2023 EMTB Shootout: Ibis OSO Review

#ebike #mtb #mountainbike
After years of bucking the trend by not releasing an eMountain Bike, Ibis decided to come out with their fists in the air. Not only did Ibis release an eMTB, but they created one of the most radical and polarizing-looking eBikes on the market. Like many of the eBikes in our 2023 eMTB Shootout, the Ibis Oso reviewed here is a bike we got several months ago when we created a Dissected feature on it. Well, to be fair this isn’t that exact bike as we potentially cracked that one, we’re waiting for a final verdict as it could have been paint cracking, but they did replace it with a twin for us to continue testing on.
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[@fgonzales11b]

As an Oso owner, I think you guys guys nailed this review right on the head. Spot on with: ·The battery door ·The low BB with pedal strikes ·Messy cockpit ·That price tag! I was fortunate enough to find a 20% off deal, otherwise I wouldn't have bought this bike. Do I regret buying this bike- nope. I love how this thing rides. Super capable. I long stroked mine with a coil and a dual crown fork. Long story short- great bike for under $10K

[@TheLoamWolf]

Thank you for sharing and appreciate your input and opinion as an owner/modifier.

[@ChezzyDirt]

What coil did you go with?

[@fgonzales11b]

@@ChezzyDirt Fox DHX2

[@youling1997]

Did you get 20% off on a brand new bike?

[@fgonzales11b]

@@youling1997 I did. 20% off and no sales tax on black Friday

[@Kenneth_R]

At $8k USD its a fantastic buy. I have the XL and generally ride bikes with a 500mm reach and the Ibis did not feel long at all and turned better than other, shorter, bikes I have ridden. It looks unique and performs fantastically well up and down. It was a complete surprise to me. It also NEEDS to be setup well. Go with sag measurements. It comes alive at the right settings.

[@tommygoodman7047]

I have a Ripmo and really want to like this bike. At the retail price for that spec… it tells me they’re just trying to recoup the development cost for the model that got scrapped. There’s a LBS already discounting these 20%!! Which tells me they’re not selling.

[@chrishardinger3614]

I own a Ripmo and an Oso and am so glad to have both.

[@ntopfer]

Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm blown away by some of the prices on these bikes. I bought a fezzari wire peak last year for around $4500 (which I'm guessing is around the most affordable ebikes). The bike has great components, shocks, and I've never had a hill or any terrain i couldn't climb (in fact i fly up hills)...i guess I'm confused at what else the additional $5-7K is getting after...happy to be educated...but I personally find 0 flaws in a $4500 bike...and i'm a fairly novice biker (which could have some impact on my opinion)

[@Bench_mark_113]

I think you’re right. The biggest issue of the wire peak is battery size, and looks. But for an ebike that gets you outside, it’s nearly impossible to beat.

[@youling1997]

The bike you get is a small part what you pay. There are other costs added to the price tag. Ibis think people will pay premium for this unique design too.

[@8rett]

Also an Oso owner, I _really_ like it. I came from a SC Bullit, that I ended up disliking immensely. Bought the Bullit during the supply chain shortages so I had to run with it, but found an Oso as a good deal about two months ago. I will say that I had been waffling on it for a long time because of the price. I think this would come in as a great competitor at/around $8500, where I bought it at. I agree with all the things you've said here, and it fits my riding style perfectly. I will say that I have far less problems with BB hits and crank strikes than I did with the Bullit, which I was smacking around damn near everywhere here on the Front Range of CO. The double 29er wheels were also a big selling point for me, as most stuff is coming MX nowadays, which I did not enjoy riding. I don't think you touched on this much, but I really like that this bike has a massive battery that other bikes aren't really speccing, the 750wh battery lasts a LONG time. I think you nailed exactly who it's for, people who want smoother climbs and chunkier descents. I even like riding it on longer gravel type trails, something that you said about the Bullit in last years review, something that maybe a grandpa (or a guy with no time and a teenage kid) would love to ride around. I think the warranty and support on the Bosch CX motors is worth talking about too, as some of the other stuff (especially the EP8 failures that are everywhere right now) leaves less to be desired.

[@TheKillerHobbit]

What was it about the Bullit that didn't agree with you, that presumably was then corrected on the Oso? Just the crank strikes?

[@8rett]

@@TheKillerHobbit The super raked feel and short reach were my biggest gripes about the bullit.

[@adminjuliana2]

After three years I finally bought one and I can tell you this is the best e-bike I have bought so far, an absolutely amazing bike, I have the color lavender and have already converted it with orange Hope cranks and orange stem and orange Hope hubs are also coming on it !!!

[@TheLoamWolf]

Thanks for sharing and we're glad you are loving it.

[@2wheels4wheels]

this is the quietest bike i have ever ridden including non e-bikes as well.. The level of confidence and support it offers finstantly makes you faster…. for me it is the best e-bike out there. For my kind of riding i never though 155 would be enough. This is a well though-out, true performer e bike.

