Niner unveils new 29+ hardtail, the ROS9 Plus, with IMBA-benefit singlespeed edition
Originally posted on August 14, 2014 at 18:16 pm
For the fifth year, Niner has created a special IMBA themed bike in support of the non-profit’s mountain bike advocacy efforts. This year’s version is a custom painted ROS 9 Plus complete bike with special detailing and components throughout. The ROS 9 Plus is a brand new addition to the Niner line up – an all mountain 29+ hardtail. Valued at over $4,499 MSRP for each complete limited edition bike, Niner expects that this will be the most successful edition of the auction to date, with 100 percent the of auction proceeds going to IMBA.
Only nine of the special bikes will be available. If you want one, you’ll have to bid in the auction, which starts at 6:30 p.m. MST today, with auction management courtesy of The Pro’s Closet.
Riders interested in bidding on the Special Edition IMBA bikes can visit www.ninerbikes.com/imba for complete details, links and lots of images these special bikes. The auction runs August 24 (the last day of the IMBA World Summit in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.)
If you don’t win the auction, don’t fret, you can still pick up a standard ROS9 Plus with its 4130 chromoly steel frame and fork. With a 142×12 thru axle it should be more than stiff enough to handle the 29×3.0 Surly tires mounted to Stan’s NoTubes Hugo rims. In keeping with its all-mountain attitude it has routing for both internal and external dropper post lines and a 68 degree head tube angle. The 17.5-inch chainstays help to keep the rear center tight.
The fork is new as well, with a 15mm thru-axle and a 470mm axle-to-crown height to keep the front end low. It is suspension corrected for a 100mm-travel fork if you find one that can fit the mega tires.
Though the ROS9 Plus ships with an 11-speed SRAM X1 build, it can also be set up as a singlespeed thanks to the Niner BioCentric II bottom bracket. With the proper bottom bracket insert, it can also be adapted to nearly all the current bottom bracket sizes.
Though the frame is only compatible with single-ring setups, due to the tight clearance of the big rear tire and short chainstays, there is still a high direct mount for a chain guide, should you choose to run one. There is also a custom MRP bash guard available that can protect those expensive chainrings.
The complete bike will ship with Shimano Deore brakes, Niner’s own 780mm Flat Top handlebars, and the aforementioned SRAM and NoTubes pieces. The 3-Star build will set you back $2,999.