RIP 9 RDO 27.5+ 3-Star XT Complete Mountain Bike - 2017
Out of Stock
Don't worry though, we have a lot more All-Mountain & Trail in stock than that.
Shop Similar ProductsClip in and rip.
For 2017 RIP 9 RDO 27.5+ 3-Star XT Complete Mountain Bike, Niner took what was arguably the ultimate in trail bikes and threw in some tweaks to push it even further into the all-mountain realm. In doing so, it also ushers in 27.5+ tires, an act of heresy that only makes sense in the Niner genre when you step back and see the similarity in circumference between that classic 29er tire and the smaller-wheeled, yet decidedly donut-sized 27.5+ rabble-rouser. All at once Longer, slacker, and paradoxically more responsive on climbs, the RIP 9's versatile [R]Evolution geometry shreds rock gardens as eagerly as it scales steep grades. This build gets dressed up in Shimano's precisely-shifting workhourse XT drivetrain, a dropper post, and Stan's NoTubes hoops for a whole new level of fun in the dirt.
The frame's versatility is heavily influenced by its Boost axle spacing. By bumping the rear axle out to 148mm, Niner was able to buy enough clearance at the bottom bracket to shorten the chainstays and sharpen the seat tube angle by 11mm and 2.5 degrees, respectively. These subtle changes make the rear triangle that much more responsive to input while also pushing the rider's engine up over the pedals.
The stubby stays also keep the bike agile, but with a 67-degree head tube and 170mm of Lyrik forgiveness up front, it's just as happy to try flattening everything in its path—or at least bailing you out when your lines start to get a bit too ambitious. In the event that discretion wins the day, the RIP 9's longer top tube and short stem keep handling on-point, despite that low head tube angle, so you can always fall back on those dicey stays to navigate stretches of especially techy terrain.
There's obviously a lot of new radness with the RIP 9, but two things remain pleasantly unchanged: the Race Day Optimized (RDO) construction method and the Constantly Varying Arc (CVA) suspension design. RDO involves a dual-compression process that eliminates resin pooling and allows precise control over wall-thickness. Reducing imperfections makes for a more structurally sound frame, and the targeted control over lay-up and wall thickness lets Niner buttress that structure where appropriate and reduce material where it'll save weight without sacrificing stiffness. The result marks the nexus of low weight and efficient durability: a frame that's equal to the abuse of the trail and the pedals.
The new RIP 9's CVA suspension design is also unchanged, but it allows that design to play with 25mm more travel. This brings it up to 150mm and optimizes it for descending fast in hairy terrain while keeping it surprisingly responsive when you get on the gas. Unlike other designs, CVA is optimized for the increased bottom bracket drop inherent in 29ers, so it's well suited to the similar dimensions of a 27.5+ platform. It tends to ride high in the travel with a controlled mid-stroke that balances pedal input and suspension travel, keeping it stable through rock gardens and snappy when you get on the pedals.
The frame's finishing details are everything you'd expect from the obsessive developers at Niner, and our favorite new addition is the inclusion of a BSA threaded bottom bracket. PressFit shells may be lighter and more convenient, but the exact tolerances of a CNC-machined thread are unmatchable by today's composite technology. The threading means bearing cups install perfectly, reducing wear over time and eliminating the creaks and groans that so often accompany PressFit models. Vulnerable frame bits are girded with titanium protection plates, and the frame also includes integrated batter storage in case you get the urge for electro shifting. As a 27.5+ build, the RIP 9 can clear 3in tires; if you'd prefer to restore order to the universe and run it as a 29er, it'll accommodate 2.5in tires.
Details
- Niner commits 29er heresy with this 27.5+ trail bike
- Six inches of CVA travel smooths gnarly terrain
- Updated geometry climbs faster and descends harder
- RDO carbon lay-up and compaction is lighter and stiffer
- Compatible with electronic drivetrain routing and batteries
- Plush tires add extra cushion on enduro terrain
- Shimano's workhorse XT drivetrain provides precise gear shifts
- Item #NNR005K
- Frame Material
- RDO carbon fiber
- Suspension
- CVA
- Rear Shock
- Rock Shox Monarch Plus RC3 Debonair
- Rear Travel
- 150mm
- Fork
- Rock Shox Lyrik RC Solo Air
- Front Travel
- 170mm
- Shifters
- Shimano XT M8000 I-Spec II
- Front Derailleur
- n/a
- Rear Derailleur
- Shimano XT M8000 GS 11-speed Shadow Plus
- Crankset
- 32 t Race Face Turbine
- Bottom Bracket
- Race Face BSA
- Cassette
- 11 - 46t Shimano XT M8000
- Chain
- Shimano XT HG-701 11-speed
- Brakeset
- Shimano XT M8000
- Brake Type
- hydraulic disc
- Rotors
- [front] 180mm Shimano RT86 Ice Tech, [rear] 160mm Shimano RT86 Ice Tech
- Handlebar
- Race Face Aeffect
- Handlebar Rise
- 20mm
- Handlebar Width
- 760mm
- Grips
- Niner Grrrips lock-on
- Stem
- Race Face Aeffect 35mm clamp
- Saddle
- Niner Custom with Cr-Mo Rails
- Seatpost
- KS Dropzone R
- Wheelset
- Stan's NoTubes Neo/ZTR Baron S1
- Front Axle
- 15 x 110m Boost
- Rear Axle
- 12 x 148mm Boost
- Tires
- [front] Maxxis Rekon+ DC/EXO/TR, [rear] Maxxis Ikon+ 3C/EXO/TR
- Tire Size
- [front] 27.5 x 2.8in, [rear] 27.5 x 2.8in
- Recommended Use
- all-mountain, enduro
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 5 years
Reviews
Q&A
What do you think about this product?
View
Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageSorry, we don’t currently have any of those types of reviews for this product.
Need Expert Advice?
Our Gearheads Can Help