Teased in our post on Niner Bikes CVA patent here, full images of the Niner Bikes JET 9 RDO frame have been posted up on Niner Bikes site with some more details on the newest full suspension frame from the 29″er only company.
Along with the CVA rear suspension, which features 100mm of travel, Niner has spec’ed a new Fox RP23 shock with the new Kashima coating said to reduce friction and provide a smoother feeling stroke. All suspension linkage is forged aluminum with Niner’s unique hardware connecting it all together. The front of the frame features a tapered head tube and Niner says a 100mm or 120mm fork is okay with this bike’s geometry.
The swooping curves and tube shapes were chosen due to their functionality first, which was determined by Niner’s research and development. Computer aided design, testing of previous Niner JET 9 aluminum frames, and competitors frames were all used to help come up with the final forms you see here. Then Niner did further testing in house and with an independent lab to help the new JET 9 RDO not only meet CEN standards, but according to Niner, a frame that “far exceeds CEN standards”. This frame is also covered by Niner’s “C5 Carbon Warranty” which goes up to five years.
The frame has internal cable routing similar to the Carbon AIR 9. It also features titanium anti-chain suck plates, and precision aluminum inserts for the direct front derailleur mount and for the rear brake.
No word on frame weight or other details. Price has been set at US $2599.00.
Wow, very pretty! I hope you won’t need an arm and a leg just to purchase it.
$2599, ouch.
I wish there was an XXL… Not sure I can squeeze on their biggest size!
Wow….that is pretty. Nice lines.
grannygear
Compared to other carbon full-suspension 29er frames out there, its not that expensive really. Santa Cruz Tallboy $2673, Specialized S-Works 29er $4800 (with fork, seatpost, and rear hub) – that thing better make me breakfast in the morning!
Yup, I agree with Henry. A bit of a tight fit for the taller folk. I’ll stick with my XXL Tallboy . . . .
That`s a pretty fancy bike!
Jason,
“that thing better make me breakfast in the morning!”
Wrong…better weigh 2000 grams(medium) <
Nice looking though……
For an extra $749 that thing had better weigh significantly less than the scandium frame…If I can build a lighter bike by spending that $749 on parts instead we have a problem. The AIR9C is under 3 lbs, so maybe 4.5 lbs?
But they are giving you a 5 year warranty on the frame so for their sakes I hope they don’t have any problems like the original JET9.
I don’t like the increased suspension, but if their intent is for a single carbon FS frame for the xc/light crowd then I can see why they went that route.
Stated weight for a small frame is 5lb 1oz so its not the lightest out there, but the short link bikes always seem to pay a bit of a weight penalty. The Scalpel 29 and new Spark 29 are going to be a pound lighter, but they have basic single pivot suspension systems.
I think it was a good move for them to bump the travel to 100, expands the appeal of the bike to not just the shrinking XC race market.
I think Niner is going to be onto a winner here if they have learned from past issues and can deliver reliable product in a timely manner.
BikeRumor is reporting frame weight of 5lbs 1oz including shock, size small.
http://www.bikerumor.com/2011/06/21/first-look-carbon-fiber-niner-jet-9-rdo-full-suspension-29er/
So the small frame weighs ~7oz less than the large frame of a Anthem X29? I’m having less and less buyer’s remorse for my Anthem (and I can’t say that I had any before…), especially when I bought a complete bike (X1) for only ~$400 more than the FRAME…
@GT Jet9 is beautiful, however there has been some speculation about carbon rip9 being around a corner. Any rumours whatsoever?
Three letters missing : Niner Jet 9 “W-E-I” RDO. 🙂
Unconventional design. Looks really ugly at first glance but I will learn to appreciate it in the long run I guess. Looks very solid however. Congrats Niner. Still a trendsetter
First impression……ugly. Looks like some art deco beach cruiser. Just my opinion.
I like the look. My Medium Jet weighed just a smidge over 6 lbs 3 ounces. So basically it is a pound lighter and can use a lighter dérailleur. Is that bottom bracket hole the same as the one on the Air9C?
Bottom bracket is a pressfit30 from my understanding rather than the Niner CYA on the Air9C, saves weight and you would be unlikely to want to run an eccentric.
@Brandon
I was thinking the very same thing (though I could definitely be interested in this frame under the right circumstances). I am still amazed a the value and performance of my X1. I would love for one of these to show up for a demo day for comparison in rough, technical terrain, particularly with the steeper head tube and the shorter stays.
Also, I just picked up a pair of the Easton EA90 carbon wheels and will see how much they liven up the bike this weekend.
Woof. Doesn’t make me tingly enough to drop the coin…
Am I the only one that sees Enduro influence? http://www.jacksbikes.com/contents/media/specialized%20enduro%20sl%20pro%20carbon%202008.jpg
@JustinTime
Oh I agree, given the right circumstances I would be interested in the frame. I would certainly give it a test ride, and I agree with wanting to try a bike out that has a bit shorter chain stays, because if there is one thing I could complain about a bit on the Anthem is the fact that it is rather hard to get the wheels off of the ground. Over all though, I have a BLAST riding my X1.
Looks just like a shark to me! I’ll take mine all black.
eturk: It also comes in solid black.
I have been trying to figure out RDO and all my brain keeps coming up with is Jet9 Re-DO. Please give me another option
It’s interesting how much more “curvy” the triangles are getting. Does “sexy” lines come to mind with this frame?
Let’s see crunching the numbers it weighs about (~5.2 lbs) about the same as SC Tallboy with 1″ longer wheelbase throughout the range, close on head angle (steeper by .5) slightly longer rear triangle and same rear travel (with tallboy shock placement better for long-term low maint.). frame msrp tallboy 2350 Jet9 RDO 2599.
