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Niner Bikes came on the scene a few years ago building nothing but 29-inch wheel mountain bikes. If you haven’t seen the latest crop of 29er bikes, then you must have been hiding under a rock over the past couple of seasons. What was once only a “fad” adopted by fringe mountain bikers and single-speeds is now becoming mainstream and even adopted by most major manufacturers.
But, some dedicated 29er companies, like Niner Bikes, are flourishing and there’s no wonder why. Niner Bikes are built with passion and experience. The founders have tons of experience and drive in the bike industry and have brought that to the table with their stellar lineup. The superstar of that lineup is definitely the Niner RIP 9 full-suspension 29-er mountain bike.
Unlike most 29ers, the RIP 9 boasts 4.5 inches of travel. This is well beyond what’s offered by most manufacturers. With a carefully designed rear triangle and CVA™ suspension design, the RIP 9 gives new meaning to the word plush as it plows over small bumps without flinching, then climbs and descends with the best all-mountain bikes on the market today.
Niner RIP 9 Quick Review
I had a chance to ride the Niner RIP 9 at Interbike last fall and all I can say is WOW! This bike has won accolades from most of the major publications and I add my approval to the mix as this is truly one of the finest mountain bikes on the market today. It climbs extremely well and descends with smoothness not found on other bikes in its class.
If you are considering a new bike and want something different and mind-blowing, consider getting a Niner RIP 9 frameset and building out the new bike of your dreams. 29ers are for real and Niner doesn’t mess around. These guys know their stuff and their bikes show it.
Read my full review of the Niner RIP 9 at FeedTheHabit.com.
Specs on the Niner RIP 9:
- 4.5 inches of travel
- CVA™ suspension design provides smooth ups and downs
- Sealed cartridge bearings at all pivots
- Sizes: 16, 18, 20 , 22
- Shock: Fox RP23
- Weight: 6.51 lbs
- MSRP: $1649
;)
What’s the benefit of a 29-inch wheel vs a standard 26-inch wheel?
Dude… you’ve got to ride one to understand what I’m saying, but it’s like night and day. With the larger diameter wheel, you get a little more contact area and a much smoother ride. A 29-er hardtail will take the edge off all the small stuff that will bounce you silly.
It’s akin to riding in a Cadillac after riding in a Kia. It’s very smooth and fast rolling. I rode the Niner at Interbike just after riding a standard 26-inch bike (I think it was just after the Specialized Pitch Pro), and it’s amazing how little I felt of all the rocks and bumps along the way. 29-ers are amazing!
you listed the weight as just 6.51 lbs — is that just the frame, I imagine?
Yup… frame only. Niner doesn’t sell complete bikes. You’ve got to piece it out just the way you want to. WrenchScience can dial you in to the nines if you want one.
29in vs 26in ???
I’ve been out of the loop, the 29in thing is new to me I ride an old school Canondale M500 with 26in wheels it’s a bit a over sized for me but it’s fast as hell on the street, might as well be a road bike except for the gearing, I use it as a commuter bike. For a 29 incher: how does the gearing work out? similar final drive? can you walk up walls? what do you get out of a 24 speed where does it spin out? 28-30 mph like a 26inch or is there a mechanical advantage to having the larger wheel with the gearing available? Otherwise I like the what I’ve heard about 29inchers, does some one make a bike marketed as a mountain bike designed to be a lighting fast street racer, or some sort of cycle cross commuter hybrid that screams? Or is it all about a pulling heel clicker on your mountain bike, and building bigger, faster, heavier downhill bikes that look and ride like dirt bikes?
Hey Chris… if you’ve been out of the loop, it’s time to get yourself educated on the larger sized hoops. Those 3-inches make a world of difference in overall smoothness and momentum at speed. It does take a bit longer to get up to speed, but once you’re at pace, maintaining that pace is easy with all the rolling momentum.
With the larger wheels, you don’t need as much travel. 4-5″ of travel on a 29er feels as plush as any trailbike out there. They are way fun and offer a little something different than a regular 26er. Hop into a local bike shop and give one a spin.
I share some of the same sentiments…once you ride a 29r you’ll never want to go back to 26. I have a hardtail Haro Mary SS that clears more obstacles than any FS 26r out there. All you need is the legs to push that beast and the rest is easy. My next ride will be a FS 29r, either the GF Hi Fi of Specialized FSR.