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Niner
RLT 9 Steel 4-Star Ultegra Hydro Complete Bike - 2015

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When gravel met steel.

Niner's RLT 9 Steel 4-Star Ultegra Hydro Complete Bike draws inspiration from virtually every discipline and era of cycling. These influences range from the golden age of steel-only frames to a few current trends including multi-surface riding, hydraulic brakes on drop bars, and oversized, 12x142mm rear axles. The frame's stable capability empowers the adventure-hungry cyclist to ride road, gravel, and even light washboard and singletrack without the change of terrain registering in how the bike behaves.


The RLT 9 Steel is built from Reynolds 853, which is the latest material in the venerable manufacturer's beloved steel line. 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.


Niner tops the RLT 9 off with a handful of less apparent but greatly appreciated details. The bottom bracket accommodates 30-millimeter spindles and simplifies singlespeed conversion projects (don't lie, we know you're already thinking about it) thanks to Niner's BioCentric design. An integrated Di2 wiring port means the RLT 9 is future-proof. You can make the jump to electronic shifting when/if you're ready, or just stick to the race-grade Shimano Ultegra that it features stock.


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 two key changes from the five-star version. The drivetrain is mechanical Ultegra instead of Ultegra Di2, and the wheels are ZTR Grails from Stan's NoTubes instead of Niner's in-house carbon imprimatur. We like the changes, as electronic shifting and carbon hoops just feel anachronistic on a steel frame. The star of the build kit is definitely Shimano's new Ultegra-level RS785 hydraulic disc brakes, which further recommend the RLT 9 for long commuting, unpaved touring, and a punchy platform for all of your cyclocross moonlighting needs.


Details

  • Versatile geometry for all-road adventures
  • Classic steel tubing provides a silky ride
  • Rear thru-axle increases stiffness
  • Built with Shimano's race-grade mechanical Ultegra componentry
  • Hydraulic brakes increase modulation and stopping power
  • Stan's NoTubes wheel offer unparalleled tubeless reliability
  • Item #NNR003D
Frame Material
Reynolds 853 steel
Fork
Niner Carbon
Fork Material
carbon fiber
Headset
1-1/8 x 1-1/2 mm tapered zero stack
Shifters
Shimano RS685 11-speed
Front Derailleur
Shimano Ultegra 6800
Rear Derailleur
Shimano Ultegra 6800
Crankset
46 / 26 t Shimano Ultegra 6800
Bottom Bracket
Shimano BBR60
Cassette
11 - 32 t Shimano 105 5800
Chain
Shimano 105 CN-5800
Brakeset
Shimano BR-RS785
Brake Type
hydraulic disc
Rotors
160 mm
Handlebar
Niner Drop Top alloy
Bar Tape
Niner bar tape
Stem
Niner alloy
Saddle
Niner Custom with Cr-Mo Rails
Seatpost
Niner Carbon
Wheelset
Stan's NoTubes 3.30 ZTR Grail, [rear axle] 12x142mm
Tires
Schwalbe Sammy Slick
Tire Size
700 c x 35 mm
Pedals
not included
Recommended Use
gravel, cyclocross, road
Manufacturer Warranty
5 years on frame

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