RIP 9 RDO 27.5+ 5-Star Eagle X01 Mountain Bike - 2017
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If the 2016 iteration of Niner's RIP 9 is the ultimate trail bike, then its completely reimagined successor expands that empire to also include the all-mountain realm—but it does so through a decidedly heretical act. The RIP 9 RDO 27.5+ 5-Star Eagle X01 Complete Mountain Bike multiplies every aspect that made its predecessor so successful. Longer, slacker, and yet inexplicably more responsive on climbs, the RIP 9's confusingly versatile [R]Evolution geometry chews up rock gardens as eagerly as it cleans steep grades. And that's all well and good, but Niner has done the unthinkable by combining it with 27.5+ wheels. The result of this unholy coupling is a delightfully playful bit of wagon-wheel heresy that we're happy to indulge.
Before we dive deeper into the frame, though, we'll linger briefly on the build kit, which centers on 27.5+ (Shock! Horror!) ENVE HV wheels and SRAM's shiny new Eagle X01 12-speed drivetrain. With the addition of a 50t granny cog, Eagle offsets the bike's 27.5 heresy with a climbing benediction when you find yourself out of gas, out of mettle, but not yet out of the woods, climbing-wise. The X01 version may not have the glitzy qualities of XX1, but the frame's devilish versatility will steal the show as soon as rubber hits dirt, anyway.
And this frame is versatile—a quality that it owes in large part 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. Either way, take solace in knowing that most of the bike's angles are similar to the WFO even though it maintains the precise handling of its predecessor. Given that mixed pedigree, the new RIP 9 enjoys playing in rock gardens as much as barreling over horst and graben rootscapes.
So there's obviously a lot of new radness with the RIP 9, but two things remain felicitously 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—another parallel to the WFO—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. It also jumps incredibly well; this is one all-mountain machine that’s very happy when it’s airborne.
The frame's finishing details are everything you'd expect from the obsessive developers at Niner, and our favorite new addition is—far and away—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 wagon-wheel heresy with its first gen of 27.5+ models
- Six inches of CVA travel rivals Niner's WFO for deep cushion
- Updated geometry climbs faster and descends harder
- RDO carbon lay-up and compaction is lighter and stiffer than non-RDO
- Compatible with electronic drivetrain routing and battery storage
- Plush tires add cushion for enduro shredfests and bikepacking epics
- SRAM Eagle adds a 50t bailout cog to your arsenal
- ENVE's stiff, high-volume wheels let plump tires sit fatter
- Item #NNR005G
- Frame Material
- RDO carbon fiber
- Suspension
- CVA
- Rear Shock
- FOX Float X Kashima
- Rear Travel
- 150 mm
- Fork
- RockShox Lyrik RC Solo Air
- Front Travel
- 170 mm
- Headset
- 44 / 56 mm Cane Creek Zero Stack
- Shifters
- SRAM Eagle X01
- Front Derailleur
- n/a
- Rear Derailleur
- SRAM Eagle X01
- ISCG Tabs
- yes, ISCG 05
- Crankset
- 34 t SRAM Eagle X01
- Bottom Bracket
- SRAM GXP
- Cassette
- 10 - 50 t SRAM XG-1295
- Chain
- SRAM Eagle X01
- Brakeset
- SRAM Guide Ultimate Carbon
- Brake Type
- hydraulic disc
- Rotors
- 180 / 160 mm SRAM Centerline
- Handlebar
- Race Face Next
- Handlebar Rise
- 20 mm
- Handlebar Width
- 760 mm
- Grips
- Niner Grrrips
- Stem
- Race Face Aeffect 35
- Saddle
- Niner Custom with Ni-Cro Ti rails
- Seatpost
- KS LEV Integra
- Seatpost Diameter
- 30.9 mm
- Seat Collar
- 34.9 mm
- Wheelset
- [rims] ENVE M60+ HV
- Hubs
- DT Swiss 350
- Front Axle
- 15 x 110m Boost thru-axle
- Rear Axle
- 12 x 148m Boost thru-axle
- Tires
- [front] Maxxis Rekon+ DC/EXO/TR, [rear] Maxxis Ikon+ 3C/EXO/TR
- Tire Size
- 27.5 x 2.8 in
- Pedals
- not included
- Recommended Use
- all-mountain, enduro, bikepacking
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 5 years
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