Niner’s New RIP 9 RDO

The second new bike from Niner unleashed on the world today is the RIP 9 RDO. Originally intended to be a full-on, hooligan downhiller in the same style as its WFO model, this bike handled so well on the ups and alongs that Niner decided to give it the more all-round trail label of the RIP 9. Using the same CVA suspension, it gains a Boost back end, room for 27.5Plus tyres as well as 29er wheels, the bike offers 150mm rear travel and a 160mm fork with 29in wheels or up to a 170mm fork if you’re running 27.5Plus wheels.

What looks like a slack seat tube angle is actually a steep one. How does that work?

Like its smaller travel cousin, the JET9, the RIP9 has been lengthened and slackened. Interestingly, it’s only half a degree slacker than the 130mm JET9. Figures are 67°/75.5° with a 160mm fork and 29in wheels and 66.5°/75° with a 170mm fork and 27.5x3in tyres.

Plenty room for sprockets, big plus tyres and suspension gubbins too

Phew! Back into familiar Niner territory here with 29 x 2.4in tyres

You missed your stop…

Big, chunky seat and chainstays keep the stoke from escaping

No room for front mechs here, sorry.

Expect to see a Shimano 11-46 cassette specced for maximum climbing versatility

Red for rad, OK?

Again, like the JET9 the bike comes with a new-for-Niner threaded bottom bracket shell and internal cabling, apart from the rear brake hose (and external dropper post if that’s what you run). Enduro Max bearings throughout keep it running smooth and UK friendly. There’s a big, capable Fox Float-X shock on there to keep the 150mm rear travel in check.

Brett wanted to be shot against the famous Fresh Goods wall

These bikes have never been that wet before.

Chipps Chippendale

Singletrackworld's Editor At Large

With 23 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps is the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994. Over the last 30 years as a bike writer and photographer, he has seen mountain bike culture flourish, strengthen and diversify and bike technology go from rigid steel frames to fully suspended carbon fibre (and sometimes back to rigid steel as well.)

Comments (7)

pb2pb2 July 7, 2016 at 8:02 pm

Pictures seduce and lie, we need a test ride report and some facts guys

ChippsChipps July 7, 2016 at 9:53 pm

The bikes are out in August. We’ll get one in for you…

Mr BlobbyMr Blobby July 7, 2016 at 10:10 pm

Good lord, that is one seriously ugly bike.

Tom HowardTom Howard July 7, 2016 at 10:24 pm

I’ve ridden it 😉

Only round a carpark though, handles much better with 27.5×2.8 tyres

dlrdlr July 8, 2016 at 10:21 am

Could you ride it into a log and see how the lower linkage holds up please. Looks good other than that….

ChippsChipps July 8, 2016 at 10:42 am

The linkage isn’t far off where the old VPP lower linkage used to sit and those rarely gave any problems. The linkage looks chunky enough to be used as a skid plate anyway if you’re that clumsy…

Matt TaylorMatt Taylor July 8, 2016 at 12:06 pm

Wow, well I love the look of that!

Comments Closed