The AIR9 is Niner's light, agile ripper designed for fast xc riding or racing. Niner has worked directly with Easton to produce a super light scandium tube set which is vertically compliant yet laterally stiff in the bottom bracket for hammering those out of the saddle climbs.
3.1 lb. super light geared-only, disc only frame with custom drawn and butted Easton™ Scandium GX2 tubing (size medium RAW)
Atomic Blue, Kermit Green or RAW (brushed frame with a clear coat) colors available for 2009
Niner specific geometry
Custom s-bend chainstays and seatstays for added heel and mud clearance. Will fit a WTB 2.55" tire
Can be purchased with a matching Rigid Reynolds steel fork or matching carbon fiber Niner fork
Stainless Steel Head Badge
Internally butted head tube, bottom bracket tube and custom bent Niner down tube for strength/ maximum fork clearance
S-Bend Seat Stays and Chain Stays for added heel and mud clearance. Frame will accept 2.55" tire
Requires a 31.6mm post, 400mm length recommended 35mm Seat Clamp
34.9 front derailleur clamp, top pull, low mount (top swing)
Submitted by
BigJ
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, AZ Date Reviewed: November 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
50 yr trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Strengths:
Extremely light with great geometry. Climbs like no other bike I've ridden. 29 inch wheels roll up and over everything.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Cake 2, Specialized Stumpjumper, Specialized Enduro
Bike Setup:
Niner air raw. RF deus cranks. Shimano XT derailluers. Avid Elixir brakes. Mavic C29ssmax wheelset.
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome ride. Compared to all of my previous 26 inch full suspension bikes, it rides nearly as smooth on rocky terrain. It's super light, super fast and climbs like a beast (i'm clearing steep sections of trails that i've previously had to hike). Would highly recommend trying one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
thecanuck
a Weekend Warrior
from Marietta, GA, USA Date Reviewed: October 13, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Tea Creek Mtn
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Bear Creek Bikes, Da
Strengths:
Great Handling, inspiring ride, forgiving on loose corners, climbs better than anything I've ridden. The finish and build quality is superb - best I've seen. Very light weight but that doesn't matter that much on a bike like this.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Voodoo Aizan, Niner SIR
Bike Setup:
- King/Stan's Flow Wheels
- White Bros Magic 29/100 fork
- Raceface Deus, HS, Stem, Seatpost, Cranks, Next Riser Bar
- SRAM X.9 F&R Ders
- Avid BB7, SL Brakes, FlakJacket Cables
- Maxxis Ignitor and Stan's Crow Tires
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike I've ever ridden, period. Unlike most MTB bikes of the 26 inch variety,this bike climbs like you're on a trail run rather than a bike ride. It's way easier to get into a comfortable rhythm on even the steepest, rock stewn climbs. It goes down hill even better, btw. You'd be crazy not to try one out if you're in the market for a new bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shehateme
a Racer
from Wisconsin, Oregon.U.S. Date Reviewed: March 20, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Diamond Lake
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2900.00
Purchased At:
EBAY
Strengths:
Simply the best I have ridden. Very light. The frame just fits righ and feels great.
Weaknesses:
None at all
Similar Products Used:
Nothing compares. It is just that awesome.
Bike Setup:
SRAM xX-9
Bottom Line:
You won't ride a nicer bike in the $2-3000 dollar range!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
s3pt1k
a Cross Country Rider
from Salty City, Utah Date Reviewed: March 20, 2009
Favorite Trail:
United States
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Super light, nice ride quality, raw finish is nice at first, Niner service
Weaknesses:
SUPER flexy, creaky, cracked the chainstay, scandium isn't all it's cracked up to be if you weight 200lbs+, Niner service
I'm 200lbs+ all geared up. I liked this bike right at first, but after some time on it, began to realize something was VERY wrong. The ride quality was great, but the frame was "off."
The framed creaked all the time and was quite noodly when I wanted to really lean the bike. The creaks got worse after a few months and after a thorough frame check, I found a crack on the rear drive-side chainstay. The clear-coat really started to get trashed too and just looked junky. Niner needs to anodize their aluminum hardtails (though I don't think Scandium can be anodized).
I contacted Niner service and they were great to arrange a replacement (and give me a refund of the cost difference, but that took over a month for me to get, after repeated promises the check had been sent).
I made it clear that a Scandium frame wasn't right for me so they arranged a replacement EMD 9 (which, incidentally, I LOVE).
The EMD made me realize I hated the AIR 9. The geometry (though supposed to be identical) was much different. I get a lower SO by 1/2 inch and and the rear end is MUCH easier to get over, which makes manualing much easier. IMO, for a larger rider, the EMD beats the AIR 9 hands down.
