NINER WFO 9

As the last of the 29er hold outs, freeride fanboys have notoriously poked fun at cross-country and all-mountain bikes sporting larger wheels. Littering forums with banter stating that the larger wheels negatively affect handling, are too flexy, and will break under the rigors of aggressive trail riding. But, there’s an undeniable shift in attitude taking place as riders are getting a chance to experience new school, long-travel 29ers first hand, and bikes like the Niner WFO 9 are leading the charge.

The WFO 9 relies on Niner’s widely-praised Constantly Varying Arc (CVA) suspension system, and it’s running 5.5 inches of fully active travel in this application. The CVA suspension design places forged aluminum in a position that isolates pedaling forces while remaining fully active under all conditions. Because the lower link sits below the bottom bracket and the CVA’s instant center sits in a virtual location ahead of the drivetrain, chain tension at the rear axle pulls the two linkages in opposite directions—effectively isolating the drivetrain from the rear triangle. When you press on the pedals, nothing’s lost to compressing the suspension and you won’t suffer kickback from chain growth when pedaling through rock gardens.

Differing Niner’s CVA design further from competitors is super-short chainstays. Short chainstays are vital to full-squish 29ers, directly affecting their ability to easily negotiate tight switchbacks and provide eager handling. Because the rear tire’s tucked under the rider, the WFO 9 carves turns well and is highly maneuverable in technical situations. The CVA also doesn’t inhibit front derailleur placement or operation, something that plagues FS 29ers and causes chainstays to be excessively long. Another key feature of the CVA is its low ratio of shock stroke to suspension movement. This decreases the amount of preload needed, which translates to smooth, effective damping and less drag on the seals.

Big travel’s nothing without a solid chassis, and the material experts at Niner pulled out all the stops to give the WFO 9 the strength and precision to take full advantage of the CVA suspension. Using finite element analysis and real world testing, Niner employed extensive hydroforming to perfect its tube shapes. These tubes, when combined with widespread forging and CNC machining throughout crucial frame and suspension pieces, ensure the optimum balance of weight to strength. Topping things off is a full complement of sealed cartridge bearings to keep things tight and smooth for many miles. The WFO 9 comes with a custom-tuned Rock Shox Monarch RT3 for damping duties, but the frame has clearance for a piggy back style shock if you’re planning on more aggressive trail riding.

The WFO 9 uses a tapered headtube (44mm upper, 56mm lower) and can run everything from a 120mm fork all the way up to a long-travel 160mm unit for sending duty. Niner spec’d the WFO 9 with replaceable dropouts and this model comes with standard 135mm quick release dropouts. However, it can be upgraded to the new 142 x 12mm thru axle if you’re looking for a little more strength and stiffness. The WFO 9 has ISCG03 chain guide mounts and cable guides for a seat dropper, firmly establishing the WFO 9’s enduro/freeride nature.

The Niner WFO 9 comes in two color options: Fridge Green and Licorice Anodized. You’ll need a 30.9mm seat post, and a direct mount, bottom pull front derailleur. The rear triangle has room for fat 2.5 tires, and it’ll fit a 180mm rotor if you want more stopping power. Four sizes; small, medium, large, and extra large ensure there’s a WFO 9 for everybody. Actual weight for a medium is 3550g (7.8lbs).

2012 Niner WFO 9 Pricing