Jamis Renegade steel vs Niner Rlt 9 RDO
#1
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Thread Starter
Jamis Renegade steel vs Niner Rlt 9 RDO
I'm considering buying either a Renegade steel or Niner Rlt9 RDO. One of my concerns is the geometry. The Niner looks to have a more relaxed position, and the seat tube is much lower than the front end. I've ridden a RDO on rough gravel before, and it was very comfortable. The RDO frames run around $2300, and the Jamis is $850. Should I save up and get the RDO instead? Would it be worth it?
Dave
Dave
#2
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Can you clarify what 'the seat tube is much lower than the front end' means?
Both frames have similar BB drop and are within a couple mm of on each other.
Do you just mean that the niner' top tube slopes more?
They are very different costs and different material.
To compare like material, there is a Carbon Renegade frameset too...https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/renegadeelite_frame.html
Both frames have similar BB drop and are within a couple mm of on each other.
Do you just mean that the niner' top tube slopes more?
They are very different costs and different material.
To compare like material, there is a Carbon Renegade frameset too...https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/renegadeelite_frame.html
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Can you clarify what 'the seat tube is much lower than the front end' means?
Both frames have similar BB drop and are within a couple mm of on each other.
Do you just mean that the niner' top tube slopes more?
They are very different costs and different material.
To compare like material, there is a Carbon Renegade frameset too...https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/renegadeelite_frame.html
Both frames have similar BB drop and are within a couple mm of on each other.
Do you just mean that the niner' top tube slopes more?
They are very different costs and different material.
To compare like material, there is a Carbon Renegade frameset too...https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/renegadeelite_frame.html
#4
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You will get a variety of opinions on here of course. For me, I own a Steel Renegade and have ridden the 9er as well. The 9er has a nice paint job and is somewhat ligter, but I do not feel it is worth the extra cash unless you have a lot of it to spare.. The Reengade is an extremely popular bike and in certain years you can get a carbon frameset, nit sure about this year. A dealer still may be able to order ome for you even if it is not listed. The 9er is made in smaller batches which can drive up the cost and Jamis does almost no advertising to keep teh cost down. There is no proprietary magic in making a steel frame as they have been making them the same way with the same materials for decades. The Jamis is probably the best value for a steel frame you can get anywere and it is quite well made, just not a boutique brand. If you have cash and care about cachet get the 9er. Jamis for a gerat bike and a great deal. This bears out in the bikes sold numbers if you look around. Jamis has also been around sicce the 1920s too and is a very trusted company with great warranty service if you ever find you are in a situation where that matters.
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#5
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You will get a variety of opinions on here of course. For me, I own a Steel Renegade and have ridden the 9er as well. The 9er has a nice paint job and is somewhat ligter, but I do not feel it is worth the extra cash unless you have a lot of it to spare.. The Reengade is an extremely popular bike and in certain years you can get a carbon frameset, nit sure about this year. A dealer still may be able to order ome for you even if it is not listed. The 9er is made in smaller batches which can drive up the cost and Jamis does almost no advertising to keep teh cost down. There is no proprietary magic in making a steel frame as they have been making them the same way with the same materials for decades. The Jamis is probably the best value for a steel frame you can get anywere and it is quite well made, just not a boutique brand. If you have cash and care about cachet get the 9er. Jamis for a gerat bike and a great deal. This bears out in the bikes sold numbers if you look around. Jamis has also been around sicce the 1920s too and is a very trusted company with great warranty service if you ever find you are in a situation where that matters.
Hypothetically, if I bought both, and built both up with identical components, would the 2 lbs in frameset weight be noticable? I'm not racing any gravel races, only myself on Strava and my gravel buddies. I'm currently riding a 32 lb mtb, and the Jamis build would be around 20 lbs. Pretty sure I'll feel that 12 lb difference.
Dave
#6
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Itd be tough to say 2# is noticable when riding recreationally. Yes it's a difference that can be measured over long rides with plenty of hill climbing. No, that measured difference wont be significant for recreational riding and enjoyment.
I would care more about geometry fitting the feel/style of riding I want, the look of the bike, and design features before considering 2# of weight.
I would care more about geometry fitting the feel/style of riding I want, the look of the bike, and design features before considering 2# of weight.
#7
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Saving a piond in a set of wheels is a huge difference you can feel in the fisst pedal stroke. Saving 2 pounds in a frame is hardly noticabe. It would almost be equivalen of having your body weight fluctuate two pounds and you likely never feel that one way or the other. Ten pounds you might feel. but not two...
Last edited by dwmckee; 03-29-20 at 04:11 PM.