I will pay 350.00 dollars more with the legacy of Jet 9 crack record …oops I mean track record.
Which bike would I make my race day machine go to machine ?
Still is a BEAUTIFUL bike. If you give me one to review I would certainly take it. Then still go out and buy well…you know…. it ain’t no tallboy killer.
Comparing the linkages and how they are tied to the front end between the tallboy and the Jet 9 RDO, it sure looks like the Tallboy would be a stiffer handling race day bike in the corners.
I used to have a Jet 9 alum and it would almost bend sideways at the linkages going into the corners…before it broke. This frame looks very much the same stress and flex points ….except in carbon.
Oops just hit the SC website. The price has gone up to 2550 with an RP2 ! So really the Jet would be cheaper for a 2673 Tallboy with RP23. Now I know the real reason they came out with the alum version of the Tallboy so they could jack up the price of the carbon. (They had know idea they were going to sell so many of them so $$)
I wonder if Niner will have the same problem with the Jet carbon. Pricing really seems about right after all.
@Fried Man
The revised JET I rode was noticeably stiffer across the chassis nose to tail compared to the old one. The Tall Boy was not that stiff in the rear tri. If the JET RDO matches or exceeds the alu JET for torsional stiffnes, then it will be a step up from the Tall Boy IMO…based on SOTP testing, of course.
But that is all any other rider has at his disposal outside the torture labs.
grannygear
So why did Steve leave?
I saw these @ Deer Valley this week. Very nice
@granny
Huh ?
http://twentynineinches.com/2010/02/25/santa-cruz-tall-boy-final-review-what-others-have-to-say/
“The rest of the chassis of the Tall Boy seems to be absolutely solid, as under mashing/pedaling and turning, etc, it is excellent.”
All I know is some pretty fun FS 29er toys coming out.
@mk…Not sure what your point is, but let’s look at the whole thought here to preserve the context.
“There was some flex going on in the back end of the bike and most of that was from a less than stout wheel build. It was felt by the other heavier test riders on off-camber hills and I noticed it in parallel ruts. I think that if you are at the 200lb mark, perhaps a stiffer wheel would be a good idea. The rest of the chassis of the Tall Boy seems to be absolutely solid, as under mashing/pedaling and turning, etc, it is excellent.”
The flex I noticed (and could see) was in the rear tri (outside of the wheels issue). The front end, BB, etc seemed just fine to me.
IMO the alu JET is a stiffer chassis nose to tail than the lighter TB.
grannygear
That curvy frame looks like a direct shot at Ibis, frankly.
They’re the ones people are clamoring for to make 29ers, and taking their sweet time. If this bike takes off, then the Ibis could lose some of their more impatient customers.
Frankly this bike looks nothing like an Ibis. Though an Ibis 29er would be cool (especially if they had a bottle mount inside the frame where you could reach it)!
I expect the Ibis to have more travel and a more trail bike approach….at least that is what I have been told. We shall see.
Something like that with a Fox 34 would be a pretty amazing bike. Anyone wanna’ bet that there will be a carbon 29er FSR for 2012? Would not surprise me at all. 2012 should be very interesting.
grannygear
Just another american company, manufacturing their carbon frames in China. I will spend my money on american brands manufacturing in the usa. There are to many great usa made frame options in that price range, than to buy these chinese made frames, sorry not impressed.
Please tell us what American Made Carbon frames in this class of price and performance with all the features this frame has such as internal cable routing, etc. not to mention that CVA if proven to be better than almost anything else for efficiency. These frames are engineered in the United States and made where labor is affordable.
The real problem in the US is that we between government and private contributions pay over 2x what the rest of the developed world does for healthcare. It won’t be long before there are no factory jobs in the US. I own a transportation business and we helped move a local Whirlpool plant to Mexico. The union wages were not that high (average $18 per hour) but the healthcare costs also averaged close to $18 per hour making US labor effectively cost $36 per hour compared to Mexican semi skilled labor of around $8 per hour. all inclusive If it wasn’t for health care costs the plant would have stayed here since the extra transportation costs would have offset the labor differences. Government at all levels is around 30% of GNP and healthcare is around 25%. Both are climbing rapidly. We have to pay for everything else we buy, do, use, etc. out of the diminishing 45% of GNP including buying bikes.
Wow, wow, and wow. I can’t wait to get my hands on this bike! I have a 2010 Rip9, and it’s a great all around bike, but not a XC race machine by any means. I have been close to purchasing the TB and loss some weight, but could pull the trigger on the 6000 for the XX group bike. This makes the choice harder. Now I think that I’m going to have to put down the dough to play, if only I can get my hands one one???
To respond to yourdaguy – July 8. I had a feeling that someone would respond just like what you wrote. Yes, I understand the aspects of low production costs over seas, so your response explains it to others who do not. If you have your heart set on this CVA design and an all carbon frame, this is what you should buy. (MY opinion is that I would not buy a chinese frame and on top of it a price of what? – for a China made frame, this is just stupid) As far as American made frames in general (any style or material type) that can match up to any brand manufacturing in china, for price/ performance is usually a lost cause. But when talking high end carbon, Ti, or Stainless – the gap equalizes. Niners carbon hardtail, instead look at Crumptons new 29 hardtail, the usa made quality is dramatic. If you are ok with a china/taiwan made brand, there is a pile of options available for less, this is what I didn’t say in my first reply, sorry. I think that the Santa Cruz blur design is superior, still made overseas but less money, I think. American f/s carbon frames, no options really, but there are euro brands out there, just takes a little research by the one buying a new f/s frame. The only thing I can say is that if you had never been to a NAHBS (not saying you have not) but this may make you and others with similar view points, change your mind. (Keep an open mind on frame materials, there are great custom american framesets available) – a bike made/tuned for your measurements and ride style. No hard feelings, just my opinion.