It's not likely I'll ride another Scandium frame again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
theman
a Cross Country Rider
from houston Date Reviewed: March 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
double lakes state park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
light, durable, kermit green looks flippin sweet
Weaknesses:
none to name so far
Bike Setup:
xt cranks, x-9 shifters, xo rear derailer, xt front derailer, xxx stem,handlebars, and seatpost, spinner 2nine fork, avid juicy 7s
Bottom Line:
great for tearing the trails up recomended to anyone
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kerry Smith
a Racer
from St George, Ut Date Reviewed: March 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
gooseberry mesa
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
on line
Strengths:
very light quick steering great climber very stable at speed
Weaknesses:
customer service (niner)
Similar Products Used:
ellsworth truth trek 69er
Bike Setup:
duc 32 fork xtr and king
Bottom Line:
this is the best hard tail I have ever ridden I have been mtbing for 16 years I have become a 29er convert in the last 2 yrs. acceleration is incredible and it turns like it is on rails. I am 6'2 and am riding a large fm with an extra long seat post with setback. I have ridden an XL but it is appreciably slower turning.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tra5005
a Weekend Warrior
from Boothwyn, Pennsylvania Date Reviewed: February 12, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Brandywine/Woodlawn
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
weighs nothing, nice looking, near perfect geometry
It's a hardtail and you can't get around the fact that the rear end will jump around through rock gardens and over logs and roots. It's only a "weakness" when compared to full-suspension designs (which, in turn, have their own weaknesses, of course).
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Superlight, Blur XC, Heckler. Jamis Dragon Pro.
Bike Setup:
Manitou Minute 29er (100mm), American Classic wheels, Magura Marta SL brakes, XTR/XT derailleur shifter, Truvativ Stylo Team crank/ Thomson post/stem, etc.
Bottom Line:
This bike is incredibly fast and efficient. The benefits of the 29" wheels have been discussed ad nauseam, but most of it is true. Traction is ridiculous and it rolls over technical terrain very nicely. It's one of the lightest 29er hardtails out there and the geometry is spot on. It handles very predictably and neutrally, and makes a great race bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cjaverett
a Cross Country Rider
from Cincinnati, Ohio Date Reviewed: October 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mohican State Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$749.00
Purchased At:
BioWheels Workshop
Strengths:
Super light weight and compliant scandium frame. Center of gravity in a fantastic spot for confident descents and incredible climbing power
Weaknesses:
Rear chainstays...both too narrow for wider 2.3 tires and too wide causing issues from muudy chain suck.
My first real ride on my Air9 was this years Mohican 100...this is where I discovered the frame/tire clearence issues. I was running Kenda Nevgals 2.2 and I had constent frame rub and while under stress during hard climbs the tire would even rub on the front der. I was able to adjust the crank and chain line to eliminate the der. rub...but I have not been able to run my wider Kendas. I have heard from other posts the these tire may run a little larger then th listed 2.2 but I was still dissapointed.
I have ZERO complaints with the performance of the frame. After riding a Yeti ASR for the last 5 years I was concerned that I would miss the rear shock. Now the larger contact patch and forgiving scandium tubing is not 4" of travel. But even my old bones didn't complain any more after a long ride on my Niner then on the old ASR. This is an excellent choice for racers, epic xc riders or even some one who rides once a week on local single track.
Go get your own! I am looking forward to more races in 2009.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bte01
a Cross Country Rider
from SoCal Date Reviewed: October 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Anything in Idyllwild
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Rock & Road
Strengths:
Light, great climber, handling is great
Weaknesses:
Slow acceleration due to big wheels. Paint chips easy.
Similar Products Used:
Superfly, Paragon, Lenz
Bike Setup:
Fox Front, X-9, Shimano Tubeless 29er rims/hubs, Elixer Brakes
Bottom Line:
After my first ride on this bike I knew I had made the right decision on a hardtail 29er. It handled better than my Blur and was just as fast downhill. It did take me about a week to get comfortable climbing with the bigger wheels. Now I ride everything faster! The scandium frame is super compliant and much more comfortable than similar 29er hardtails I demoed. The second day on the bike I rode 35 miles and I felt just as comfortable as on a full suspension. Total weight came in at just under 24lbs w/o pedals. This bike could easily be set up under 23 lbs. A great choice if you want a fast hardtail 29er.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mitchman21
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA Date Reviewed: October 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Headlands Loop (SF)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$3600.00
Purchased At:
Wrenchscience.com
Strengths:
Stiff, Strong, resposive = Works for me! Climbs like a billy goat.
