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Niner Introduces Full Carbon BSB 9 RDO Cyclocross Bike & Updated JET9 RDO w/ Limited Edition Build

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Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

It’s been teased, and people have been building AIR9 Carbon hardtails with drop bars for years. And there’s enough Niner employees that race ‘cross that it needed to happen. After all, the RLT9 gravel road bike proved they could translate their mountain bike heritage into something new.

The introduction of the new Niner BSB 9 RDO gave them an opportunity to introduce a new carbon fiber  frame production process, too. Called Carbon Compaction System, it uses a pre-shaped styrofoam mold that the carbon is laid up around. This provides them with the shape they want and a firm platform to build each frame part around. The benefits are multiple: First, it sets the carbon in the exact position it should be in without any shifting from a bladder inflating after layup. Second, it means less excess resin pooling inside the frame, so less weight and waste. Third, it makes for a perfectly smooth inside wall with no wrinkles or fibrous looseness. This means fewer opportunities for weak spots.

Technically, there’s still a bladder around the styrofoam that’s inflated to fully compress the carbon against the outer, metal mold for proper compaction. But starting with the firm styrofoam core gets them very, very close to the final shape – much closer than wrapping around a floppy silicone core. Once heat molded and cured, the styrofoam molds shrink to less than half during the process and are simply pulled out and discarded. The whole design means they have more control over the process which leads to more precise construction.

Of course, they also had to come up with a cool name. The Niner BSB means…

NINER BSB 9 RDO – BLOOD, SWEAT, BEERS

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

Starting at the front, the fork is an RDO version of what was introduced on the RLT, but with a thru axle. It’s still a 400mm axle-to-crown and 45mm offset. Weight is 530g, same as the RLT. The Maxle adds 60g, about the same as a decent skewer. The shaping is a bit different, though, with flatter edges than the RLT version.

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

The benefit is increased stiffness laterally for a racier feel. It also benefits disc brake performance -or, rather, non-braking performance- by reducing the likelihood of rotor rub under hard, side-to-side-rocking sprints and hard cornering. It’s built for 140mm and 160mm rotors. Like it? They’re considering offering it aftermarket for use on any bike.

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

Tire clearance looks to be wide open for up to 42c (we’re confirming).

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

The front triangle shares a lot of design cues from the AIR9 RDO but with streamlined tube shapes for a limber appearance. Ridges on the sides keep it laterally stiff, but the flattened sections are designed to allow vertical flex to smooth out the ride.

The cable routing follows the RLT’s downtube entry ports, something you’re likely to see on more and more models moving forward. Since it’s not running through the head badge, they’ve got a new chromed ‘9’ logo badge. Cable ports are new rubber grommets available for either mechanical or electronic drivetrains, as well as solid plugs.

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

Shifting will run full length internal cable housing…another thing you’ll see on more models. Unless you get the Di2 equipped models. All frames are electronic/mechanical ready with compatibility for internal seatpost batteries. (Note: The SRAM equipped bike shown in some pics is the build for their sponsored Team CLIF riders, not one available to purchase.)

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

The rear brake hose/cable runs on the lower side of the downtube, which should be out of the way when shouldering the bike and grabbing the downtube.

Niner stuck with the tried and true quick release for the rear. They, and the riders they polled, preferred the lighter weight and quicker wheel changes afforded by it, and it didn’t show measurable improvements in stiffness or performance with a thru axle in testing.

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

The bottom bracket is PFBB30 with an open shell design. This means easier cable and wire routing, but no BioCentric EBB compatibility.

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

The top tube flows into the seatstays, which curve into the chainstays. The front triangle is molded as a single piece, then each chainstay is molded past the rear axle and up to where the decal stripe is on the seatstay. The rest of the seatstay is another piece. Seatpost is 27.2 to save weight and keep it comfy.

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike actual weights

They used ultra-thin decals and a lightweight satin clear coat finish with minimal paint to save weight. The result is a size 56 frame with a claimed weight just under 1,000g as a bare frame with no hardware. Complete bikes came in at 17.86lb (8.1kg) for the top level Ultegra Di2 build. The team bike came in at impressive 15.59lb (7.07kg) with the new SRAM Red Hydro-R disc brakes and prototype Kappius Components tubular wheels.

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike

Geometry compared to RLT is as follows. Headtubes are a little lower to put you in a racier position. Head tube angles are about half a degree steeper across the size range, chainstays are 425mm (10mm shorter than RLT) and BB height is 2-3mm taller to keep the pedals from hitting over obstacles and in the corners while you continue to hammer away.

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike geometry chart

They’ll be available in 3cm size increments: 47/50/53/56/59/62. Click image to enlarge for geometry chart (above) and build specs (below).

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike prices and build specs

At launch, they’ll offer three builds. Conspicuously missing is a 3-Star build, hinting at another option soon. It’s also worth noting that as their flagship RDO model, it’s possible we’ll see a non-RDO carbon fiber version down the road. Pricing for the three builds shown are $6,499 (5-star), $4,399 (4-star) and $2,999 (2-star).

Niner BSB 9 RDO carbon fiber cyclocross bike frameset

A frameset with headset, seat collar, frame and fork is $2,299. All should be available in time for the 2014/15 cyclocross season.

 

UPDATED JET9 RDO & LIMITED EDITION RS-1 BUILD

Niner JET9 RDO limited edition RS-1 mountain bike

The JET9 RDO gets an updated construction process using the new carbon compaction introduced with the BSB. Actually, all RDO versions starting now will get the new frame construction – RIP, AIR, JET and BSB.

