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Weigh In! Niner’s New Air9 RDO & Jet9 RDO on the Scale

Niner Bikes Air9 RDO actual weight complete bike Large with non-spec build
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Niner Bikes Air9 RDO actual weight complete bike Large with non-spec build

We had a chance to weigh Niner Bikes’ new Air9 RDO carbon hardtail race bike at the SE Bike Expo. Then, we got some images and weights from Pro Bike Supply with a fully stock build and their Pro build, which dropped a full half pound off the already impressively light bike. To top it all off, we then weighed a range of sizes for the full carbon Jet9 RDO as well as our own bare frameset.

Above is the only Air9 RDO on the eastern demo fleet with a non-stock build. It’s equipped with Sun-Ringle’s Blag Flag wheels, Ergon grips and a full XTR XT drivetrain and brakes. Not a bad build at all, and this size Large XL comes in at 22lbs 9oz without pedals.

Niner Bikes Air9 RDO carbon fiber 29er hard tail complete bike XTR kit actual weight

Pro Bike Supply built up one of the first Air9 RDO complete bikes to ship. The $6,199 complete bike with full XTR, American Classic wheels and Niner’s carbon bar and post comes in at 20lbs 7oz. Along with the weight, they sent along a gallery of gorgeous pics, here are a few highlights:

Niner Bikes Air9 RDO carbon fiber 29er hard tail complete bike XTR kit actual weight

Niner Bikes Air9 RDO carbon fiber 29er hard tail complete bike XTR trick pro bike supply build option actual weight

After they did the stock build, they decided to give it their “Pro Tune” build that dropped a half pound off the frame bike to come in at 19lbs 15oz. Another photo showed the bike with a carbon bottle cage and Crank Brothers’ (4)ti eggbeater pedals and it weighed in at 20lbs 7oz, matching the no-pedals-and-cage stock build weight. Here’s the highlights of the Pro Tune build:

Niner Bikes Air9 RDO carbon fiber 29er hard tail complete bike XTR kit actual weight

Here’s what Mark from PBS had to say about the project:

Our goal with the Pro Tune was to keep look and feel of the original build but shave some weight in a few areas where we felt the stock parts were a little heavy for their intended racing application. The Pro Tune upgrades included the following list of parts and resulted in a weight savings of ½ a pound which resulted in a race ready build (includes pedals and water bottle cage) that was the same weight as the stock build without pedals and bottle cage.
– Fizik Tundra 00 Saddle
– KCNC MTB Seatpost Collar
– KCNC Razor Rotors (180/160)
– Tune Rear Skewer – Green
– ESI Chunky Grips – Green
– Crank Bothers Egg Beater 11 Pedals
– Arundel Other Side Carbon Side Load Bottle Cage
– KCNC Aluminum Water Bottle Cage Bolts – Black

Want the price for that build? You’ll have to contact PBS for a quote. And if you’ve got a thing for dirty bikes, here’s a few of the demo model:

Niner Bikes Air9 RDO carbon fiber 29er hardtail frame details

Notice the black head badge versus the silver one on the PBS bike. We’re thinking the silver is final production spec, but will update when we have confirmation.

Niner Bikes Air9 RDO carbon fiber 29er hardtail frame details

NINER JET9 RDO ACTUAL WEIGHTS

Niner Bikes Jet9 RDO actual weight frameset only size large

The Jet9 RDO bikes we weighed at albs 7oz with Fox RP23 Kashima shock and Niner seat collar. The internal headset was not installed yet, but the rear axle protection spacer and internal cable routing guides were still installed. Frame is size Large and includes the down tube protective application, both metal chainsuck protection plates and the rubbery chainstay protective piece.

Niner Bikes Jet9 RDO carbon fiber 29er full suspension mountain bike complete bike actual weight size XL

The complete bikes here are with Black Flag wheels, Niner bar and post, Thomson stem, Ergon grips, WTB saddle and XT groups with SID XX fork. All of the Jet9 RDO’s get the Fox shock with Kashima coating. The XL above came in at 25lbs 10oz.

Niner Bikes Jet9 RDO carbon fiber 29er full suspension mountain bike complete bike actual weight size medium and large

The Medium (left) came in at 25lbs 3oz and the Large (right) at 25lbs 4oz.

We weighed a Small frame-only and several builds of the complete Jet9 RDO when we first saw them at PressCamp here.

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off-roadie
off-roadie
12 years ago

Under the Jet9 RDO frame pic, you have a typo in the weight. It is listed as “albs 7oz”.
Cheers

off-roadie
off-roadie
12 years ago

And I just realized I can see the weight in the pic. I’m kinda slow today…

Shredder
Shredder
12 years ago

Those sure look like XT cranks in that full XTR drivetrain….

Sir Eddy
Sir Eddy
12 years ago

Actually they’re Race Face Next cranks I believe. Either way though, you’re right they’re not XTR. I love Bike Rumor, but someone really needs to proof their articles. Case in point. The above article says they “managed to drop half a pound off the frame”. No they didn’t. Frame weight is unchanged. All the changes are the components. Aren’t those pedals 4ti models too? (maybe I’m wrong on that)

Topmounter
Topmounter
12 years ago

“…that dropped a half pound off the frame…”

What did Pro Bike Supply do exactly to drop a half pound off the RDO frame? Did it void the warranty or compromise the integrity of the frame? Niner already makes the RDO frame crazy light, it’s amazing that PBS could have found another half pound to trim.

Adam
Adam
12 years ago

Just Picked up mine from Competitive Cyclist- LOVE IT!!!!

mkrahnic
mkrahnic
12 years ago

Is the cost 1 or 2 kidneys? Probably depends on XT vs. XTR. Huh….

yesplease
yesplease
12 years ago

Sweet first weight on a XL I have seen. With the race face crank, some lighter wheels and lighter saddle I could get it sub 25. Hmmmm.

That RaceFace carbon crank is the lightest “big brand” crank out right now. 159 gms lighter than XX.
They have a nice chart comparing them:
http://www.raceface.com/comp/pdf/XC%20Double_RF.pdf

Scott
Scott
12 years ago

Who cares. No thru axles what so ever. Why do a mold without updated stiffer technology.

rider
rider
12 years ago

It looks like the rear shift housing is full length but what about the front? Does the housing go in the head badge, through the down tube and then up out of the BB junction? Just wondering if the cable can be changed without pulling everything apart.

Andrew
Andrew
12 years ago

Quote:
Scott – 03/01/12 – 10:39pm
Who cares. No thru axles what so ever. Why do a mold without updated stiffer technology.

According to the Niner website they tested thru axle on back and the stiffness made very little difference AND its classed as a bike Optimised for Race Day (R.D.O) so a quick release made more sense apparently…….id have prefferred a thru axle.

Nice to see weights for different sized frames instead of having to guess. THANKS!!

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