[@troycote432]

Saw an Oso at my local shop and was not impressed at all. The spec and quality on my Marin Alpine E2 is better for $5900 and has Fox 38 with a Grip 2 damper.

[@Bench_mark_113]

This bike is for the ibis fan bois, plain and simple. They knew it and didn’t make it appealing for those that aren’t an ibis fan already.

[@androostuart]

Recent price drop and adjustments on this makes it quite a contender now

[@sdtrailrider8070]

$8000 and with Eagle GX Transmission.

[@joeernst266]

Awesome videos - super production value as always and informative. Watching this one, I am starting to wonder what you'll have to say about the Megawatt's BB Height and suspension sag 😅 but I will patiently wait for that video to drop (when is that though?).

[@TheLoamWolf]

Thanks Joe we appreciate the compliment. We definitely have some things to say about it. haha. But also a very sweet bike overall.

[@jeffriley2502]

I like the IBIS brand, like the Bosch motor. However Overpriced and sizing issue is deal breaker for me.

[@kangsterizer]

i demoed this too a while back and liked it. of course i didnt really look much at the fit and finish because it was outside the price range anyway, but the ride was quite good. powerful, light enough and geometry was ok. i didnt mind the bb with a motor it makes it easier to avoid problems (my current bike bb is also very low). but yeh no way id buy an ebike that expensive anyway haha

[@cliffsangelsphotography]

I love Ibis as i still ride my v1 Ripmo and RipleyAF, but I'm rather disappointed with the Oso. For $11k+, it's definitely not a good value bike. Not interested in integrated lights and the horrendous cable management. I wish they went the route of the Trek Fuel EXe

[@ShredQuest]

The kiox display is OG. Had that on my 2020 Orbea wild.

[@brassmnky33]

I demo’d this bike and it was extremely creaky in the seat tube. The rear end suspension wasn’t plush at all. I was not impressed to say the least. In my mind this bike is opposite of everything I love about an ibis when it comes to fit and finish, value, killer suspension etc.

[@AB-NZ]

As an Ibis fan (have a Ripmo V1 and it is brilliant in all aspects - build quality, ride, geo, weight, spec) I had been waiting for this bike last year but gave up and ended up buying a Levo expert instead. After listening to this review I am pleased I did…. And surprised that the oso is not up to the high standard that I typically expect from Ibis.

[@jeddartjusticemtb6676]

Ripmo with a Bosch Motor was my wish 😢

[@ddsgardening7437]

I'm sharing all these episodes with all my non believer's mates who think ebs are crap,🙏🇦🇺

[@aaronburela432]

12:27 drew great question there to pull a little more insight from Sean. Good hosting skills. Overall I'm gonna have to agree with his last statement. I like the bike but the value is not the best

[@sdtrailrider8070]

Interested to know your thoughts given the new price drop and components. Of course this doesn't change the sizing or the Bosch integration. I imagine this would change when V2 come around as they may add in a size, and no doubt update the controller.

[@TheLoamWolf]

You said if. To us there was Number of things to address, we’re very glad to hear they have with the quicker fixes, but even so, geo is a big one, overall versatility, weight…. It does some things quite well, but we’d still pick other bikes, namely the fezzari for less money that rides better more places.

[@sdtrailrider8070]

@@TheLoamWolf Thanks for your comments and reviews!

[@dadventuretv2538]

Just swung a leg over one at my LBS when I dropped my bike off for service. $8,000 US now. That’s a contender. In 5’10” and felt right at home on a Large immediately. I had no idea the bike even existed so knew nothing about it until I got home here and was shocked to read it was a 500 mm reach and a 1294 wheelbase. I currently ride an XL Santa Cruz Bronson V3 with a 185 mm reach and 1252 mm wheelbase, so upsized admittedly, but still the Ibis is quite a bit bigger but I felt right at home. I wonder if some of that might have to do with the fact that it has a motor- you have some help in moving it. My Bronson has a 340 mm BB height so 🤷‍♂️. Only issue could be with a longer wheelbase there will be a bit less break over angle, but I’ll take that in order to get low down stability. Model I rode had Fox X2 that was butter smooth but I was able to get air on some speed bumps- an impressive feat I am finding on 55 lb ebikes. Surprised me how maneuverable and playful it felt for what it is (especially being a full 29er which I don’t usually dig) and even more so when I got home and found out the geo. Of course the DW Link is one of my favorite linkages and felt sooooo good. And GX Transmission was pretty sweet. All in all if money were no issue I’d have gone home with it- it felt like an old friend. Unfortunately money is an an issue and I need to do more research before I plunk down the cash. Im not sure if you can remove the battery to charge but if not that will be a deal killer. This is a classic example of a bike that rides and feels WAY better than you would expect from the paper geo numbers and spec sheet.

