Climbs like a goat, doesn't slip, a confidence inspiring ride.

This is a reach. The only thing that I can find is a somewhat low BB. I've noticed the crank arms hitting things that they never used to hit. BUT, small adjustments in riding style has all but eliminated the problem.

I brought this bike in as a demo in my store. For the last 3 months it has reminded me how fun mountain biking is. I highly recommend this bike to anyone looking for a light, sturdy, forgiving and fun bike to ride. The price for the frame ain't bad either.

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I rode a Ti hard tail for years. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!
I've been set free from the grips of Ti.

'Tour-de-Force' suspension design, frame sizing to fit lots of differently-sized riders, geometry allowing head angle tuning based on tire/fork used, color (understated to bold)

Availability now that company is gone. But the patents are safe?!, Availability now of small parts (derailleur hanger, shock elastomers, seatpost clamp) needed over time to maintain frame longevity, need for downtube graphics to be under not over clearcoat

Perfect ride for me, at age 44. Lee Bridgers of Moab's DreamRide said it best in his webpage review of the Silk-Ti, "...perfect for an experienced full suspension rider who wants to get that 'old feeling back'." Old feeling as in my nimble, quick, 90 Bridgestone MB-2 hardtail, albeit with a little cushion to offset a decade of rigid riding and body pounding. After getting a U.R.T., I realized that long-travel rides are great if you have a trialsin mentality of getting mental penalty points for each foot dab on rough trails, and racing your friends on each ride. I personally have never been into that, so a full-on freeride machine is overkill for me. My new R.I.P.ley brought back that joy of riding, exploring new trails, and returned the silly grin to my face like I had back in 1985 when I first rode a mountainbike and when I rode my Bridgestone. It's quick handling allows me to revert back to my hardtail riding style that hibernated while I rode a U.R.T. that necessitated a seating position to activate the suspension.

I often find myself gazing at wonder at it, and imagining reriding all my favorite trails across the U.S. on it. Simply the best. Hats off to the designers and builders for bringing this design to fruition. Hopefully the current Ibis demise won't relegate this frame design to becoming simply yet another of Pres. George Bush'es 1000-points of light and a blip on the evolution of the suspension mountain bike's design.

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1986 Fisher Montare, 1990 Bridgestone MB-2, 1998 Ibis Szazbo U.R.T.

Light and agile on the trail. Stiff for climbing and smooths out rough stuff very well.

NONE

I love this bike! I never thought I could own such a cool bike, but the frame came to me used ( six rides ) for a price I couldn't turn down! It rides like a dream, and has put a whole new element of fun back into riding. Highly recommend checking out the now available Fango. This bike is for anyone wanting to give up the harshness of a hardtail and doesn't want the monkey motion of a duely. Ride it, race it, doesn't matter. Just get one!!!

Sweet ride, climbs like a mountain goat, hold aline like mothing I've ridden before. It really lives up to the point and shoot description the guys at Ibis told me about.
Ridding in the desert you really need something to take off the edge of the rocks and the washboards. This thing rides like a hardtail, only better.

I can't say I have found any.

If you race hard, unforgiving courses, buy it. Not tomorrow, today. I would give it 10 flaming turds if I could.

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Never been on a softtail before this one showed up on my door.

Light (21.5 lbs built), Extremely responsive on sigletrack, grip like velcro on the steep rooted climbs, takes the edge off the nastyness without sacrificing an ounce of power.

Ibis offers 10 colors... its sooo hard to choose.

My previous race bike was the Trek 9.9 and I have always been a die hard-hard tail racer. I'm light and I want a bike that climbs fast, accelerates fast and doesn't loose a joule of power. Therefore I was a little leary of the soft tail idea... the aluminum stays on the Ripley transfer that power to the ground as well as any hardtail I've ridden.

Basically, the Ripley accelerates like a steel hard-tail. However, when you go to climb over that root, it wont bounce like a steel hard-tail. The 1.25" of travel sticks that rear tire to the ground.

If I had the legs for it... this bike could climb trees.

ED RULES!!!!

