Ibis Oso 1.1
Wheel Size: 29’’ front / 27.5” rear (Sizes S–M), 29’’ (Sizes L–XL)
Suspension Travel:
- Frame: 170 mm
- Fork: 155 mm
Geometry Highlights:
- Sizes offered: S, M, L, XL
- Headtube angle: 64°
- Reach: 500 mm (size Large)
- Chainstay length: 444 mm (size Large)
Drive System Highlights:
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX (Gen 4)
- Torque: 85 Nm
- Power: 600 W
- Battery: 750 Wh (625 Wh on size Small)
- Display: Bosch System Controller
- Remote: Bosch Mini Remote
Frame Material: Carbon fiber
Price: $5,999 USD
Intro
Oso means ‘bear’ in Spanish, a name that seems to suit the burly intentions of Ibis’ long-travel eMTB. The original Oso was released back in 2022, and Ibis has learned a thing or two after seeing that bike romp in the woods for a couple of years. So while the new Oso 1.1 looks the same as its predecessor, there are a lot of small tweaks under the hood, along with a very compelling new price tag.
Join us in digging into the details of the Oso 1.1, below. We’ve been riding the new bike too, and while we still need a bunch more time for a Full Review, BLISTER+ Members and folks with a Digital Access Pass can check out the Oso 1.1’s Flash Review for our initial thoughts.
The Frame
Ibis used the shaping potential of carbon fiber to indulge in some retrofuturism with first Oso, with the flowing lines of its asymmetric front triangle and large elevated swingarm. Those general design cues continue, but I had a chance to meet with Ibis’ Product Manager on the Oso project to learn more about how rider feedback steered the Oso 1.1’s updates.
First, Ibis took another look at the Oso’s carbon layup. Despite its large diameter tubes, the team at Ibis felt that the bike’s aggressive personality could benefit from increased stiffness. A new layup brings more rigidity throughout the frame, while the rear end remains intentionally less stiff to allow better tracking and grip. Ibis also decided to double the thickness of the downtube and motor guards while also upgrading to a tougher material, granting greater impact protection for the frame and the motor. The frame still carries a lifetime warranty, along with a lifetime bushing warranty for the pivots.
Using the onboard battery to power auxiliary lights makes a lot of sense, but the first Oso’s pre-installed headlight and taillight proved a bit polarizing. Ibis heard the calls for optionality, and while the Oso 1.1 still comes with both Lupine lights, only the Lupine C14 taillight comes installed. The Oso 1.1 is pre-wired for the Lupine SL F Nano 900 lumen headlight, which can be easily mounted up and plugged in for buyers who want it, or left off for buyers who don’t. The 45-lumen C14 taillight can also be removed, but it’s part of the seatpost collar, so you’ll need to source a new one if you decide to remove it. While the 900-lumen headlight is likely not quite bright enough for true night riding, it’s a great option for sunset laps or safety on the commute home from the trails.
There are some other tweaks to mention in the drive system section below, but otherwise, the frame is the same as the original Oso. That means the same compact DW-Link suspension layout delivering 155 mm of travel (which happens to remind me very much of the DW-Link version of the Turner DHR), and a 25% rate of progression in the leverage rate means that coil shocks are compatible too, as long as the reservoir is short enough to clear the frame. I’ll be experimenting with some other options during our test, but I’ve confirmed with Ibis that the Fox DHX2 fits just fine.
Drive System
Folks looking for the latest and greatest Bosch motor may be surprised to see the prior Gen 4 version of their Performance Line CX unit on the Oso 1.1. That prior motor was still arguably the best in class, and its use here is undoubtedly a bit part of the Oso 1.1’s very appealing price point. It still has the same core output statistics as the newer Gen 5 system, with 600 W of peak power and 85 Nm of torque, with the primary differences in the new motor being a lower weight and quieter operation, along with some tweaks to sensitivity.
While using the older motor means that it doesn’t get the newer batteries either, the 750 Wh battery should offer plenty of range for most folks — though smaller riders should note that the size Small gets a 625 Wh battery given space constraints. The battery can be swapped quite quickly too, thanks to a plastic door on the non-drive side of the frame. A twist of an Allen bolt removes the door, and another Allen bolt retains the battery.
