I have to wait until March to score a new Canyon AL 29 8.9, so I was wondering about splashing a bit more ££ and using it as a donor bike for 1 of the above. As always I will be on the M/L cusp and wondered if anyone had any experience of either of these frames. How tall/inside leg/monkey armed are you? What size do you ride? What does the frame weigh? How does it feel with a 100mm fork? What’s the clearance like etc etc?
Cheers od

Knowing what reputation pace have for dealing with broken 303s, I would take the niner on principle if I was in your situation. Sorry, can’t offer any advice on fit.

Hmmm Pace that bad? I do prefer the niner anyway I think

If we’re basing answers on no real life experience at all then I’d get the Pace. Fondled one in their shop at Dalby and it was the loveliest looking thing I’ve ever seen. Simply stunning…

Plus my dealings with Pace have always been spot on (fork buying / fork servicing / staying at their excellent gaff at TlD).

DBW, can I demo a Pace do you know? Dalby maybe?
Edit: Google says recent demo days at Whinlatter and Sherwood, I think I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the next one and try and get my leg over. I think i can demo a Niner at CTBM

Yep, pretty sure Pace have an RC129 demo bike at Dalby. In looks/finish alone it pisses all over my Curtis S1.

Just checked mate – they have a demo bike (must have one of the nicest demo fleets in the world!): Demo Fleet

Tempted to save for one myself…

Got a medium niner mcr, I’m 6ft with a 32 inseam and it fits like a glove. Welcome to try if you are near Gloucestershire.

niner sir9 are a really nice ride however, i cracked one. it was replaced under warranty no hassle at all. their warranty period is only 2 years. the replacement had the newer style bio centric ebb. i found it to be a pain in the arse (a friend has the same but doesn’t have any bother with it though).
mine was a good fit: medium 5’9&1/2″, 90mm stem, i thought it was best with 100mm fork.

A friend of mine has a Sir9, after four years of ownership he cracked the cowling on the drive side drop out. He emailed Niner direct and after showing them photographs of the crack they replaced the frame FoC. Brilliant customer service.

He loves it, I’ve only ridden it a couple of times but when I did, I was more focused on the whole 29er thing rather than the feel of the frame so I can’t comment on the ride. He has the silver one now which is nice but the Hot Tamale was a better colour, I don’t think they do it any more though.

He has had issues with the EBB, not exactly sure what though.

I have experienced Pace customer services, around 16 years ago (brilliant) and around 5 years ago (rubbish)

DBW – cheers, I thought they might have one at Dalby, I’ll have to sort a ride out. But what’s going on with the rear brake routing?

Tang – that’s mighty mighty of you, you’re a gent and a scholar. I’m up Bakewell way though, so might not be able to sort that out. I do like to ride Malvern (close ish?) when I get the chance, if I’m down in the next few weeks I’ll email you. (I’m about the same size as you, too)

keavo and LeeW – sorry to hear of the Niner failures but encouraged to hear of the good warranty service. EBB issues? Maybe MCR is the way to go then. I’ll still have my GF Rig for SS duties 🙂

Thanks all

Charliethebikemonger has a SIR 9 on his test fleet. He reckons it the best riding bike of all time, (or words to that effect). I’d have one in a flash but they are somewhat pricey… 🙁

What about Cotics Solaris that comes out in March. Cy knows a bit about steel hardtails, so that might be worth the wait. There’s a Genesis 29er on the horizon, not sure if there is an 853 framed version though.

Cheers Taki, Swanage is even further afield for me, I have read CTBM’s blurb, he likes it rigid and ss. I was curious with 100mm up front and probably gears. I hadn’t thought about the Cotic, food for thought.

I got the RC129 a couple of months back having been really impressed by the quality of the ride and finish on Pace’s demo bike. I’m also on the M/L border but went for the M as that was what I rode as a demo and it felt good. I’m about 181cm (5′ 11.5″ in old money) relatively short in the leg and longer in the body and arms. The medium still has a plenty long enough top tube for me (using a 70mm stem and a layback seatpost). It feels compact and easy to move around on without feeling at all cramped. I’ve built mine as a singlespeed with 100mm Rebas up front and it weighs in at 23.5lb which isn’t bad for a steel frame.
The people at Dalby are very helpful. I even had a chat with Adrian (designer) about the whole design philosophy when I was up there. If you’re anywhere near I’d strongly recommend a demo.

Salsa El Mariachi? They do a matching blue rigid fork too if that’s your thing.

GB

5’10 and 32″ insideeg. Ride a medium sir 9. Currently single speed and rigid with niner fork. But have. Run it with a 100mm fork up front. Also ran it geared for sleepless. I really like it. Relatively light, especially for a steel frame and has the springiness you get from a quality steel frame.

Not had any issues with the b/b, duocentric one. Just tighten it periodically.

Would recommend the sir9 based on my experience. Only the cost would put me off, picked my up off the forum. Cannot comment on the pace other than to say it does look very nice.

6″1 And I ride a large RC129. Its single speed with Reba forks. Fit and ride is fantastic.
Chose this one over other frames because of its finish and attention to detail.
Had a small problem with my fisrt frame, spoke with Adrian and he replaced it straight away, Well Nearly… He had No white one’s in stock, so he bought one back to stock from a shop to replace mine. Took 3 days to have a replacement.
Best bike company I have ever delt with.

<img src=”http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6044/6210054341_bd18834b44.jpg&#8221; width=”500″ height=”375″ alt=”000_0308″>

i loved my sir9, despite the failure. i was dissappointed with the ebb on the replacement but i would recommend the mcr if you have another bike for ss.
i now have a salsa el mariachi, the swinging dropouts work well and it is a nice frame but i did prefer the niner. a great frame spoiled by the ebb in my experience.

Charliethebikemonger has a SIR 9 on his test fleet. He reckons it the best riding bike of all time, (or words to that effect). I’d have one in a flash but they are somewhat pricey…

yep ridden it – quite nice but did not seem as nice (not as nimble feeling) as my Singular Swift – though that could of been down to the incredibly wide bars on the SIR9 and lack of familiarity..

I would get a swift and pocket the saving.

as for PACE – they should of done a square tube homage for their 29er… now that would have been cool!

If you going down the donor bike route Rose bikes have the stupidly named Mr Ride 29er which is similar VFM to the Canyon and wont have an issue with the bolt through rear end comparability. You can also tweak the spec of the Rose so you son end up with the parts you really want.
Although the Rose frame doesn’t look as good so may be harder to sell on?