Niner RKT9 RDO Review!

I did a first-look video (linked below) of the new Niner RKT9 RDO, where I discussed the what's changed and showed the components of the 4-star build. This video is my review of the bike after riding it for 2 months.

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Some of my favorite bike gear I use all the time
Outdoor Master Helmet:
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Magicshine lights
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Tifosi Rail XC glasses:

Tifosi Slice Glasses:

Tifosi Sledge Glasses:

[MTBCoop]

I absolutely loved your old into! One of the coolest I’ve seen! Bring it back occasionally 😉

[brucehumphries]

I need a comparison between this and the EXIE

[XCRiders]

Wolftooth makes a over the top dropper lever will work perfectly.
The lockout is awesome. turns into road bike mode! 💨

[hdoan]

Bontrager droplock is an all in one lockout and dropper post lever option, works great for my own setup.

[robwasnj]

Hi Clint, these kinds of reviews are golden!! When you said "on our trails you're always turning" that sums up the kind of riding so many of us do. I've found too many reviews and trends in mountain bikes are geared towards much harder riding like bike parks or places with rocks and serious downhills and the sweet spot between a cross country race bike and trail bike seems to be lost in many of the offerings. I'm still riding a 2014 Pivot 429C and have recently been looking at something newer but after a demo ride on the Pivot shadowcat I hated it on our trails. Many newer bikes I feel have gone too far with lowering the bottom bracket and on trails where you might want to pedal through some turns that's a biggie. Also the slacker head tube angles which are great for downhills I get the feeling like the front tire is just too far out there and without enough weight on it prone to washing out on the twisty stuff we see here (and I know you have in FL, I've ridden San Felasco many times). At first I thought maybe it was just getting used to the bike but I rode a full 4 hours trying every terrain and setting and came to the conclusion I love my old bikes. Based on this review though I'm really curious to try out some Niner products, I know you've been a fan of them for a long time and you fully recognize the details that make a bike both fun and fast on these kinds of trails. I usually ride with a group and it's mixed, some riders are on electric bikes. When the trails get twisty though I find myself way ahead and stopping to wait for them, lol. I had one rider even say "how the @*# do you go through there so fast"... I think a lot comes down to a nimble bike and a lot of experience knowing the limits especially of your front tire.

[J-dk]

I had the same poppn issue on my rip9 with the dry pivots. Grease did the trick and calmed my brain thinking the carbon was defective.

[edlorenz]

Glad you like the Schwalbe tires. The Ray in the front is a great tire. I usually run a Rocket Ron in the rear.

[mtbjer]

Bontrager drop lock, Wolf tooth bar centric, both good options for cable actuated dropper.

[TomCollins-ch]

awesome! the review I was waiting for. cant wait for more rides with this bike.

[shawngifford]

A finer bicycle than I will ever buy, but a great review. It is amazing the quality of bike you can get now. I’m quite happy with my own hardtail, but a Niner would be a solid upgrade choice.

[jordanrhodes]

Great tire combo. How I roll. Nice video.

[Rawkus]

Check out the Sr Suntour remote lock out control. They work great, and mount vertically.

[mikeytek]

i just ordered a 3 star rkt and ordered a Bontrager droplock to run a dropper post

[sinistr]

I was going to say why get rid of a Selle Italia saddle...but you said you put on the WTB Silverado...that's a win I have Silverados on both my MTB, and Selle Italias on my road bike.

[notpablo]

Wished the RKT have room for 2 bottle like the Factor Lando

[mancello]

That's a lot of exposed seatpost. That aids in comfort but I worry about stress overload even though you're a lightweight cyclist.

[mikeytek]

bontrager droplock for the dropper lockout issue

[gkellsfamilia]

Hey Clint, not sure if I missed it but what is the stock weight here?

[frankstrobel]

Interesting….you got me thinking. On my trail bike i have a 50mm stem. Bike has a 140mm fork. But was designed around a 130mm.(Evil Following)…… i wonder if a 40mm stem or thereabout, would be better then 50mm. Bike was spec’d with a 50mm

[heikevanderwoerd]

Hiya Clint, just ordered the RKT, quite stoked as well to move from the old RKT to the new one. Helpful stuff you shared. Did you already flip the chip? And how did that work out for you? Cheers, Heike