Weaknesses:
Paint is a bit fragile, extreme S bend on rear drop limits you rear rotor size.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
XTR, Reba Race, Noir Crank
Bottom Line:
If you are a heavier (200-250) XC rider that can dish it out this frame can take it.
This frame has great value compared to Titanium frames out there.
From a purely aesthetic view I really like the Raw finish, reminds me of my first Ross Mountain bike that was Nickel plated CrMo.
I went with a previous reviewer’s recommendation not to buy the complete bike and customized my ride with at WrenchScience.
Thanks to the team at Wrench Science for building a superb bike at what I feel is a reasonable performance/value price.
Very little room to spare between chainstays & seatstays while running the 2.4 inch Conti tire (which really specs out at more liek 2.2) - have had some minor issue with the front derailleur contacting the outer tire knobs while in the smaller chainring. Myriad fix-it routes easily available to deal with this issue.
Larger rotors (rear in particular) have very little clearance between seatstay and rotor rim. Have not experienced issues yet, but it is foreseeable an issue might develop. Advise using slightly smaller rear rotor, perhaps.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
White Bros Magic 29 80MM fork, King headset, Thompson stem & post, Avid Juicy 7 brakes w/ 8" rotors, XTR shifters & derailleurs, Mavic C29max wheelset, Conti Mtn King Tires, Race Face Deus Crankset w/ bashguard, run as a 2x9 (24Tx36T rings), Salsa LipLock, Fizik Gobi Ti saddle.
Bottom Line:
I made the move from a 4"x4" XC 26'er to this hardtail 29er and will never look back. Having put this bike through its paces so far this season I am nothing short of amazed at how nimble it seems and how smoothly it performs. Very limited sense of trail feedback (esp. for a HT), I would say it handles the trail with precision and authority.
I expected to lose some downhill speed by changing suspension platforms from FS to HT, but in fact I have lost very little speed on the descent, and generally feel in better control. The White Brothers fork deserves some of its own accolades for thus far proving itself in many challenging situations. Overall, I attribute this bike's exceptional ride characteristics and smoother-than-expected downhill abilities to combinations of the scandium frame & it's geometry (it feels amazing), the 29" wheels (wow, what a difference in how they gobble up the terrain on both the uphill and downhill), and the tubeless setup (riding the tires somewhere between 28 and 33 psi, trail-condition dependent).
The biggest area in which I expected this bike to help me improve my riding is in technical uphill sections, and it has not disappointed. Sections of trail that seemed a real challenge the Air-9 handles with relative ease. Again, I expected the shift to HT to produce some climbing advantages anyway, but it is exceeding my high expectations.
I was concerned I would miss my full suspension on the longer, rougher, more adventurous rides, but two weeks ago I took the Niner on a 35 mile/5000'/"advanced" singletrack adventure and I finished the ride strong and not feeling as though my skeleton had taken a severe beating.
The build of the bike frame certainly exudes 'quality', readily and repeatedly apparent during post-ride cleanings and inspections; the raw finish still looks new. It's a good looking rig, for what little that is worth.
Incidentally, I am 6'4" with a 36 inch inseam and got the XL frame. My reach is average for my height, and the resulting geometry feels very comfortable to me. Make of that what you will, noting that I tend to favor a little more aggressive/forward riding posture than others may be comfortable with (and this mostly has to do with choice of stem).
I would recommend this bike wholeheartedly. If you are on the 29er fence and think a HT is enough for you, go for it. If you love XC-style riding on your old FS 3-4" travel bike, consider the HT option! If you end up like me you'll feel like you earned a real benefit 98% of the time. The other 2% you can just take it a hair slower and hopefully keep your bike rubber-side down.
I feel the frame is worth what you'll likely pay for it, so I have no argument with respect to its cost relative to its value ... but on principle, if something is an 'outstanding value' you should just about be getting MORE than what you pay for, no? Four well-spent chilis. Five overall for being all that and a sack o' chips.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Telesavant
a Cross Country Rider
from Hailey, ID Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008
Very little room to spare between chainstays & seatstays while running the 2.4 inch Conti tire (which really specs out at more liek 2.2) - have had some minor issue with the front derailleur contacting the outer tire knobs while in the smaller chainring. Myriad fix-it routes easily available to deal with this issue.
