Niner

RIP 9 RDO 27.5+ 2-Star Mountain Bike

When you're ready to up your trail game, the RIP 9 RDO 27.5+ 2-Star Complete Mountain Bike from Niner is poised to help you not only tame the gnarliest terrain across various trail networks but also let blast through chunky rock gardens and ledgy drops at speeds you didn't know were possible. While Niner dropped the previous WFO and its Jet made the move to more of an all-purpose trail machine, the RIP 9 was able to stretch its legs and bump its squish up to 150 millimeters of smooth, enduro hungry travel while it's slack and long geometry numbers also follow suit. So if the thought of lift-access, shuttle runs, and even earning-your-turn up to some the most rugged, remote, and natural backcountry terrain makes your heart go aflutter, the Rip 9 sits on a short list of bike's we'd choose to be on to maximize the experience. This version features a great dollar to performance ratio taking advantage of SRAM's GX group and a Rockshox Yari fork and FOX DPX2 rear shock.

The latest RIP 9 RDO forges on with its proven geometry that doesn't flinch on any line choice selection on the way down but isn't a handful when riding to the top, and it's stiff RDO carbon fiber frame, CVA suspension platform with 150 millimeters of travel, and its ability to accept both 29-inch and, in this configuration, 27.5+ wheels, and Boost spacing for precise tracking over twisty and chundery terrain will have you charging harder than ever before. That Boost spacing allows the rear end to clear up to 3.0-inch tires in 27.5+ form, offering tons of traction over looser terrain, or if you choose to roll 29er guise, it'll clear up to 2.5-inch tires which are quickly becoming the de facto width for its ability to offer excellent grip and quick rolling.

Taking a look at the numbers, you'll see the RIP 9 RDO features that goldilocks 66.5-degree head tube angle for high-speed stability on steep descents, without pushing the front wheel so far out in front that uphill switchbacks require trial skills to maneuver. The long reach affords the use of a wide handlebar and short stem combo for increased leverage to muscle the bike around as well as putting you in a more attack ready position. Perfectly dialed 17.3-inch chainstays balance nimbleness with increased climbing traction. This is further aided by the steep 75-degree seat tube angle putting you in the optimal position for punchy technical accents as well as the extended fire road climb that's totally worth it for the ripping descent.

This is a Niner after all, so its carbon construction follows the Race Day Optimized (RDO) method and its suspension platform is the Constantly Varying Arc (CVA) design. RDO involves a dual-compression process that eliminates resin pooling and imperfections by allowing precise control over wall-thickness. Reducing imperfections makes for a more structurally sound frame, and the targeted control over lay-up and wall thickness lets Niner reinforce the structure where it's needed and reduce material where it'll save weight without sacrificing stiffness. The result marks the nexus of low weight and efficient durability that's equal to trail abuse.

The RIP 9 RDO's CVA suspension design is also unchanged, but it allows that design to play with more travel. This brings it up to 150mm—which parallels the older WFO—and optimizes it for descending fast in hairy terrain while keeping it surprisingly responsive when you punch on gas. Unlike other designs, CVA is optimized for the increased bottom bracket drop inherent in 29ers or 27.5+. It tends to ride high with a controlled mid-stroke that balances pedal input and suspension travel, keeping it stable over rooty sections of trail and snappy when you're after a KOM. It also jumps incredibly well; this is one wagon wheeler that’s very happy when it’s airborne.

The frame's finishing details are everything you'd expect from the obsessive engineers at Niner, and our favorite new addition is the inclusion of a BSA threaded bottom bracket. PressFit shells may be lighter and easier to manufacture, but the exact tolerances of a CNC-machined thread are unmatchable by today's composite technology. The threading means bearing cups install perfectly, better aligning the two bottom bracket bearings, and helps to silence the creaks and groans that so often accompany PressFit models. Vulnerable frame bits are girded with titanium protection plates, and the frame also includes an integrated battery storage in case you get the urge for electronic shifting down the trail.