There is a special sauce that DW link brings. I picked up a 2023 Ripley AF SLX for 95% of the local riding I expect to do. (SE Michigan). We do destination trips quite often and I have bigger bikes for that. Still tough to pass up sick deals on 2022 Ripmo.
I've had this bike since January. For the price there isn't a better bike in the category for climbing. It is heavy compared to a non-AF Ripley. But is goes down hill a bit better too. Trade offs! Regarding your brakes they need a bleed. I am running XT's and they work much better for me than the Sram G2's it came with.
I'm about to find out first hand, my 140 air shaft came in while I was on a riding trip last week, my issue is more with the rear end of the bike but I'm still curious to see where an extra 10mm up front gets me.
@@casestudymtb For the rear end have you tried out volume spacers? I watched Jeff Kendall-Weed's review and he really liked the back shock with the added spacers. The extra 10mm helped out on jumps for me. It kept the bike at a more upright position which helped with jumps and drops. Hope you enjoy the upgrade!
@@derrickj925 definitely enjoy the new geo with 140mm up front. I mention at the beginning of the video that I put the largest spacer in already and it hasn't helped much. I'm starting to think I may just need to swap the shock if I want to hold on to the bike but we will see.
@@casestudymtb Gotcha missed that part. I'm with you on the rear shock. I'm borderline thinking of replacing it. I ended up putting a fox 36 140mm on it btw. Thing feels way more comfortable at speeds and on jumps.
Great review! I was lucky enough to secure a Ripley AF NGX built in XL. Will be receiving it in less than 3 weeks. I too am from Edmonton and am looking forward to shredding our local trails. I too am coming from an XC hardtail (Giant Fathom 1 29er), so I'm happy to hear you are enjoying it locally. Hoping i have a better experience with the 4p SRAM's than you did with your 2p Shimano's. If you have any pointers on changes to the bike that'll make it better suited for local riding, please do hit me up. Thanks!
Well after about 6 weeks on it... as far as edmonton goes, I don't have much to offer for changes. I've gone to 140 up front but it really wasn't necessary for edmonton, the biggest advantage of the extra travel up front is a slightly higher bottom bracket which helped me avoid pedal strikes but there are other ways to solve that problem that doesn't slacken it out by half a degree. I hope you've been enjoying yours!
@socialDem86, Sorry to reply so late. I think I would have been a lot happier with the Ripley AF had I put a Grip 2 fox 36 on it. Most of my complaints came from the feeling of the 34. I believe that frame was far more capable than the fork allowed. I no longer have the ripley, I actually have 2 reviews on the ripmo AF now though (as well as a long term ripley AF review) if you want to watch those to help with the decision. I've since bought a YT Izzo that I'm planning to put a 36 on which, even with the 34, I've been really enjoying (I only have about 100km on it), but that's not to say that don't feel some regret for selling the Ripley AF. Hope that helps!
You should try a Ripmo AF. There is always a tradeoff with these things. I ride a V1 Carbon Ripmo and as you stated the descending is insane! It is also a very efficient pedaler overall and in climbing. The Ripley is a tad more efficient and you can accelerate on the climbs easier. But I would take the Ripmo over the Ripley ( had a V1 Ripley previously ) for just the descending alone! It's that good!! - confidence inspiring. Not exaggerating here, the Ripmo is virtually cheating on descents!! You can literally go in blind ( but wouldn't recommend..LOL) And a bonus is that you're really not sacrificing much in terms of pedal efficiency and climbing, it's almost unnoticeable.
I definitely want to test one out! That said, after riding in squamish a bunch on this bike (with and without a 140mm fork) I'm starting to get a better idea of what I want from my suspension so my list of prospective bikes is shifting a little every day... that said, until I try one, a ripmo will 100% stay on that list
At 7:00 mark, did you say you sit high on the bike and not “in” the bike feel? I just recently built one at 29.5 lbs. The first thing I noticed was how high I was on the bike. It doesn’t have that “in” the bike feel like the rest of my other bikes (2019 Stumpy Expert 27.5, ‘22 Heckler MX and a hardtail ‘21 Ragley Mmmbop), making the alow tech up/down a bit tippy. I do have a 140mm Pike Ultimate fork that I had just lowered to 130mm. But in your review, you mentioned feeling this high on the bike at 130mm. Do you still feel being ‘on’ the bike vs ‘in’ it?
Ya, I would say that it feels similar to my old xc hardtail for sure, I do feel a bit more "on top" than on an optic or an element but I actually really like the position, I never feel tippy or too tall, if anything it's helped me to adopt a better hip hinge and a more aggressive position. Since this review I've taken this bike on a lot of trails well above it's paygrade and even on steep or chunky section I feel plenty stable. I wouldn't say that the 140mm fork helped much with feeling "in the bike" but it did benefit the geo with fewer pedal strikes and more stability at speed.
