The Niner Air 9 RDO hardtail has been a staple for XC race and XC trail riders who prefer the overall ride of a hardtail, along with it's light weight. The hardtail 29" concept offers excellent terrain management and greater burst of speed and now that larger volume tubeless tires riding on wider rims offer more floatation, a larger footprint, and greater overall trail capability, the Air 9 RDO frame can handle tires up 2.4", which is an ideal max size, because you once you go bigger, the rotational weight and tread patterns favor full-suspension designs. This 2019 2-Star complete build features a cost effective, wide range SRAM NX groupset, a 100mm travel FOX Float 32 Rhythm Fork, and Niner kit items, but the foundation is the AIR 9 RDO frameset.

Niner Bikes has steadily pushed development of the 29er hardtail category and the Air 9 Carbon RDO Frameset features Boost 148mm rear spacing. Niner's Race Day Optimized Compaction System delivers substantial improvements in stiffness, durability and ride characteristics, while dropping 100 grams from the previous version. The RDO process uses rigid internal molds, which increases the level of compaction and precision in wall thickness. This reduces resin build-up from the compaction process and the end result is a frame that is internally clean and clear of excess material, and much greater control over the construction itself. The frame now features a Boost 148mm/12mm rear drop out, with a replaceable derailleur hanger and increased lateral stiffness from the bottom bracket to the rear axle, resulting in better power transfer. The headtube also benefits greatly from the RDO process, creating an overall stiffer interface at this crucial junction.

Increased stiffness and power transfer haven't come at the expense of the Air 9 RDO's excellent ride qualities. The tube shapes and sizes are maximized for torsional stiffness but optimized for vertical compliance and vibration attenuation. The flat profile of the tubes actually act like minute travel suspension, giving just enough to take the shock and impact from the rider. If that isn't enough, the new frame offers enough room for a 2.4 inch wide tire for great grip and a smooth ride at lower pressures. The Air 9 RDO was designed with the understanding that the vast majority of riding time is going to be spent pedaling from the saddle, so the frame has offer enough comfort to manage the physical stress of long hard efforts. Not all carbon hardtail's are the same, and Niner builds the frame to be buttery smooth (their words). Despite the minimalist carbon lay-up and overall lightweight, Niner's RDO level frames meet the most rigorous EN standards for carbon mountain bike safety in strength and impact protection.... Read More