Since the redesigned RIP has come out, I've been thinking about buying a new frame, and swapping over the parts from my Stump Comp FSR to it. But wanted to make sure it's a definite step up before I did. So yesterday I had the chance to visit a Niner dealer and find out.
Despite them telling me in an earlier email that they had the new models in stock, all they had built up were two of the older ones. But I rode them anyway, just to get an idea.
A couple years ago, I had bought a Niner MCR frame and built it up as my introduction to 29ers. Since Niners seem to run a bit large, I had a medium frame, and it fit me perfectly, so I assumed the same would go for the RIP. How wrong I was. The medium RIP felt cramped, even after adjusting seat height a bit, and moving it back as far as it could go on the seatpost. Still felt like I was in a fetal position on the bike, my knees and elbows felt like they were crammed into my body. With the shock left fully open, there was no pedal bob at all, they had a small test loop out back, and the bike felt great both going up and down the little rollers. I don't know if quicker is the word to use to describe the handling compared to my Stumpy, but it definitely seemed more responsive. It just went where you pointed it, no hesitation. Felt a bit lighter as well.
Unfortunately, I think I sprained my knee earlier in the week, and tweaked it again there in the parking lot, so I didn't spend as much time as I wanted on the demo loop, as the knee was really hurting. But they also had a large in stock, and I rode that around the parking lot a bit to check fit, and it felt perfect. Pretty much exactly the same as I feel on the Stumpy, sitting in it, not on it, position was almost exactly the same. Even stopped and straddling the bike felt exactly the same as with the Stumpy, everything seemed the same dimension-wise.
So not sure how the extra slack in the newer version will translate into fit; I assume if the seat angle and top tube length stay the same, the slacker head angle will feel like a bit shorter top tube length. And even shorter still if I spring for a 140mm Pike to run on it, and slacken the angles even more, but I think the large size is definitely the way to go, which surprises me a bit. But it just felt so much more comfortable and right. Which shows that it certainly pays to be able to throw a leg over the bike before you buy. Some long term time on it will prove the case, but it definitely seemed like a better bike than my current Stumpy.
Despite them telling me in an earlier email that they had the new models in stock, all they had built up were two of the older ones. But I rode them anyway, just to get an idea.
A couple years ago, I had bought a Niner MCR frame and built it up as my introduction to 29ers. Since Niners seem to run a bit large, I had a medium frame, and it fit me perfectly, so I assumed the same would go for the RIP. How wrong I was. The medium RIP felt cramped, even after adjusting seat height a bit, and moving it back as far as it could go on the seatpost. Still felt like I was in a fetal position on the bike, my knees and elbows felt like they were crammed into my body. With the shock left fully open, there was no pedal bob at all, they had a small test loop out back, and the bike felt great both going up and down the little rollers. I don't know if quicker is the word to use to describe the handling compared to my Stumpy, but it definitely seemed more responsive. It just went where you pointed it, no hesitation. Felt a bit lighter as well.
Unfortunately, I think I sprained my knee earlier in the week, and tweaked it again there in the parking lot, so I didn't spend as much time as I wanted on the demo loop, as the knee was really hurting. But they also had a large in stock, and I rode that around the parking lot a bit to check fit, and it felt perfect. Pretty much exactly the same as I feel on the Stumpy, sitting in it, not on it, position was almost exactly the same. Even stopped and straddling the bike felt exactly the same as with the Stumpy, everything seemed the same dimension-wise.
So not sure how the extra slack in the newer version will translate into fit; I assume if the seat angle and top tube length stay the same, the slacker head angle will feel like a bit shorter top tube length. And even shorter still if I spring for a 140mm Pike to run on it, and slacken the angles even more, but I think the large size is definitely the way to go, which surprises me a bit. But it just felt so much more comfortable and right. Which shows that it certainly pays to be able to throw a leg over the bike before you buy. Some long term time on it will prove the case, but it definitely seemed like a better bike than my current Stumpy.