So, a steel RLT 9 showed up on the French Niner Facebook page but I/we can't find any more info. on it anywhere. Anyone know anything? I'm curious if the Frenchies accidentally let the cat out of the bag or it's an early April Fools joke.
I just went to look for the post again and it's been removed... I know that because I messaged it to a friend and the post in messenger says it's been removed.
Tubeless tire question. I just ordered an RLT and a pair of Stans Grail wheels. I'm having a devil of a time figuring out if the WTB Nano 40c tires will mount up tubeless. It appears that Stans says no the the tubeless TCS version. Anyone used the WTB TCS with Grails? Or will the race version work well? Thanks.
Finished my ski season this weekend and also did the Spring tune up on the RLT. I went to a 1x10 with a Race Face 40t N/W ring and a 11-36 cassette. Watch out steep dirt roads, here I come.
It's been 10 years since I've biked (mountain) and I'm finally getting back into the saddle. I just ordered a Niner RLT 9 Steel 4-Star build in grey and fortunately Niner has it in stock, there IS an upside to needing a 62cm frame.
And of course, I'll post pictures when it arrives.
I don't think it is particular to the bike or Niner geometry, I think it is personal preference.
I ride Niner's large mtb frames because I have a relatively long torso. I also use a set back seat post. At a pinch I could ride a medium but I would feel cramped.
Don't know if it compliments it but their top tubes are pretty long so if you use a set back seat post it could give you a more stretched out feel and affect the handling. I have 3 Niners and all have a straight seat post, no set back.
Hi all, here's today's shop photo from my new commuter build a steel RLT 9, size XL! I am so excited about this bike after cobbling together a solution for years from a Voodoo Wazoo. The Wazoo in 58cm wasn't a bad bike, but it was a little too small for me and not nearly as hot looking as the RLT!
My commute is about 50 miles; I hit some gravel roads, and more importantly I have to roll over glass on the roadside. I tried every tire, tubeless, including the Schwalbe Marathon Plus and Continental Super Sport Plus; basically the toughest air-filled tires you can get, and unfortunately, they still eventually succumbed to glass shards.
I'm giving the Tannus Aether 1.1s in 28mm width a try and am very hopeful I'll like them. I've also got some 23s on my trainer wheels for my road bike and they're surprisingly unnoticeable.
Other kit includes a mix of low/midrange Shimano and SRAM drivetrain 1x10 with a 44t Wolf Tooth ring, Time ATAC pedals, Mavic Crossride wheels, and the new TRP dual piston mechanical disc brakes. The headlight is on there now, the tail light, cages (3 for summer, wahoo), and Revelate Designs seat bag are to come. The old 140mm stem is on there just for show, I'll be slamming it with a proper 120mm as soon as it comes in.
It rides really smoothly. The Tannus solid tires are kind of slow but actually feel really good. The max width of 44 mm tires is huge so I could easily go the other way. But frame-wise, it feels comfortable, but very solid due to the big tubes. The head tube is a little taller than what I'm used to but I got it down with a -16 stem.
Overall I'm just thrilled about this bike. For training/casual riding/commuting you really should go with steel; save the carbon fiber for racing.
i just picked up the RLT 9 Steel 2 star and really couldn't be happier. still tweaking the build but will post pictures in a week or so when i'm done. swapped out the stock handlebars for salsa cowchippers for starters to get me more leverage in the drops off-road.
A couple weeks ago I did a 6 day/500 mile paved road tour of Lassen and Tahoe on my RLT9. It worked very well. I'm not sure the bike is intended for heavy touring, but for the approx. 15 lb. front and 25 lb. rear loading it worked and handled fine. Here is a shot at the pass through Lassen.
I'm using the bike mostly for commuting duty, with some local single and double track thrown in. In this respect it really is a multi-purpose bike. I'd like to do some off-road touring on it but figure I'd need to pare my load down quite a bit more.
A couple weeks ago I did a 6 day/500 mile paved road tour of Lassen and Tahoe on my RLT9. It worked very well. I'm not sure the bike is intended for heavy touring, but for the approx. 15 lb. front and 25 lb. rear loading it worked and handled fine. Here is a shot at the pass through Lassen.
I'm using the bike mostly for commuting duty, with some local single and double track thrown in. In this respect it really is a multi-purpose bike. I'd like to do some off-road touring on it but figure I'd need to pare my load down quite a bit more.
This might not be the right place to ask this, but for those that have a Niner carbon fork (Niner Carbon Rigid 29" 9mm), does anyone get a bit of a shutter or vibration when applying the front brake? Maybe wrong rotors, any ideas? I have a SRAM XX1 hydro brakes..
If you are getting brake shutter or vibration while braking then you either have contaminated pads and rotor or your head set is loose. Most likely the pads. When they are contaminated they can bite then slip then bite and so on.
Many thanks, the head-sets solid, I think it's either the pads or the rotors, but pads would obviously be a cheaper fix, I think the Niner carbon probably amplifies this slip/bike/slip/bite. I'll give it a shot thanks...and yes couldn't help but throw a Ritchey in the mix, I love the feel of the Niner fork...and BTW the Niner's on this site a pretty too...
I recently crashed my RLT aluminum. Bike shop says it's fine. But I did notice that the wheel/tire sits closer to the drive side chainstay. It may have before and I didn't make note of it. Just figured I would ask if any of you see that on yours? Hopefully yes... I know the chain stays are asymmetrical.
The wheel in my rlt9 sits dead center, and the chain stays are symmetrical. Not sure if the design changed? I'd have another look if I were you, either the frame is not straight or the wheel is mis-dished. Does the bike pull to one side?
Not that I can tell, but on gravel hard to notice as much. I'm all but certain the chainstay a aren't identical but either way, thanks for your personal input! I'll have another check
Hey guys, recently been thinking of getting a steel RLT9, right now I ride a Salsa Vaya and it is a great bike but just a little on the heavy side at around 27-28lbs. Anyone have experience with both bikes? Think I'd most likely go with a 3-4* build and was hoping that would be in the low 20lb range in a size 56.
I've gotten into long gravel rides (50-200 mile) and need a comfortable lighter bike. Any help is appreciated
The RLT 9 steel is not a very light frame at all, it's oversized and burly, 7 lbs including fork. The Vaya appears to be titanium, so I'd imagine it's lighter? I find the RLT 9 steel to be very stable and comfortable, for some reason Niner's geometry really appeals to me, I think it's the oversized tubes and the long TT. Also I personally like the first-gen steel RLT9's color scheme the best, silver bare-metal with safety-blaze orange is perfectly functional for a commuter.
Unless you have fit issues with the Vaya, I'd keep it. If anyone wants to buy a steel Voodoo Wazoo frame 58cm, still in decent condition, let me know. The only reason I switched was because it was too small for me.
There is a titanium vaya, but I have a steel one made with 4130 steel.
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