Niner

JET 9 RDO 5-Star Limited Edition Mountain Bike - 2015

No one nails niners like Niner, and when it comes to racing machines, ain't nothing like a big-wheeler. Niner's Jet platform has been focused on competition since its inception, and it's been the subject of continuous refinement since. For 2015, the RDO version of the Jet 9 gets even better, and to do the platform justice, the company is releasing the Niner JET 9 RDO 5-Star Limited Edition Complete Mountain Bike. We hate clichés, but this thing really is a race rocket.

As mentioned, Niner's Jet 9 RDO frameset is the brand's premium dual-suspension XC platform, the RDO (for Race Day Optimized) designation signifying a few key differences over its non-RDO brother, the Jet 9 Carbon — namely a 142x12mm rear axle for greater rear-end stiffness, a lighter, stronger carbon lay-up to the front triangle, and a full-carbon upper shock link. That link guides Niner's completely proprietary, completely revolutionary CVA suspension system through all 100mm of its travel. Designed specifically around 29-inch wheels — as opposed to being merely a tweaking of an existing 26-inch-wheel suspension design — CVA (Continuously Varying Arc) is both taut and supple. It's low compression ratio means there's less need for suspension preload, so the mechanism can float more freely and react more readily to the terrain without being lose or sloppy. CVA's lower linkage placement beneath the bottom bracket means that pedaling forces are isolated to prevent the chassis from bobbing and bouncing under input, resulting in a smooth but efficient bike that's responsive to both your power and the trail's trickery.

The Jet 9 RDO frameset promises to deliver more than just a superb suspension experience, however. The funky shapes that your eyes find, and the carbon lay-up schedule that they don't, are the result of thousands of man hours of computerized stress simulations and real-world testing, all to produce race-worthy handling and lateral stiffness. The tapered head tube certainly helps at the front end, ensuring precise front wheel placement, whether in slow, technical situations or through high-speed sweepers. Niner also went went with a BB30 bottom bracket interface, where the oversized diameter but narrow profile provided the highest possible level of torsional stiffness, and thus, power transfer. For 2015, the Jet 9 RDO frameset loses about 130 grams of weight compared to last year's model, thanks to an even further-refined Carbon Compaction System (or CCS) molding process and the new, lightweight paint and more minimal scheme that's used to finish off the package.

The Limited Edition build kit is where this machine sets itself apart, however — very far apart, from the competition. The crown jewel of the assembly is the revolutionary new RockShox RS-1 fork, featuring an inverted, motorcycle-style carbon chassis that saves big weight and creates a stiff, stable front end with its new Predictive Steering interface. A custom-valved FOX FLOAT CTD Factory shock with Trail Adjust and Kashima Coat handles impacts out back. The SRAM XX1 drivetrain is the gotta-have transmission on the market for pros and amateurs alike, using a single front chainring and enormous spread of gear ratios on an 11-speed cassette for minimal weight and maximum shifting speed and efficiency. Niner's own carbon RDO handlebar and seatpost, and alloy RDO stem, comprise the cockpit, topped off with the excellent WTB Volt saddle. Shimano's nuke-proof XTR Trail brakeset is endlessly reliable, super light, and all-conquering of speed, which will be easy to accumulate on the 1350-gram Stan's NoTubes Valor carbon clincher wheelset wrapped in Schwalbe tires. Like we said: race rocket.

The 2015 Niner JET 9 RDO 5-Star Limited Edition Complete Mountain Bike is available in five sizes, from X-Small to X-Large, and in the colors Black and Black/Red. Pedals are not included.