The prior Oso has a lot going on in the cockpit area thanks to a wired controller and the large wired Kiox display, but that’s been addressed as well. Bosch’s System Controller unit is now nested into the top tube, and the wireless Mini Remote removes yet another cable.
It’s also worth noting that Ibis now has an in-house Bosch expert that can help both domestic and international customers should any system issues arise down the line.
Fit & Geometry
The geometry matches that of the prior Oso, which is perhaps on the longer end of things for a given nominal size. A size Large has a full 500 mm reach, which Ibis recommends as the suggested size for folks between 5’7’’ and 6’1’’ tall. That is quite a bit longer than average for the size, and a full 40 mm longer than the Medium’s 460 mm reach figure. That lengthy reach is mated to a 64° head tube angle, an also-long 638 mm effective top tube, tall 650 mm stack, and 444 mm chainstays for the 29’’ rear wheel. Shorter 434 mm chainstays are used with the Small and Medium’s 27.5’’ rear wheel. While the Large and XL can run a smaller 27.5’’ rear wheel as well, that change requires buying a whole new rear triangle.
At a glance, the size Large looks like it’s treading in XL territory thanks to the rather significant gaps between sizes. My first impression is that the gaps appear a bit too large, particularly when jumping from Medium to Large, or Large to XL (which has a massive 540 mm reach, 669 mm effective top tube, and 665 mm stack height).
As we’ve said many times over, the fit of a bike doesn’t always come across perfectly in the geometry, so we’ll have to see how the Oso 1.1 feels in practice before we judge the sizing.
Full geometry figures are as follows:
The Build
As with the prior Oso, the Oso 1.1 has just one build on offer — and it’s basically the same as the prior one, just a lot cheaper. $5,999 USD gets you a Fox 38 Performance fork and X2 Performance Elite shock, Shimano XT 4-piston brakes, GX Transmission from SRAM, and Ibis’ house brand Blackbird Send wheels, which are backed with a lifetime warranty and crash replacement policy. It’s a somewhat unconventional collection of parts from brands that don’t often get mixed (SRAM and Shimano), but it’s a very solid build — especially so for that price.
Ibis has nailed some of the finishing details for a burly eMTB, with 220 mm rotors front and rear (hey, it’s a big bike after all), and Maxxis Assegai front and DHR II rear tires, both in Downhill casing with the MaxxGrip compound. Ibis uses their own house brand finishing parts, with a 30 mm rise bar and stem lengths that vary by size — though the 50 mm stem used on the Large and XL sizes feels oddly long for an aggressive eMTB like the Oso 1.1, especially given the reach lengths on those sizes.
Full build details are as follows:
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Transmission
- Brakes: Shimano XT (220 mm rotors)
- Fork: Fox 38 Performance (170 mm)
- Shock: Fox X2 Performance Elite
- Wheels: Blackbird Send I / Send II
- Dropper Post: Bike Yoke Revive (S: 125 mm, M: 160 mm, L: 185 mm, XL: 213 mm
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) How does the Oso 1.1 stack up next to other full-power eMTBs on the more aggressive end of the spectrum?
(2) Do the imposing geometry figures of our typical Large frame feel like a bridge too far, or does the geometry chart not necessarily translate to on-trail performance?
(3) Do Ibis’ claimed improvements to the Oso 1.1’s frame stiffness make a meaningful difference in how it rides?
Bottom Line (For Now)
Ibis found plenty of things to tweak with the Oso 1.1, but it’s still the same in many ways too. Perhaps the biggest change is the price, which positions the Oso 1.1 as a uniquely good value for the parts on offer. Of course, value has to also translate to the ride quality, and we’ve started logging some miles with the Oso 1.1. You can check out our first impressions in our Flash Review, and a Full Review will be coming once we’ve managed to log a lot more time on it.
Flash Review: Our Initial On-Trail Impressions
BLISTER+ members and those who purchase our Digital Access Pass can check out the Flash Review below to read our initial on-trail impressions. Get our Digital Access Pass to view all our Flash Reviews and Deep Dives, or become a BLISTER+ member today to get access to that and a LOT more, including the best worldwide Outdoor Injury Insurance, exclusive deals and discounts on skis, personalized gear recommendations from us, and much more.
Flash Review: Ibis Oso 1.1
Ibis made some meaningful tweaks to the Oso 1.1, and we’ve gotten some initial trail time on Ibis’ burly eMTB. Check out our initial thoughts.
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