Ibis Exie Review: Lycra Lovers Rejoice

Surprise! The Ibis Exie review is here. Hot on the heels of the All-Mountain Showdown, we're ditching the knee pads, donning some lycra, and getting a little cross-country. This isn't just clickbait here - the Ibis Exie is the best climbing bike I've ever ridden - full stop. Stick around to see how it does it!
0:00 Intro
1:10 Ride Impressions - Uphill
6:46 Ride Impressions - Downhill
12:50 Analysis & Conclusion
Check out the written companion article here - www.bebikes.com/the-hub/ibis-...

[@roryveronda9933]

Thanks for supporting us tall riders! Very good review

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@xaviermelendez2639]

Man, what a GREAT video review. Has to be one of the best out there!!!

[@bikersedge]

Glad you enjoyed it! I appreciate that.

[@mickeylundy76]

I love your clips!!! I would love to see you do a head to head with other xc/downcountry (ha!) bikes (SC Lt Blur etc) with the Exie?! Your all-mountain showdown input sold me on the Ripmo. I am also 6'2" so that helps we have that in common. Lastly, and in regards to some of the haters/complainers of the Exie, its is freaking awesome to see a company produce a carbon frame in the US (using solar power). Yes it drove the price up but as a small business owner I appreciate this fact: you get what you pay for. Anyways, happy shredding!

[@bikersedge]

I've been trying to get my hands on a blur to do exactly that. Struggling at the moment.

[@raylew6573]

Conor - great job on the review, I always look forward to your reviews and how the well the videos are edited. Your content is easy to understand and follow, especially applying real world situations. I would like to make a suggestion if you can add the place you are riding in your description. You ride in amazing areas and showcasing the trails would be great. Thanks!

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks for the kind words! I really appreciate it. I purposely leave them out. I known plenty of folks who would have my head if I blew up some potentially sensitive areas on the internet. They’re all in Utah is that helps!

[@raylew6573]

@@bikersedge No worries! I appreciate and understand - either way, beautiful area that you ride, glad we are able to see it.

[@ericmgodfrey]

@@raylew6573 - He's riding at snowbird.

[@mtbeliever5833]

Really love your channel bud. Everytime you upload I get excited to watch. Great content. And the trails you ride on are so beautiful. Here in SoCal it is bone dry and rattlesnake infested 🐍

[@bikersedge]

Thanks for the kind words! Stoked you like the videos. Normally it’s bone dry and rattle snakey here too. We’ve had a PNW style summer though.

[@steveridesxc]

Thanks for this review... your reviews are really great. I'm a FS XC bike rider for the past 25 years and one thing that people seem to over look when they are riding 100mm of rear suspension, it is still 76% as much travel as a 130mm bike. Proportionally it isn't a world of difference, yet we go in with that assumption. That and the fact that tuning the shock well can create a fun "trial" riding feel that does not have to feel like a XC race bike. I'd say it is a well kept secret, but it really isn't. There is a ton of riders here in Colorado who ride this type of bike.

[@mallorymcguire833]

Hi, I just got this frame - how do you “tune” the rear shock?

[@ThunderStruckMTB]

Dude, so good! I'm not even in the market for a new bike (every 5ish years for me) and I watch all of your bike reviews. You are the best bike reviewer I have seen. Quick question: Is the resort you're riding at always this empty or is it because of covid? What an awesome place to be able to ride seemingly alone at! Thanks for the content.

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks for the kind words! Really stoked you like the videos. I ride at weird times of day to minimize how many people are on the trails. I also end up cutting out sections of the clips when I'm passing other people. They are usually awkward and boring and that's why you don't see them. The sections - Not the people.

[@peterzulim3914]

I love your guy's ride impressions, especially cross country ones like this since that's what I mostly ride (even if a bike like the Exie is too expensive for me). Do you think you guys would consider putting a section at the end of these reviews where you look at the frame and build of the bike you're riding?

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks for the kind words. I try to keep the videos as short and concise as possible. I'll start adding that to the written section of the review, though. In all fairness, I personally don't think the build level you buy ends up making a huge difference in how the bike rides. the meat and potatoes are the geometry and suspension design.

[@tonykasunic1]

Love the music in the intro!

[@bikersedge]

Sometimes royalty free stuff doesn't sound too bad!

[@johnnnewmex]

The thing I've struggled with dw link is it can feel a little too bouncy to me...like riding with little rebound damping. But that said it does do up and down pretty well. I'm looking forward to the next iteration of the Ripley.

