Mountain Biking - Ibex?

Not that im looking for a new bike but I saw a ton of these on Ebay and got currious. I have never heard of them before and just assumed that they were kmart bikes. They seem to have a good price for their spec list, and they have gotten good reviews on MTBR. So whats the story with these things?

Ive been to their site a few times. An fs frame for only $250? Something aint right here.

http://www.ibexbikes.com/images/03photos/03-IgnitionFrame1-YL_640.jpg



This one is $599:

http://www.ibexbikes.com/images/03photos/03-ApogeeFrame1-BL_720.jpg

yea, their low cost FS bikes are what made me at first think they were just another kmart company. But some of their hard tails look good, and even some of their higher priced FS bikes look good. I still dont know that I would want to buy a bike that wasnt a specialized or a giant but it got me currious.

They're out of GA I believe. Their R&D department is probably some guys on a Computer copying well proven designs. Their bikes do come spec'd very well, and I actually got to "touch/feel/look" at one in person. Decent bike!

As far as the two frames shown above, I'd stick with the 4-bar over the single pivot, but that's just me!

L8R

I was told in my lbs that if u buy a cheap fs bike in a matter of months it will shake itself apart... how far up the line does this rule allpy roughly?

The biggest problem with cheap FS bikes is their weight. Cheap ones, like those found at your X-Mart stores, can weigh over 40 lbs.

I've seen and have tried to repair my share of cheap X-Mart bikes, and it's true, they do fall apart. No matter what you try to do to fix them, they just don't hold up. There is a place for these bikes, it's called the Trash Can.

I wouldn't buy a full suspension bike that has an MSRP for under a grand, however, the Ibex Apogee is a decent bike for the money! If it were me, I'd buy the Apogee LX for $1100 and have a damn fine bike! Actually, I'd go all the way and spend the $1,450 and get a Duke Fork and Hydraulic discs with an XT Drivetrain.

For those prices, you're basically buying the components and the fork and getting the frame for free!

L8R

Have an Ignition-1 from IBEX and would highly recommend it as an entry level mountain bike. IBEX have nothing to do with department store bikes, they are high quality, professionaly assembled bikes. Mine came-in with perfectly tuned gears and am only doing my first tune-up after four months of good use. Bent a crank ring, and had to true the front weehl, but hey, if only these ledges looked before crossing the trails |o|, other than that no problems reported. I'll buy another IBEX anytime.:beer:

Why not.......they have a lifetime warranty. They are all single pivot crappy things though.

Originally posted by a2psyklnut


As far as the two frames shown above, I'd stick with the 4-bar over the single pivot, but that's just me!

L8R Look again A2 that one on the bottom only LOOKS like a 4 bar there isn't a pivot at the wheel

tricky...

I've had an Ibex Ignition 2 for the past 6 months and its a great bike for under $500. Yeah, its a single pivot design and weighs about 35 lbs, but its a very strong frame and the components are decent. I ride alot and no problems so far. I keep it clean, tuned up and lubed and plan on riding it for a long time. Compared to othet low end full suspension bikes, like Giant Warp, its a great deal. The '03 Ignition 2 has been sold out for some time, but the '04 is going to be released soon and they have upgraded the fork from a Judy TT to a Marzocchi MX model. I put an EXR on mine and its great. I sold the Judy on ebay.

Hey Raiyn, actually there is, it's on the seat stay not the chain stay, so it's a 4-bar, just not a Horst Link 4-bar. So, it'll work similar to the Horst (ala Specialized Design) but will jack up the rear end under hard braking whereas te the Horst will remain fully active.

A lot of company utilize the non-Horst 4-bar and it's a good design even with the brake jacking trait. I still prefer a licensed Horst design.

L8R