Larger rotors (rear in particular) have very little clearance between seatstay and rotor rim. Have not experienced issues yet, but it is foreseeable an issue might develop. Advise using slightly smaller rear rotor, perhaps.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
White Bros Magic 29 80MM fork, King headset, Thompson stem & post, Avid Juicy 7 brakes w/ 8" rotors, XTR shifters & derailleurs, Mavic C29max wheelset, Conti Mtn King Tires, Race Face Deus Crankset w/ bashguard, run as a 2x9 (24Tx36T rings), Salsa LipLock, Fizik Gobi Ti saddle.
Bottom Line:
I made the move from a 4"x4" XC 26'er to this hardtail 29er and will never look back. Having put this bike through its paces so far this season I am nothing short of amazed at how nimble it seems and how smoothly it performs. Very limited sense of trail feedback (esp. for a HT), I would say it handles the trail with precision and authority.
I expected to lose some downhill speed by changing suspension platforms from FS to HT, but in fact I have lost very little speed on the descent, and generally feel in better control. The White Brothers fork deserves some of its own accolades for thus far proving itself in many challenging situations. Overall, I attribute this bike's exceptional ride characteristics and smoother-than-expected downhill abilities to combinations of the scandium frame & it's geometry (it feels amazing), the 29" wheels (wow, what a difference in how they gobble up the terrain on both the uphill and downhill), and the tubeless setup (riding the tires somewhere between 28 and 33 psi, trail-condition dependent).
The biggest area in which I expected this bike to help me improve my riding is in technical uphill sections, and it has not disappointed. Sections of trail that seemed a real challenge the Air-9 handles with relative ease. Again, I expected the shift to HT to produce some climbing advantages anyway, but it is exceeding my high expectations.
I was concerned I would miss my full suspension on the longer, rougher, more adventurous rides, but two weeks ago I took the Niner on a 35 mile/5000'/"advanced" singletrack adventure and I finished the ride strong and not feeling as though my skeleton had taken a severe beating.
The build of the bike frame certainly exudes 'quality', readily and repeatedly apparent during post-ride cleanings and inspections; the raw finish still looks new. It's a good looking rig, for what little that is worth.
Incidentally, I am 6'4" with a 36 inch inseam and got the XL frame. My reach is average for my height, and the resulting geometry feels very comfortable to me. Make of that what you will, noting that I tend to favor a little more aggressive/forward riding posture than others may be comfortable with (and this mostly has to do with choice of stem).
I would recommend this bike wholeheartedly. If you are on the 29er fence and think a HT is enough for you, go for it. If you love XC-style riding on your old FS 3-4" travel bike, consider the HT option! If you end up like me you'll feel like you earned a real benefit 98% of the time. The other 2% you can just take it a hair slower and hopefully keep your bike rubber-side down.
I feel the frame is worth what you'll likely pay for it, so I have no argument with respect to its cost relative to its value ... but on principle, if something is an 'outstanding value' you should just about be getting MORE than what you pay for, no? Four well-spent chilis. Five overall for being all that and a sack o' chips.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ty
a Cross Country Rider
from Northwest Georgia, USA Date Reviewed: May 26, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Tsali
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Bear Creek Bikes in Dalton, GA
Strengths:
Lightweight, strong frame. Raw finish is beautiful. 29er specific geometry.
Weaknesses:
None so far...
Similar Products Used:
Niner SIR9
Bike Setup:
Fox F29 fork, Chris King headset and hubs, NoTubes ZTR Flow 29er rims (wheels custom built by Shane at Bear Creek Bikes), Hope Mono M4 brakeset, SRAM X0 drivetrain, FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue crank.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. I have been riding Cannondales forever, and still love them, but this bike just blows my old bikes away. The bike handles so well and it's light weight (just under 25lbs) makes each ride seem effortless. I tried build this bike with the best components. Of all the components, I am most impressed with the Hope brakeset. Talk about power! If you need to stop NOW, they'll stop you NOW. Overall, the Niner frame is riding great with really no complaints. I love the Raw finish.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JRacer
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA Date Reviewed: May 13, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
webcyclery
Strengths:
Light weight frame, well designed geometry. Quality craftsmanship makes for an easy build.
Weaknesses:
The paint! I have the kermit green frame. I have put less than a 100 miles on the bike and already there are major scratches and chips in the paint. You have to run the fork at 100mm to get the right geometry. The trade off is sluggish steering and a high front end. Even with a flipped stem and flat bar I find it hard to get into a good attack position.
