Jibb [dʒɪb] verb: having fun while mountain biking. The clue’s in the name: with the playful Jibb XTR, the German boutique brand wants to stand out from the crowd of increasingly capable bikes developed uncompromisingly for speed. However, not everyone will have fun with it on the trail.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best mountainbike of 2021 – 22 models in review

RAAW Jibb XTR Build | 150 (+10)/135 mm (f/r)
14.8 kg (size L) | € 7,540 | Manufacturer-website

The Jibb is the second creation of Bavarian boutique brand RAAW. The little brother of the brand’s rowdy enduro rig, the Madonna, has lots in common with its sibling. The striking clear coated raw alloy frame shares many technical and visual features with the Madonna and offers 135 mm travel at the rear. Particularly noticeable are the large pivot bearings with hub-cap-style bearing covers, the massive rocker that drives the shock on the Horst-link suspension and the external cable routing. Unlike many bikes with internal cable routing, the Jibb is completely silent on the trail. That being said, the external routing isn’t the tidiest solution, especially around the bottom bracket and on the seat tube. The soft ribbed chainstay protector also helps keep things quiet downhill. While the Jibb was designed primarily for uncompromised trail fun, with its 29″ wheels and 150 mm travel it should also be able to handle rougher descents. A bottle cage and tool mount on the top tube allow trail minimalists to embark on long rides without having to carry a hip pack or backpack.

The spec of the RAAW Jibb XTR Build is almost perfect

Like the Ibis Ripmo V2, the spec of the RAAW Jibb XTR Build isn’t set in stone. On RAAW’s website, you can customise key components such as the dropper post and stem to suit your preferences and riding style. For an extra charge, the stock FOX DPX2 shock can be upgraded to an X2 air shock or DHX2 Factory coil. With the € 250 coil upgrade, our test bike costs € 7,540. The suspension is rounded off by a 150 mm FOX 36 Factory fork with a GRIP2 damper. As the model name suggests, a Shimano XTR 12-speed drivetrain takes care of the shifting, ensuring smooth and precise operation even under load. Shimano XTR four-piston brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear do stopping duties. In this regard, the guys at RAAW are miles ahead of the competition, favouring reliable braking performance and good heat management over lightweight components – even on a bike with less travel. Awesome! Not as great is the wheel/tire combination, which combines a high-quality NEWMEN ADVANCED SL.A30 carbon wheelset and MAXXIS tires with the thin EXO casing. The HighRoller II at the front and Dissector tire at the rear don’t live up to the rowdy potential of the Jibb, offering inadequate puncture protection and thus forcing you to ride with high air pressures to prevent pinch flats and rim damage. We recommend upgrading the tires to a more robust model in the tough DoubleDown casing, ideally for both the front and rear.

Riding position trumps low weight. While its robust components mean the Jibb isn’t the lightest bike in this test, the efficient pedalling position and suspension make it an excellent climber. We love the RAAW approach!

The sound of silence
The super-soft ribbed chainstay protector keeps chain slap in check. Although the external cable routing can’t keep up with the stylish internal systems, it helps keep the noise down.
Backpack? No, thanks!
A backpack is the last thing you want to carry around while having fun on the trail. The guys at RAAW know this perfectly well and furnish the Jibb with a tool mount on the top tube.
Hard to reach
The shock mount relies on big ball bearings instead of small bushings. Sitting right at the bottom of the shock, the high-speed rebound adjuster of the FOX DHX2 shock is hard to reach.

RAAW Jibb XTR Build

€ 7,540

Specifications

Fork FOX 36 Factory 150 (+10) mm
Rear Shock FOX DHX2 Factory 135 mm
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory 175 mm
Brakes Shimano XTR M9120 200/200 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XTR 1x12
Stem Acros MTB stealth 50 mm
Handlebar Acros MTB-Carbon 780 mm
Wheelset NEWMEN Advanced SL A.30 29"
Tires MAXXIS HighRoller EXO 3C MaxxTerra/DISSECTOR EXO Dual 2.5/2.4

Technical Data

Size S M L XL
Weight 14.8 kg


Life at the limit
RAAW combine a NEWMEN ADVANCED SL.A30 carbon wheelset with MAXXIS tires with the thin EXO casing. If you treat the Jibb the way it wants to be treated, the carbon rims won’t last long.
Exemplary
“Reliability over lightweight.” is RAAW’s motto. The Shimano XTR brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear won’t let you down!
Grows with the size
The chainstay length scales with the frame size and grows from 440 mm in size S to 445 mm in sizes M and L, all the way to 450 mm in the biggest XL size. On top of that, you can adjust the chainstay length to suit your riding style and preferences.

