Santa Cruz Carbon Nomad vs. Ibis Mojo HD vs. Trek Carbon Remedy
Ah, Interbike Dirt Demo. One can complain all day why it’s not the ideal place to test bikes but it has its merits. Getting unavailable bikes on the same day and trying them all the same trail is certainly one of the perks not available anywhere else on this planet. But this has to be done early on the first day of Dirt Demo when the crowds are light and the most desirable bikes are still available.
Today we lay hands (and feet) on the new breed of All Mountain bikes. They are made of carbon, have highly evolved shocks, are very pretty, and despite being very pricey, are very hard to get.
Ibis Mojo HD
First up is the Mojo HD. This is probably the hardest bike to get of the lot as this small Santa Cruz, CA has no chance of keeping up with demand in the first few months this bike is available. Hans Heim says they are now producing as many bikes as they’re receiving orders for but there’ still that backlog of 700 bikes that is staying constant. This backlog built up as folks started ordering the bike as only rumors of the bike existed.
The Mojo HD is a 6 inch travel frame that only weighs 6 lbs. It is the evolution of the Mojo as it has been stiffened significantly in the rear end to improve strength and lateral stability. Their front end too has a bunch more material to improve stiffness.
So how does it ride? Like all the bikes here, lateral stiffness is an A+ as the carbon is really put to good use to remove flex in the front end and the rear stays. Climbing is very efficient as the bike has a very stable pedaling platform even with the shock fully active. There is a pro pedal switch on the rear shock but there really is no need for it.
Is it plush? Not so much. It’s comfortable for sure but it does feel stiffer than other six inch travel bikes in this article and in the category. As far as handling the jumps, trail bumps and obstacles, this bike is confidence inspiring as it just does the job quietly. There are other shock options for this bike, but we’ll just compare the basic Fox air shock for now. But it should be noted that the DHX Air and Spring shock options should improve the bump compliance of this frame.
As tested, the had a very stable pedaling platform even with the shock fully open. It didn’t bob a whole lot and I could even stand up on it while pedaling. On the flip side, it was a bit stiff on small bumps and slow, rocky climbs. But when I hit some square edged rocks and steps, the suspension seemed to soak them all up. When I jumped and cased a couple landings, the bike felt very stable. It seems like that is the true strength of this bike… climbing fast and descending and jumping very fast. This seems like the ideal Downieville Classic bike.
An interesting option with this frame is the ability to change the rear shock linkage and the rear shock to convert this frame into 140 mm travel instead of 160mm.
I didn’t get to try the Trek’s, but I did try the HD and Nomad Carbon and I concur with your findings, I liked the extra plushness of the Nomad, and I tested one Nomad that had a DHX Air and a TALAS 180 that was pretty sweet.
So which one would you buy based on performance??
nice overview!
Would have been nice to see the scratch air reviewed rather then the remedy as it would be the better comparable.
Another bike that everyone seems to be missing is the Pivot Firebird or Mach 5.7.
>>scratch air reviewed
I think you are right Brodiegrrl. I thought about that but changed my mind at the last moment since it’s not carbon. But I have ridden the scratch air and everything I said about the Remedy applies. The Scratch Air just more Bomber. It is actually my favorite bike in the entire Trek line-up.
Which of the three designs provided the most neutral braking? Great read BTW
According to Trek’s website and dealer info the Remedy is 150mm of travel and the Scratch Air or Coil is 170mm of travel… Same as they were in 2010.
How do you think the Carbon Enduro stacks up against the Mojo HD and the Nomad C?
>>According to Trek’s website and dealer info the Remedy is 150mm of travel and the Scratch Air or Coil is 170mm of travel… Same as they were in 2010.
True. We corrected the article. Thank you Damon.
>>How do you think the Carbon Enduro stacks up against the Mojo HD and the Nomad C?
No clue. We will call Specialized now and get one.
Would either of the Kona Magic Link bikes hold up to these?
Can you comment on sizes for these bikes. I’m considering all of these bikes. I test road a Remedy 18.5 (17.5 actual) and it felt small compared to a Large Mojo HD or SC BlurLT. Thanks.