All my personal opinions/observations below:
I'll call it a long legged trail bike.

• Dont think the Float x as tuned or spec'd is the best option. Much better w an off the shelf RS SDU. Just installed a Vivid yesterday and too soon to give a review of the Vivid/Ripmo.
• Efficient on the pedals but dips into travel easy at sag and has great traction on the tech bits. If you have to pedal it's an ibis!
• its not clumsy on tight bits and I find I can put the front wheel anywhere I want on tight and tech trails.
• it does ride with a more firm overall feel than you'd maybe think a 150 travel bike would - doesn't erase the trail - lets you know what's happening but in a pretty good way
• - - yet its very capable and it is definitely smoother on the choppy/chattery trail bits than my v2 and Alchemy, maybe doesn't "swallow" the chunky square edge stuff as well as other 150 bikes but also doesn't hang on em - still holds speed well. (my alchemy would tug like a quick brake was applied)
• I feel it rewards a more active ride style IMO - it will pop off small lips and features so easily
• - - I feel like if you are a hold on and plow type rider you may not get as much from it or like the more firm feel
• my overall best rides have been right at 29/30% sag. Ive run less and run more and each offers respective plus/minus in feel for doing so. All subjective tho and YMMV.
• I have no regret getting it even w some negative reviews online etc... it's a great trail bike thats working well for ME and the techy/janky blue/blue black/black I normally ride. It's better/differnt than the previous Af/V2. I demoed a bunch of bikes. this was the one I did not. I also bought w the perspective that I could potentially have a Ripmo OR a Ripley. My buddy bought the Ripley build version. gettin on with it well on same trails.

I demoed - Smuggler, Rascal V2, Yeti 120 and 140, newest Switchblade. All good bikes and nice to have so many options that I DIDNT get to even demo. IMO feels most similar to Y140(but I didn't jive w that one at all - still similar suspension feel IMO). Smuggler was WAY more "nervous" in similar dh/rocky scenarios (as you'd expect) yet Ripmo just as efficient/fast on the pedals uphill and better tech traction over techy ledgy features (seems Smug suffers from a similarly questionable float x tune and better results w other shocks). Switchblade was the eye opener - didn't expect it to be as plush/soft feeling yet very capable and controlled. I was expecting it to be the firmer feeling of the longer travel bikes I demoed and even vs the Ripmo - yet it really wasn't.

 

What size Vivid?

 

starting w stock 230x60. I know me and regardless of starting point, at some point im gonna try another shock stroke...

 

Anyone been able to spend time on the Ripmo and the Stumpjumper 15?

 

Oh I see the new ripmo doesn't work in chunk anymore 🙄. Bullsh!t, some of y'alls suspension doesn't. Mine works great here in Phoenix 🤷‍♂️

 

OMG, thanks for the LOL. Brings back the old days in wierd town.

 

Funny how a fork that was not up to snuff, for whatever reason, can tank peoples perspective of a bike.

 

A MTB, at the end of the story, is 80% suspension. (not sure why I put 80% there ... but just saying: a fork and shock can easily ruin any great frame)

 

What Rev posted !! Rev- just curious did you ever consider reversing the install? air can up top side? I may play around and drop a couple bolts to see how it may go

 

My new Vivid air valve faulted out pre-ride yesterday. Shop fixed it quick, but to make sure I didn't miss the ride opportunity I quickly mounted the Float X (could thrown my SDU on but I had pressed mounting bits out and used on the vivid). It's ok - but boy - that "nervous" feeling thats been mentioned re-emerged. Vivid goes back on asap EDIT - no bueno upside dow as piggyback res would stick out to the side

 

So it looks like a few of y’all have long stroked the V3.

For those that have, have you seen any negative results?

I’m super interested in a frame-set build with a 170 fork and 160 rear on a Large frame. Should bring that reach back to my XL V1 size too.

 

I like it quite a bit. You can do a big shock or smaller shock, like the X2 or the float X in 160.

 

MTB yumyum bought a Ripmo after riding pretty much everything in the class. I'm aligned with him on the bike handling better as a mullet. The continued references to it as being a super "plush" bike make me feel like my suspension is broken...

 

Maybe you have a busted shock? But Pinkbike also said it rode like crap so who knows. I decided to get a hightower frame and give it a shot.

 

I’m running full Rockshox from the beginning. I’m
Through with Fox.

 

147lbs kitted here, running 140psi (30% sag). Agreed on the 'sporty' description, but would also say it's pretty smooth over small bumps (compared to previous frame that was a Stumpy Evo with an e-Storia, but i ran 28% sag on that). I guess the light tune on the Float X works better for us lighter riders. Not running a Fox fork so no issues with the front end for me.

