What is your Road Less Traveled? Does it carry across the hinterlands, with gravel roads, dirt tracks, and broken pavement? Or is it the alternative commute, the one that takes you over a few miles of road, through open space trails, and down the rutted path to the back parking lot at work? Perhaps it is just the freedom to head out and see where life takes you. It can be all of those trips, over time. Niner Bikes is with you, and if you choose, their RLT 9 will carry you. Niner built the RLT 9 Steel to handle gravel roads, pavement or even less technical singletrack. This updated version features front and rear thru-axle systems and bike packing capabilities. The ample tire clearance gives you many set-up options, and the smooth, stable ride carries from surface to surface, up hill or down. We don't want to say this is a do-it-all frameset, but it sure can do a lot, and quite well, in fact. Built into a complete bike with Niner's 4-Star build, this Niner RLT 9 Steel 4-Star DEMO can be ridden and purchased from our Boulder showroom or bought online. Use varies by size, but unless noted, the bikes are in excellent, lightly-used condition.

When considering the frameset, Niner faced two primary decisions- material and geometry. Niner choose the now elusive Reynolds 853 tubes to weld up for the RLT. Hard to source and expensive, we do not think you can make an argument about the choice of tubes. The seat tube is designed for a 27.2mm seatpost, which can be much more flexible than an oversized design. Combined with a carbon post, the frame will eat up bumps and attenuate vibration to reduce rider fatigue. The RLT 9 Steel has been updated with a full complement of fender, rack, bag, and bottle bosses for all of you adventures and bikepacking. It features internal routing for Di2 set-ups, Flat Mount brake caliper interfaces. The rear dropout is a 12/142mm thru-axle, while the fork features at 15/100mm version.

The frame geometry also draws on Niner's hardtail background, but there were challenges. The steering needed to be both stable and responsive, and the frame needed offer good clearance and a snappy response. The decision was made to use the lower BB height concept found on the Air 9 hardtails, and to lengthen the chainstay to 435mm. The head tube angle varies slightly with frame size, but the 56cm runs a 71.5 degrees. Overall the frame is less responsive than a cyclocross racing bike, but more stable with better tracking on rough roads. In other words, Niner found the best balance for the broad aspirations of the frame. You will feel comfortable descending on singletrack (not too technical), but not worry about taking weight off the front of the bike on a gravel or pavement surface. Niner calls this their Fire Road Geometry- sounds about right.

Little needs to said about the Ultegra R8020/8000 drivetrain. Simply put: best performance, reliability, wear, and efficiency for the money, period. Niner's 4-Star build specs the 11-speed 50-34 crankset, 11-34 cassette, chain, 34.9mm clamp front and Shadow, clutch-equipped RX800 GS rear derailleur all from the extended R8000 series line-up. A Prestine Thread Together PF30 - 24MM Alloy bottom bracket is creak free in the PressFit frame. The Dual Control levers are the mechanical shift, hydraulic brake R8020 models. The hydraulics power the R8070 Flat Mount Disc Calipers, which apply force to the Ultegra RT-800 140mm Center Lock disc rotors, which feature IceTech sandwich construction technology. These are used to control the Stan's NoTubes tubeless ready Grail S1 Center Lock disc brake wheels, featuring NEO hubs (15/100mm front, 12/142mm rear thru-axle type). The Grail S1's carry 700x38mm Schwalbe G-One EVO SS tires, which are great match for the overall build.

Niner's cockpit starts with the 27.2x400mm carbon seatpost, capped with a Niner custom saddle with cro-moly rails. At the front, their alloy stem locks onto an Easton EA50 AX handlebar dressed with Niner's bar tape.

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