Niner’s new Rip 9 has both 27.5- and 29-inch wheels
Niner has completely redesigned its flagship mountain bike with new slack and long geometry, two wheel sizes and 140mm of travel
As a step away from Niner’s 10-year commitment to the big hoops, it’s gone ahead and incorporated a 27.5-inch wheeled bike into its range. But unlike a lot of companies who just offer a flip chip to accommodate different wheel diameters in the same frame, Niner has built two wheel size specific bikes.
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Although there’s always been something about the aesthetic of Niner’s previous bikes that, if caught at the wrong angle scream crashed into a wall at speed, the new carbon Rip 9 goes further than any other Niner before it to do away with that common judgement.
We managed to take a look at the new model at 2019’s Core Bike show in the UK, and first impressions are promising. The bike’s got a bold and purposeful look in both wheel size models and the pastel-based colour scheme will look great covered in dust.
It’s got adjustable geometry that allows you to swap between high and low settings, which is also a first for Niner. Both the 29er and 27.5 bikes get 140mm of rear wheel travel that’s delivered using Niner’s bespoke CVA suspension system.