Evil FollowingvsIbis Ripley

The Ibis Ripley V5 marks a massive departure from its predecessor, officially graduating from 'downcountry' to a full-blown trail platform. By sharing the same front and rear triangles as the longer-travel Ripmo, the Ibis has traded some of its legendary climbing zip for a beefier 130/140mm travel profile and a 64.9-degree head angle. It is now a more muscular, practical bike, featuring the 'STOW' internal storage system and a flip chip for mixed-wheel setups. It is the choice for the rider who wants a 'one-bike' solution that doesn't mind a few extra pounds in exchange for reliability and utility. Evil’s Following V3 remains a specialized firecracker that prioritizes frame stiffness and a uniquely aggressive leverage curve. While the Ibis is more stable on paper, the Following relies on its Dave Weagle-designed DELTA suspension to create a 'magic carpet' feel that many reviewers claim feels deeper than its 120mm suggests. Evil has resisted the urge to go ultra-slack, keeping the head angle at 66.6 degrees to maintain a level of laser-like precision that makes the Ibis feel almost lethargic in tight, technical sections. It’s a polarizing design that values the 'fun factor' of jumping and jibbing over the raw speed of plowing through rock gardens. Price and build philosophy also diverge here. The Ripley V5 is a premium utility tool, offering high-end XTR and Transmission builds that include clever Cotopaxi storage bags. Evil’s Following V3 is more of a boutique 'punk rock' build, often paired with obnoxiously loud Industry Nine Hydra hubs and a laterally stiff frame that responds to every muscle twitch. The Following is about the tactile connection to the trail; the Ripley is about the confidence to ride any trail without a pack.

The Following’s DELTA suspension is effectively a linkage-driven single pivot on steroids, providing a supple initial stroke that transitions into a massive ramp-up. Reviewers often find themselves blowing the O-ring off the shock without ever feeling a harsh bottom-out. It’s a poppy, reactive ride that encourages you to turn every root into a double. On the climbs, the Evil is a traction monster, finding grip on loose scrambles where other bikes skip and spin. However, when the trail gets truly fast and chunky, the 66.6-degree head angle can make the front end feel a bit twitchy, requiring a focused hand to keep things on line. In contrast, the Ripley V5 feels remarkably composed and damp. The slacker 64.9-degree head angle and longer 1211mm wheelbase (on the MD) provide a level of stability that the Evil struggles to match when the speedometer climbs. Where the Evil wants to dance around obstacles, the Ibis is happy to stay planted and track through the chunder. The DW-Link suspension on the Ripley offers a firmer pedaling platform that makes it a 'bat out of hell' on smooth climbs, but it can feel slightly less forgiving on square-edge hits than the Evil’s more active rear end. Cornering performance reveals the biggest personality split. The Following is widely considered one of the best cornering bikes in the world, with short 430mm chainstays that allow you to put the rear wheel exactly where you want it. It shoots you out of berms with an urgency that the longer Ibis lacks. The Ripley V5 is more of a 'carver' than a 'slasher'—it’s stable and predictable through high-speed sweeps but requires more effort to whip through tight switchbacks. The Evil rewards precision; the Ibis offers a much larger margin for error.