Interbike 2012 Dispatch: Niner unveils RIP 9 RDO
Originally posted on September 26, 2012 at 15:46 pm
By Justin Steiner
Niner continues to expand Race Day Optimized (RDO) carbon technology through its bike lineup. For 2013, it’s the RIP 9 that’ll receive the RDO treatment. This Rally Blue beauty offers 125mm of Constantly Varying Arc (CVA) suspension travel and is designed for use with 120mm- to 140mm-travel forks. Frame weight with shock is quoted at a reasonable 5.8 lbs. for a medium-sized frame.
Geometry numbers are consistent with Niner’s aluminum RIP 9, though with slightly shorter chainstays. Headtube angle will sit at 70.5 degrees with a 120mm fork, while slackening out to 69.5 degrees with a 140mm fork. Chainstays will measure 17.7-inches, down from 17.9-inches on the aluminum RIP.
The RIP 9 RDO frame offers all the standards you’d expect: 142.x12mm rear axle, tapered headtube, ISCG mounts, dropper post routing, as well as internal cable routing. The beautiful carbon rocker and lower links both rotate around oversized angular contact bearings. I really dig the aluminum “skid plate” mounted under the carbon lower link for protection. It gives the RIP of bit of a Moto vibe.
Excpect the RIP 9 RDO to be available March 1 at $2,900 for frame and FOX CTD shock or $3,550 for frame, shock and a paint-matched, 130mm-travel RockShox Revelation RT3.
Flat Top alloy bars
Niner was also showing a new version of their Flat Top Alloy handlebar measuring 780mm in width, which will retail for $50.
Titanium cogs
For the blinglespeeders in the audience, Niner will be offering CNC-machined titanium cogs in 2013 for $130.