First Look: 2023 Niner RKT 9 RDO - XC Race Ready
The RKT 9 RDO is Niner's dedicated cross-country race bike, a carbon framed machine designed for speed and efficiency above all else. For 2023 it underwent the longer and slacker treatment, although its wheel are still firmly planted on the more traditional cross-country side of the spectrum.
Niner do say that the bike has 'trail-country' (that's their cringe-inducing term, not mine) features like room for 2.5” tires, a flip-chip to slacken the head angle, and a short seat tube that works well with dropper posts. Those are all nice things, but at the end of the day the RKT is an XC bike, with 100mm of travel, fork and shock lockouts, and geometry numbers that make its sharp-handling intentions clear.
RKT 9 RDO Details
• Wheel size: 29"
• Carbon frame
• Rear suspension travel: 100mm
• Fits fork up to 120mm
• 68 or 67.6-degree head tube angle
• 430mm chainstays
• Lifetime warranty
• Price & availability: TBD / September 2022
• ninerbikes.com
• Wheel size: 29"
• Carbon frame
• Rear suspension travel: 100mm
• Fits fork up to 120mm
• 68 or 67.6-degree head tube angle
• 430mm chainstays
• Lifetime warranty
• Price & availability: TBD / September 2022
• ninerbikes.com
The RKT uses Niner's CVA suspension design for its 100mm of travel.
Don't worry, that catchphrase on the top tube hasn't gone anywhere.
The RKT can accept up to a 180mm rear rotor.
Frame Details
The shape of the RKT's carbon frame is much sleeker than its predecessor – there's no longer a brace running from the seat tube to the top tube, and it has a more modern, low slung look. It is possible to run a dropper post, but interestingly enough that amenity is only found on Niner's 2-star build kit – all of the other builds use a fixed post. Those higher end builds may not have droppers, but they do have a remote lockout for the fork and shock for riders who want to completely firm up the bike's 100mm of suspension.
There are bottle cage mounting bolts on the top and bottom of the down tube, and two more bolts on the top tube for additional accessories. That's also where you'll find Niner's 'pedal, damn it' slogan printed underneath the clearcoat. I know it's supposed to be inspirational, but all that saying does is inspire me to figure out how to cover it up...
According to Niner, a size medium frame with shock and seat collar (but no axle or headset) is 5 lb (2.27 kg). The complete bike weight for a medium 5-Star XO1 AXS LTD build is said to be around 23.5 lb (10.7 kg).
Other details include a threaded bottom bracket, Enduro MAX Black Oxide pivot bearings, SRAM's universal derailleur hanger, and a sag indicator printed on the rocker link pivot.
Drain holes under the lower shock mount help keep tiny swimming pools from forming.
The RKT uses a trunnion-mounted 160 x 45mm shock. Most build kits come with a remote lockout.
Geometry
With a 100mm fork, the RKT's head angle sits at either 68 or 67.6-degrees depending on the flip chip orientation, which corresponds with a seat tube angle of 75- or 74.6-degrees. It is possible to run a 120mm fork, although that will create an even slacker seat tube angle, which could have riders feeling like they're sitting pretty far over the rear axle. Don't forget, Niner does have the Jet 9 RDO in their lineup, a 120mm trail bike that's longer and slacker than this more puredbred race machine.
Reach numbers range from 405mm on the XS up to 497mm on an XL. The chainstay length is the same on all five frame sizes, at a relatively short 430mm.
Build Kits
There will be a total of six different build kits to choose from, starting with the 2-Star SRAM SX Eagle kit and going all the way up to the 5-Star SRAM XO1 AXS LTD kit. Prices haven't been announced yet, but they're not expected to be dramatically different from 2022's prices. That would put the 2-Star build at $4,399 USD, and the 5-Star AXS as $9,999. The frames and build kits are expected to be available this September.
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So yes, I can say with fair confidence that what is being brought up here is not an issue in real life.
I don't know many (any) people that run their seat that low, especially on an XC bike.
www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/mountain-bike/a40592459/niner-rkt-rdo-review
Even Specialized are behind the times at this point with the Epic and Epic Evo. Take a look at the new Scott Spark if you want to see where things are headed.
So here's a bike for ya...
Can it happen? Sure, and aliens could be real, but right now this isn't a productive or realistic complaint to make.
Although their product team must been living under a rock since 2012?
I'm just trying to even picture it. Like jumping and landing with an obstacle directly between the wheels?