@@casestudymtb, Thank you. I appreciate the reply. Most of the reviews on the bike talks about how good the bike climbs. But these climbs are or smooth trails to the top. There isn't any *old school tech climb mentioned in the reviews (old school tech climbs = non-steep grade, technical climbs). They would just say, it has good traction on tech climbs. Only one review I noticed that mentioned (mentioned it twice too!) about tech climb is Jeff Kendal-Weed. He said something that the Ripley AF is not as good as an Enduro (or long travel?) bike on tech climbs or something like that. I mean, he's on another skill level but its nice to know that he mentioned that in his review and even you included the "on the bike" feel which is exactly what I was feeling. Anyway, great bike to get to the top and bomb the down. I really like the suspension feel but I don't like the tippy feel on slow speed stuff.
I've been struggling to decide whether to go Ripley or Ripmo. Im in Calgary so I ride Bragg Creek and the Nordic center alot. I also travel out to BC quite often and get to ride buff flowy trails but thats half my riding at best. If you had to buy a bike over again would you go Ripley or Ripmo?
Haha probably neither, but I have ridden merlin, 727, race of spades (though none of the big features) as well as prospector and reclaimer. It handles them okay, there are definitely spots where, while you can continue to charge, the short travel will slow you down. It doesn't deal with high speed chundery sections with any sort of comfort. If you're not into pushing your limits in the speed department, its a great bike, bit it definitely holds me back. It taught me I want 2 bikes, probably an efficient 130 (or slightly burlier 120) and a full enduro rig. I could maybe go with a ripmo but I wouldn't mind a longer wheel base and slacker head angle. The ripley is a great bike, but it has its limits.
@@casestudymtb Thanks for the quick reply! That definitely answers my concerns. I'm not overly concerned with going fast but I definitely want a bike that doesn't feel like it's being shaken apart on the high speed chunder the way my current 120mm Norco does
@@Wallstreetavarice ah, you caught me with my phone in my hand, makes it easy to reply! I will say, the bike is super solid, you definitely don't have to worry about durability (at least I don't think so), but it's no magic carpet, it does well to keep things controlled but you'll feel it, thats for sure. It can handle the abuse, the question is, can your skeleton?
If you are going to use terms like: "floating bite point" have the courtesy to take 2 seconds and describe what that is. We don't appreciate you giving us homework to go do research on pink bike looking for it. Use our brains, DO better.
There is a special sauce that DW link brings. I picked up a 2023 Ripley AF SLX for 95% of the local riding I expect to do. (SE Michigan). We do destination trips quite often and I have bigger bikes for that. Still tough to pass up sick deals on 2022 Ripmo.
I've had this bike since January. For the price there isn't a better bike in the category for climbing. It is heavy compared to a non-AF Ripley. But is goes down hill a bit better too. Trade offs! Regarding your brakes they need a bleed. I am running XT's and they work much better for me than the Sram G2's it came with.
Beautiful video shoot bro
I have the same bike. 140mm fork bump helped out a ton. Enjoy the bike 👍
I'm about to find out first hand, my 140 air shaft came in while I was on a riding trip last week, my issue is more with the rear end of the bike but I'm still curious to see where an extra 10mm up front gets me.
@@casestudymtb For the rear end have you tried out volume spacers? I watched Jeff Kendall-Weed's review and he really liked the back shock with the added spacers.
The extra 10mm helped out on jumps for me. It kept the bike at a more upright position which helped with jumps and drops.
Hope you enjoy the upgrade!
@@derrickj925 definitely enjoy the new geo with 140mm up front. I mention at the beginning of the video that I put the largest spacer in already and it hasn't helped much. I'm starting to think I may just need to swap the shock if I want to hold on to the bike but we will see.
@@casestudymtb Gotcha missed that part.
I'm with you on the rear shock. I'm borderline thinking of replacing it.
I ended up putting a fox 36 140mm on it btw. Thing feels way more comfortable at speeds and on jumps.
@@derrickj925 I put a 2022 Fox Float X on the back and it helped a BUNCH
Great review! I was lucky enough to secure a Ripley AF NGX built in XL. Will be receiving it in less than 3 weeks. I too am from Edmonton and am looking forward to shredding our local trails. I too am coming from an XC hardtail (Giant Fathom 1 29er), so I'm happy to hear you are enjoying it locally. Hoping i have a better experience with the 4p SRAM's than you did with your 2p Shimano's. If you have any pointers on changes to the bike that'll make it better suited for local riding, please do hit me up. Thanks!
Well after about 6 weeks on it... as far as edmonton goes, I don't have much to offer for changes. I've gone to 140 up front but it really wasn't necessary for edmonton, the biggest advantage of the extra travel up front is a slightly higher bottom bracket which helped me avoid pedal strikes but there are other ways to solve that problem that doesn't slacken it out by half a degree. I hope you've been enjoying yours!
Still liking the bike? I can't decide between this or a Ripmo AF
@socialDem86, Sorry to reply so late. I think I would have been a lot happier with the Ripley AF had I put a Grip 2 fox 36 on it. Most of my complaints came from the feeling of the 34. I believe that frame was far more capable than the fork allowed.
I no longer have the ripley, I actually have 2 reviews on the ripmo AF now though (as well as a long term ripley AF review) if you want to watch those to help with the decision.
I've since bought a YT Izzo that I'm planning to put a 36 on which, even with the 34, I've been really enjoying (I only have about 100km on it), but that's not to say that don't feel some regret for selling the Ripley AF.
