We had the opportunity to talk Niner President Chris Sugai and Marketing Manager Carla Hukee and they gave us invaluable insight on the Niner RLT 9 gravel grinder bike. "Carla and the gang first brought up the idea to me two years ago and I was firmly against it because it was not a 29er bike and not in line with the core values of the brand. But it came up again last year and since I still wasn't sold, I told them: You guys do everything on it and we'll judge the final product." So Chris really just saw the bike for the first time a few weeks before Eurobike and he was impressed like the rest of the cycling world. The bike is dialed and it seems to fit in the Niner brand and the bike quiver of the Niner customer.



"Like our new bikes in the line, this is a bike that the staff really wanted to ride." said Carla Hukee. "It's what we want and it completes the bike stable of our employees." And it does make sense as everyone can use a road bike, specially one that is as verstatile as the RLT 9.



Chris Sugai said that this is not a pure cross bike or a classic gravel grinder bike but it is somewhere in between. It is what many people will want to own. And it can be used for cross racing or for bike touring on gravel roads. It's a platform with a fairly broad swath in the road biking category.



We asked Chris what the difference was between a cross bike and a gravel grinder and he said the obvious ones are that gravel grinders have a slacker head angle and lower bottom bracket. They don't need to turn as sharply and they don't need to jump over obstacles. In fact, gravel grinders by definition have to turn more slowly since gravel does not have much traction. Stability and comfort are at premium for these long adventure rides and the the RLT 9 should deliver.



Carla also mentioned that the carbon fork is tested to mountain bike standards. When you start taking this on trails with rocks and drops, take comfort that Niner has tested it to much more adverse conditions so the fork will be fine.

Hats off to Niner for another well-conceived bike.



Niner has joined the drop bar fray with the RLT 9 (Road Less Traveled). The first Niner for both 700 and 29 inch wheels, the RLT 9 is how Niner sees its staff and customers going from the office to the backcountry and back. The RLT 9 accepts up to 45mm tires and they've put 1.75" Schwalbe tires on it. BioCentric 30 is Niner's solution for singlespeed/geared PF30 and the bike will be available at the end of the year.

Features

  • Niner's first "All-Road Mountain Bike" rules the domain between pavement and singletrack
  • Custom gravel-tuned Niner carbon fork shares DNA with our legendary MTB version
  • Fire road geometry - slightly longer CS, lower BB, slacker HT angle
  • PF30 BB shell is geared or singlespeed compatible with the new Niner BioCentric 30
  • Low profile disc brake post mounts
  • Hydroformed aluminum alloy frame is light, efficient and beautiful
  • 135mm X QR rear spacing

The first Niner designed for both 29 and 700C wheels. Run narrower wheels and tires for brief journeys away from the beaten path, try something bigger for places where terrain is uncertain but adventure is guaranteed.



Hydroformed Tubing and Construction Details

Designed with a tube set similar to the proven AIR 9, the RLT 9's tube shapes are shaped to meet Niner's ride quality standards. Even riders who prefer the company of saguaros to the cacophony of crowds appreciate comfort and low weight. Proprietary forged dropouts are designed to reduce weight and integrate the low-profile post brake mount with the chainstay. 27.2mm seatpost reduces road vibrations on gravel or chip seal roads and reduces body fatigue on all-day rides. When paired with the RDO Seatpost (designed for twice the flex of traditional carbon posts), fatigue is reduced even further.

Niner Carbon Fork

Niner makes the best off road rigid forks in the world and now we bring this experience to dirt roads everywhere. The RLT 9 frameset continues our award winning ways with a full carbon, gravel-tuned and custom painted Niner Carbon Fork.

Internal Cable Routing

Full cable housing keeps the grit out of your shifting system in the nastiest conditions. Cables enter the down tube behind the head tube and exit below the BB for easy set up and low maintenance, and when you're ready, we've integrated Di2 compatibility with a seatpost wiring port.

BioCentric 30

The standard PF30 bottom bracket shell offers both geared and singlespeed compatibility using the new BioCentric 30. Sometimes simplicity is the key to a triumphant journey, sometimes you need a bit of help from your (granny gear) friends.



Fire Road Geometry

Slightly longer CS, lower BB, Slacker HT angle are ideal for a stable ride on the rockiest of roads and still capable of winning a proper cross or 2 for the privateer. Frame Sizes - 47, 50, 53, 56, 59. 62cm.

Niner RLT 9 Pricing

RLT 9 Frame and Fork - $1,049
RLT 9 ★ ★ ★ ★ Rival - $2,999
RLT 9 ★ ★ 105 - $1,999

Niner RLT 9 Geometry





Niner RLT 9 Specifications



More information at www.ninerbikes.com.

Photos courtesy of Niner/Ian Hylands.