I googled "niner RDO review" and one of the first ones that came up:
".....one downside to Niner's CVA suspension design it's that the lower linkage sits below the chainring and can get banged around now and then..."
bikerumor.com/2021-niner-jet-9-rdo-gets-longer-lower-slacker-with-adjustable-geo-stiffer-frame
I didn't say it would break or damage the bike, I was simply asking if it hit....but looks like I got my answer.
Like the review I posted, they agree it hangs down too, one of the first reviews I found.
Somebody had a logical observation, I agreed, I asked a simple question and apparently the woke Niner krew doesn't allow it.
Regardless of what you guys say, I'd buy one, I think they are cool....
If you have to deal with technical climbing and chunkier trails, smashing that link is absolutely a problem.
"I trust you and realize that it may not be resulting in broken frames, but the real question is does it hit or cause any clearance issues?"
You came out of the gate strong with "...we don't see broken frames", nobody said broken, but hitting it on rocks is still a problem in my book.
Maybe it's a non-issue, but the point was based on observation, it does look like it would hit....I was defending the OP vs having a strong opinion of my own and looks like several people agree
If it isn't breaking frames, and sits higher than the chainring under sag, so doesn't make any more contact with the ground than say a chainring, what problem would I be trying to address? I said it isn't an issue. What I mean is; it isn't an issue. You CAN hit it, as I and a few others have said, but it's a non-point in a real world setting.
So your point was answered some three posts ago. To put it here as well for you, it isn't a problem.
And it's not everyone that is obsessed with steep seat tubes, just the media that only considers the riding in their specific area, which seems to all be winch & plummet style: pedal a long way up a smoothish but steepish climb, descend, repeat. Anyone who has to pedal on level or rolling terrain isn't as insistent on crazy steep seat tubes. For example, here in New England there aren't a ton of super long steep climbs that require long times in the saddle spinning away, but there are plenty of short punchy climbs, so you'll be doing way more climbing out of the saddle and then maybe sit to power along janky rolling traverses to get to the next up & down section. Don't really see the ol' PWN-style saddle slammed all the way forward on the rails, nor are people clamoring for 80 degree actual seat tube angles, here.
I believe the official term for this technique is "monkey humping a football".
And that's what matters, the effective. True we don't know the height they measured from, but actual is less important than effective. Also true that slack actuals mean riders on the tall side of each size end up with slacker effectives.
But if you slam the saddle forward, and ride the nose, on a 76 degree effective SA, that's a pretty decently steep/forward seating position relative to the BB, and much of any front-wheel unweighting is going to be from the relatively short chainstays on the larger sizes. On the smaller sizes, especially riders on the short end of each size, it's unlikely to be an issue at all.
Plus if brands would finally do size specific chainstays it would help that, but on an xc bike you don't want much longer than 440 on any size, therefor a large or xl would still have some front wheel lifting with this 58 degree seattube angle
If I'm tall enough to feel comfortable with, say, a 500+mm reach and the respective front-center, why the hell wouldn't I want long enough chain-stays to keep the front-wheel planted and allow railing turns?
Note: turning and steering are different. The steepish head angle and smaller ground trail of an XC bike is going to maintain the quick steering that people like to dodge other riders and obstacles, but it's front-center to rear-center balance that helps make it easier to rail turns for maximum exit speed vs slashing turns and bleeding speed.
Yeah-sign me up!!
The Rip RDO top tube and downtubes were a big turnoff IMO.
Pinkbike check that out for us. What geo is the norm? From slackest to steepes 100-120 mm forks even rear travel.. c
Wow, something a ton of bikes have and have had for a long time. How about that slick variable-position hose-guide there at the bottom of the seat tube. Now that's worth mentioning.
Lory and Bobcat Ridge are both warrant one.
Virtually every pro XC rider these days uses one.
Also, Niner ain’t Yeti or Santa Cruz. Drop the outrageous pricing.
Ibis makes their seat tube a straight shot, also on a dual link frame ensuring consistent saddle setback.
Considering Niner’s ambitious pricing, basic ergonomic concerns should have been a priority in redesigning for this model.
As is, this brings nothing to the table compared to the big 3, let alone other small bike brands. These will have slow turnover and then get dumped at Jenson and Backcountry-while still being a lousy deal even at $500-1000 off.
Also, short seat tubes are only good for long droppers if they are straight. Looking at the saddle position on the bike pictured here, a dropper long enough to need this seat tube, would not be able to insert.
When I see rigid post I think "FS gravel bike with flat bars"