FORT COLLINS, Colo. (BRAIN) — Niner on Wednesday announced a new model, the RKT 9 RDO. The new model is a lightweight short-travel (80mm rear/100mm front) endurance race bike.
The frame is constructed using Niner's RDO Carbon Compaction technology and its CVA linkage design. For the new model, engineers optimized the linkage and bearings to produce what they said is the lightest, stiffest version of CVA to date.
The new model has a 73mm PF30 bottom bracket that provides compatibility with the latest single-ring and multiple-ring drivetrains; it can be adapted to a threaded bottom bracket via adaptors. Frame sizes medium and larger have water bottle mounts on both the underside of the down tube and within the front triangle. The frame has titanium frame plates to guard against the potential of a dropped chain, while clear protective decals add impact resistance to common rock-strike and high-abuse areas.
The RKT is the first Niner with Boost 148mm x 12mm rear spacing and has clearance for up to 2.4-inch tires. Niner said the Boost spacing allows for a wider spoke interface and an overall stiffer wheel and swingarm combo. The RKT has the lowest standover height of any bike in Niner's line up.
It will be available in several builds, including an XTR mechanical single-ring build with a RockShox RS-1 fork that retails for $9,500 and a SRAM XO-1/RS-1 build for $7,500. The least expensive build has SRAM GX-1 components and retails at $4,500.
