Hello, this is my first post on Mt right for a long time, but I’m
looking for a new bike, and I will not be able to do a dirt demo due to all the issues with covid, there will be no demo bikes sent out on loaner to any bike shops in my area, with any brand, and as I’m sure you all know wait times on new frames are December at least for all of the major brands that I would consider except Revel, but I’ve ruled out the Rascal mostly due to all the reports about pedal strikes. I live in Arizona, desert riding in the low country tends to be very rocky and technical with lost of sharp edged rocks which is mostly why I’m going for the 150 and not the 130, and I need at least 150 travel in front, there are trails with short, super steep drop-ins where you’re basically filling over a rock face, but I also want flexibility to do well in other more open fast riding areas like what you would have in Colorado.
Originally I was interested in bikes like the Pivot Switchblade v2, which ticked all the boxes (and had 157 spacing + coil compatibility, both positives for me), the Revel Rascal, the Ibis Ripmo v2, and the Santa Cruz
Hightower v2, all great bikes in their own right.
I’m just a hair under 5’11” (179cm), 145lbs - about 68k, I think - and that’s ready to ride, 31” inseam, with I wingspan about 73” (ape index +1).
I’m giving all that info because this time I think that in my buying decision I will rely heavily on which bike feels the best fit wise, and less heavily on the different nuances in the suspension between these four bikes, assuming they are all very close in performance.
It turns out that my local bike shop had a couple Ripmos that I could pedal around the back parking lot, as well as an sb150, so I rode all three of those, trying to get a sense of the handling, how well they fit me, how easy it was to manual, and how they felt at the pedals. The medium Ripmo was too small, the large, while being the right size, felt ok, but nothing special, I’m not sure if the bars were in the ideal position, but it felt kind of like a 29er with steering input.
The 150, on the other hand, felt intuitive from the get go, I felt like I would be able to carve turns and pedal much better on it.
I felt like, based on fit, handling, and general feel at the pedals, I liked the 150 better, acceleration felt snappy compared to the somewhat average feeling Ripmo. Again, this was only a short parking lot test, which is all I will be able to do before making a decision.
Here’s my question:
Would the performance of the Ripmo in technical terrain with lots of square edged rocks be that much better than the 150 that I would be better off getting the Ripmo instead ?
Some people have commented that the switch infinity bikes are better, and feel better where there are lots of wide open more flowy fast trails, and that they feel somewhat harsh in comparison to the dw link bikes in terrain with lots of sharp, square edged features. Not all of my trails are like that, there’s usually sections that are more open, rolling and fast, and sections with more jagged types of rocks and sandy, loose sections as well, a good mix of features, it I would like the suspension to feel good in all sections, not jarring and bouncy and throwing me off line.
That’s it to say I need an uber soft, cushy, pillowy bike that sinks deep into its travel frequently, I like support and getting the feeling of the trail too.
I consider myself a relatively advanced, skilled rider. I’ve been mtb’ing since ‘94, in a variety of terrain from desert to ledge Sedona type stuff to rocky and rooty northeast US riding. Any input it advice is welcome, thanks in advance.
looking for a new bike, and I will not be able to do a dirt demo due to all the issues with covid, there will be no demo bikes sent out on loaner to any bike shops in my area, with any brand, and as I’m sure you all know wait times on new frames are December at least for all of the major brands that I would consider except Revel, but I’ve ruled out the Rascal mostly due to all the reports about pedal strikes. I live in Arizona, desert riding in the low country tends to be very rocky and technical with lost of sharp edged rocks which is mostly why I’m going for the 150 and not the 130, and I need at least 150 travel in front, there are trails with short, super steep drop-ins where you’re basically filling over a rock face, but I also want flexibility to do well in other more open fast riding areas like what you would have in Colorado.
Originally I was interested in bikes like the Pivot Switchblade v2, which ticked all the boxes (and had 157 spacing + coil compatibility, both positives for me), the Revel Rascal, the Ibis Ripmo v2, and the Santa Cruz
Hightower v2, all great bikes in their own right.
I’m just a hair under 5’11” (179cm), 145lbs - about 68k, I think - and that’s ready to ride, 31” inseam, with I wingspan about 73” (ape index +1).
I’m giving all that info because this time I think that in my buying decision I will rely heavily on which bike feels the best fit wise, and less heavily on the different nuances in the suspension between these four bikes, assuming they are all very close in performance.
It turns out that my local bike shop had a couple Ripmos that I could pedal around the back parking lot, as well as an sb150, so I rode all three of those, trying to get a sense of the handling, how well they fit me, how easy it was to manual, and how they felt at the pedals. The medium Ripmo was too small, the large, while being the right size, felt ok, but nothing special, I’m not sure if the bars were in the ideal position, but it felt kind of like a 29er with steering input.
The 150, on the other hand, felt intuitive from the get go, I felt like I would be able to carve turns and pedal much better on it.
I felt like, based on fit, handling, and general feel at the pedals, I liked the 150 better, acceleration felt snappy compared to the somewhat average feeling Ripmo. Again, this was only a short parking lot test, which is all I will be able to do before making a decision.
Here’s my question:
Would the performance of the Ripmo in technical terrain with lots of square edged rocks be that much better than the 150 that I would be better off getting the Ripmo instead ?
Some people have commented that the switch infinity bikes are better, and feel better where there are lots of wide open more flowy fast trails, and that they feel somewhat harsh in comparison to the dw link bikes in terrain with lots of sharp, square edged features. Not all of my trails are like that, there’s usually sections that are more open, rolling and fast, and sections with more jagged types of rocks and sandy, loose sections as well, a good mix of features, it I would like the suspension to feel good in all sections, not jarring and bouncy and throwing me off line.
That’s it to say I need an uber soft, cushy, pillowy bike that sinks deep into its travel frequently, I like support and getting the feeling of the trail too.
I consider myself a relatively advanced, skilled rider. I’ve been mtb’ing since ‘94, in a variety of terrain from desert to ledge Sedona type stuff to rocky and rooty northeast US riding. Any input it advice is welcome, thanks in advance.
