Ibis releases Mojo HD5 featuring Traction Tune

It has been a busy season for Ibis and they have just added a new member to the lineup with the Mojo HD5. The HD5 builds on what the HD4 started, a 27.5 enduro bike made for tackling the toughest of tracks.

Along with the HD5 comes Traction Tune Suspension. Ibis’ full-suspension models use the dw-link suspension platform. This system delivers efficient pedaling performance through pivot placement instead of shock tune. That climbing efficiency means that unlike many other suspension layouts, Ibis’ bikes don’t require loads of compression damping to control pedal bob. According to Ibis, “Our suspension kinematics do the hard work”.

Because the DW-Link doesn’t need a lot of compression damping, Ibis has pushed their suspension partners to develop lighter compression tunes. These lighter tunes make it easy for the rear wheel to get out of the way, allowing your bike to better absorb a bump. As they went progressively lighter, they found the shocks couldn’t rebound as fast as they could compress.

So the bike could soak up a hit but the shock couldn’t push the wheel down fast enough to track the backside of the bump. When the suspension doesn’t move fast enough to absorb or track a bump, the wheel gets hung up and you lose speed, steering, and braking control.

Using an innovative new data acquisition system developed by Motion Instruments, Ibis were able to quantify what the critical wheel speed in both directions (compression and rebound) should be. Over two years, they’ve recorded over one thousand downhill runs and tested multiple shock tunes from six different manufacturers.

As Ibis tested rear shock suspension tunes, the data proved that they also needed to custom tune their forks. They needed to increase the rebound speeds of the fork to match the performance of the rear wheel. By balancing the front and rear suspension so that the front and rear wheels do the same thing over a bump, they keep the bike chassis flat relative to the ground. This keeps the bike geometry consistent and gives you more predictable handling.

The result of all this testing is something Ibis calls Traction Tune. Ibis is claiming this new tuning philosophy delivers traction and control, unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Instead of bucking through rough sections, their custom fork and shock tune allow the wheels to flutter through terrain like a trophy truck storming through a set of whoops. You’ll also find it easier to lift the front over obstacles, sit back into a manual, and bunny hop. It makes any conditions feel like hero dirt and with all that extra speed, you’ll find yourself having to relearn your braking points on all your favorite trails.

Be sure to check out all the models and prices on https://www.ibiscycles.com/