Home > Other Fun Stuff > Advocacy & Industry News

New Niner ROS9 Plus 29er Fat Bike Crushes Trails, Special IMBA Edition Helps Build Them

22 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Niner ROS9 plus 29+ steel hardtail mountain bike

The new Niner ROS 9 Plus is like the ROS 9, only bigger, making room for 29×3.0 (aka 29+) tires.

The frame is 4130 chromoly steel, just like the original ROS9, and all of the key features carry over. They wanted the same all-mountain “fun” geometry of the standard ROS, just with bigger tires.

One key difference is the non-suspension corrected steel fork. It’s the same 4130 material as the frame and gets tapered legs to provide that classic, comfortable steel feel. It uses the Maxle thru-axle at the bottom and a tapered steerer tube, the latter a rare feature on steel forks. Axle to crown is 470mm, same as their carbon and RDO forks. Niner’s product manager Barrett James said they kept the fork legs shorter (as in, non-suspension corrected) for a couple reasons. First, longer steel legs would have meant a much heavier fork to keep them strong enough to pass testing. Second, the geometry of the bike is actually built with suspension in mind, so the ROS9 Plus is ready for the Rockshox Bluto (or any other fat bike suspension fork that may be coming out). Head angle will slacken by about a degree with the taller front end. Out of the box, though, you’ll get a snappy handling, terrain crushing rigid bike.

Read on for tons of close up pics plus images of the very special IMBA edition paint job on the bike you can win!

Niner ROS9 plus 29+ steel hardtail mountain bike

Niner ROS9 plus 29+ steel hardtail mountain bike

Other frame details carried over include the stealth dropper routing, EBB system to make single speed conversions easy and removable front derailleur mount.

Niner ROS9 plus 29+ steel hardtail mountain bike

That latter feature was left on there mainly to allow direct mount chain guides rather than putting a double on. Barrett says chain and derailleur cage clearance with the fatter 3.0 tires is not ideal, and complete bikes will only get single chainring builds. It also has mounts for a custom MRP XCG Bash Guard to protect your precious chainrings from rocks, logs and other trail impacts.

Niner ROS9 plus 29+ steel hardtail mountain bike

The bike pictured here was preproduction, so a few things will change. It’ll come spec’d with Shimano Deore hydraulic brakes instead of Avid Trail’s, for one. The rest of the spec is a Niner alloy cockpit and SRAM X1 drivetrain with Stan’s new Hugo fat bike rims/wheels. The Niner BioCentric II bottom bracket is included stock, filled with a SRAM GXP BB.

Niner ROS9 plus 29+ steel hardtail mountain bike

Niner ROS9 plus 29+ steel hardtail mountain bike

It’ll fit up to 29×3.0 tires. Chainstay length is 437mm (with BB clocked at 9 o’clock position), which is shorter than anything they could find on the market.

Niner ROS9 plus 29+ steel hardtail mountain bike

Front brake hose routing is cleaned up on production bikes, too.

Niner ROS9 plus 29+ steel hardtail mountain bike geometry chart

It’s only offer it as a single complete build for $2,999.

2014 NINER ROS9 PLUS IMBA EDITION

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

FROM NINER: For the fifth year, Niner has created a special IMBA themed bike in support of the non-profit’s mountain bike advocacy efforts. This year’s version is a custom painted ROS 9 Plus complete singlespeed bike with special detailing and exclusive components throughout.

“IMBA is stoked that Niner is continuing its support for mountain bike trails and access through such a creative, visible campaign. The money raised will help fund our national advocacy work, which serves to protect and expand access to local trail systems. We handle D.C. dirt so you can play in the dirt,” says Mark Eller, IMBA Director of Communications “To all the bidders, thank you! And to the winners, enjoy your new rides!”

The global auction for the 9 available bikes is now live, with auction management courtesy of The Pro’s Closet. “The Pro’s Closet helps us with this auction every year – their international auction expertise makes it possible for riders to support IMBA from almost anywhere in the world.” said Niner co-founder Chris Sugai.

Riders interested in bidding on the Special Edition IMBA bikes can visit www.ninerbikes.com/imba for complete details, links and more images.

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition

2014-Niner-ROS9-Plus-IMBA-edition-specs

NinerBikes.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

22 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
muddy
muddy
9 years ago

beautiful!!

erik
erik
9 years ago

Love it!!

Greg
Greg
9 years ago

Well done.

Tommy T
Tommy T
9 years ago

Can’t argue with Niner’s beauty but the chain stays are “as short” as the Singular Rooster (445 in stock geo, and same when their EBB is put in the 9 O’Clock position) which was announced last Winter and is landing in late August. Details on their importer site:

http://cospecialityvelo.myshopify.com/collections/singular-cycles/products/singular-rooster-29-frame-fork

AbelF
AbelF
9 years ago

Wow.

Alex
Alex
9 years ago

So you could buy this and not run 3.0 tires and enjoy it in more traditional trim while maintaining the option of going 29+?

Collin S
Collin S
9 years ago

Do fat bikes normally have Schrader Valves?

To Alex, yes, the only difference is the front end will feel a little lower then what your used to since it has a non suspension corrected geometry.

Doug B
Doug B
9 years ago

Leave the fat up front, and go a little skinnier out back and fit a 2×10, sweet.

tommy
tommy
9 years ago

This looks like a well thought out bike. Short chainstays and huge rubber I bet is a lot of fun. Well done and thanks for supporting imba.

Rp
Rp
9 years ago

This looks really awesome. I am glad to see Niner expanding.

Steve J.
Steve J.
9 years ago

Love it ! What a great looking Bike !

hair
hair
9 years ago

What size is that green bike – small, medium?

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
9 years ago

Glad to see the Schrader valve. It’s just a more pleasant valve to work with, less fiddling, and the tubeless crowd should appreciate the larger airflow it allows, for seating tires. The “bigger valve hole = weaker rim” argument used by Presta’ers is moot with enourmous, wide fatbike rims.

craigsj
craigsj
9 years ago

“The “bigger valve hole = weaker rim” argument used by Presta’ers is moot with enourmous, wide fatbike rims.”

What’s a “Presta’er”? Does everything have to be tribalist? Who has argued that the larger valve makes this rim weaker? No one.

Plenty of riders would prefer the same valve on all their bikes. That would be more “welcome” to me than the “larger airflow it allows” if in fact that’s any advantage at all. I don’t want to convert my pump heads or keep two pumps.

Not glad to see the schrader valve, not that this is a Stan’s thread or anything. Glad to see a Niner in the category, crappy valves and all.

pfs
pfs
9 years ago

Those stans wheels only come in schrader. Their customer service number is 607-562-2877. Call them and let them know how it makes you feel. Complaining in the comments section will get you no where.

Brad Wallace Sr.
7 years ago
Reply to  pfs

No I put a Presta straight in to my wheel and it works fine.

Chewey
Chewey
9 years ago

Actually, it looks like a Dunlop valve. If it is, brilliant! Check the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunlop_valve

pdxfixed
pdxfixed
9 years ago

Geometry looks like a Karate Monkey with a slack headangle and room for 3″ tires. I’m in love.

John
John
9 years ago

How long until we see a kickstarter for Schrader to presta adapters

Poncho
Poncho
9 years ago

I always thought my 26er was ahead of it’s time.

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr298/rustguard/shogun/1.jpg

Vadim
Vadim
9 years ago

How is the wheel mounted in the frame? Looks like a unique mounting configuration.

Mark @ GRAVELBIKE
9 years ago

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.