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I'm no XC whippet.
Up until owing my FF29 frame the only aluminium frame I had owned was a Zaskar.
I enjoy riding the FF29 but it's not very long - not a deal breaker but I feel it's compromised running a layback post and 100mm negative rise stem!
The Niner bikes have always intrigued me the carbon ones especially but that's for another day
Soooooo what are folks thoughts on the Air 9 .... Worthy replacement to the FF29, too similar, etc
All thoughts very welcomed 🙂
I have actually done this exact change, loved the ff29 either rigid or suspension up front. Sold it and bought a niner air 9 and disliked it instantly and never gelled with it. I miss the ff29 but definitely not the niner! It just seemed stiff, way too xc racey, for me, and no where near as fast as the kinesis.
Honestly? I thought similar with mine (although 90mm stem 😉 ) so I changed it for something longer, carbon, slightly slacker etc. I found the ff29's biggest issue was comfort in long 100k or so rides, really beat me up.
Quite a bit of money later and I've rebuilt the ff29. It's just such a good bike, I hate riding the new hardtail and I love the ff29. Burly wheels this time, pikes, meaty tyres and wider bars.. it's just such good fun and still only comes in around 12kg. I could get it down to around 11kg before but I've realised weight isn't everything.
I've had both, much preferred the Niner. It felt like a bike which knew its place whereas the FF29 was nice but was too traily to be a proper xc style bike but not traily enough for normal trail riding. I sold my Niner to my FiL but often consider buying it back.
If the geometry looks better to you then I'd say go for it.
Plus the graphics on the FF29 were hard to colour match to!
Don't forget the new Air 9 is completely different geometry - I doubt anyone's even got one yet.
Plus the graphics on the FF29 were hard to colour match to!
Embarrassingly, i bought colour matched bottle cages and I've just bought some clearance wheel logos in the neon green colour.... 😳
Sounds like the fact it is an FF29 isn't the problem.
Whatever you go for next make sure it fits and you like the colour.
Your FF29 sounds a little small for you.
I have a FF29 fully rigid, running a Niner fork... no help I know, just thought I'd mention it 😀
not ridden a ff29 but own the niner air 9 RDO and can say it is a very fast bike! as such it is on the wall at the mo as not being riding properly lately but will be back out next year. fully rigid and singlespeed, it is as stiff as a stiff thing though!