Description

2017 Niner RKT 9 RDO 3-Star XT 1x Complete Mountain Bike

 

If you’ve ever caught yourself daydreaming deeply about the perfect bike on your way home from a ride, building one in your mind from the ground up with XC energy, a spirited disposition, but the ability to crush lines most assume are off-limits for the XC set, you’re in luck. Sometimes, dreams do come true. As an plush XC bike with a podium-chasing attitude, the RKT 9 RDO 3-Star XT is a shining example of what pushing the limits of XC looks like. Let us clarify. In the case of the RKT 9, that means combining an energetic carbon frame, 120mm of squish for technical race courses or weekend exploration, and the proven efficiency of Boost spacing. Whether you’re venturing onto shady, root-encrusted trails or putting it all on the line on raceday, trust the RKT 9’s disarmingly playful attitude to match your enthusiasm at every turn.

The Queen of Pain herself, known simply as Ms. Rusch off-trail, has summarized the RKT 9 RDO as the answer to her dreams, which means that Niner’s goal of blending a twitchy race bike with a fearless bruiser of a trail beast wasn’t too much of reach. On the contrary, the RKT 9 RDO fulfills that description uncannily well, using a short head tube and longer top tube to provide line cleaning confidence up front, and Boost spacing with the lowest standover height in Niner’s line for a boundless supply of snappy aggression in the rear. Boost spacing allowed Niner to chop the chainstays to a stubby 439mm, which when paired with that low standover height, results in agile cornering and power-transferring stiffness. When the opportunity to spend a weekend chasing your armor-clad pals and their 5-inch monsters around rugged singletrack presents itself, one look at the RKT 9 RDO will be enough to tell you the answer is yes.

Though geometry is a big part of the RKT 9 RDO’s story, its carbon frame cannot be overlooked. Niner uses its RDO Carbon Compaction System (CCS) to ensure details like wall thickness and material distribution are flawless, eliminating unnecessary weight and structural imperfections like resin pooling. In terms of suspension, Niner fine-tuned its own CVA linkage was specifically for a low-travel XC bike for the RKT 9 RDO, so it encourages speed above all else. It maintains a firm, responsive pedaling platform even when you throw the shock open entirely, resisting harsh bottom-outs when you’re surprised by a steep uphill roller on an otherwise chunky, enduro-leaning descent. Back all of that up with Shimano’s second-from-the-top XT one-by drivetrain, and you’re going to have a hard time getting much of anything done off-trail this season.

Challenge the limits of XC on this race-worthy dream bike

4.7in fork absorbs bumps with 3.5in shock for backup

Long cockpit delivers line-cleaning confidence

Tight rear triangle is snappy and quick through techy spots

Flawless carbon frame feels weightless on-trail

Frame compatible with internal or external dropper

Boost axles increase tire clearance and wheel stiffness

Kitted with Shimano’s workhorse racing groupset

 

2017 Niner RKT 9 RDO 3-Star XT 1x Complete Mountain Bike

Frame Material:

carbon fiber

Suspension:

CVA

Rear Shock:

RockShox Monarch RL

Rear Travel:

90 mm (3.5 in)

Fork:

Rockshox Reba RL Solo Air

Front Travel:

120 mm (4.72 in)

Headset:

Niner Integrated 1.125 x 1.5 in tapered

Shifters:

Shimano XT M8000 11-speed I-Spec II

Rear Derailleur:

Shimano XT M8000 GS 11-speed Shadow Plus

Crankset:

Race Face Turbine, 32T

Bottom Bracket:

Race Face PF30

Cassette:

Shimano XT M8000 11-46t

Chain:

Shimano XT HG-701 11-speed

Brakeset:

Shimano XT M8000

Brake Type:

hydraulic disc

Rotors:

[front/rear] 180 / 160 mm RT86 Ice Tech

Handlebar:

Niner Flat Top RDO

Handlebar Width:

780 mm

Grips:

Niner Grrrips L/O

Stem:

Niner alloy

Saddle:

Niner Custom (cromoly rails)

Seatpost:

Niner Carbon 370 mm

Seat Collar:

34.9 mm

Wheelset:

Stan’s NoTubes Neo/ZTR Arch

Hubs:

Stan’s NoTubes Neo

Front Axle:

15 x 110 mm Boost

Rear Axle:

12 x 148 mm Boost

Tires:

Maxxis Ikon 3C/EXO/TR

Tire Size:

[front/rear] 2.35 / 2.20 in

Recommended Use:

cross-country

Manufacturer Warranty:

5 years

Actual Weight:

Team Red, M: 11160g

 

2017 Niner RKT 9 RDO 3-Star XT 1x Complete Mountain Bike

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