[@stevetdesigns]

Looks like they increased the reach and decreased the stem legth for an XC bike. My Spark 910 XL came with (I think) an 80mm stem. My Orbea Oiz L came with a 70mm stem. I had the Oiz first and quickly realized I needed to up size on an XC bike and that's why I chose the XL Spark, and then just swapped the stem for a 35mm option and now it feels like a large trail/AM bike! Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks! To be fair, this isn't the stock stem. With the long reach I wasn't able to run the stock 50mm stem. Even 50 is pretty short for an XC race bike.

[@stevetdesigns]

@@bikersedgeha, I thought it looked pretty short lol. But ya, I can't stand long stems lol.

[@cliffsangelsphotography]

Excellent review as always. DW Link on an Ibis is just magic. Would you do an experiment and pit the Exie against a carbon Ripley with a 120mm fork?

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks for the kind words! If I can get my hands on one I will!

[@MassimilianoPerrella]

Cool review! How would you compare this bike to the Oiz TR? Thanks bro! :-)

[@jimrutherford2773]

The 120mm front suspension also makes it more capable in chunk than your average XC bike which usually has 100mm of suspension.

[@bikersedge]

Agreed. Certainly helps.

[@bikebudha01]

Would love to see you update this video with the new Ibis Exie NON-Usa build. (They have the frame made in Vietnam, spec'd with deore - only $4900)

[@bikersedge]

I’d love to ride it. Honestly doubt there’s an perceptible difference in ride quality though.

[@bikebudha01]

@@bikersedge Short of the extra 2.5-3 pounds, I would agree. (And the savings of several thousands of dollars...). But that is why it would be a great vid. What does an extra 3-5k get you???

[@bikersedge]

We did a mid range versus high-end video. Go check that one out.

[@DylanBradley]

Just sold my Exie for All NGX build... Size Large, stock build came in at 28.4 lbs with pedals and water bottle cage. Set PR's on all the climbs and most of the downs on my local trails in Eagle, CO vs my 34lbs ripmo af. But right after I sold it I set all new PR's with my 33lb Alchemy Arktos 150... Beat it on the climbs by over a minute. My take is that it feels like an XC bike on both ups and downs but without upgraded wheels and some weight savings it's not worth it unless you buy it on sale.

[@alvindiazmarquez]

How stiff did the frame feel? I’m a tall bigger guy and have Ripley which I love. How is the frame stiffness compared to each other. Thanks!

[@mmmkay123]

As I too find 500mm reach to be the sweet spot on contemporary mtb’s. Did the 519 reach of the XL feel ok/good? No way I can ride a L but worry about reach being too long.? This will compliment my 140 trail bike and I’m not a racer, just want a low travel 29 and am a heavy DW convert!

[@bikersedge]

It was definitely as big as I could make work.

[@The-Bike-Wizard]

That bike is SExie

[@brent_s]

My wife has a yeti sb100, and it feels like a rocketship compared to my ripmo AF. I would love something like this to compliment my ripmo when I want to rip some quick loops.

[@tristanmoss1537]

Did the wheelbase ever feel too long? My experience with wheelbases that long is that it's harder to get the bike up steep climbs/ledges, and requires more fore/aft body movement to keep your weight over the tires

[@bikersedge]

Personally I liked the longer wheelbase as it is what makes the bike as stable as it is. You’re right that a longer wheelbase can be a bit more to manage but I like the bigger “sweet spot” it provides on the trail. You’re able to move around more before your weight is in the wrong spot.

[@Stickybutton]

What is your weight and how much PSI on your shock and tires?

[@bikersedge]

I weight about 190 ready to ride. I run close to 30psi front and back. I had ~205 psi in the shock.

[@kaseyburlingham2861]

Starting price of 8k it better be the greatest bike of all time!

[@bikersedge]

Guaranteed to make you at least 195% faster.

[@kaseyburlingham2861]

@@bikersedge take my money! 🤣

[@saintbeats1435]

Damn bro! You are spoiled with those views! Im super jealous

[@bikersedge]

Utah sure isn't bad!

[@therianstrauss]

This vs yeti sb115? For epic races like Breck, BC BR and Cape Epic?

[@bikersedge]

Not familiar with those races. I’ve done True Grit. I would take this over the 115 all day if I did that race again.

