Ibex sent me an Aprisa for review and I am mighty impressed so far!

The packaging is the most involved I've ever seen (and I've had a few bikes shipped to me in my lifetime). Every sensitive surface of the bikes or components are double wrapped it seems. Also, the extras are awesome!! Big manual, touch up paint, wrench, allen set. It has Shimano pedals. Nobody includes pedals these days!!

The build is impressive. Neuvation wheels, full Ultegra, and Ritchey components to finish it off. The only thing that is suspect is the fork. I don't know much about this fork so I'll have to ride it a lot to check it out.

I've ridden it three times. All three have been great rides. The climbing is very impressive. I've taken it on a gradual climb and a 15% climb. In both cases, the bike goes uphill willingly.

On flat straightaways, the bike seems plenty stable. Under power, it holds the line well.

The downhills, I haven't spent that much time with yet. It got me around some steep hills and corners but I haven't pushed it yet. More testing to come on this.

So a full review is coming on this site. But so far so good. I love the Ultegra spec and Neuvation wheels. Awesome performance for the dollar. The frame is a climber yet comfortable as well with the carbon stays.

And of course, the other impressive thing about the Aprisa Elite 6600 is the $1299 price!!!

francois

Some pics:
1) This is the packaging material for the Aprisa. That's a lot of protective wrap!
2) It comes with extras!!!
3) bike
4) bike
5) bike

More pics:
1) carbon seatstays
2) Neuvation rear hub
3) Ritchey post and seat
4) stem and bars
5) Ibex carbon fork

Smooth transition from the carbon seatstays into the aluminum. Do the decals on the fork come off or are they underneath the clearcoat? Too bad they don't have something bigger than a 60cm. The 60cm has a 180mm headtube which is too big a drop for us long legged guys.

Smooth transition from the carbon seatstays into the aluminum. Do the decals on the fork come off or are they underneath the clearcoat? Too bad they don't have something bigger than a 60cm. The 60cm has a 180mm headtube which is too big a drop for us long legged guys.

The headtube on this bike seems a bit short. It has a tall spacer stack and I feel that it's already low enough for me so all those spacers have to stay, unlike my other bikes.

francois

Have you had enough time in the saddle for a review? Thanks.

Ibex is selling this bike for $999 now which is amazing since it has Ultegra. Too bad they did not have a 62cm.

Ibex sent me an Aprisa for review and I am mighty impressed so far!

The packaging is the most involved I've ever seen (and I've had a few bikes shipped to me in my lifetime). Every sensitive surface of the bikes or components are double wrapped it seems. Also, the extras are awesome!! Big manual, touch up paint, wrench, allen set. It has Shimano pedals. Nobody includes pedals these days!!

The build is impressive. Neuvation wheels, full Ultegra, and Ritchey components to finish it off. The only thing that is suspect is the fork. I don't know much about this fork so I'll have to ride it a lot to check it out.

I've ridden it three times. All three have been great rides. The climbing is very impressive. I've taken it on a gradual climb and a 15% climb. In both cases, the bike goes uphill willingly.

On flat straightaways, the bike seems plenty stable. Under power, it holds the line well.

The downhills, I haven't spent that much time with yet. It got me around some steep hills and corners but I haven't pushed it yet. More testing to come on this.

So a full review is coming on this site. But so far so good. I love the Ultegra spec and Neuvation wheels. Awesome performance for the dollar. The frame is a climber yet comfortable as well with the carbon stays.

And of course, the other impressive thing about the Aprisa Elite 6600 is the $1299 price!!!

francois

Some pics:
1) This is the packaging material for the Aprisa. That's a lot of protective wrap!
2) It comes with extras!!!
3) bike
4) bike
5) bike

I love that "kick stand" you used in the photos :D And talk about excessive packaging. It's a wonder they could get a bike in a standard shipping box with all that plastic and styrofoam. How's the bike now that you've had it a couple of months?

Lets see a full review!

Here's a preview review...

I've done about 10 rides on this bike. A bunch of hillclimbs, group drop rides, long rides, and finally a couple big descents. I did not want to comment until I got the descents in, because that's the key to a great bike.

The saddle is hard and it gave me a sore behind every time. I changed that. The tires had good grip but after five rides, they started getting cracks and holes so I put on Vittoria Diamante's. Finally, the paint seems to chip off where there's contact, In the skewer area and downtube. Enough downsides.