I do have a coil shock on the way, though, looking forward to seeing how that rides. Had one on my previous frame and just like the way coil shocks feel.

 

Not enough competing viewpoints. Either their preferences are too similar, or their opinions are too easily influenced by each other that it becomes an echo chamber. Levy's love for XC added meaningful insight because for most riders without access to big mountains or uplifts, our priorities in a bike are not 90% (may be exaggerating here) focused on how well it descends.
I still enjoy their videos for entertainment, though.

 

Try removing 1 or 2 of the negative spacers in your Fox's. Made a dramatic difference on my Exie and a big difference on my Spur.

 

Fox suspension feeling great to me. I’m one of the lighter riders. More evidence maybe that the Ibis/Fox tune benefits us (I’m basically identical weight to mtb yumyum Jason, 140 pounds - who also likes it). Float X feels good all around, smooth, excellent support. Running no spacers which helped for sure. I also bought a 36 Grip X fork and it feels equally good.

FWIW My frame was the Ripley (I’ve done the Ripmo conversion so have both) and the Float shock feels equally like a solid match for the frame. Pretty amazing what that 140/130 can do.

 

I’m starting to think that fit is super critical, and is often understated in reviews. The difference between riding a bike too large or too small for you makes a big difference and I think when you see disparity in reviews there’s likely a bunch of differences between reviewers in fit to the size they are testing and potentially in setup for their weight (ie volume spacers, etc). I wish more reviews provided more data on rider fit and bike setup so you could use it to supplement the comparison of opinions.

 

Anyone have luck mounting the Vorsprung Telum on an IBIS Ripmo XM frame?
I built my Ripley into a Ripmo V3 with a 170 coil fork and RS air shock and liked it enough to get the Telum for a full coil set up. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get it installed. The Telum front eyelet is much larger than on the Fox/RS air shocks and it impinges on the frame before the bolt holes can line up. After talking with Ibis and Vorsprung, looks like I'll be shopping for a different shock. 🤷‍♂️

 

Anyone have luck mounting the Vorsprung Telum on an IBIS Ripmo XM frame?
I built my Ripley into a Ripmo V3 with a 170 coil fork and RS air shock and liked it enough to get the Telum for a full coil set up. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get it installed. The Telum front eyelet is much larger than on the Fox/RS air shocks and it impinges on the frame before the bolt holes can line up.

Maybe an offset shock bushing in the front of the Telum would let it work?

 

So after around 10 rides on this bike I take back some of my words. After about the 5th ride, my Grip X damper starting making a very loud hollow clunking sound. I'm not sure if that's the same noise other people are complaining about, but it's so annoying that I have to do something about it. My first thought was to just replace the damper with a Grip X2 as that would be the cheapest solution. However, there's some other drawbacks with this bike that make me want to take it a step further.

I love how efficient the bike pedals and how it feels on flow trails - easy to climb and feels supportive for pumping on the descents. However, it feels harsh and skittish descending down technical trails, especially on trails I'm not familiar with. This is an issue because I try to ride a lot of different areas and I usually favour riding tech trails over flow trails, but I still want the bike to climb, pedal, and pump well.

I've had to go down a volume spacer in both the shock and fork to get full travel. I would say my suspension settings are pretty average, so nothing out of the norm to affect the handling of the bike in a negative way. I have 30% sag in the rear and around 20% sag in the front. My current settings for my 175lb riding weight are:

Factory 36 Grip X

• 1 volume spacer
• 85 psi
• 10 LSR
• 7 LSC
• 9 HSC

Factory Float X

• 0.3 volume spacer
• 215 psi
• 8 LSR
• 5 LSC

I'm now debating whether to go back to an HD6 as that bike was very efficient, in spite of it's travel. However, I already have a big travel mullet bike for park days, so I'd prefer something more All-Mountain oriented (if this is still a term), which is what, in my opinion, the Ripmo should be. I feel it behaves more like a short travel trail bike with it's current suspension, which leads me to wanting to purchase a different fork and shock, but with the same travel. Like maybe a Zeb with Vivid Coil/Air or a Lyrik with SDU. It really sucks I need to spend more money in hopes to make this bike feel like a better "all-a-rounder".

I've heard the Vivid feels really close to a coil, but with slightly more support. However, I'm more curious to know what this bike would feel like with a coil. I had a Firebird with a coil and that bike still had lots of support for pumping and still climbed well. I'm thinking with the Ripmo being a DW-Link bike as well, it would still offer plenty of support with a coil and still climb decent too. There doesn't seem to be many people in this thread that have this bike with a coil shock, so anybody that does, can you please share your experiences as far as mid-stroke support for climbing and pumping, and end-stroke ramp up on bigger hits?

Thanks!

