A few months back Colorado-based Niner revamped its XC dualie the JET 9 and trail-focused RIP 9 with more aggressive geometry, boost wheel spacing and 27.5 wheel compatibility — an interesting choice for a brand built around 29ers.
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Initially, these upgrades were only applied to the carbon fiber version, but trickle-down tech has now reached the lower end of Niner's range with the Alloy JET 9.
JET 9 highlights
- 130mm front travel and 120mm of rear travel
- 142 x 12mm rear hub spacing
- Compatible with 29x2.4 tires or 27.5 plus tires up to 3.0in
- Internal and external dropper post routing
- BSA threaded Bottom Bracket
- Wallet-friendly US$2,600 price tag. UK and AU pricing are yet to be announced.
As our own Jon Woodhouse pointed out when the carbon version was released, for a brand that believes 29in is the best wheel size, making a frame compatible with 27.5 wheels is an interesting choice. However, Niner is quick to remind us that 27.5 wheels with fat rubber are nearly the same diameter as a conventional 29in set up.
Previously the JET 9 was categorised as an XC racer, however, with its 100mm fork succeeded by a 130mm Rockshox Yari RC Solo Air (up to 140mm with 27.5 wheels) and rear travel upped to a 120mm Rockshox Monarch RL Debonair at the rear, the new JET 9 is a trail hungry steed.
Also gone are the headaches caused by creaky press fit bottom brackets as well, with the new JET 9 utilizing a threaded 73mm BSA system. There’s also routing for internal and external dropper too.
As with all of Niner's full suspension bikes the JET 9 receives the multi-link CVA suspension system. The brand says its design eliminates pedal bob while keeping the rear suspension active, however, the lower linkage also creates a perfect shelf for mud and muck to accumulate.
Also brought down from its more expensive cousins, the alloy JET 9’s geometry mirrors the RDO version with the head angled slackened from 69.5 degrees to 67.5 degrees and an effective seat tube angle of 74.5-degrees — if you make the leap to 27.5+ wheels the angles get half a degree slacker.
The seat stays also come in a touch shorter measuring 434mm and the reach is a bit longer too to allow for shorter stems and wider handlebars. All of this techno-babble means that the bike should allow you to harness the additional travel when the trail gets buck wild.
The new alloy JET 9 only comes as a complete bike with Niner’s 1-Start spec with a SRAM NX drivetrain, SRAM Level brakes, ISCG 05 mounts, 29in wheels and Niner finishing kit and touchpoints. Even better, the new bike comes it at US$ 2,600, about half the price of its carbon fiber cousin.