70+ psi on a Fox 34 with 4 tokens. I'm about 160 lbs ready to ride and will hit pretty much anything non bike park in SoCal on either bike, just at different aggression levels. I've never noticed stiffness issues in either but I don't weigh a whole lot.

On really fast and flowy blue trail singletrack, you'll definitely appreciate the Ripley a lot more. You can really throw it around for being a slack 29er, it's definitely more fun than the Ripmo in that regard but throw in some rocks and anything to flat and the Ripmo feels a lot nicer. As for climbing and long rides, obviously the Ripley will be better but I'm not immune to using the climb switch judiciously so the Ripmo isn't too far behind.

Oh, one last thing - The bottom bracket on the Ripley with 2.3" tires is really low since it was designed around 2.6" tires I guess. Rocks and techy climbing will require a bit of an adjustment.

 

.........Oddly, I find the Ripley much more supportive and bottom it out less frequently where I find the Ripmo really blows through it's travel and has that hovercraft feel. I have some volume spacers on order for the DPX2. I also definitely take it easier on the Ripley though. Now the fork on the Ripley, I blow through the 130 really easily it seems and I'm running 70+ psi on a Fox 34 with 4 tokens. I'm about 160 lbs ready to ride and will hit pretty much anything non bike park in SoCal on either bike, just at different aggression levels. I've never noticed stiffness issues in either but I don't weigh a whole lot........

That's what I was talking about earlier in the thread. The Ripley has a more progressive curve so will bottom out less, or at least less harshly. The Ripmo is much more linear and a lot of people (mostly heavier than me guys) complained about blowing through the travel with the 2018 DPX2 shock. The '19 version allows for more spacers so it can handle the linearity better from what I understand and have read.

 

I'd add that I really don't want to own and maintain both bikes and it has me looking really hard at the Yeti SB130 as a do everything bike. That just seems a bit tooooo long and slack and not that playful but reports conflict there. I can't get a demo locally but it might be an option for you to consider.