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Trek 9.9 (not a soft-tail but the Ripley rivals it in acceleration)

I wanted to come back and do another review after I had put her through some serious rides and races. I love this bike more every time I ride it. I pull off extremely technical sections with regularity now. You can jump out of the saddle on very steep climbs and pound the pedals and she will stick. If you love to race but don't have a ton of cash to spend, this bike is a STEAL,it is a serious singletrack racing weapon. For the recreational rider, this will probably be the last bike you will buy. I'll bet this bike will be one of the all time best designed frames ever, and will not be outdone by anything .......maybe ever! If you know someone who has one, don't ride it unless you plan on buying one (Ripley or Silk TI).Trust me, the mountain bike gods smiled on Ibis when they thought this one up.

This bike has an amazing feel. When you ride it you can't tell that you are on a bike with any rear suspension at all, granted that it is only 1.25 inches of travel, but this is a softail. It feels as if you are riding on a hardtail b/c you don't feel the travel, although the one and a quarter inches of rear wheel travel takes the edge off on those really bumpy trails or decent hits. The bike provides a very smooth plush ride that any rider would be psyched about. There is a substantial amount of laterall ridgidity that comes out of the flat chainstay but it allows for free movement on the vertical axis (plush travel). All around a great bike and available in some sweet colors... I have "warm beer metalic" and it looks really nice.

Nothing yet, but my only worry is how the elastomer shock will perform in very cold weather. I know that on onlder elastomer technology below freezing temps were a prbolem but I have yet to see how the ripley will perform.

Bottom line on this bike is that it rocks. I couldn't be happier with it. People are still a little afraid of the bendable alluminum chainstay, but I figure they have a lifetime warranty on them so it is like a challenge to see if I can brake it. Anyone who is looking to get into the market of high end soft tail bikes but not wanting to spend all the cash for titanium should look no further than the Ripley from Ibis.

Light,super smooth ride, fits like it was custom made for me,cool paint job.

Get real

This is one awesome ride.If you race and have been looking for a serious single track weapon.....This is your ride.I only wish I could include a pic of the bike ,it is red with a white psylo fork, very cool.

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Rode a unicoi once.I was a hardtail junkie.

I don't get big air so lots of travel was not what I was after. I am very impressed with the way it climbs, and with the finish. I got black and put a white Manitou Mars Elite fork on it.

I like the exclusivity of the brand, I also have a very high opinion of the reputation of Mr. Nichol and Mr. Castellano. They do build some quite tasty stuff.

It was a two month wait to get one in. That was sort of a hassle for the dealer, and for me, but it was well worth the wait.

The saddle that came with my frame was a Bontrager / Selle and that damn thing is a nut-killer. I threw that stupid thing away after a week of riding.

I may not have 6 inches of rear travel but I don't care. This bike is more than I hoped for. My pals love it, the guys at the shop lust for it, and I am never going to part with it.

Superb machine, best bike I've ever had. And one of the prettiest. Ibis definitely knows what they are doing with this "flat chainstay" thing. It works great.

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Ibis SilkTi, Klein Adept Race, Breezer Lightning

A big tube aluminum soft tail that rides like a super smooth steel frame. Better lateral rigidity than most soft tails. Affordable for a soft tail. Powder coated instead of paint. Great color choices such as “Lung Butter”, “Warm Beer Metallic”, and my favorite, “Pond Scum”.

Having to answer so many #$%&@ questions from people asking about it! Not really a minus, but the sizing is a bit off from the normal. I took a medium while I usually take a large.

First of all, don't but this frame (or any soft tail) if you want a full suspension bike. It rides like a hard tail except the little bumps, washboard, sharp edges, etc. magically disappear. Somehow Ibis has tuned the aluminum to feel like a steel frame; it has a springy feel without ever being whippy, and it sprints well. The steering is very quick. Ibis designed for an 80mm fork, and something like a SID Race makes it steep enough that it can barely be ridden "no hands"! Be ready to explain, over and over, about how the flat chainstays are contoured so that they flex over the entire length and being flat instead of round allows aluminum to live a long and happy life flexing. I have done several semi-epic rides as well as some rides that, if sanctioned, would have been races, and the frame performs well in both situations. The only time it might bite back is if you ride lazy; I have found myself wandering off the line more than with other bikes on my “off” days. Overall, it’s a pretty sweet ride; I would buy one again!

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Trek STP, I touched a Moots once. Countless hard tails and full suspension frames.