Ibis

Mojo HD4 Carbon XT 1x Mountain Bike

If you've never witnessed a professional enduro race, it's hard to conceptualize how fast the top riders hurtle themselves downhill where one spill equals disaster. Then of course, riders have to pedal back up to complete another stage without the convenience of a lift or shuttle, meaning their bikes have to be well-rounded enough for brutal climbs up thousands of vertical feet. Driven by this style of professional enduro racing, the Ibis Mojo HD4 Carbon XT 1x Complete Mountain Bike features a longer, slacker geometry that inspires confidence when you're pushing things to the absolute limit on wicked descents with technical rocks and large drops—all without forgoing its ability to propel itself back uphill. This longer, slacker geometry marks a large departure from the previous Mojo HD3, which focused on agility and playfulness over all-out speed.

The Mojo HD4 has a much longer reach that's approximately one size larger for medium through extra-large frames (small frames get a longer reach that's not as drastic to preserve fit for smaller riders). By growing considerably longer in reach, aggressive riders no longer find the need to size up like with the Mojo HD3. These longer figures translate to the wheelbase as well, which has gotten much longer (as much as two inches for large frame) for higher levels of composure and less squireliness when you're riding downhill at higher velocities.

Not only is the Mojo HD4 much longer than the previous version, but it's also much slacker for greater stability when you're plunging into formidable downhill sections. Ibis played around with different head tube angles until they settled on 64.9-degrees, which they claim offers greater downhill stability and higher lean angles before it loses traction. The second part is especially important on trails and courses with tricky off-camber sections, as the slacker head tube keeps the bike planted to the trail without feeling like it's going to plunge down the fall line.

Looking to the Mojo HD4's suspension, it's no surprise that Ibis retained the praised kinematics of the DW-Link platform, carrying its ability to pedal efficiently with anti-squat characteristics paired with a linear feel throughout its travel for a smooth, planted ride. Benefiting from continuous design advances, the Mojo HD4's upper and lower links are 30 and 40 percent stiffer, making it all the more competent over rough stretches of trail. Travel increases by the tiniest bit, from the previous 150 to 153 millimeters. However, what's more important is the progressive shock tune of the Fox Float DPX2 shock, which ramps up considerably at the end stroke to prevent it from bottoming out on bigger hits and gnarlier rock gardens.

We'd be remiss to forget the meticulously engineered carbon frame of the Mojo HD4, which benefits from a one-piece carbon lay-up process for a lighter and stronger overall frame with exceptional stiffness. Each frame is optimized for longer dropper posts, so you can get the most of the HD4's aggressive geometry and predilection for speed. In fact, you'll find the small frame readily accepts 150-millimeter droppers, while medium through extra-large frames easily fit 170-millimeter dropper posts. As you'd expect from a bike of this caliber, both internal cable and dropper routing cleans up its aesthetic.

For this build, you'll find a reliable, crisp-shifting XT 1x drivetrain with a large range of usable gears, thanks to its 11- to 46-tooth cassette offering plentiful low-end for spinning up the steepest climbs without getting tired. Ibis supplies their 738 Wide Aluminum Asymmetric wheels, which feature a 34-millimeter internal width. These stout wheels provide ample support for running 2.6-inch Maxxis DHF WT tires at lower pressures, thereby giving you benefits in the areas of traction and bump compliance. Another exceptional feature, the Fox Float 36 RC2 fork is one of the stiffest forks in its class, lending unbelievable control without it being overwhelmed at the limit.