Riding the Ibis HD5

Dan's take on the new HD5?
"I loved my HD4, but there were a few things that I wanted to be different; namely, I wanted a slightly longer reach without feeling more stretched out while pedaling, I wanted a slightly longer wheelbase, and I wanted a slacker head-tube angle. With the HD5 Ibis has addressed all those items, while making the bike a hair lighter and stiffer than before! I love it."
- Dan at Fanatik

The HD5 is an entirely new bike, but Ibis did not start with a blank slate. Instead, they took the phenomenal HD4, which has been ridden by Ibis's highly successful EWS enduro race team for several years, and refined it into a modern masterpiece.

Because they didn’t tweak the DW-Link suspension design, Ibis engineers were able to instead focus their efforts on optimizing the suspension components themselves. Working with Fox, they’ve developed their own “Traction Tune.” This lighter-than-normal damper tune allows a larger segment of users to find the light, active feel that they want to get out of their bike, and makes for one of the smoothest rides we’ve ever experienced.

With the HD5 Ibis has adjusted the geometry to make the bike more capable both descending and ascending. They have lengthened the reach of the bike by around 15mm per size, slackened out the headtube by almost a degree, increased the front suspension to 170mm, and steepened the seat-tube angle from 74 to 76 degrees. A large HD4 has the same reach as a medium HD5, but because of the steeper seat angle you won't feel more stretched out during seated pedaling. Your weight is also further forward, so despite the slacker head angle, your front wheel doesn’t wander while climbing. The longer front-center and slacker head-angle also results in a longer wheelbase than the HD4, which makes the bike more stable at speed.

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#mtb

[KeanuSwayze]

Looks like a brawler! Fingers crossed that the Mojo4 is not far behind.

[johncilles]

When should we expect a new "mojo 3" 27.5 130 rear/ 140 front with updated geometry and a longer reach? I've been patiently waiting!!

[burddog]

Hoping Ibis comes out with an AF version.

[BackcountryPlanet]

If you're 5' 10", I'm curious why you went with a Medium frame? Or why Ibis sent a Medium, since their size chart would have you riding a Large.

[ErichVonCartmann]

I believe the best all around do it all bike should be 65 Degree HTA ad 75 Degree STA; or maybe even 66 Degree HTA and 76 Degree STA. These angles keeps the bike compact.
HD4 is a near perfect 27.5" do it all bike, so I still hope Ibis keeps the HD4 in the lineup, but most like they will ditch it.
The HD5 was needed for Gravity, because we all demand slacker HTA and steeper STA, it just makes Gravity work easier, and at the same time, makes the bike a better technical climber due to the Steeper STA.
However, I don't like these long and slack bikes for a do it all bike and every day trail duty. 64 HTA, and 77 STA will just make the bike too long for an every day bike. At these angles the bike has to be longer just to keep the ETT (seated position) reasonable so we do NOT bang our elbows with our knees.
There are many negatives of going longer.
1) the bike becomes more of a Slug
2) bike becomes more unbalanced and harder to pump and charge berms, and easier to wash out the front ent. Bike becomes unbalanced going longer because it is only the front Triangle that gets longer; the chainstay and rear triangle stays the same size.

[rekamniar]

How Did the new shock config change the way you ride

[Fightam]

wonder if the paint falls off just by looking at it.

[TAZMON]

The day Ibis get bike colours right I'll sell my black HD4 and upgrade.