Is the New Ripley SL Actually a Ripley? (new vs old)

Alright, so the day is finally here. We’re pitting the legendary Ibis Ripley V4—basically the GOAT of short-travel trail bikes—against the brand new, Ripley SL. Now, I’ll be honest: I went into this thinking the SL was just going to be a 'V4 2.0.' But after a month on this new bike, it’s clear Ibis did something different here. It actually feels a lot more like a beefed-up Exie, "Exie Evo" evolution than a straight-up Ripley replacement. Is that a good thing? Does it still have that V4 magic? Let's dive in and see if the SL is actually the bike you’ve been waiting for. I got this bike from Salt Cycles in Sandy, Utah. Chris, the owner of Salt Cycles, has Ripley SL's is stock and ready to ship! He is happy to work with you and help custom build your dream bike so call him today and start your build! 801-943-8502 Below are links to the products & gear I use everyday including a link to purchase the Ibis Ripley SL online! Anything you purchase using these affiliate links to Backcountry .com and JensonUSA go directly to financially support my channel. This is what keeps this channel going and I'm incredibly grateful for your support. Thank you! Ibis Ripley SL: https://alnk.to/eDRmYeX OneUp V3 Carbon Bar: https://alnk.to/1N5scwN OneUp V3 Dropper Post: https://alnk.to/cm0V3uH Giro Manifest Helmet: https://alnk.to/dAmP5mu Shimano XT Group set: https://alnk.to/ei2yaa8 Shimano XTR Group set: https://alnk.to/610W3Pw Wahoo Element Bolt Computer: https://alnk.to/8PF3KTV Maxxis Rekon Tire: https://alnk.to/8iWaCvM Troy Lee Design Drift Shorts: https://bit.ly/3EbziPQ Pearl Izumi Pro Bib Shorts: https://alnk.to/hhE8wmQ ODI Elite Pro Grips: https://alnk.to/7BiszwV Fox Flexair Gloves: https://alnk.to/5ujmNIH Fox Enduro Knee Sleeve (light protection): https://alnk.to/7fqeVCx Fox Launch D30 Knee Pads (more protection): https://alnk.to/7fqeVCx The Ibis Ripley SL is a 117mm DW link bike with a Fox Float shock and a 130mm Fox 34sl fork.