Ibis recently announced the return of its long-running Mojo HD nameplate, only this time it's a full-blown enduro machine with an all-new carbon frame, 150mm of rear wheel travel, 27.5in wheels, and a brilliant geometry.
We flew to Ibis' California headquarters to test the third-generation HD for ourselves in the bona fide mountain bike playground of nearby Demo Forest. And boy, did this thing make a good first impression.
It'd be easy to talk about the new Mojo HD's downhill capabilities, what with its long, low, and slack geometry and generous, well-controlled 150/160mm of front/rear wheel travel – and we'll certainly get to that. However, our test ride started out uphill straight away with a 40-minute fire road climb punctuated with a short section of steeper and punchier singletrack, and what struck us more was the bike's remarkably good climbing ability.
The new Mojo HD can certainly go downhill but it also climbs exceptionally well, too
Ibis boldly claims that the HD pedals nearly as efficiently as the decided more XC-oriented Ripley thanks to the bike's fifth-generation DW-Link suspension design, which supposedly lends more mid-stroke support than earlier incarnations and is now optimised for the smaller chainrings more commonly found in modern single-ring drivetrains. Amazingly, the claim actually holds water.
Despite sporting an extra 30mm of rear wheel travel and being built with unquestionably more downhill capabilities in mind, the new Mojo HD is a stunningly good ascender. Whether smoothly spinning in the saddle or churning a bigger gear while standing, the back tyre digs in with no noticeable bob. Because the rear suspension tends to sit a little higher up in its travel, you're also not constantly fighting to keep the front end down on steeper pitches.
Don't you worry about those rocks kicking up off of your front wheel. This moulded guard is not only tough but foam-backed and removable for inspection
Such competent pedalling manners can often be artificially created with an overly firm rear shock tune and we couldn't help but wonder if we were going to pay the price as we crested the top and began to rocket down Demo's famously technical descents.
Thankfully, those worries proved unfounded as the Mojo HD easily – and quietly – mowed down medium-sized roots and rocks while still providing a nicely controlled landing on the various jumps that litter the Demo Forest area. It does so with an entertaining personality too. That additional midstroke control that Ibis so proudly touts doesn't just pay dividends in terms of pedalling, it also provides a firm platform for launching the Mojo HD off of every little lip you can find on the trail, with your confidence bolstered by the stiff carbon backbone. Each of our test loop's two 450m (1,500ft) downhill sections elicited heaps of grins.
There was no creaking from the threaded bottom bracket to interfere with how much fun we were having
That said, the Mojo HD isn't exactly the plushest and most isolating bike we've ridden, and if you're looking for a long-travel couch that you can simply mindlessly point downhill, this isn't it. Though exceptionally well controlled, the ride gravitates more toward the racier end of the spectrum with healthy levels of feedback on what's going on down below and a general sensation that the bike is happier when pushed hard.
We'll have to await our long-term tester to draw our final conclusions but this characteristic seems more innate to the suspension design than the shock tune. The base setup includes almost the minimum amount of high-speed compression damping and backing it off even further didn't seem to change much.
If you end up ordering a Mojo HD yourself, seriously consider the ultra-wide Ibis 741 wheels with it. Their 35mm wide foundation yields tremendous traction
No amount of additional riding will likely change our opinion on the frame geometry, however, as it's bang-on perfect just as is. Whereas older Ibis steeds could sometimes be knocked for being relatively short front to rear, the new Mojo HD swings the other direction.
The notably roomy front triangle and moderately relaxed head tube angle (67 degrees with a 150mm travel fork) pair nicely with the stock 40mm-long stem and low bottom bracket for brilliant stability at high speed. When coupled with the revelatory tyre stability that comes with Ibis' ultra-wide 741 carbon wheels, the Mojo HD deftly carves its way through twisty singletrack but yet the front end doesn't feel so long and slack as to be unwieldy in tighter confines.
Mind you, one ride does not a full review make and we definitely have a few questions to answer for ourselves before drawing any final conclusions, namely in terms of suspension tuning, wheel and tyre setup, and overall long-term reliability. That said, that one taste was awfully sweet and we're eagerly looking forward for another round. Stay tuned.
We'll bring you a full review on the Ibis Mojo HD soon
via BikeRadar.com http://ift.tt/1xRViVs
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