The new iteration of the 18 Bikes No.9 steel hardtail. Although the details have changed over the years, the remit of the bike has not: a hardtail for UK riding.
18 Bikes No.9 vital stats
- Made from two real steels (Reynolds 853 and Deda Zero)
- 66° head angle, 76° seat angle, 450-500mm reach
- Made by Matt in Sheffield
- £1,000 frame inc. Hope seat clamp and DT Swiss RWS rear axle
- 18bikes.com
What does ‘UK riding’ actually mean? It has to survive less than stellar ground conditions, be decent at steep climbs, capable and confident on steep descents, whilst not being tiresome on the bits in between. From fell crossings to pelican crossings, the 18 Bikes No.9 is fine with it.
As well as the ‘why’, the ‘how’ has not changed since No.1; it’s still made in-house by 18 Bikes itself (well, Matt is his name) in its Sheffield workshop.
The No.9 is also designed for practicality as much as prettiness. No internal gear and brake routing. External cup headsets. Threaded bottom bracket. Bottle bosses on the down tube. Seat tube kept clear for maximum dropper post insertion.
On the aesthetic front (literally) the head badge and decals are not slapped on afterthoughts. They’ve been designed by arty bods at Tado. We like it when a head badge is done properly. Kudos.
The frame has a powder coat finish and is available in this completely ace Metallic Purple, or Metallic Black (if you don’t have eyes). For an extra £100 you can choose from several other custom colours too.
As is seemingly the law for a UK hardtail, it’s made from steel. A combo of Reynolds 853 and Deda Zero to be exact. Reynolds 853 seat tube, down tube and top tube. 18 Bikes: “We can’t get 853 in the shapes we’d like for the rear and it wouldn’t add strength or save weight, just be harder to work with and more expensive.”
The length of front triangles these days has seen the ‘point’ of steel have something of a resurgence. A nice bit of lateral twang is a useful – and fun – characteristic on a thrashable hardtail.
There’s no real need for USP on a bike like this. It’s fine if you just fancy it. But having said that, the impressive standover and mega dropper insertion potential will find plenty of interested punters having a closer look at No.9.
18 Bikes explain: “It’s Sheffield/UK made mountain bike hardtail. We’re a bit like the old shops who used to have a frame builder out back, except ours is a bit further away and we make TIG welded hardtails rather than brazed road frames.”
The No.9 is now the only hardtail being offered by 18 Bikes. It has discontinued the No.7, the old 27.5 wheel machine. Because of this death, it now offers the No.9 as a MX/mullet set-up in the smallest (450mm reach) size.
Compared to the previous No.9, the new No.9 has a slightly steeper seat, a slightly slacker head angle, new internal seatpost cable routing and the new colour options.
18 Bikes No.9 geometry chart
NB: based on a sagged 130mm travel fork.
As you can see from the geo chart above, the No.9 is available in three sizes, based on reach rather than traditional M, L, XL sizing.
Frames are £1000, including Hope seat-clamp and DT Swiss RWS rear skewer.
An initial batch of frames is in stock now, with the next batch due in March. Demo bikes are available at the 18 Bikes shop for a proper demo ride in the Peak District.
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