Niner are a Colorado based company obsessed with mountain biking, and have grown a cult following over the last for years. And rightly so, their products are awesome. The Niner RLT 9 frameset is the bike frame to get when you want to get on some gravel and do some off-road riding.
It’s meticulously designed and tuned to handle the rough terrain that you encounter when you go off MTB trails. You get a more comfortable ride whether you’re going out for a short afternoon ride or a long countryside tour.
Contents
Niner RLT 9 Frameset Features
More Mounts
The mount designs in this frame give you, even more, use out of it. It comes with front and rear fender mounts, as well as a rear rack mount.
High-Quality Aluminum Fabrication
The frame is made of durable but lightweight materials to give riders the most comfortable ride without extra weight. The tubing is made of a hydroformed aluminum alloy, and the fork is made of a strong carbon fiber material.
This gives the custom fork even more stability to counteract the vibration that often comes from gravel.
Improved Axles for Better Steering
This frame delivers steering you can rely on, even on very rough paths. It’s achieved by way of front and rear thru axles that keep your direction stable.
Balanced Design
The frame design doesn’t look too different from a typical bike frame, but the difference is in the details. With geometric proportions and tapered ends, this frame gives advanced balance.
Specifications
Tires and Wheels
This frame can accommodate up to a 1.75” tire. The wheel is sized at 700c.
Weight
The complete assembly weighs in at just over 21lbs, with the fork weighing 615 grams and the frame weighing 1670 grams.
Cables
The cables of the frame are routed internally. Cables are routed in the downtube and can be paired with battery routing in the seat post.
Axles
The fork has a thru axle of 15 mm. The frame is fully compatible with rear thru axles sized 12×142 mm.
Bottom Bracket
The bottom bracket of this frame is an oversized PF30, meaning the shell width is 68 mm.
Seat Specs
The seat post is somewhat slimmer than some other frames, although he adds more versatility to the frame. The seat post is sized at 27.2 mm, with a recommendation to fit with 400 mm – perfect for a dropper post. The seat clamp measures in at 28.6 mm.
>> See also the Niner RIP 9 carbon frame
What Stands Out with the Niner RLT 9 frame?
This frame can get through some rough terrain with an efficiency that’s certain to surprise you. It’s certainly a sturdy frame, there’s no questioning that. That makes the flexibility and versatility of the frame stand out even more.
Speaking of versatility, you have tons of room to customize the gear you use with and around the frame, so you can design the kind of ride you want.
The next great thing about this frame is how it can handle just about any setting you put it into. You can comfortably take a short, relaxing ride, or you can drive this frame long and hard.
It’s perfectly suited to handle (and help you handle) long rides even on difficult, hill riddled terrain. The drive chain is designed to help you get through climbing steep inclines, even when you’re dealing with loose dirt and gravel.
Where you’ll really find this frame excelling is a high-speed gravel cycling. The design of the frame (and fork especially) lend the extra stability you need when rough rocks get in the way.
There’s no need to worry about losing control just because you’ve increased your speed, so you’ll be able to fly down hard packed off-road inclines.
Even better, the wide, angled frame design allows you ample space to adjust your body position for when you need a more intense stance for the terrain.
More About the Niner RLT 9 Frameset
The Niner RLT frameset has a unique take on making frame design more efficient, but it still meets all the critical mountain bike standards, so you can ride with peace of mind. So what about the design is so different?
It’s geometrically proportioned to deliver the best balance and function possible. By using tried and tested forms, combining them, and adding in special sturdy steel components (and the steel frame is becoming more of a unique commodity these days), this frame stays steady in tough conditions.
The bottom bracket is threaded differently than many frames, using a PFBB30 rather than the typical BSA bracket threading. The purpose is to allow compatibility with the Biocentric II bottom bracket.
With this feature, the frame can be switched to run without accessories such as a chain tensioner. As a result, the bike can be used as a single speed.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a good frame that’s versatile, yet tough, the Niner RLT frameset is well worth your consideration. Not only is it built with high quality, hard working steel, and specially formulated carbon fiber, but it’s built with a geometric design for added balance.
This is a frame that’s durable enough to give you a long lifetime of use, whether you take it out on an excursion or take it out on a more mild nature trail.
The Niner RLT 9 frame also comes in a full steel version, which is slightly more expensive.