[@therianstrauss]

@@bikersedge Thanks. And the no lockout comment at the end was a definite plus, i dont like the clutter of lockouts.

[@byronsmith4440]

I usually need an XL. And I always heard Ibis is tall himself, but how tall are you?

[@bikersedge]

I’m 6’2”

[@bikebudha01]

Which bike is better: Ibis Exie (non-usa deore build $5k) vs. Rocky Mountain Element (C50 build $5k)??? No xc racing, but will be doing marathons and 100 milers. Ride mostly 'blue' trails, fair amount of green as well, just a touch of black. My weight is 120lbs.

[@bikersedge]

The element is way more “trail” that the Exie. In fact the geo is closer to a Ripmo than it is an Exie. The Exie is quicker, and pedals better.

[@bikebudha01]

@@bikersedge Yeah, I got that from your (excellent) reviews of both bikes. Just trying to get a more 'specific' response in regards to which bike would be better for rides like True-Grit, Cascade Creampuff, etc. (The pacific northwest xc racing scene died 6 years ago.. sigh...). So not looking for a dedicated xc race bike. But the Exie looks more capable than your average xc racer. But the element appears to be a much more marathon capable peddler... sigh, choices choices...

[@bikersedge]

@@bikebudha01 "Better "will be pretty dependent on who's riding the bike. For example, the folks who win True Grit would be better off on the lighter, more efficeint Exie. The folks who want to finish true grit are probably better off on the more comfortable and forgiving Element.

[@bikebudha01]

@@bikersedge That actually helps. My days of 'winning' are long gone. I am now very much team 'just finish'... Thank you...

[@GFClocked]

@bikersedge how tall are you for reference? I'm 187cm and I'm scared to pick 519reach, that seems too big for me even though most xls are perfect for me. Thanks

[@bikersedge]

I'm 6'2" (188cm).

[@GFClocked]

@@bikersedge thank you!!!

[@HD46409]

@@bikersedge Would you consider the bike OK for your averagely proportioned 6'5" 220-230 LB Clyde looking for a marathon XC bike? Thanks.

[@bikersedge]

@@HD46409 the frame is plenty big for someone 6’5”

[@HD46409]

@@bikersedge Thanks.

[@luckytiger3821]

Evil offering please!

[@bikersedge]

We don’t carry Evil. Won’t be able to make that happen unfortunately.

[@Jesse_James_]

Hey! How does it compare to the spur, (I understand that this ibis is more of a racing bike, but they are pretty close in geometry) which one is more fun, stable at high speed and comfortable to ride for fun?

[@bikersedge]

Geo is pretty close but they feel very different on trail. The Exie feels like an XC bike without a doubt. The Spur blurs the line between XC and trail but probably leans more towards the trail category, especially when compared to XC race bikes like the Exie, Blur and OIZ. The Spur is going to be more well-rounded and fun at speed. the Exie will smoke it uphill every day.

[@daved2023]

Can confirm. I've been riding my X01 Spur since mid January and it's amazing! Is it as efficient at climbing as the EXIE? Apparently not but make no mistake, the Spur is no slouch and at 25lbs without pedals, still amazingly lightweight. It absolutely stomps the downhills and like Bikers Edge's response, VERY (my emphasis added) fun at speed! N+1 doesn't exist for me so the Spur is my do-it-all bike and it does it all, very well. I'm a very happy Transition customer!

[@blakeremmick4896]

@@bikersedge ranking the Exie, Blur TR and new OIZ in climbing and descending, how do they stack up?

[@bikersedge]

@@blakeremmick4896 Can't say. The only one I've ridden on that lit is the Exie.

[@blakeremmick4896]

@@bikersedge how does it stack up with the BC40,, I believe that's a bike you have had some time on as well.

[@brucehumphries6889]

Compared to the Oiz?

[@bikersedge]

Not sure. Haven't ridden them back to back. They're definitely in the same category. Both fast and light XC bikes.

[@mhowell13]

Do you do these reviews at Beaver Creek?

[@bikersedge]

Nope. Not sure where that is.

[@mhowell13]

@@bikersedge it's a resort in Colorado. The lifts and trails looked very similar to the area. It's in Avon, CO. Looks like a beautiful area regardless. Thank you for all the content and work that goes into these.

[@bikersedge]

Stoked you like them. Might have to check out beaver creek. The only riding I’ve done is CO is grand junction and telluride.

[@Antweak83]

I think it looks outdated. I know it has modern geo but still. Probably a great bike tho.

