Ibis HD6 XT review | Enduro Bike of the Year contender

Ibis launched the HD6 in 2023, following a long development process with the brand's enduro race team.

Using learnings from its popular HD and Ripmo range of bikes, the 165mm rear-wheel travel HD6 was designed to tick just about every enduro-related box possible.

It’s a dedicated mixed wheel-size bike, though, which won’t please everyone.

With plenty of travel on tap and a seriously low weight for an enduro big rig, the HD6 certainly looks impressive on paper.

Get the tyres onto the dirt and it doesn’t disappoint, with a nimble, engaging ride from the get-go. It’s capable when it needs to be but can make the dullest trails a blast to ride – something not all enduro bikes are able to do.

Because it’s carbon only, pricing is on the higher side, and in terms of all-out stability when the going gets really wild, there are bikes that feel more surefooted.

Ibis HD6 XT frame and suspension details

Ibis only offers the HD6 in carbon fibre and with a mixed wheel-size setup. That’s right, there’s no option to add a 29in rear wheel should you wish and no geometry adjustment anywhere to be seen.

This may have already put some people off, but bear with me here because I don’t think it should.

That’s largely down to how energetic, lively and fun this bike is to ride, just about everywhere, thanks in part to the impressive DW-Link suspension system.

This revised design uses two short links to connect the front and rear triangles, with an additional link to actuate the shock.

Ibis says, thanks to this, it is able to build enough progression into the system to ensure the HD6 can work with a coil-sprung shock as well as the air shock that comes as standard.

It says another benefit is the system is very efficient and doesn’t need a heavily damped shock to compensate, enabling it to spec the Traction Tune, which is said to be lighter than that of a standard Fox shock.

The 165mm of rear-wheel travel is paired to a 180mm-travel fork up front.

To help save riders money and time on maintenance, the lower link uses IGUS bushings, which are claimed to be both stiffer and lighter than bearings, and require next to no maintenance.

Inside the carbon frame, you’ll find carbon tubes moulded in place to make threading cables internally that bit easier.

Ibis HD6 XT geometry details

Ibis offers the HD6 in five sizes (1-5).

All bikes feature the same relatively short 435mm chainstays, though seat tube angles steepen as the frame size increases to help shift weight further forward and away from the rear axle.

I measured the seat tube angle of the size 2 frame I had on test to be 76.4 degrees, while it’s claimed to be 77.5 degrees on the size 5 frame.

The chainstay length might not be an issue if, like me, you’re riding a size 2 frame, which boasts a reach of 454mm. But anyone wanting to jump on a size 5, which has a massive reach of 541mm, may find that front-to-rear imbalance a little much, especially on the climbs.

Head tubes are on the shorter side, though stack heights remain close to, if only a little shorter than, other enduro bikes I’ve tested for Bike of the Year.

It certainly wasn’t an issue for me riding the size 2 frame. Again, it might be taller riders that notice the effect more.

There’s a generous 800mm front-centre on the size 2, thanks in part to the 63.4-degree head angle.

With no geometry adjustments to fiddle around with, the HD6 just requires you to set the suspension up and ride.

Ibis HD6 XT specification

The HD6 seen here sits bang in the middle of the five build options.

Ibis added its own carbon wheels on Industry Nine Hydra hubs without being requested, which bumps the price up by $1,400.

These are wrapped in one of my favourite rubber combos, the Maxxis Assegai front and Maxxis Minion DHR II rear tyres.

Ibis even specs a DoubleDown casing at the rear for extra piece of mind. Up front, the EXO+ casing is used, which feels like the perfect compromise.

Highlights on this build include the Fox 38 Factory fork with 180mm of travel, paired to the Fox Float X Factory rear shock.

As you may have guessed from the name, a Shimano XT transmission takes care of the gear shifts, while four-piston XT brakes are on stopping duties.

An Industry Nine stem clamps an Ibis carbon bar, which feels as if it has an unusually large amount of backsweep.

A BikeYoke Revive dropper offers up 160mm of travel.

All in, the size 2 Ibis HD6 weighed a scant 14.89kg on the scales without pedals.

Ibis HD6 XT ride impressions

In a bid to get the best possible feel of the HD6, I took in a wide variety of steep, natural singletrack, flowing jump lines and high-speed, rough-and-ready bike park tracks, with a smattering of everything in between.

Ibis HD6 XT setup

Setting up the rear end of the Ibis was quick and simple, with 157psi equating to 30 per cent sag for my 68kg weight. I wound off all the damping adjusters to provide the feel I was after.

Due to the different travel figures front to rear, after a few days aboard the HD6, things didn’t feel as well balanced as I’d have liked.

Removing the fork spacer from the Fox 38 fork and inflating it to 70psi with all adjusters left fully open helped.

