The best news first: the new Ibis Oso 1.1 has become significantly cheaper - and better at the same time! The American luxury manufacturer Ibis has slightly revised its very first e-mountainbike, the Oso, and now presents the Oso 1.1.
The Americans have focussed on a clean cockpit for the new edition. The separate Kiox display of the previous model gives way to the Bosch system controller, slimly integrated into the frame. In combination with the wireless Bosch Mini-Remote and the Sram GX-Transmission, also without cables, the result is a tidy appearance without a tangle of cables on the handlebars.
New frame, proven geometry
According to Ibis, the carbon frame of the Oso 1.1 has been optimised in terms of stiffness. The updated carbon fibre layup is designed to provide more torsional stiffness while maintaining a compliant rear end.
Ibis promises more precise and safer handling as a result. Ibis is retaining the tried-and-tested DW-link suspension system with 155 millimetres of rear suspension travel. This can be extended to 170 millimetres. A 170 millimetre fork continues to work at the front.
For improved protection of the motor and frame, the cover on the down tube has been reinforced. Ibis has doubled the thickness and used a more resistant material. This improvement can also be retrofitted to existing Ibis Oso bikes.
Ibis has not made any changes to the geometry of the Oso. The bike rolls on 29-inch wheels in the Large and X-Large sizes, while the smaller frame sizes Small and Medium are equipped with a mullet set-up (29-inch front, 27.5-inch rear).
Overall, the geometry is very modern. The reach in particular is very generous at 500 millimetres in size L, the steering angle is modern and slack (64 degrees), the bottom bracket is low, the seat angle is steep and the wheelbase is slightly longer. However, the short chainstays - 439 millimetres up to size M, 444 millimetres from size L - should ensure good steering behaviour.
Drive & battery
Ibis continues to rely on the Bosch Performance Line CX Generation 4 motor for e-assistance, which delivers a maximum torque of 85 Newton metres. This is somewhat surprising, as Ibis is relying on the old mounting points of the previous motor despite the new frame.
Even though the motor's official key figures of 85 Newton metres and 600 watts have remained the same, the successor has a few crucial updates on board.
A 750 watt-hour battery continues to provide the power supply, while a 625 watt-hour battery is used in the small frame size. Bosch grants a two-year warranty on the drive system and, according to Ibis, has expanded its customer service for international customers with a dedicated Ibis expert.
There has been a rethink when it comes to lighting: the previously permanently installed Lupine light is now optional. The bike is pre-wired so that you can simply attach the supplied Lupine SL F Nano with 900 lumens if required.
Equipment and prices
Like its predecessor model the Ibis Oso 1.1 is also only offered in a single equipment variant. The good news: instead of the original 12,498 euros, the new edition now costs 7498 euros. And the quality of the equipment has improved somewhat. V
he update to the wireless Sram GX Transmission in particular increases the value of the package. The suspension elements come from Fox: a Performance Series Float 38 fork with 170 millimetres of travel is used at the front, while a Fox Performance Elite X2 shock is used at the rear.
Deceleration is provided by Shimano XT M8120 brakes with 4 pistons acting on 220 millimetre brake discs. The wheels are from Blackbird, with aluminium rims. The Oso 1.1 will be available immediately in Germany.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