Similar Products Used:
Trek Fuel, GF Paragon
Bike Setup:
Kermit green Frame size Large (I am 6' tall & it fits perfect), American classic wheelset, Bontrager tires, XTR 175mm crankset, sram x9 deraillers, avid juicy brakeset, ritchey wcs stem, Reba race fork w pop lock, Thomson seatpost, WTB rocket v saddle, shimano M540 pedals
Bottom Line:
This is a great frame that handles well. I will never go back to a 26" wheel. I am 6' tall and I always find myself right between frame sizes. If you are in the same boat go with the large frame. It allows you to ride the bike from the front and middle giving you power and stability. The attention to detail is obvious. But I have to wonder; how can niner pay such close attention to every detail but neglect something as simple as the paint job? I rode this bike on 6 rides over the last 2 weeks and already have significant damage to the finish. This is a quality bike but I am concerned about the durability.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ron Harding
a Cross Country Rider
from Coatesville, PA, USA Date Reviewed: April 4, 2008
Favorite Trail:
N/A
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
LoweRiders
Strengths:
Extremely light, vertically compliant while reasonably laterally stiff, rides like steel but weighs less then aluminum, handles great, light, did I mention it was light?
Weaknesses:
Seat stay tire clearance, premature paint wear due to inadequate seat stay tire clearance, durability?
Similar Products Used:
Kona Kula 2-9, Salsa Dos Niner
Bike Setup:
Salsa Delgado Rims laced to DT Swiss Hugi 240 hubs, Fox F29 RLC fork, Thomson Stem and Post, WTB saddle, Sram XO 1X9 drivetrain, Truvativ Noir single speed crank with Black Box ceramic bottom bracket, panaracer rampage tires, Avid BB7 brakes...fast and light.
Bottom Line:
I have ridden a couple of 29er bikes in the past but this is my first personal 29er rig. I am totally pleased on almost all fronts: the bike handles well, tracks well, climbs awesome, rolls over anything, is vertically compliant (i.e., feels like my old steel hardtail) and is extremely light!! It retains all of the benefits of a 29er bike and because of the light build seems to have none of the faults. However, I don't see this frame lasting more than one race season. In the 2-3 weeks that I've had this bike built up I've ridden it ~10 times, and already the clearcoat and paint have worn away on the seatstays. I can see the metal already! I forsee the seatstays wearing down simply from dirt abrasion enough to warrant replacement in September when the race season ends. The chainstays have plenty of clearance but clearance is skimpy on the seat stays. For a $750.00 frame I would expect more durability. I work at a shop so in September if the frame is too beat I think I'll just "upgrade" to the MCR9 for durability purposes. Aside from the seatstay clearance and the resultant wear issues this frame is perfect. Niner if you ever read this two things: (1) reformulate your clearcoat and paint for more durability, and (2) take a chapter from Surly and make the seatstays FFF (i.e., fatties fit fine).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
LAMTBIKER
a Racer
from Colorado Date Reviewed: March 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Buff Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Bike Source
Strengths:
Handling in singletrack, climbing
Weaknesses:
Paint
Similar Products Used:
GF Paragon, Superfly, Stumpjumper 29
Bike Setup:
Full XTR Groupo, Reba Race, Crossmax29
Bottom Line:
So far I have been very impressed with the bike with only one complaint, the paint scratches easily. Did a mud ride and the paint wore off on the inside of seat stays where tire clears. Never had this issue on the many other bikes I own or have owned (20 plus). Apparently it's an issue with other Niner owners. Bummer, because the paint colors are very cool (I have Kermit Green). Paint job aside, this bike rips everything the Rockies have to offer which is saying a lot. It will be my race bike this season. I feel I have the advantage on big climbs and technical courses.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO Date Reviewed: January 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Too many to list...
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$675.00
Purchased At:
Bitter Brush Cyclery, Lyons, CO
Strengths:
Heal clearance, compliance, geometry, standover, faced and chased surfaces, cable routing, weight, attention to detail, bang for the buck.
Weaknesses:
Pedal strikes with 175mm crank and Reba in 80mm setting, not a problem at all in 100mm setting. In slow riding, it is slow to steer with the fork at 100mm. Hence the delema.
Similar Products Used:
Dos Niner.
Bike Setup:
Medium frame, X7/XO mix, duece cranks, alloy flat bar and stem, Eriksen sweetpost layback, egg beaters, formula oro discs, reba, crossmarks converted tubeless, 355/competition/240 wheels built up by Mike C., king headset, ergon grips, 23.6 lbs.
Bottom Line:
Tried the Dos Niner as my first foray in to 29" format, primarily used for endurance events, light rider at under 140lbs and considered short for a 29er at 5' 7". I knew the format was for me within the first 5 miles. After research, and much deliberation I went with the Air9.
Scandium tubeset gives near steel compliance as it allows for longer butted sections, which also reduces weight. Both desirable for lighter rider such as myself. Required long seatpost, paired with Eriksen Ti post and 29" format is primo. Will not go back to 26 format period, let alone my old 4" front and rear suspended rig.
