Updated Niner RLT
 

I'm not sure if the steel or aluminum versions have been updated as much as the carbon RDO version. All three have the same updated fork with internal dynamo wire and brake hose routing.

The carbon RDO version has dropper post, mounts galore and fits 650b x 2 or 700c x 50 tires. The mounts for custom bags look really clean.

The claim of a "longer wheelbase for better stability" is a letdown as the first generation RLT 9 RDO could be a little quicker handling. Stability has never been an issue for me. Actual geometry charts remain to be seen.

Switching from 15 mm to 12 mm thru axles in the front is a good thing as some centerlock rotor setups have lockring issues with the 15 mm variant. Hopefully Niner will put 160 mm rotors on the factory builds and stop imagining that 140's are better because some paid pro rides them.

I can say that I beat the crap out of my 2015 RDO. I'd like to compare the new gen2 version with the Trail Donkey 3.0.

https://gravelcyclist.com/bicycle-te...learance-more/

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8d7d6d55b1.jpg


-Tim-

it was unclear about the longer wheelbase, was it on all frames? or just some, or only on the RDO?

so did they up the BB? I mean offering 650 versions at a 75mm BB drop , possible, but... I am curious, waiting on niner to update webpage.

Still curious as to what a seatstay yoke is. Zooming in on the steel and aluminum frames, I dont see anything different from normal.

Also, is gravel cyclist paid by niner or something? The article says JOM wrote it, but that sure looks like straight ad copy.

The article I saw earlier said the chainstays were longer on the rdo and aluminum models, which would translate to a longer wheelbase. The steel frame already has the longer chainstays.

Ya'll may be interested to know that pricing for the MCR is now on the Niner website :)

Dave

I guess that explains why I scored my 2019 Niner 4 star build for $2888 on clearance at Excel. Fine by me, I love the bike and don’t really need the added features of the 2020.

The new RDO is on the Niner website just now including SRAM ASX 12 speed, GRX, 650b models and a frame only option.

List price for the new frame is the same as the old first generation frame.

https://ninerbikes.com/products/rlt-...29541134991458

Geometry charts are also posted but I haven't compared the old and new versions yet.

So much for Niner going out of business :lol:


-Tim-

That's a sweet deal! What frame/drivetrain? How was the purchasing experience with Excel?
.
Dave

Carbon RLT frame, full Ultegra 8000 drivetrain, Stan’s wheels already set up tubeless. These were “new in box” demos for $2888, but they still have 4 star builds now for $2998. https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...jor=8&minor=16

Excel was great, bike was packed perfectly and they ship the front wheel in a separate box. Shipping was free and there was no sales tax. The tech spent a good amount of time on the phone with me answering all my questions. I’d buy another in a heartbeat, it’s an amazing bike and handles the trails so much better than the Giant TCX SLR2 it replaced.

yeah, they got bailed out. Bought.

Regarding the longer wheelbase: It looks like they aren't using a dropped chainstay design, so maybe to increase tire clearance they had to stretch the rear triangle back?

Overall looks like a decent upgrade. I like that they went to three mounting bosses on the fork, but I'm not too crazy about internal brake routing on forks. It just complicates things if you have to remove the fork for steerer trimming or bearing replacement, especially if you have hydraulic brakes. With external hoses, you just snip off a couple of zip ties, undo a couple of bolts, and the caliper comes right off as a unit. No need for messy hose disconnections.

I kind of like the 15x100 axle on my current RDO for a trivial reason: I usually transport my bike on a fork-mount roof rack, typically on the passenger side of the vehicle. The 15x100 has the hex socket on the right side of the fork, so it's easy to install and remove the axle from the passenger side, and also you can keep your greasy hands well away from the brake caliper and rotor. I don't know if this is part of some kind of standard or if each manufacturer is free to flip the axles around whichever way they want.

P.S. For anyone looking for clearance prices on the old frames, also keep Competitive Cyclist on your radar. I got my RLT9 RDO frame there for $1500 about a year ago (retail price is $2300). I think it's an early 2018 model, or whichever year had the black/red/silver paint scheme.

{Hopefully Niner will put 160 mm rotors on the factory builds and stop imagining that 140's are better because some paid pro rides them.}

My RDO came with 160mm rotors…

I like the blue RDO. I didn't know they were revamping for wider tire clearance - will have to check that out.

I have the 2018 RLT RDO 4-star. The excelsports price is a really good deal for this bike. Sounds like the re-design is nice too. I don't need the bigger tire clearance, but I do think the 12mm thru-axle is better in the long run.

I bought a second wheelset for mine, November Bicycles RCG-36 wheels with DT Swiss 350 hubs. I had to use an external lockring on the front rotor, as the DT 15mm endcap OD is too big to fit a lockring-tool over it. I have about 1mm clearance between the lockring and the fork, so it works, but it is close. Other hubs might be better or interfere.

I run Schwalbe Pro One 30s on the RCGs and still have the OEM G One All Arounds on the OEM Stans wheels. I bought two 160 rotors and converted the front wheels to 160 - just have to flip the caliper mount over to move it up 10mm. The 140s on the back seem sufficient. I shimmed out the rotors on both the front and rear Stans wheels with one 1/4mm shim, so the rotor alignment between the two wheelsets is identical, very easy to swap wheels.

Anybody know what the weight of the new carbon frame is?

The pricing for the MCR is kinda out there for coming with an x-fusion shock.

The RLT 9 Steel builds are curious. The promo YouTube videos show 105 cranks and none of them have one (or 105 for that matter). The went Easton cranks and non GRX FDs. The Tiagra (GRX 400) is almost as much non-GRX as it is GRX and it's still carrying the premium price point.

Definitely looks like a frame build up might be the better value.

claimed 1600g, but they also claimed that weight for the old model, in the end it was close to 1900g in size 56, 1290g frame / 600g fork

It has everything I wish my 2018 frame had, but still not enough for me to feel the need upgrade.

Dayamn, that's a sweet bike. I was looking into upgrading and getting a Salsa Vaya, waited to see if they offered a SRAM option for 2020 (spoiler alert: they didn't) so the RLT steel is looking really tempting.