I have a hard time letting go of my personal bikes, but I finally did the unthinkable this past week and parted with my hand me down Gary Fisher Paragon 29er from an old teammate and my beloved Ibis Mojo HD, the first generation with 26″ wheels.
The 29er was an easy goner, but the Mojo HD was difficult. Too many memories and epic rides, a thing of beauty to look at even though its wheel sizes kept on getting outdated every year. I even put on a new 140mm shock last fall thinking perhaps it’ll entice me to ride more. Work got in the way so I never got to ride it. Adios, it’s been a fun ride.
With the Mojo finally out of the house, the search for the next steed begins. Since big air is not my forte, I don’t need a massive amount of travel anymore even though they are so fun to shred around on. A short travel trail bike, or maybe go back to my cross-country roots?
Then Chuck dropped us an email about the impending launch of the new Mojo 4 and I was like damn it, I just moved on from a Mojo, albeit a longer version, but obviously the Mojo is not moving on.
The newest Mojo is called the Mojo 4, the four denoting it as the fourth generation of being the bike that powered Ibis’ epic comeback. Generation one debuted in 2005 and it was one hell of a bike: Lightweight full carbon construction, 140mm of rear travel that climbed amicably, a radically gorgeous frame that made other bikes look boring.
The Mojo 4 is still made out of carbon, uses 27.5 wheels and its rear suspension still runs on a DW-link design similar to the outgoing Mojo 3 with 130mm in the rear (with a new 210×55 shock length) and optimized to a 140mm fork. The suspension’s lower link is new and unique to the Mojo 4. Speaking of optimization, the Mojo 4 utilizes Ibis’ Traction Tune rear shock tune first seen in the HD5 that has since its adapted into the rest of its lineup. The Mojo 4 is also spec’d with a shorter 37mm fork offset.
The biggest differentiation from the Mojo 3 is its new geometry. At 65.4 degrees, the head tube angle on the Mojo 4 has 1.7 degrees of more slack while the seat tube is now 2.3 degrees steeper at 76.7 degrees. Throw in the 425mm chainstay and it’s a rocket ride up and down the mountain. Unlike the Mojo 3, however, is that the Mojo 4 is not compatible with 27.5+ tires.
Updating a carbon frame is a pricey endeavor and it’s obvious Ibis went to great length to make the most out of their new frame molds. Its internal cable tunnels are now molded into the 1x-specifc, Boost 148 frame that accepts a tapered headset and a threaded BB compatible with ISCG 05 via a removable adapter.
Tire clearance has also increased to a healthy 2.6″. The frame with a FOX DPS shock is said to weigh 5.9lbs and will come two color ways (Blue Dream and Dirty White Board) in four sizes to fit riders between 5’0 to 6’6, with room to fit a 22oz water bottle inside its front triangle.
The Mojo 4 comes standard with Ibis’ seven year warranty on the frame, lifetime bushing replacement and is available today at $2,999 frame only with Fox DPS shock, and complete build starting at $4,499 with Shimano New Deore M6100 group. It is worth pointing out that all build kits are spec’d with a Fox Factory Float 34 140 fork and a Factory Float DPS rear shock – definitely a win for those who like to upgrade their parts overtime!