Light wheelset, combined with tubeless conversion yields competition ready acceleration. Longer contact patch reduces pinch flats, increases float over loose-snow-sand, and holds speed well. Increased wheel size reduces bump size, and rear traction on climbs is unmatched by anything 26", save maybe a pugsly. Short headtube allows even bar to seat height with positive rise stem and flat bar. Would need negative rise stem to get a more aggressive stance. I am using the Salso Pro Moto flat bar at 7degrees (I think 7?) in lieu of a riser. Keep the width, keep the sweep, gain some weight, gain some real estate on the bars for crap I probably don't need. I would have to flip the stem to negative to run the riser I used to use.
Negatives are that I must run the fork in the 100mm position to avoid pedal strikes. This is unfortunate as it does not need the extra travel and it slows down the steering a bit when going slow in technical terrain. I don't have this issue as much when running an 80mm suspension corrected rigid fork, so I attribute some of it to the 20% sag in the fork. Some might say it is a negative that you can get in over your head in a hurry. It just mows through stuff, and carries speed in such a way that when things do occationally go wrong you are carrying that much more speed during a crash.
All in all I am sold on the 29" format, and I think largely due to how Niner has addressed the possible drawbacks with their geometry and attention to detail. Were I to go with a custom built rig, the only change would be to keep the 80mm setup numbers with a slightly raised bottom bracket. Maybe 1/4" would do the trick.
Scandium rides suprisingly well. I have heard others compare it to Ti in terms of ride quality. From my experience I would call it "Steel Lite". Almost the compliance, less weight penalty. Pun intended.
Traditional 29" negative arguments and how Niner seems to have addressed them: -Slow handling-in 100mm setting only at really low speeds, in 80mm setting not at all. -Slow acceleration-combined with light weight wheelset...NOT a problem. -Shorter riders have toe overlap...NOT a problem down to at least 5' 7". -Shorter riders cannot keep weight/traction on the rear...NOT a problem. -Front end too high...you can get down to 2" below the saddle. Need any more drop than that, then it's a problem. -Can't get the front end up over obstacles...no issues here. -Bike is heavier...when you compare that I replaced a 4" travel 26er with a Niner hardtail...I lost over 1 lb with a similar build. If you compare it to a similar built 26" hardtail the 29" WILL be heavier. I wrote off 26" hardtails back in 1997, so for me this is the lightest option. The fact that I like it is icing on the cake. Additionally, I have at least 1-2 lbs that could be trimmed with a few choice parts. That would put it in the 21-22 lb range. Not exactly porky. -Tire selection...I think we are up to 80 options or so. -Tubeless avialability...If you like stans rims with traditional tires OR Mavic/Bontrager rims with Bontrager tubeless ready tires you are OK. Otherwise you will have to wait at least another year. -I can't think of anymore...you get the point.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a
from Birmingham, AL Date Reviewed: December 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Geometry, weight, looks. Pretty much everything.
Weaknesses:
Paint...that's it
Bike Setup:
1x9, Reba, Rhythm wheels, light stuff. 24 pounds.
Bottom Line:
This bike has been great so far. No real problems other than some small paint chips. Much faster everywhere than my old 26er Bianchi. Go for the Kermit Green. The frame prep they do is a nice touch and Brett at Niner was great to deal with.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from AUSTRALIA Date Reviewed: November 30, 2007
XTR, Avid Ultimates, No-tubes/ DT swiss wheels, all carbon bits with a little bit of Ti... 22lbs
Bottom Line:
If you race and want something fast in a 29er this is one to seriously consider as it eats the miles and handles tight single track with ease. I have an Ellsworth Truth gathering dust, this 29er hardtail climbs better, is lighter and I can still ride 100km + rides and feel fresh the next day, it's superb! All my usual trails are faster on this thing. Remembering it is still a hardtail is hard sometimes as I forget! Much more comfy comapred to a 26" HT.