Hope that helps!
I've got the carbon Ripley and had to get the fidlock water bottle to fit a full size on it. Might be worth a try on the AF
You should try a Ripmo AF. There is always a tradeoff with these things. I ride a V1 Carbon Ripmo and as you stated the descending is insane! It is also a very efficient pedaler overall and in climbing. The Ripley is a tad more efficient and you can accelerate on the climbs easier. But I would take the Ripmo over the Ripley ( had a V1 Ripley previously ) for just the descending alone! It's that good!! - confidence inspiring. Not exaggerating here, the Ripmo is virtually cheating on descents!! You can literally go in blind ( but wouldn't recommend..LOL) And a bonus is that you're really not sacrificing much in terms of pedal efficiency and climbing, it's almost unnoticeable.
I definitely want to test one out! That said, after riding in squamish a bunch on this bike (with and without a 140mm fork) I'm starting to get a better idea of what I want from my suspension so my list of prospective bikes is shifting a little every day... that said, until I try one, a ripmo will 100% stay on that list
Nice video
At 7:00 mark, did you say you sit high on the bike and not “in” the bike feel?
I just recently built one at 29.5 lbs. The first thing I noticed was how high I was on the bike. It doesn’t have that “in” the bike feel like the rest of my other bikes (2019 Stumpy Expert 27.5, ‘22 Heckler MX and a hardtail ‘21 Ragley Mmmbop), making the alow tech up/down a bit tippy. I do have a 140mm Pike Ultimate fork that I had just lowered to 130mm. But in your review, you mentioned feeling this high on the bike at 130mm. Do you still feel being ‘on’ the bike vs ‘in’ it?
Ya, I would say that it feels similar to my old xc hardtail for sure, I do feel a bit more "on top" than on an optic or an element but I actually really like the position, I never feel tippy or too tall, if anything it's helped me to adopt a better hip hinge and a more aggressive position.
Since this review I've taken this bike on a lot of trails well above it's paygrade and even on steep or chunky section I feel plenty stable.
I wouldn't say that the 140mm fork helped much with feeling "in the bike" but it did benefit the geo with fewer pedal strikes and more stability at speed.
@@casestudymtb, Thank you. I appreciate the reply. Most of the reviews on the bike talks about how good the bike climbs. But these climbs are or smooth trails to the top. There isn't any *old school tech climb mentioned in the reviews (old school tech climbs = non-steep grade, technical climbs). They would just say, it has good traction on tech climbs. Only one review I noticed that mentioned (mentioned it twice too!) about tech climb is Jeff Kendal-Weed. He said something that the Ripley AF is not as good as an Enduro (or long travel?) bike on tech climbs or something like that. I mean, he's on another skill level but its nice to know that he mentioned that in his review and even you included the "on the bike" feel which is exactly what I was feeling.
Anyway, great bike to get to the top and bomb the down. I really like the suspension feel but I don't like the tippy feel on slow speed stuff.
I've been struggling to decide whether to go Ripley or Ripmo. Im in Calgary so I ride Bragg Creek and the Nordic center alot. I also travel out to BC quite often and get to ride buff flowy trails but thats half my riding at best.
If you had to buy a bike over again would you go Ripley or Ripmo?
Haha probably neither, but I have ridden merlin, 727, race of spades (though none of the big features) as well as prospector and reclaimer. It handles them okay, there are definitely spots where, while you can continue to charge, the short travel will slow you down. It doesn't deal with high speed chundery sections with any sort of comfort. If you're not into pushing your limits in the speed department, its a great bike, bit it definitely holds me back.
It taught me I want 2 bikes, probably an efficient 130 (or slightly burlier 120) and a full enduro rig. I could maybe go with a ripmo but I wouldn't mind a longer wheel base and slacker head angle. The ripley is a great bike, but it has its limits.
@@casestudymtb Thanks for the quick reply!
That definitely answers my concerns. I'm not overly concerned with going fast but I definitely want a bike that doesn't feel like it's being shaken apart on the high speed chunder the way my current 120mm Norco does
@@Wallstreetavarice ah, you caught me with my phone in my hand, makes it easy to reply! I will say, the bike is super solid, you definitely don't have to worry about durability (at least I don't think so), but it's no magic carpet, it does well to keep things controlled but you'll feel it, thats for sure. It can handle the abuse, the question is, can your skeleton?
How is back end with 0.9 spacer? Did you leave pressure as before or did you drop it?
I talk about the rear end in depth In my long term review including sag and spacers, check it out!
Super 👍
💪🚴
sounds like you wanted a ripmo
It really does. But I didn't know what I didn't know until I knew I didn't know it, you know?
@@casestudymtb don’t think you would have trouble selling the Ripley if you wanted to go in another direction.
Swap the cheesy stem.
If you are going to use terms like: "floating bite point" have the courtesy to take 2 seconds and describe what that is. We don't appreciate you giving us homework to go do research on pink bike looking for it. Use our brains, DO better.
floating bite point sounds pretty self explanatory to me...means that the bite point changes and is not consistent at the same point at the lever