Full suspension 29er bikes have proven themselves to be excellent options for short and mid-range travel applications, and Niner has been dedicated to developing 29er designs for these applications from day one. The RIP 9 is a perfect example of how the company's 29er specific mission and engineering have come together,.With 125mm of rear travel, the Rip 9 balances out perfectly with a 130-140mm fork for excellent Enduro level capability. More aggressive XC/Trail riders can even pair a lighter 120mm fork. The plush, five full inches of travel from the frame can be set-up for a firmer or softer experience. In our experience, 125mm of rear travel on a 29er feels as capable as 140mm of travel on a 26 inch wheel, but riding styles and preferences determine your experience. The full suspension design of Niner has unlocked and expanded the potential of 29er long travel.

Niner's patented 29er specific suspension design is call CVA, for Constantly Varying Arc travel. The lower pivot sits under the bottom bracket, creating an instant center location in front of the BB. A dual linkage system then reacts with counter force to suspension load. This essentially isolates the drivetrain from the suspension, maintaining pedaling efficiency throughout the travel range, regardless of the chainring/gearing combination, and basically eliminating the snap-back that can occur with many suspension designs as the suspension unloads. Sag setting is crucial, because just past sag, the axle path moves inward, with a constantly varying arc, limiting chain growth throughout the travel range. That is a lot of technical talk, but CVA works exceptionally well, and takes full advantage of the 29er platform. Travel is smooth and efficient, driven by a CVA specific Rock Shox Monarch RT air shock. The simple, efficient Monarch RT is a high volume shock with plenty of compression adjustment. The Fast Black piston coating keeps the shock gliding effortlessly. Niner makes all it's own excellent hardware, and the linkage is made from high pressure molded carbon.

Ah carbon. Yes, this is the Rip 9 Carbon frameset, and the sleek carbon front triangle is stiff and light, and designed for easy stand-over clearance. The massive, shaped head tube junction and bottom bracket ensure torsional rigidity. Rear derailleur housing is routed internally through the carbon frame, and externally on the rear. Niner provides a guide tube for the front derailleur cable, and the rear brake housing sits externally. Niner's goal with this frameset was to deliver the lighter, better riding, and more effective front triangle to more riders, and the trade-off for higher costs overall was carrying over the aluminum alloy rear triangle from the previous version of the RIP 9. You pay a small weight penalty, but the costs associated with engineering the carbon rear really drives up the price. The aluminum version is laterally stiff and super strong, mating very effectively with the carbon linkage to provide a consistent feel from the front to the rear. The post mount rear brake is standard, and the 142/12 rear drop out system is locked in with the included 12mm Maxle from Rock Shox.

The Rip 9 features a slick, removable ISCG 05 tab mount for chain guides, and can be run with 1x, 2x, or 3x drivetrains. An S3 direct mount front derailleur sets up perfectly. The geometry is trail specific for this design, with fork travel choice dictating the end results, but in our experience the RIP 9 is stable, and much whippier than expected. The 45cm chainstays and lower, forward center of gravity of the CVA suspension really deliver a rider position that is balanced for technical riding. The set-up favors the short stem/wide bars cockpit, and tabs are mounted along the top-tube for a 30.9mm diameter externally routed dropper post. The Rip 9 Carbon delivers value, a great ride quality, proven suspension, and considerable set-up flexibility for under $2300. If you are looking to build up an affordable, feature-laden enduro capable trail bike that pedals and climbs with ease, and can shred the descents you earned, the RIP 9 Carbon frameset is the place to start. Give one of our experienced cyclists a call if you need to discuss your build options.