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Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from North Carolina Date Reviewed: October 23, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
local retailer
Strengths:
Really, really light weight, clean welds and faced bb shell and headtube from factory (nice attention to detail... even include a stainless steel headbadge), well thought out geometry (steeper head angle for quicker steering), a quick and nimble climber, awesome customer service from Niner
Weaknesses:
Gotten a bit soft due to full suspension (more a weakness of myself), and inspires almost too much confidence descending (gets me into trouble)
Reba SL fork, Sram 9.0 8spd drivetrain (complete with twist shifters), Avid BB7 disc brakes (185mm front, 160mm rear), Shimano XTR V-brake levers (best ever), Race X Lite 29er wheelset (on loan until my Industry Nine wheels are ready), King headset, Raceface crankset, Thomson cockpit, and my trusty old Specialized BG Comp cushy saddle
Bottom Line:
After avoiding the 29er market for the last decade or so, I finally jumped in head first. And I could not be happier!! Every time I ride, I feel as if I am riding for the first time... it is that good! Initially, I had written off the 29er as a fad soon to dissapear. I tried a Fisher long ago and dismissed the notion of a 29 inch wheel due to its poor handling and sluggish performance and stuck by my trusty 26 inchers. Recently, I decided to give the 29er another shot. With all the advancements, I was ready to start fresh... and boy am I glad I did. From the first ride, I was hooked.
What attracted me to Niner was their dedication to the big wheels (that is all they sell), the fit and finish of their bikes, and their geometries. Niner steepens the head angle to 72 degrees which makes the front end nimble like its 26 inch wheeled counterpart. "Other" companies are now introducing offset fork crowns to shorten the trail of the fork which essentially has the same effect, but seems to be more of a band-aid approach to the obvious problem of slack head angles producing a sluggish feel on big wheeled bikes. This offset fork crown design also lengthens the wheelbase making the bike even less nimble and manuverable through tight singletrack.
I know what you are thinking... what about the negatives. Well I listed two weaknesses above, and both are due more to rider than bike. Of course a light weight 3.2 pound Easton Scandium frame is going to be stiff... the instant power transfer is what I was looking for. After riding a full suspension bike for so many years, putting two plus hour rides on a hardtail is bound to hurt a bit. So I have already come up with two ways to remedy the rigid feeling: I am going to switch to a carbon post (the 31.6mm Thomson is real, real rigid) and convert to tubeless for the plushness and better control of lower air pressures. The other problem with the Air 9 is that the self assuring stability gives the rider almost too much confidence descending. I have nearly lost it twice already because I was simply flying.
Much thanks should go out to Niner for doing what they do... focusing soly on the 29 inch market (innovating and expanding it every year) and for designing a far superior product.
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Submitted by
Mike Schiebout
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch CO Date Reviewed: August 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Any trail on a 29er
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$749.00
Purchased At:
Big Kahuna Bicycles
Strengths:
Light wieght and handling
Weaknesses:
Fragile Paint
Similar Products Used:
02 Gary Fisher SuperCal 29 and my S.I.R 9
Bike Setup:
Stole most of the parts off of my 06 Giant Anthem 1. Race Face carbon seat post and bars. RF stem and Dues SL cranks. Complete XO drive train and WTB Ti saddle. The new stuff...Avid Ulitmatre carbon disc brakes, King HS, American Classic wheels w/ Kenda Karma 1.9 on the rear and a Nanoraptor 2.1 on the front. RS Reba SL for the fork and XTR pedals.
Bottom Line:
The bike is light for a large frame at 23.2lbs...that is lighter than my old Schwinn Home Grown factory team hardtail w/ full XTR and it handles much quicker than my old GF 29er...I'll never go back to 26.
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Submitted by
Chris Southworth
a Cross Country Rider
from Landenberg, PA Date Reviewed: June 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Fair Hill, MD
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
bike29.com
Strengths:
Very light and responsive, yet fairly supple ride. Much quicker acceleration, yet smoother ride than my old Fisher. Scandium is NOT just hype.
Weaknesses:
The raw finish is intentionally rough....looks like my 4 year old hit the frame with a belt sander.
Similar Products Used:
Niner MCR, Fisher Rig, a bunch of high-end 26" stuff.
Bike Setup:
Cane Creek Zonos wheelset w/ Kenda Karma tires and lightweight tubes, XTR / Raceface 1 x 9 setup.
Bottom Line:
This frame is killer. With a relatively light wheel/tire combo, there's no sensation that this bike is a 29er....until you start cornering, climbing or jumping. That is to say, this doesn't have the typical 29er drawback (slow acceleration) yet it exhibits all the positive aspects of a 29er. I had a very high-end 26" titanium frame that I've been completely in love with for the last 3 years. One ride on this and I've got that ti frame for sale. This frame (and the whole 29" concept) is really that good.
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Submitted by
Bart Beddingfield
a Racer
from Houston Date Reviewed: April 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lajitas
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Niner
Strengths:
Awesome geometry. Lightweight. Rides like steel. Loves tight singletrack!
Weaknesses:
Me not know yet...
Similar Products Used:
Salsa Dos9er in the 29er cat, a whole bunch in the 26 cat. up to and including a XTR Scapel.