#8
Junior Member
Not sure of exact models, but Bike Insights is an incredible website to compare geometry, they have several RLT and Renegade models to chose from:
https://bikeinsights.com/
https://bikeinsights.com/
#9
Newbie
Not sure of exact models, but Bike Insights is an incredible website to compare geometry, they have several RLT and Renegade models to chose from:
https://bikeinsights.com/
https://bikeinsights.com/
#10
Full Member
I'm considering buying either a Renegade steel or Niner Rlt9 RDO. One of my concerns is the geometry. The Niner looks to have a more relaxed position, and the seat tube is much lower than the front end. I've ridden a RDO on rough gravel before, and it was very comfortable. The RDO frames run around $2300, and the Jamis is $850. Should I save up and get the RDO instead? Would it be worth it?
Dave
Dave
#11
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IMHO, 2lbs isn't a big difference, unless you are doing a lot of climbing or start/stop.
In my experience, it depends how much power I'm putting down. If I'm going for a spirited ride at 250-350 watts, it doesn't make much difference. But If I'm hammering and doing 500 - 1500 watts (competitive conditions) - the responsiveness of a good carbon bike is amazing. My steel bike just seems to soak up my energy when I put the hammer down.
I like them both. Took the steel bike out today, took the carbon one out yesterday. Steel is great for long rides, but for short hard sprints or competitive riding I'll take the carbon bike.
In my experience, it depends how much power I'm putting down. If I'm going for a spirited ride at 250-350 watts, it doesn't make much difference. But If I'm hammering and doing 500 - 1500 watts (competitive conditions) - the responsiveness of a good carbon bike is amazing. My steel bike just seems to soak up my energy when I put the hammer down.
I like them both. Took the steel bike out today, took the carbon one out yesterday. Steel is great for long rides, but for short hard sprints or competitive riding I'll take the carbon bike.
#12
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Thread Starter
Wow, didn't know the Niner RDO bare frame ran $2300! Makes me even happier I scored a full Ultegra 4 star build when Excel was closing them out for $2800 delivered with no tax. About 3,000 miles into it, zero regrets and I'd probably pay full price if I had to replace it. I've owned a lot of high end bikes over the years, but this one does it for me.
Dave
#13
Full Member
Excel runs some pretty amazing sales at the end of the year for prior year models. Nice bike btw! They had the RDO frameset on sale for $1400 not too long ago. How was your experience purchasing from them? I might just wait till the end of the year and see what they offer.
Dave
Dave
To top it off, they ship free and didn't charge any sales tax. I would not hesitate to buy another from them. Keep an eye on Jenson USA too. They often has some screaming deals on Niner's.
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I'm considering buying either a Renegade steel or Niner Rlt9 RDO. One of my concerns is the geometry. The Niner looks to have a more relaxed position, and the seat tube is much lower than the front end. I've ridden a RDO on rough gravel before, and it was very comfortable. The RDO frames run around $2300, and the Jamis is $850. Should I save up and get the RDO instead? Would it be worth it?
Dave
Dave
https://ninerbikes.com/products/rlt-9-steel
#15
Junior Member
I noticed that about Jenson too, some nice prices on many bikes. Thats a pretty large price difference between the 2 bikes you wanted opinions about which would include a bunch of other bikes in between those 2 bikes. Have heard good things about the RLT steel. The Kona Rove NRB is a nice bike as well. Noticing a lot of new bikes have the 1x setups. Its intrigueing!
#16
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I noticed that about Jenson too, some nice prices on many bikes. Thats a pretty large price difference between the 2 bikes you wanted opinions about which would include a bunch of other bikes in between those 2 bikes. Have heard good things about the RLT steel. The Kona Rove NRB is a nice bike as well. Noticing a lot of new bikes have the 1x setups. Its intrigueing!
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#17
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I'm thinking if you still haven't decided, you should just split the difference and get the RLT Steel...
https://ninerbikes.com/products/rlt-9-steel
https://ninerbikes.com/products/rlt-9-steel
Dave
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#18
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My 853 gravel frame and carbon fork, that uses the same DZB downtube(so same butting) as Niner is 400g lighter and I ride the largest size(effectively a 64cm frame). This would put the largest size niner at probably 600g heavier than my frame. Naw, that's crazy talk.
The niner frame isnt light, to be clear, but if it's really that heavy its absurd.
#19
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Quality modern steel frames should weigh in on the low side of 5lbs
This is from the Jamis website, 853 Niner should be about the same:
This is from the Jamis website, 853 Niner should be about the same:
Last edited by DorkDisk; 04-02-20 at 04:53 AM.
#20
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#21
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This is from Niner's blog:
.67 lbs of axles and headset, seatpost collar? Perhaps.
#22
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I understood, I was trying to say 6.8 is high.
This is from Niner's blog:
.67 lbs of axles and headset, seatpost collar? Perhaps.
This is from Niner's blog:
.67 lbs of axles and headset, seatpost collar? Perhaps.
Dave
#23
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