The American label Ibis already has over 40 years of company history under its belt. However, the special bikes from California are rarely seen on European trails. But that could soon change - at least in enduro circles. In June 2023, Ibis launched the HD6, the successor to the Enduro Mojo HD5. That's a good thing. The Mojo from 2019 had already gathered so much dust that downhill enthusiasts now prefer the more modern All Mountain Ripmo.
After this unusually long product cycle, the HD6 and its predecessor have little more in common than the Ibis logo on the head tube. The developers have also pulled out all the stops to adapt the newcomer to all the requirements of a modern enduro bike. The suspension travel on the fork has been increased from 170 to 180 millimetres. At the rear, the engineers have increased the suspension travel from 158 to 165 millimetres. The 27.5-inch wheels also make way for a wheel size mix with 29ers on the front wheel and 27.5 inches on the rear wheel. The Californians have also thrown the typical Ibis design language with its two-part main frame and curved top tube overboard. Instead, the design is now characterised by straight lines and sharp edges. The only remnant of the traditional Ibis gene pool: The rear suspension system with DW-Link linkage, which couples the closed rear frame triangle to the main frame with two rockers.
The Ibis HD6 in a practical test
This brings us to the greatest strength of the Ibis HD6: The response behaviour of the rear suspension left a first-class impression on all test riders. Whether uphill or downhill - the rear generates excellent traction in every situation and impresses with outstanding absorption capacity and comfort. The suspension literally dissolves even the nastiest rocky sections into thin air. This enables rapid speeds and provides a great deal of safety. For a little more support, however, we advise riders with an active riding style to use a little less SAG (25 per cent) and more compression damping than usual. Otherwise, too much physical effort is lost in the plush suspension.
The 35 millimetre wide aluminium rims, on which the Maxxis tyres are very voluminous, also earn praise. This guarantees stability, precision and excellent traction even at low tyre pressures. The riding position is a little too sporty for our taste. Due to the noticeably short head tube and the short steerer tube, the front end is very low despite the long 180 mm fork. As a result, on steep terrain, the front-heavy riding position forces you to shift your centre of gravity towards the rear wheel early on. This deprives the rider of control of the front wheel and makes handling more difficult. A handlebar with more rise would help here.
Uphill, the combination of long reach, moderate seat angle and slightly longer stem also places you in a sporty position on the bike. For those who don't like to sit squat, Ibis offers an enduro bike with an appropriate seat length for longer tours. The decent overall weight (15.25 kilos) also encourages riding away from lift-operated bike park trails or shuttle tours. The only drawback: the rear suspension bobs noticeably when pedalling. Even activating the platform function has little effect. Mechanics will also be pleased with the excellent service friendliness. The laminated cable guides inside the frame, the bolted bottom bracket and inserted headset bearings make maintenance work easier.
Conclusion from Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor
The Ibis HD6 is the perfect playmate for experienced enduro riders. The outstanding chassis and sporty character entice the rider out of their comfort zone both uphill and downhill.
Evaluation, test data and features of the Ibis HD6 at a glance
Max Fuchs
Editor