Niner JET9 RDO limited edition RS-1 mountain bike

The construction method is, honestly, more for them as a way to improve construction quality and frame durability. A continual improvement. Barrett James, Niner’s product manager, says the ride tuning changes are subtle, but frame weight drops a not insignificant 70g without diminishing strength or stiffness.

Niner JET9 RDO limited edition RS-1 mountain bike

It also gets the new, lighter weight paint and clear coat used on the BSB 9 RDO. Here, it shows off more of the carbon, with some of the woven sections more visible on the rockers and elsewhere (unfortunately not very visible in this pic).

Niner JET9 RDO limited edition RS-1 mountain bike

The JET 9 RDO remains their endurance race weapon with 100mm of travel in the rear ready for 100 to 120 millimeters up front. All complete bikes are spec’d with 100mm forks.

Niner JET9 RDO limited edition RS-1 mountain bike

So, the big news here is the Limited Edition RS-1 build. Racy graphics aside, it gets a complete top shelf build. Drivetrain is SRAM XX1, wheels are Stan’s Valor carbon rims custom built on the new SRAM X0 hubs (which James says are phenomenal) with 24/24 lacing and the new Rockshox RS-1 inverted fork. Brakes are XTR (all build kits across the board get Shimano brakes for current component model year. So, an XO drivetrain will see XT brakes and so forth). Cockpit is Niner RDO with carbon handlebar and seatpost.

Price is $9,999, by far Niner’s most expensive complete bike ever. Credit the fork with a large chunk of that, but it comes in at just 22.5 pounds (for size medium):

Niner JET9 RDO limited edition RS-1 mountain bike actual weight

NinerBikes.com

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Bayard
Bayard
9 years ago

Does this come in a size 17?

Stew
Stew
9 years ago

Wow, some great looking bikes.

That new JET9 RDO with RS-1 is f*%#kin baller looking!

brattercakes
brattercakes
9 years ago

I thought the black, red & white color scheme had been beaten into the ground, but Niner still manages to pull it off very nicely.

Colin M
Colin M
9 years ago

Not a fan of the brand but damn those are some beautiful builds. Red and black everywhere with some of the nicest parts! Looks like Brady Kappius has a sick new race bike for this season. props!

Hoshie99
Hoshie99
9 years ago

Looks like a good cross bike with right in the pocket geometry for racing. It is a competitive market, so will be interesting to see if they can leverage their brand here.

j

mudrock
mudrock
9 years ago

As much as I’m getting tired of all black carbon frames, I think Niner’s stab at color is off. The RLTs look too garish, and the white-and-aqua color of the BSB frameset doesn’t look good either. Stick with black with accents. As brattercakes says, they have the black-red combo dialed.

jared
jared
9 years ago

The molding process they cite as new has been around for at least 6 years in bicycles.

KAW
KAW
9 years ago

I understand why they did the BSB RDO with an open-shell PF30 BB, but if they come out with a standard carbon version, it would be nice to make it compatible with their BB30 eccentric, and even offer a SS build.

mateo
mateo
9 years ago
Ross
Ross
9 years ago

@mudrock & @Brattercakes, I think the white/aqua is just swell and the black/red is superboring/oldnews.

If they can bridge that divide in only two colors maybe they’re doing it just right!

Chris
Chris
9 years ago

BikeRumor,

Please check your facts. Niner did not invent EPS (styrofoam) mandrel technology. It has been around for years. In fact, if they are just now using it in their frames they are many years off the back.

Sources:
http://carbonexperts.scott-sports.com/en/index.html#.U6CGifldU1I

http://www.bikeradar.com/us/news/article/cannondale-supersix-evo-construction-details-30139/

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/bikes-and-tech/lennard-zinn-a-look-at-climbing-and-sprinting-bikes-of-htc-highroad-saxo-bank-and-astana_186391

Kristi Benedict
Admin
9 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Chris, Tyler wrote that Niner “introduced” the process to their lineup of bikes, not that they invented the process.

John Spartan
John Spartan
9 years ago

looks like a no go for PF30 eccentric.. the carbon bb shell is the deal breaker.

pfs
pfs
9 years ago

I’ve talked to some of their engineering guys at different events. They told me that they have been using that technology for a long time. Its probably just the marketing people that are searching for new things to talk about.

steve
steve
9 years ago

The names of their bikes are so confusing…I can’t wait for the carbon gravel niner bsb 919 RGO 5 Jet 75

Dre
Dre
9 years ago

I always thought BSB was Back Street Boys?

Rhyno
Rhyno
9 years ago

No option for ebb?? Lame..

MulletRacer
MulletRacer
9 years ago

Yawn. Niner bikes at it again.

Cotter Pin
Cotter Pin
9 years ago

thru front and no rear? mmmmm sounds like a mid run production change.

JMH
JMH
9 years ago

The new bikes look rad! Kudos.

Gofasta
Gofasta
9 years ago

Nice scale holding spicy chops! the bikes look awesome BTW, great work!

K11
K11
9 years ago

@mulletRacer. agree

BSB- Bull Sh!t Basically.

puffy
puffy
9 years ago

I can’t believe they are still saying “damn it”.
Pick a decent swear or clean it up, you dorks.

GS1
GS1
9 years ago

Yawn. More “Look how clever I am” comments on Bike Rumor

EpicThroatBeard
EpicThroatBeard
9 years ago

Niner invented styrofoam.

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