This got me to a point where I felt better balanced on the bike, especially through fast flat turns, where I could more easily weight the front wheel.

I also needed to fiddle around with the Ibis handlebar to try to get the roll just right, which took a run or two to perfect.

Ibis HD6 XT climbing performance

The HD6 has more get-up-and-go than most enduro machines with this amount of travel.

When seated, under power, the rear end of the bike feels calm and efficient, ensuring watts aren’t being wasted through unnecessary suspension bob.

That seated position isn’t as upright as some though, partly down to the 76.4-degree seat tube angle, along with the more stretched-out effective top tube length of 610mm.

However, I found this worked well enough for me, even on long winding ascents. It’s a comfortable place to be, and thanks to the low weight and sheer amount of pep on offer, the HD6 scrambles keenly up just about anything.

The supple rear end, although stable when you're sat down and putting power through the cranks, will continue to flutter in and out of its travel, working away to keep the rear tyre gripping on slippery inclines.

On wet, muddy days, the Shimano XT gearing continued to shift accurately, but felt and sounded rough rather quickly, especially compared to SRAM-equipped bikes.

Ibis HD6 XT descending performance

The light, peppy nature of the HD6 doesn’t just help propel it uphill with relative ease, but makes it a ridiculously fun bike to ride downhill, too.

On tracks or trails that lack the pace or obstacles that’ll really put the suspension to the test, the HD6 delivers an agile, lively ride. It enables you to play around on the trail to your heart's content.

The short back end, supportive suspension and small rear wheel help to make lofting the front wheel up and over undulations easy.

A light tug on the bar and rearward weight shift is all it takes to pop the HD6 into a manual or skip it from one bump to the next without getting a hernia in the process.

This isn’t always common on bikes with this much travel.

Drop into something tighter and technical and the HD6 excels. Yes, it’s lively and playful, but once you get the suspension balance right, both the fork and shock offer impressively supple initial-stroke sensitivity, helping to keep tyres glued to the dirt.

Tackling trails that require calculated, precise manoeuvres and careful line choices to maximise speed are what the HD6 seemingly lives for.

When turns tighten and speed slows, the rapid pick-up from the rear hub and efficient feel through the suspension ensure you can inject speed at a moment's notice as you exit the corner.

The wonderful thing about Tigger

Head to the bike park and the HD6 doles out a smooth, quiet ride as you smash through chunky rock sections.

Fast flow lines are dispatched with maximum fun factor as you pop, leap and bounce around the trail in a controlled, but lively manner.

This bike encourages a Tigger-like approach to riding, enabling you to turn every trail feature into something new to play on as you launch off or skim past it.

That’s not to say things aren’t controlled or comfortable when your tyres are on the dirt, though. There’s loads of control through the rear suspension, enabling you to load the bike up through loose, rough, high-speed bowled-out turns, where it does an admirable job of smoothing out some seriously nasty hits.

At pace, though, the HD6 doesn’t feel quite as steadfast as some bikes and can, at times, require a little more rider input to ensure things remain calm and on-line.

This is only really noticeable during back-to-back runs on fast, rough sections of trail, where heavier bikes seem to fidget around a little less and remain more surefooted.

However, these instances are few and far between because the HD6 delivers in just about every situation.

How does the Ibis HD6 XT compare to the Marin Alpine Trail XR AXS?

The Marin Alpine Trail XR AXS is another big-hitting enduro rig that uses mixed wheels as standard.

The Marin’s more budget-friendly parts package and alloy frame help save cash compared to the Ibis, but as a result, the HD6 is more than 2kg lighter on the scales.

Ride characteristics are very different on the trail. While the HD6 feels sprightly and easy to chuck about, the Alpine Trail XR requires more muscle to pick it up and plant on a different line, especially on slower tracks with shallower gradients.

On fast, steep trails, the Marin’s surefooted stability and planted ride feel make it a more confident descender than the Ibis.

Both are comfortable at speed, but the Marin holds a line with greater ease and won’t get its feathers ruffled as easily.

In terms of choosing between the two, it’s largely down to how you ride and what types of trails you enjoy most.

If you’re likely to ride a massive variety of terrain with everything from long trail-centre loops through to full-on downhills, the HD6 is a safe bet and will provide the smiles no matter where it’s ridden.

But if you’re more focused on smashing laps on the local downhill and love a trip to the mountains for some lift-assisted riding, the Alpine Trail XR is likely a better choice.

Ibis HD6 XT bottom line

The Ibis HD6 is a seriously exciting bike to ride. The impressive suspension feel and low overall weight help to create a lively ride that’s fun just about everywhere.

It’s still incredibly capable when pointed down a full-on downhill track, but won’t shine as brightly as some more DH-focused enduro bikes when things get really extreme.

Those instances are few and far between, though, because this is a great all-rounder that’s a pleasure to ride.