Call me crazy or sick but after selling the Santa Cruz 5010 I picked up this frame and started scavenging parts from the parts bin and from the 429!
This is another DW Link bike and from initial rides it’s got a stiffer rear end than the 429.
Looks brand new, original owner put 40 miles on it before having a warranty replacement for a crack developing in the head tube.
The bike climbs very well and it feels smaller than the Pivot Mach 429. Coming from the Santa Cruz 5010 (27.5″) and the Pivot Mach 429 (29″) , this Ripley LS feels like an in between’er. If there were such a thing as a 28″ it would feel like the Ripley. The bike carves up the turns really well, closer to a 27.5 but it also rolls and climbs like the 29’er.
I think that is due to the shorter top tube or lower bottom bracket (it’s really low around 12.5″ or so). My first ride out I was smashing pedals on everything. Even going around turns I normally pedal right thru, my pedals were digging up dirt! I found out I had to jack up the PSI in the rear shock some. That solved the pedal issue but it doesn’t ride as softly as before. I will need to look into this, I might have gone too far. So far that is my only negative! The Pivot felt ‘smoother’ on the trail, it soaked up more of the small bumps.
The geometry is very close to the 429 but the reach feels shorter. It does feel like it climbs a little better but that could be just me with a new shiny toy!
With 130mm fork (537mm axle to crown)
| Nominal Size | Medium | Medium (LS) | Large | Large (LS) | X-Large (LS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattube | 419 (16.5″) | 419 (16.5″) | 470 (18.5″) | 470 (18.5″) | 521 (20.5″) |
| Toptube | 587 (23.1″) | 600 (23.6″) | 607 (23.9″) | 619 (24.4″) | 640 (25.2″) |
| Headtube | 94 | 93 | 100 | 102 | 107 |
| Chainstay | 444 (17.5″) | 444 (17.5″) | 444 (17.5″) | 444 (17.5″) | 444 (17.5″) |
| Seat Angle | 72.2° | 73° | 72.2° | 73° | 73° |
| Head Angle | 69.2° | 67.5° | 69.2° | 67.5° | 67.5° |
| Wheelbase | 1105 | 1140 | 1125 | 1167 | 1187 |
| Standover Height (mid toptube) | 745 (29.3″) | 740 (29.1″) | 745 (29.3″) | 740 (29.1″) | 750 (29.5″) |
| Stack | 620 | 619 | 625 | 625 | 632 |
| Reach | 390 | 411 | 406 | 428 | 448 |
| Trail | 85 | 97 | 85 | 97 | 97 |
| BB Height (2.6″ tires) | 331 (13″) | 325 (12.8″) | 331 (13″) | 325 (12.8″) | 325 (12.8″) |
| Sizing Guide (rider height) | 163–175 (5’4″–5′ 9″) | 163–175 (5’4″–5′ 9″) | 175–188 (5’9″–6’2″) | 175–188 (5’9″–6’2″) | 183–198 (6’–6’6″) |
Measurements
- Seat Post Diameter 31.6mm
- Front Derailleur High Direct Mount
- Headset Mixed Tapered (1.5″ EC49 lower, 1.125″ ZS44 upper)
- Bottom Bracket 73mm (BSA) English Thread
- Chainline 51mm
- Rear Brake Post Mount
- Rear Axle 12 x 148mmm BOOST
- Max Rear Rotor 180mm
So far this is my favorite bike between the Pivot Mach 429 and Santa Cruz 5010! It isn’t as hoppy as the 5010 but very close! It still does make it fun to pop off or over things like the 5010 and still climbs as well or maybe a bit better than the 429?
We will see after I get more miles on the bike, but the only issue I had was the pedal striking but that seems to have been resolved.
Custom Build Specs
|
Frame |
2017 Ripley LS Tang (orange) |
|
Fork |
Fox 34 Float 51mm Boost spacing (15×110) 130mm 2018 |
|
Rotors |
160mm/180mm SRAM Centerline with Jag pads |
|
Cranks |
XT boost 170mm |
|
Chainring |
XT Chainring 30T |
|
Pedals |
Raceface Chester |
|
Brakes |
SRAM Guide RSC 2017 |
|
Chain |
SRAM1130 |
|
Shifter |
XT 11 speed or XTR |
|
Derailleur |
XT 11 speed or XTR |
|
Seatpost |
X-fusion Manic 125mm |
|
Remote |
Crank Bros |
|
Stem |
Funn Stryge 75mm, 35.0mm, 1 1/8″ |
|
Bar |
Easton Haven 35 Riser Bar 40* 750mm |
|
Headset |
Cane Creek Angleset |
|
BB |
XT BB 73mm english (BSA) |
|
Saddle |
WTB Titanium Silverado |
|
Cassette |
SRAM XG1180 X1 |
|
Wheels |
EIE Carbon 24 i.d./30 o.d. 28 hole DT Swiss Competition |
|
Hubs |
DT Swiss 350 (F)15*110mm (R)12*148mm |
|
Tires |
Highroller II 2.3 Rear — Minion DHF 2.3 Front |
|
Grips |
Ergon GS3 |