Niner

RIP RDO 27.5 Mountain Bike Frame

Since its beginnings, Niner has fittingly built frames exclusively for 29-inch wheels. As it was committed to only one wheel size, it was able to refine its geometry and optimize a suspension platform for those wagon wheels. But an interesting thing happened a few years back and plus wheels and tires began to take off in the mountain bike world offering a similar diameter to 29-inch tires with promises of more comfort and grip. Niner created a bit of sacrilege when it bestowed its JET and RIP models with a dual size persona letting you plug in either plus or 29-inch wheels, however, the tangible benefits of plus was hard to ignore. Niner wanted to continue with a frame that could accommodate 2.5 to 2.8-inch tires without making compromises to a frame that pleased both wheel sizes, so it created the RIP RDO 27.5 Mountain Bike Frame. This all-new, 3rd generation RIP is dedicated to 27.5 and is begging to ride technical trails while possessing the latest Niner tech like its Rib Cage construction that adds stiffness, increased standover height, more room for longer dropper posts, high and low flip chip adjustable geometry, and 140mm of re-tuned CVA suspension. This frame is ready for you to throw on the bits from your current bike or start new and create that dream bike you've always wanted.

While the old RIP had a dual wheel size persona, the new RIPs are frames dedicated to each wheel size. This allows Niner to optimize the frame for each wheel size by dialing in the suspension kinematics and geometry specifically for each size eliminating compromises. Either way, you're getting 140mm of CVA rear travel that’s sensitive off the top and supportive in the mid-stroke paired with 150mm of recommended fork travel and clearance for up to 2.8-inch tires with room for mud. This is the longest, lowest, and slackest Niner ever created, however, with the inclusion of its adjustable geometry via flip chips at the seatstay pivots, a Niner first, you can make adjustments as needed for your terrain and riding style.

The high mode geometry is perfect for tamer trails and daily riding. You'll quickly appreciate the climbing and pedaling efficiency of its steeper 75.8-degree seat tube angle and reworked CVA suspension platform. On the way down, you can shred in confidence with its longer reach, slack 66-degree head tube angle, and a 37mm reduced offset fork. If you have some shuttling or bike park laps on the docket, its low mode brings out even more aggression by slacking out the head angle by a full degree (65-degrees) and lowering the bottom bracket by 7mm. Niner further gives its sendy blessings by shortening the seat tube by 20mm to accommodate longer, 170mm dropper posts as well as increasing the standover height. Furthermore, a lower stack height and shortened head tube accommodate a wider range of fits and varying rise of handlebars. Lastly, the short, 430mm chainstays on this 27.5-inch version ensure the bike can handle tight singletrack trails as well.

Visually, one feature that's immediately apparent is the new frame design with wide and stiff Rib Cage struts on the main triangle. This, in conjunction with a flattened top and down tube, wider main rocker link pivot, and an oversized rear triangle boosts the frame's responsiveness for precise handling. Things that might not be so noticeable are the durable and long-lasting Enduro MAX Black Oxide bearings at the pivots and Niner's wonderful end-to-end, full sleeve internal cable guides making the build any maintenance down the road a breeze. Other frame niceties include a sag indicator on the rocker link pivot, factory installed scuff guards and frame protection at vulnerable locations, FOX Live-valve ready, water bottle compatibility inside the frame, and a creak-free threaded bottom bracket with ISCG-05 chain guide mounts.

On the trail, you'll notice the struts reduce bottom bracket deflection down below for efficient pedaling while allowing the upper portion of the front triangle to remain compliant and better able to track across rough rock gardens, while the wide, flat surfaces found on the top and downtube help to absorb frontal impacts and vibrations from repeated waterbar bashings while resisting deflection under a torsional load. And since the rear triangle received beefier tubing, it allows Niner to remove the seatstay bridge at the rocker link opening up extra room for wider rim and tire combinations.

As we mentioned above, the RIP receives an updated CVA platform that's designed to increase pedaling efficiency by riding more in the mid-stroke of the travel. We experienced gobs of traction when scaling technical climbs while remaining sensitive and fully active, even under braking, while descending. It basically takes Niner’s proven patented CVA linkage layout and axle path and refines the leverage ratio curve for supple travel early on with more support in the middle, before progressively ramping up at the end stroke.

The new, higher leverage ratio off the top makes it easier to set the shock in motion and overcome static friction. At the mid-stroke, the leverage ratio decreases toward the sag point, meaning less rear wheel force is transmitted to the shock allowing it to better support you in the travel. And at the end stroke, the leverage ratio increases just slightly to overcome the natural progressivity of an air spring, giving a bottomless, smooth response under the biggest hits.