The New Ripley AF Trail Bike From Ibis Cycles Looks Fun AF, Prices Start at $2,999

The Ibis Ripley trail bike is now offered with an aluminum frame (AF) and builds start at $2,999.
All photos by Ibis Cycles

Early Ibis Ripley models could have been described as party-oriented cross-country marathon bikes. Those days are done. This latest alloy iteration, with two 29″ wheels, and 120mm of rear suspension paired with a 130mm fork follows its carbon fiber counterpart as a legit trail machine that you could confidently enter the BC Bike Race with. In fact, the Ripley AF offers a little more party than the carbon version.

More forest-ready frame colors like this please!

At 65.5° the alloy frame’s head tube angle is a full degree slacker than the carbon bike. This might be a hint at what’s to come for the fiber-tubed frame. That tube is followed by a proper short reach of 425mm on the size small bikes, stretching to 450, 475, and 500mm on the other three sizes. All of the bikes receive whip-short 432mm chain stays pumping below 76° seat tube angles across the size run. All of the seat tubes are on the shorter side to accommodate shorter inseams and longer dropper travel for everyone.

A new Ripley AF can be had in one of two builds, each centered around Shimano Deore or SRAM GX drivetrains. The Deore bike receives a Fox Performance series Float 34 fork and Performance Float DPS shock, Shimano M6100 brakes, Ibis S35 alloy rims and Ibis-branded hubs, a KS Race-i dropper post, and a house-brand cockpit. SRAM GX bikes have all of the same components, apart from the drivetrain where they run GX across the board and a set of G2 brakes. Both builds come stock with two-piston brake calipers and Maxxis Aggressor tread wrapping their EXO casings front and rear.

According to Ibis, weights start at 30.5lbs. for the complete build. The Deore build will be priced at $2,999 while the N/GX build will cost $3,299 (Available now at Competitive Cyclist).

Our editor, Jeff Barber, loved the carbon Ripley when he tested it out in 2019, and the alloy version looks like it could be even better. Head to Ibis Cycles for additional info.