The geometry of the RAAW Jibb

With four sizes available, there should be a suitable Jibb for anyone between 1.58 m and 1.99 m tall. According to RAAW, the pedalling position and suspension play a decisive role in the climbing performance of a bike, while weight only plays a subordinate role. With its super steep 77.5° seat angle, our 14.8 kg test bike in size L positions its rider very centrally and almost directly above the bottom bracket. On flat terrain, this position puts too much pressure on your hands, making the Jibb rather uncomfortable for long rides. Instead of cruising around the lake in a leisurely fashion, the Jibb prefers to get to the trailhead as quickly and directly as possible, proving to be a real climbing artist on steep trail sections. While other bikes like the Specialized Stumpjumper EVO position their rider further back over the rear wheel and tend to sink into their travel on steep ramps, the Jibb feels comfortable and efficient uphill. Although it struggles to keep up with the super-fast Propain Hugene on flat and moderate uphills, the Jibb convinces with super-easy handling on steep technical climbs.

Size S M L XL
Seat tube 395 mm 420 mm 445 mm 470 mm
Top tube 561 mm 589 mm 619 mm 648 mm
Head tube 100 mm 115 mm 130 mm 145 mm
Head angle 65.5° 65.5° 65.5° 65.5°
Seat angle 77.5° 77.5° 77.5° 77.5°
Chainstays 440 mm 440 mm 445 mm 450 mm
BB Drop 35 mm 35 mm 35 mm 35 mm
Wheelbase 1,177 mm 1,203 mm 1,240 mm 1,276 mm
Reach 420 mm 445 mm 470 mm 495 mm
Stack 608 mm 622 mm 636 mm 649 mm
Helmet Giro Tyrant | Shirt Vans Checker Longsleeve | Pants Fox Flexair
Kneepads AMPLIFI MKX | Shoes Five Ten Kestrel Lace | Socks Stance

For pros only – The RAAW Jibb on the trail

Who’s taking who for a walk? The terrier emblem suits the RAAW Jibb perfectly. Much like an energetic pup pulling a little schoolboy around the park on a leash, the JIBB requires a skilled owner, erm… rider, to behave on the trail. Despite the long chainstays (445 mm in size L), you’ll have to ride actively and shift your weight forward to keep the front wheel under control. Beginners will be better off with a more docile bike, like the Nukeproof Reactor, which is more intuitive and easier to control. But if you like to hammer through a berm at Mach 10 with your nipples rubbing the stem, the lively Jibb might be your new best friend, allowing you to play with the terrain and pull off the funkiest tricks and wildest manoeuvers. Contrary to what the beefy look, burly spec and geometry suggest, the Jibb is more agile than it is smooth.

Downhill, the RAAW Jibb is demanding but rewards an active riding style with lively handling and great fun. However, if you’re not focused, it will try to buck you off.

Tuning-tips:tires with a more robust casing, especially at the rear (e.g. MAXXIS Doubledown) | before buying, calculate your exact spring rate (can be selected in the configurator)

While 135 mm travel may sound a little conservative, the rear end of the Jibb harmonizes well with the coil shock. Like the Nukeproof, the rear suspension is plush, generates tons of traction and still offers plenty of reserves without bottoming out in response to big hits. On top of that, it provides lots of support, making it easy to pull the Jibb into the air and turning every obstacle into a ramp to take off from. In direct comparison, the Santa Cruz 5010 is just as keen to take off but makes it easier for beginners to attempt their first jumps.

Riding Characteristics

12

Uphill

1
  1. sluggish
  2. efficient

Agility

2
  1. cumbersome
  2. playful

Stability

3
  1. nervous
  2. confident

Handling

4
  1. demanding
  2. balanced

Suspension

5
  1. harsh
  2. plush

Fun Factor

6
  1. planted
  2. poppy

Value for money

7
  1. terrible
  2. very good

Intended Use

XC

8

Trail

9

Enduro

10

Downhill

11

Conclusion

The RAAW Jibb is more a specialist than it is an all-rounder. Instead of going for long rides, it prefers to get to the top of the mountain in a straight line, preferably on steep trails, only to surf its way back down into the valley with as much style and fun as possible. While the handling can be demanding for beginners, it allows experienced riders to convert the smallest obstacle into air time. The typical RAAW alloy frame was developed for maximum durability and the spec is well thought out, except for the tires.

Tops

  • skilled riders benefit from the agile handling
  • technical climbs
  • totally silent

Flops

  • very demanding downhill
  • not very comfortable on long rides

Find more information here: raawmtb.com

The testfield

Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best mountainbike of 2021 – 22 models in review

All Bikes in this group test: Canyon Neuron CF SLX 9 (Click for review) | Canyon Spectral 29 LTD (Click for review) | Canyon Stoic 4 (Click for review) | FOCUS THRON 6.9 (Click for review) | Ibis Ripmo V2 (Click for review) | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K (Click for review) | MERIDA NINETY-SIX 8000 (Click for review) | Nukeproof Reactor 290C (Click for review) | Orbea Rise M-Team (Click for review) | Propain Hugene (Click for review) | RAAW Jibb XTR Build | Rocky Mountain Instinct C70 (Click for review) | Santa Cruz 5010 X01 (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Tallboy CC X01 (Click for review) | SCOTT Ransom 900 Tuned AXS (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper EVO (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL (Click for review) | Trek Fuel EX 9.8 GX (Click for review) | Trek Top Fuel 9.9 X01 (Click for review) | Yeti SB115 TURQ3 (Click for review) | YT IZZO BLAZE 29 (Click for review)


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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl