As with any industry, there are several different approaches to selling a product. Some companies ooze cool, others try to undercut their competitors, while some actually try producing products their customer base actively desires. For Ibis, their brand new Tranny 29″ hardtail was the result of customer demand.
In development for a number of years, the bike incorporates a number of new features, which make it one of the most versatile hardtails available.
While the Tranny has an XC pedigree and was designed around a 100mm travel fork, that isn’t to say it doesn’t like to get rowdy. The bike is also available with a 120mm 32mm fork from the factory, which slackens the frame out slightly, and doubles the fun when pointed downhill.
This trail prowess is evident by the stock 740mm wide carbon handlebars. Available in either low or high rise, the handlebars are much wider than what is standard on most XC bikes.
In addition to a $1,699 frame only option, there are seven different build kits: Special Blend, Tranny Unchained, Deore XT, XTR1x, XTR2x, X01, and Xx1. Most of the build names speak for themselves, but the Special Blend and Tranny Unchained require some explanation.
The former is a budget build which starts at just 3k, while the latter features a single speed gates drive, and retails for $3,999. Prices top out at $6,199 for the XX1 groupset, and $6,699 for the XTR 2x.
All of the cable routing is internal, with the exception of the rear brake. There is no internal tubing, but all the ports have a removable cap, which leaves a larger opening to aid in routing.
Ibis offers their port holes in three different configurations, so there are several different ways to route the frame. For internal routing, the ports pictured are necessary and will require the use of full housing, but the company is also offering port caps with stops, and blanks.
What makes the Tranny unique among carbon wonder bikes is it’s ability to be easily taken apart and packed up small. This feature lead customers of the original Tranny to ask Ibis to incorporate Gates Drive compatibility.
According to Ibis, Trail and Enduro riders tend to clamor for threaded BBs, while XC riders prefer PressFit BBs. That’s why you’ll find a traditional threaded setup on their popular Mojo HDR, but this model has a BB92/PressGXP.
The backend of this bolt is a flush nut, so you can remove the back end of the frame without pulling off the cranks.
To make this possible, Ibis engineer Colin Hughes rethought the “Slot Machine.” Removing this bolt and another above, allows the frame to be pulled apart to it in a suitcase, or opened to slip in a belt.
What’s more ingenious is that by adjusting the bolt, the mechanism slides back, so you can lengthen the chain stays to tension a single speed setup. This system is lighter (and less finicky) “than an eccentric bottom bracket, cleaner than using a chain tensioner, and unlike sliding dropouts, can be adjusted with one bolt.”
All of the Slot Machine hardware is titanium, which helps keep weight low.
Up top, teardrop shaped hardware holds the frame together. On the previous 26″ model, this mechanism was reversed, but flipping the orientation of the joint allows the seatstays to open far enough to slide a Gates Drive through.
Tire clearance is claimed to be big enough for most 2.3.” In the stock configuration, there was plenty of room for a 2.25″ Racing Ralph to breathe, when mounted on a Stan’z ZTR Rapid 29er rim.
The front triangle shares some of the same design language as the Ripley, but the rear triangle has been carefully sculpted to achieve certain ride characteristics (laterally stiff, vertically complaint, you know the drill).
The chainstays are asymmetric because this allowed Colin to lower the location of the Slot Machine in relation to the BB, to help shorten the chainstays.
The company is still waiting on their single speed hardware, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that they decide to produce this….
A bottle opener hanger. Yeah, real men can open a bottle with anything, whatever. This is awesome.
Ibis is one of the few companies that offers the versatility to switch between 26″ and 27.5″ wheels on some of their bikes. For this model, they also attempted to build in the ability to switch between 27.5″ and 29″ wheels, but couldn’t get it work to their standards.
On the scale, a size medium Ibis Tranny 29er with a Tranny Unchained build kit weighed 20.12 lbs (9.13 kg). We’re pretty certain that by ditching the lock on grips for some ESIs, removing the lock out lever on the fork, and a few other touches, it would be fairly easy to push this bike into the sub 20 lb region.
Special thanks to Jenna, Jeff, Colin, and Scot, for giving us the lowdown!
For More, Visit Ibis