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT, USA Date Reviewed: December 26, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Niner.com
Strengths:
For a made in Taiwan frame, the Air 9 is a good looking frame. Clean lines and the raw aluminum is a great color. The fit is almost perfect for a tall guy like myself. Price for the frame alone is decent for a scandium frameset.
Weaknesses:
The Niner build kits just suck for the cost. Basically you have a mix of very decent parts along with just garbage. In particular the WTB wheelset is essentially worthless. My first ride was Gooseberry Mesa in southern Utah which is a relatively flat trail mainly on slickrock. With every pedal stroke I could feel the rear wheel flexing and in some cases could actually see it happening. One short, slow decent turning from slickrock to sand folded the front wheel. I've never seen that happen before. This frame is very difficult to get adequate clearance between the rear tire (2.1" Nano Raptor) and the front derailleur while in the smallest ring. A large amount of spacers are required throwing the chainline off quite a bit.
Similar Products Used:
None so far, this is my first 29'er.
Bike Setup:
After dumping the stock wheelset: REBA SL, King/Mavic 317's, Race Face Deus crankset, Avid Juicy 7's, Mix of SRAM XO/X9.
Bottom Line:
If I were to buy this bike over again I would have built it up from scratch and done it right the first time. This frame has a lot of potential but I feel that Niner just threw together what they could with the build kits they offer. I really like WTB products, but whatever factory assembles Niner's wheels should be put out of business. Fortunately for me I was going very slow when my wheel folded, others may not be so fortunate. I hope Niner has good lawyers to go along with their current component line up. Like I mentioned, the fit of the frame is great for a 6'4" tall guy like myself. Built up right it is a very decent bike. The low rating is based on the bike as purchased complete from Niner. It does not reflect the frame by itself.
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Submitted by
steve gaudin
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO USA Date Reviewed: December 5, 2006
Salsa Delgado rims w/King hubs, xt fd, Sram x-9 rd and shifters, Raceface deus cranks,Thomson stem and seatpost,Reba fork, Avid Juicy 7 brakes, Time pedals, WTB Exiwolf tires.
Bottom Line:
This bike is the best thing I've ridden. The fit is perfect, and it easy to make it that way. It climbs as well or better as the Maverick I sold, and that's saying a lot. I have already bested myself on hard climbs, and I'm just getting started. This bike also corners so well it has taken me a while to get used to it. I'm still learning how hard I can rail the corners. Obstacles seem smaller. Can you tell I like this bike? If you think 29ers are hype or a fad, ride one.
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Submitted by
Reilly
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX USA Date Reviewed: October 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
anthills
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
$800
Strengths:
Scandium is light and stiff
Weaknesses:
the head-tube and seat-tube angles are a bit more upright than I am accustomed to.
Similar Products Used:
Rockhound 29er, Fisher 292
Bike Setup:
White Bros Magic 80, King ISO Disc Hubs w/ Stan's ZTR 355 rims and The Crow tires, SRAM '07 X.9 triggers and ders, PG990 cassette, SRAM hollowpin chain, RaceFace Deus X-Type 180mm cranks, King HS, Magura Marta SL Red brakes 180 frt/160 rr.
Bottom Line:
This bike is fast. I don't mean it is fast for a 29er - it is fast relative to anything I've ridden. Admittedly, much of this is attributable to the wheelset, but super stiff and light frame is key. The rotational weight issues of the 29er don't exist on this bike. After I built the frame up, I weighed the bike: 22 pounds 15 ounces. It is an XL sized frame. The frame geometry is such that it definitely demands constant attention - no slack angles to be found. As you would imagine, the bike is very quick handling. The performance of this frame really shines when ultra-light wheels are used. If you plan on building up an Air 9, I strongly suggest going all out on the parts. Otherwise, the frame can't perform as it is designed and you'd be better off with a Rockhound 29er.
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Submitted by
bill wright
a Cross Country Rider
from arlington, tn Date Reviewed: August 25, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
niner
Strengths:
light weight, good welds, and great handling.
Weaknesses:
same price as some custom frames for an off the shelf frame
Similar Products Used:
soma juice, surly karate monkey
Bike Setup:
pace carbon fork,exiwolfs f&r,fleegle bars, and 1x8 drivetrain
Bottom Line:
i REALLY like this frame. it feels smooth as steel but lighter. i rode steel frames only for the past couple of years, but this frame has changed my opinion of alloys. this bike begs for me to stand and crank up climbs. niner built a good product here. i really like the longer top tube. and the BRIGHT orange paint is a safety feature during hunting season
$ 799.00
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