 

So after around 10 rides on this bike I take back some of my words. After about the 5th ride, my Grip X damper starting making a very loud hollow clunking sound. I'm not sure if that's the same noise other people are complaining about, but it's so annoying that I have to do something about it. My first thought was to just replace the damper with a Grip X2 as that would be the cheapest solution. However, there's some other drawbacks with this bike that make me want to take it a step further.

I love how efficient the bike pedals and how it feels on flow trails - easy to climb and feels supportive for pumping on the descents. However, it feels harsh and skittish descending down technical trails, especially on trails I'm not familiar with. This is an issue because I try to ride a lot of different areas and I usually favour riding tech trails over flow trails, but I still want the bike to climb, pedal, and pump well.

I've had to go down a volume spacer in both the shock and fork to get full travel. I would say my suspension settings are pretty average, so nothing out of the norm to affect the handling of the bike in a negative way. I have 30% sag in the rear and around 20% sag in the front. My current settings for my 175lb riding weight are:

Factory 36 Grip X

• 1 volume spacer
• 85 psi
• 10 LSR
• 7 LSC
• 9 HSC

Factory Float X

• 0.3 volume spacer
• 215 psi
• 8 LSR
• 5 LSC

I'm now debating whether to go back to an HD6 as that bike was very efficient, in spite of it's travel. However, I already have a big travel mullet bike for park days, so I'd prefer something more All-Mountain oriented (if this is still a term), which is what, in my opinion, the Ripmo should be. I feel it behaves more like a short travel trail bike with it's current suspension, which leads me to wanting to purchase a different fork and shock, but with the same travel. Like maybe a Zeb with Vivid Coil/Air or a Lyrik with SDU. It really sucks I need to spend more money in hopes to make this bike feel like a better "all-a-rounder".

I've heard the Vivid feels really close to a coil, but with slightly more support. However, I'm more curious to know what this bike would feel like with a coil. I had a Firebird with a coil and that bike still had lots of support for pumping and still climbed well. I'm thinking with the Ripmo being a DW-Link bike as well, it would still offer plenty of support with a coil and still climb decent too. There doesn't seem to be many people in this thread that have this bike with a coil shock, so anybody that does, can you please share your experiences as far as mid-stroke support for climbing and pumping, and end-stroke ramp up on bigger hits?

Thanks!

Yup. Pretty much what I've been saying about the Ripmo for a couple months now. I tried a full Rockshox suspension on the bike, as well as two custom tunes on the Fox stuff (with the last tune being an extremely soft, low compression tune that the shop had developed for a light, female enduro racer). Those options did improve things a bit, but none of them got rid of the fundamental harshness/twitchiness of the bike. I'd be curious what a coil setup is able to do but not super hopeful.

I also got a Ripley clevis and shock and have been running that setup with a 150mm fork. It feels better than the Ripmo. Smoother and less nervous, and not noticeably less capable. Ridiculously low BB height tho (lower than my XC race bike).

 

p.s. I did have the V2 with a coil shock and fork and that bike didn't wallow too much with that setup. I'm hearing the V3 is even more progressive, so I assume it would be better. I just want to hear actual experiences with the V3 as I'm debating between a Vivid Coil vs Air.

 

Based on your overwhelmingly negative experience with the Ripmo, and many others very positive experiences with the Ripley, have to think Ibis optimized the kinematics in Ripley mode.

 

Allow me to offset criticisms by those with too much weight on the front wheel. My Ripmo experience has been nothing but positive in all types of Arizona terrain. Of course, sprung by Manitou front and rear 😉.

 

I will say Lionel's experience has saved me a bunch of money on not buying the stuff for a Ripmo conversion! 😂 Really, really like the bike in Ripley mode. If I ever want to beef it up, I'll just pull the spacer out of the shock, and put a 150 fork on it. Good enough for the stuff I ride.

 

I can't believe I didn't think about this earlier. I can swap the suspension that's on my Status to the Ripmo. This way I can try a coil shock with a 170mm fork before buying all new suspension and then maybe finding out that I still don't like it.

I can't wait to try it! We had an amazing January (Juneaury), but now we got hit with a cold snap, so I may not be able to report back for a while.

 

Definitely share Your thoughts. You're one of the first to test with coil - very curious.

 

I know the 2024+ Fox X2 shock hasn’t been a popular choice on here, but has anyone given it a try yet? I’m still deciding on a x2 vs Vivid air. Leaning heavy towards vivid based on this forum, but haven’t heard of reviews with the X2.

 

Don't sleep on the Mara pro piggyback, it's phenomenal, and super easy to work on and customize with common hand tools.

 

PINKBIKE guys loved the vivid when they reviewed all the shocks.

 

Finally got my new fork and shock!

 

Is this long stroked?