Climbing on this bike is amazing. This goes up like a bat out of... The aluminum front triangle and stiff BB seems to transfer power to the ground really well.

Comfort is very good. Carbon front and rear is really noticeable as vibrations are dampened effectively. Big hits are muted. But road feel is still very good.

In pack rides, this bike is very stable. It holds the line very well and doesn't have any wobbles or shimmys. In hard accelerations in and out of saddle the bike is fast and steady.

Finally, on a big descent, (page mill road in palo alto), the bike was very good. The bike was solid and it tracked very well. On long hairpin corners, it held its lean nicely. Minimal correction was necessary. On rough patches, the and changing surfaces, the bike was comfortable as well.

So there. Very good bike. Price point makes it a great bike. My other rides are a Steelman Eurocross and Look 585.

francois

Sounds pretty good.

What size is it and what are your plans for it?

It would be pretty cool if IBEX or someone else sent out a loaner that we here at RBR could pass around for 3 to 6 months at a time and just have each new rider cover shipping. It would be interesting to get reviews from multiple riders.

Here's a preview review...

I've done about 10 rides on this bike. A bunch of hillclimbs, group drop rides, long rides, and finally a couple big descents. I did not want to comment until I got the descents in, because that's the key to a great bike.

The saddle is hard and it gave me a sore behind every time. I changed that. The tires had good grip but after five rides, they started getting cracks and holes so I put on Vittoria Diamante's. Finally, the paint seems to chip off where there's contact, In the skewer area and downtube. Enough downsides.

Climbing on this bike is amazing. This goes up like a bat out of... The aluminum front triangle and stiff BB seems to transfer power to the ground really well.

Comfort is very good. Carbon front and rear is really noticeable as vibrations are dampened effectively. Big hits are muted. But road feel is still very good.

In pack rides, this bike is very stable. It holds the line very well and doesn't have any wobbles or shimmys. In hard accelerations in and out of saddle the bike is fast and steady.

Finally, on a big descent, (page mill road in palo alto), the bike was very good. The bike was solid and it tracked very well. On long hairpin corners, it held its lean nicely. Minimal correction was necessary. On rough patches, the and changing surfaces, the bike was comfortable as well.

So there. Very good bike. Price point makes it a great bike. My other rides are a Steelman Eurocross and Look 585.

francois

I wouldn't worry about a hard saddle- a very personal thing and I've never had a saddle I've loved (though I have found a couple I can live with), but come on, tires need to last more than 5 rides, even 'economy' tires. And paint shouldn't chip off everywhere there's contact unless you really hit it. I've got a Jamis mountain bike that chips like crazy; it's a good bike, but people have been painting bikes for a hundred plus years and you think they'd be able to get it right. I've taken some hits on my Specialized that I thought sure to take off the paint, but other than a couple of scuffs on the clear coat it's held up well. Did they at least throw in some touch up paint? Look, I know there are more important things than paint, but when they cut corners on that you've got to wonder what else they did. (Something no bike I've bought has had, and you'd think would be included with every one.)

I wouldn't worry about a hard saddle- a very personal thing and I've never had a saddle I've loved (though I have found a couple I can live with), but come on, tires need to last more than 5 rides, even 'economy' tires. And paint shouldn't chip off everywhere there's contact unless you really hit it. I've got a Jamis mountain bike that chips like crazy; it's a good bike, but people have been painting bikes for a hundred plus years and you think they'd be able to get it right. I've taken some hits on my Specialized that I thought sure to take off the paint, but other than a couple of scuffs on the clear coat it's held up well. Did they at least throw in some touch up paint? Look, I know there are more important things than paint, but when they cut corners on that you've got to wonder what else they did. (Something no bike I've bought has had, and you'd think would be included with every one.)
- the saddle didn't like me. And I've used a lot of saddles in the last three months testing bikes.

- The tires, just to clarify... 5 long rides in the spring/wet. They seem to have life in them but I have a bunch of other tires and that's why I replaced so quickly.

- The paint chipped near the skewers. Just a bit. On the downtube, just a little. I'll photograph. It's a bit like a Colnago I used to own. There is touch up paint included btw.


Look, I know there are more important things than paint, but when they cut corners on that you've got to wonder what else they did.
Well, there's no need to leave this open-ended. It's a very good bike and I found no other weaknesses to date.

francois