[@bikersedge]

It rides like a great contemporary bike and that's what matters most.

[@erichbachman7363]

2:53, haha! xD

[@bikersedge]

I thought it was the end. Stupid archery competition.

[@erichbachman7363]

@@bikersedge Gosh darn it, them archery competitions are driving me crazy!

[@bikenband]

7:15 That’s what she said

[@bikersedge]

🤣

[@user-rj9ui3sz8u]

Is the Exie as plush as the Epic Evo?

[@bikersedge]

Haven't ridden the Epic. Can't really say.

[@user-rj9ui3sz8u]

@@bikersedge Do you think there is enough rear suspension travel for a casual rider?

[@bikersedge]

@@user-rj9ui3sz8u Totally depends on what casual entails. For an XC/trail type rider its an incredible bike. For someone who rides bike park, even casually, it wont be a great option. For someone who wants a do-it-all bike, probably not the best option either. Something like the ripley or ripmo would be better suited for that.

[@user-rj9ui3sz8u]

@@bikersedge Sorry, to be more specific. I don't do jumps or fly down hills. I ride flatter trails. looking for a lightweight efficient bike. I'm just worried the Exie will feel like a hardtail. I'm 47 and not that athletic anymore.

[@bikersedge]

@@user-rj9ui3sz8u The Exie certainly doesn't feel like a hardtail and it's certainly light and efficient. I would hesitate to call it plush though. If you want a bit more comfort but still want to stay in the efficient range, I'd highly recommend the Ripley. If your happy to sacrifice some comfort for even more efficiency, then the Exie will be awesome.

[@flyingnorseman]

How tall you be?

[@bikersedge]

6'2"

[@rickflubadubdub4298]

Woo hoo another show bike that won’t be in stock anywhere and nobody will be able to buy, yay!

[@BlackPenquinn]

I bought one, it was in stock.

[@phantasma2323]

Your cadence needs smoothening out on those climbs bruh lol

[@bikersedge]

My form is immaculate. I’ve perfected mountain biking. Don’t you dare critique my cadence.

[@CCWclassic]

Man Ibis sure knows how to make an ugly bike

[@bikersedge]

performance > everything else

[@CCWclassic]

@@bikersedge True but can't it be both 😄

[@bikersedge]

Now you're just asking for way too much.

[@CCWclassic]

@@bikersedge nah. Just take a look at that Sentinel you like so much 😏

[@bikersedge]

I’m just giving you a hard time. It’s always nice when you get form and function. The sentinel is a great example of that.

[@marksandoval5361]

The Exie is big disappointment for me. I was hoping for something more like the Transition Spur; an XC-ish bike with progressive Trailbike geo. The Exie is just another XC bike with XC geo. The bike world really doesn't need another Spark or Epic. However, we could use more bikes like the Spur. And, the cheapest build is $8000. The Exie gets a big FAIL. It adds nothing unique to the mountain bike world and few can afford it.

[@bikersedge]

Ibis already makes the Ripley. Pretty much exactly what you're asking for.

[@marksandoval5361]

@@bikersedge The Ripley comes close if your willing to buy the expensive $9000+ builds but the more affordable builds are still pretty heavy. If Ibis would release a lightweight Ripley with say a lighter 120mm XC fork and XC shock, narrower i28mm rims, and lighter tires, maybe 2.4 Rekons, then the Ripley might be worth considering. With some thoughtful tweaking, the Ripley could shed some pounds without driving up the price. I was hoping the Exie with its lighter frame would be a fly-weight Ripley but it's geometry is holding it back.

[@bikersedge]

@@marksandoval5361 Apart from a 1° change in HTA, the geometry is nearly identical to a Spur. Don't see how that's holding it back.

[@brianwilliams2907]

@@bikersedge the STA and Reach on the Exie and Spur are pretty different but they are different beasts. The super steep STA's don't work so well unless you're just going up and down all day so the Exie works better for me on most of my home trails. This guy's just being argumentative for argument's sake. Every bike doesn't have to be "unique", it just needs to tick your boxes. Great review, BTW. Can't wait for the temps to drop so I can get mine out more.

[@bikersedge]

Thanks for the kind words! The HTA is 1.2 degrees apart, which is pretty big. If I'm not mistaken, the STA (at least in size XL) is within 0.3° I didn't realize how close the geo was at first until another commenter pointed it out today. They're within millimeters on most measurements. Funny how different they ride, though.