Niner

RLT 9 Steel 4-Star CX1 Hydro Complete Bike - 2015

With a Reynolds 853 frame, an oversized 12x142mm rear axle, and a future-proof blend of gravel readiness and hydraulic disc road brakes, Niner's RLT 9 Steel 4-Star CX1 Hydro Complete Bike borrows technology from across cycling's broad array of disciplines and eras. We applaud Niner's careful cherry-picking, as it results in a machine that can handle anything from smooth tarmac to singletrack without the change of terrain registering in how the bike behaves.

The Reynolds 853 tubing at the RLT 9 Steel's heart is one of the latest materials in the venerable manufacturer's catalog. 853's production process means that it can be drawn with thinner, lighter walls that don't compromise stiffness or impact resistance. It's also air-cooled during production, so when Niner later welds the tubes into a frame, the strength of the steel at the joints actually increases. Of course, the real benefit of steel only manifests when you throw a leg over it. Reynolds 853's immediate, springy responsiveness, lively handling, and unrivaled durability prove with each pedal stroke why steel's only real competition in frame building is from marketing handbooks, not the latest wonder materials.

The frame's geometry is a compromise between Niner's mountain frames and the aggressive disposition of the 'cross-specific BSB frameset. Compared to the latter, the RLT 9 features a longer chainstay, a lower bottom bracket, and a more relaxed head tube angle. This translates into a lower center of gravity that still affords clearance over obstacles and while cornering, a wider wheelbase for stability, and tire clearance that lets you plush-out to the tune of 1.75in. In our own test rides of the geometry, we found that it eats up washboard and is nimble enough for mellow singletrack, so, if you're keen on making the RLT a durable singletrack speedster with zero suspension, then throw on some knobby tires and get to it. This bike's only limit is you.

Despite Niner's love of steel, the RLT 9 Steel does make two concessions to carbon, neither of which we'd like to do without. The 27.2 Niner Carbon seatpost eats up the imperfections of riding surfaces from gravel to dirt to chipseal by adding a welcome dose of vertical compliance and vibration damping. This complements Niner's Carbon off-road fork, which is the latest in the line of what Niner claims are the best rigid trail forks in the world. After testing this claim on both the BSB and RLT 9, we're not prepared to second guess them.

The RLT 9 Steel's four-star build only makes three key changes from the five-star version. The drivetrain is mechanical SRAM Force CX1 instead of Shimano's Ultegra Di2, the wheels are ZTR Grails from Stan's NoTubes instead of Niner's in-house carbon model, and the drivetrain is simplified to a gloriously bombproof one-by. We like the changes, as electronic shifting and carbon hoops just feel anachronistic on a steel frame — the RLT 9 Steel is Di2 ready, if it comes to that. The star of the build kit may be SRAM's HRD Force hydraulic disc brakes, which further recommend the RLT 9 Steel for long commuting, unpaved touring, and a punchy platform for all of your cyclocross moonlighting needs.