INTERBIKE 2009 – Ibis was showing off a prototype of their new HD long travel freeride bike.  Based off the Mojo’s front triangle, it gets a reinforced downtube and other strengthening treatments with revised linkage to pull 160mm of DW-Link travel from the rear triangle.
Brian Lopes used a prototype to win a stage of the French Enduro Trophy des Nations 10-event downhill mountain bike stage race recently and had generally positive things to say about it.
The frame is set up to work with a 160mm to 180mm travel fork, and it has some nice tricks up its sleeve.  Hit ‘more’ to see all of them…
Along the top tube are inserts for the removable cable guides for a front derailleur or drop seat post.
The preview prototype was set up with a single front ring, shown with an MRP chainguide.  The tricky thing about this is there are no ISCG tabs or mounts.  Ibis worked with MRP to develop a guide that bolts directly into the main pivot.  They’re working with other manufacturers to be able to offer customers a choice of chain guards, too.  But, if you decide you like gears and want to climb, the Mojo HD is said to climb quite well, too, and the seat tube has a thinned area to fit a front derailleur (34.9mm clamp diameter).  Then just mount a triple on it and you’re all set.
The linkages on the prototype are beefier than what will be on final production models.  Ibis said they’ve got the geometry and feel dialed, they’re just working out some final production specs.  As of this post’s publish date, they did not have a final MSRP or release date…not even a guess.
The bearings in the pivots above are dual-row angular contact bearings.  They require no preload, and since there are two rows of them, they’re supposedly more durable.
The headtube (above and below) is a tapered 1-1/8″ to 1-1/2″ deal and has some nice carbon shaping.
The rear derailleur cable slips into the chainstay and pops out near the back.
The rear disc brake mount is magnesium, and the rear hub uses a 12mm Maxle.
The bike will be available in four sizes: 15″, 17″, 19″ and 21″.
