Brian Lopes's recent announcement of a sponsorship deal with Ibis caught many of us by surprise. Much speculation quickly followed suit regarding which Ibis models he'd be riding. Bike magazine HQ happens to be right around the corner from Casa de Lopes so last week he swung by our office to give us a complete tour of his new quiver.
Guiness Foam Mojo
This bike is a size small, stock Mojo frame, with a Ti bolt kits and red links setup for dual slalom. Tom Rogers at Marzocchi built a custom Roco Air shock for this frame with a shorter eye-to-eye and stroke for reduced travel and it also drops the BB and slackens out the angles for improved DS handling.
Carbon Mojo
This Mojo is actually set up pretty much the same as the foam-colored one except for the shock is locked out to simulate a hard tail. Right now it has an XC fork on it to save weight, but it will probably eventually have a Marzocchi 55 on it. It also has a pair of the sweet new machined out Hayes Gram brakes with carbon levers.
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Hayes Stroker Gram brakes
Green Mojo
This Mojo is a size medium with a stock eye-to-eye rear shock for cross-country riding, all-mountain trails and enduro downhills. It also has a Ti bolt kit and red link setup. It has got a MRP guide with two chainrings, 7" rotors instead of 6", Easton Havoc wheels (like all of Brian's bikes this year), and Brian's signature Kenda El Moco 2.35-inch tire in front.
A carbon MRP single ring chainguide on his slalom bike, his XC bike gets an MRP guide with front derailleur compatibility.
Brian says he loves his new bikes!
What do you think about Brian's new wheels? Leave a comment below...
Reader Comments
Posted Mon Mar24, 2008, 8:49 PM — By Adam
those are really nice bikes i knew of ibis but always thought they were xc bikes not 4 cross
Posted Mon Mar24, 2008, 9:08 PM — By rem llamas
nothing special about it.it just looks different because of that tube in between the upper tube and lower tube where the suspension is attached.thats it!the ibis should get rid of that extra tube to save more wt.without that tube between the upper tube and lower tube,the bottom line will be ibis is just another whose suspension is attached to a lower tube. simple engineering.
Posted Tue Mar25, 2008, 1:04 AM — By dhnomad
Back in the day when Ibis was handbuilt in Sebastopol, CA my mom was the accountant there. I got a sweet Spanky out of the deal, but that was before I took an interest in gravity driven sports. Lopes is an f-ing bad-ss so it said a lot to me when he claimed to choose Ibis out of all the different manufacturers he was being courted by. And I wanted to be on their side in the comeback. To be honest I thought Ibis was using this as a launching pad for new models, but now I am just thinking they wrote the biggest check. I'd like to see Lopes film his segment from NWD 8 on one of his 3 new Mojos. Three of the same frames with one locked out to simulate a hardtail, are you joking? What he didn't like the Tranny? I find it hard to believe that he decided on a quiver of three nearly identical bikes instead of house full of Santa Cruz, Specialized or even Mongoose! I've seen the new Mojo in a flesh and it's cool. I just figure he is gonna snap the green one like a twig. Enduro DH, when did he start
Posted Wed Mar26, 2008, 12:08 PM — By Tom Rogers
I believe Brian already won a DH race (Rads Challenge on Telonix in Laguna) on the green twig. I also know he will most likely be filming a segment for NWD 9. He will also be in Downieville to give Mr. Wier a run for his money. I think BL will prevail but Mr. Wier isn't going to go down easily he's one fit hombre!
As far as the Tranny, it is not availible yet. He will ride one when he gets one. Until then he needs a hardtail so we made one.
Brian is all about endurance racing this season as well as defending his 4X titles. I have been riding with him and he is out of his mind fit!
Posted Thu Mar27, 2008, 5:09 PM — By Velomonkey
This is a great deal for Ibis. A world class rider on a boutique bike. Most hardcore riders who punish their bikes would never give Ibis a second look, this could change that sentiment. It could also change the way many riders view the risk of riding an all carbon frame that is at risk of impact damage, or confirm our fears and suspicions. Best of luck to Brian and Ibis. Not that luck has had much to do with Brian's success.
Posted Thu Mar27, 2008, 9:13 PM — By wheelhot
For your info, its not as easy as you say "ibis should get rid of that extra tube to save more wt.without that tube between the upper tube and lower tube,the bottom line will be ibis is just another whose suspension is attached to a lower tube. simple engineering".
Carbon structural is different from aluminium, you cant just remove something and say it will still work the same, I dont know how old are you but what makes part of the Mojo durability to handle abuse is that tube that you say Ibis should get rid.
Besides, the Mojo SL is very lightweight, how lightweight you want it to be? Oh yeah and removing that carbon tube will require Ibis extensive redesigning and I doubt they can achieve the same strength if they remove that link. Its not simple engineering, you are simple. Nuff said.
Posted Fri Mar28, 2008, 12:56 PM — By rem llamas
oh! so the purpose of that tube between the upper and lower tube is to add strenght to the frame? pity! poor structuring.check other brands with carbon frame,they dont need extra tubing in the frame just to add strength. in that case ibis should not omit that tube,the frame might fold while lopez is in the air. come on,the purpose of that tube is just to look deefffeeeerrreeennnttt.as you say,nuuf said ,so dont reply.thats a simple order.
Posted Fri Mar28, 2008, 5:06 PM — By bichu du matu
I bouth my mojo because i love that midle tube, if i want a bike like all other bikes, i`ll choose a spec enduro sl, ha ha. go green mojo go.
Posted Sat Mar29, 2008, 11:27 AM — By derby
As a long time fanatic advocate of the most active and efficient performance of the DW-LINK and the IBIS Mojo’s ability to be used for XC and Endurance even some DH races and it’s overall unsurpassed AM ability, I’m really stoked and personally feel validated to see World Champion rider Brian Lopes choose the Ibis Mojo to ride and promote. BL will bring attention to the proven durability and highlight the advanced design, performance and versatile uses of the Mojo. BL must have had much higher money offers from larger brands, he apparently is ready to invest in his long term future success and ride the best in the world.
I think it's frickin cool that Brian Lopes will be riding an IBIS! The frames look sweeettt the way they are. Now if I could just had the green to buy one.hmmm
Posted Sun May25, 2008, 7:54 AM — By Tobias Wild-e-beast
Wot no Mojo SL? I thought the SL was meant to be as strong as the normal Carbon. So perhaps it is as "strong" but not as "tough"? Glad I got me a standard carbon then :-D. Also, I was kind of expecting some longer forks and coil shock for a dude doing DH. He seems to be missing a bike.
Posted Thu Aug14, 2008, 6:20 AM — By Zoran
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