[@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120]

Were I to go with a Bosch motor equipped bike, I would go with the Wild or that RS 7550 from Crestline. On the other hand, if I wanted Shimano, the Pivot Shuttle LT and that Fezzari are top picks...if only the Pivot came with the Bosch motor, that would be my first choice

[@ddsgardening7437]

And we are all vintage riders been there since the beginning of mtbing

[@mug3l]

I really don’t get the marketing strategy behind this bike. Just one model, the specs, the sizing… doesnt makes sense for me

[@Frater_Maven]

Not to mention those two God awful pastel shade colorways . . . How about a charcoal gray with a satin finish and then that pastel seafoam green for your girlfriend

[@aknmtbr]

At $7500 I would now be buying one if hadn’t already had an ebike!

[@jeremybub]

Frogs sound like they have an opinion about that green machine too 😂

[@TheLoamWolf]

😂

[@aaronwaterman6982]

Now u can grab em for under 7k I wonder if that would have changed perspective?

[@HelloHello-gv2gg]

I think it’s important to be fair to ibis(always a fan) that this is their first attempt at an e-bike. So give it some time, despite consumers maybe being the “so to speak” Guinea pigs. Also, did you have any issues with the rear brake routing?

[@mrvwbug4423]

An Ibis pedal strike ... nneeevvveerrrr haha /sarcasm. So us Ripmo riders would feel right at home with the really low BB. The sizing is nuts though. That's longer reach and wheelbase than a size XL Ripmo. Which sucks for us 5'10" riders because sizing on the size L Ripley and Ripmo is like goldilocks zone for 5'10" riders.

[@ass2mouthallday]

For the price, this bike should have the best of everything on the market.

[@TheLoamWolf]

Absolutely agree. Any bike over 10k should have factory suspension and AXS shifting/dropper. But, that's just me. - Sean

[@MichaelAverycarhauler1969]

Totally confirms my predisposition to the Oso, way overpriced for what you get, or don't. I'm an Ibis fan, and own a Ripmo AF. But to be honest the Fezarri Timp Peak is the first eMTB that even piqued my interest. Pun fully intended.

[@DanTheMan_75]

Where’s the Orbea Wild? 🤘🤘🤘

[@TheLoamWolf]

It's coming...they're dropping one per day alphabetically!

[@HindsightFPV]

I'm not against e-bikes at all and as a matter of fact I want one. I'm curious though what happens when you take a hard fall on a 50+ pound bike? I can't say I've seen anyone talking about that on any reviews or first rides or just KZbinrs mentioning it. Doesn't anyone fall? I know the better you get the less it usually happens but I can't imagine getting tangled up in 55 pounds.

[@TheLoamWolf]

It's about the same as a standard bike, just depends how good ones reflexes are. I've crashed a few times (slid of a wall ride, smoked the side of a hill at Mach chicken, caught an edge and went otb on a switchback, etc) on our ebikes, but never gotten tangled up in it...as far as I can recall anyway. -Sean

[@HindsightFPV]

@@TheLoamWolf thanks for the quick response.

[@Na2gumiBlogspot]

very good bike BUT: battery cover is appauling, Bosch integration sucks compared to the Orbea. Would never shed this amount of money for that bike.

[@TheLoamWolf]

Yeah, the finish quality vs price is not good.

[@TheJANYO]

Weight?

[@TheLoamWolf]

54 lbs | 24.5 kg

[@sgtkurry]

As an ibis fan with a ripmo and exie the looks and price turned me off from this. Its weird saying that as I have an Exie and that is not at all a good value but 11k for the oso is an extremely hard pass.

[@worldstallestmidget]

So what I am getting out of this review is it’s not worth the price tag

[@mkviz]

Price is 7999 now. Goes to show how overpriced this bike is in the beginning. If they priced it at 7999 in the beginning it would have literally flew off the shelves initially. It just show how greedy bike manufacturers were getting in pricing these. Still overpriced

[@lathamstylemtb]

Way overpriced for the spec 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@_Conrad_]

Not a very attractive looking bike imo . Also overpriced.

[@juslookinatyas]

Man, who would buy this. Bike manufacturers be getting so arrogant/lazy

[@TheAngryHusky]

Bike is ugly as sin. To me it looks like they made it look different for the sake of looking different. Function>form.

[@bfranco1519]

Terrible color…

[@hrdtduck]

I like your comparisons they are factual and helpful, but..the bikes you test are only those by vendors that will send you one. Course I don't expect you to be buying your test bikes but it makes it hard to make some decisions if one does not want a bike from the major vendors; they/I want a bike that's dufferent, unique. I've asked yiou to test a Pole but can you even get one to test? Do you test private owners rides?

[@TheLoamWolf]

Thank you and appreciate you watching and the kind words. We definitely try our best to get as many as we can...Viewers can make their own assumptions as to reasons why brands may not want to take part in our group reviews, but ultimately, we end up getting enough bikes to where we just don't feel we have the resources (man power or financially) to add many other bikes that we have to buy/actively search for and source, and still put enough time on each bike to truly get proper testing done. But thanks for the suggestions and we'll continue to try to add more diverse and unique bikes to the mix!

[@_Conrad_]

Any pole bike review would be cool, they make very good looking bikes!

[@TheLoamWolf]

Pole Voima review coming soon.