https://www.pinkbike.com/news/first-ride-niner-wfo-9-rdo-2022.html
2022 Niner WFO 9 RDO 4-STAR SHIMANO XT
A 29″ carbon frame full suspension enduro bike with high-end components, priced near the middle of the WFO model range. Compare the full range
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| FRAME | Niner RDO Carbon Fiber |
|---|---|
| FORK | Fox 38 Float Factory GRIP 2 EVOL, 180mm Travel |
| REAR SHOCK | Fox Float X2 Factory EVOL |
| HEADSET | Niner Internal ZS ZS44/28.6|ZS56/40 |
| SHIFTERS | Shimano XT M8100 I-Spec EV |
| FRONT DERAILLEUR | Not Today |
| REAR DERAILLEUR | Shimano XT M8100 SGS |
| CRANKSET | Race Face Next R Carbon, 32T |
| BOTTOM BRACKET | Race Face BSA Threaded |
| CHAIN | Shimano XT M8100 |
| CASSETTE | Shimano XT M8100, 10-51T |
| BRAKES | Shimano XT M8120 Hydraulic |
| WHEELSET | DT Swiss EX 1700 Spline 30mm, Boost Spacing |
| TIRES | Schwalbe Magic Mary EVO 2.6″ / Hans Dampf EVO 2.6″ |
| HANDLEBAR | Race Face Next R 35mm Rise, 800mm |
| STEM | Race Face Turbine R 40mm, 35mm Clamp |
| GRIPS/BAR TAPE | Niner Grrrips L/O Flanged Soft Compound |
| SEATPOST | KS Lev Si, S:125, M:150, L/XL:175 |
| SEATCLAMP | – |
| SADDLE | Niner Custom TR w/CRN-TI Rails |
| INTENDED USE | Enduro |
Note: Components are subject to change without notice.
CVA SUSPENSION
Niner’s Constantly Varying Arc, or CVA™, suspension design is a short dual-link, four-bar system unique to Niner, developed in house and patented. Originally designed specifically to account for the greater bottom bracket drop of 29ers, the CVA pivot and linkage layout is ideal for the range of larger wheel and tire sizes found on all modern trail bikes, including 29er, 27.5+, and new school, wider 27.5 wheels with 2.5-2.6 tires.
Why CVA?
In a nutshell, the CVA system controls unwanted suspension movement with calibrated anti-squat provided by chain force, rather than relying on rear shock compression damping or manual lockouts.
At the same time, CVA keeps the suspension active while climbing and descending, thanks to careful pivot placement which effectively tunes the amount of bump input required to overcome the anti-squat.
We believe the right tune is a balance between pedaling efficiency and fully active suspension. CVA suspension is perfectly balanced, so the result is stable yet supple, active, ground-hugging traction in every situation – cranking uphill, ripping downhill, and everywhere in between.
Ultimately, you’ll have to try it to believe it. Even our engineers say, “you gotta ride it to get it.”
How does it work?
CVA is named for the path of the rear axle as the suspension cycles through travel. As the suspension is compressed, the rear axle moves past the sag point in a gradual, constantly varying arc, upward and inward toward the bike.
Niner’s CVA axle path is important. Thanks to this unique CVA rear axle path, Niner suspension bikes benefit from carefully controlled chain growth in the first 30% of suspension travel to impart an optimal degree of “anti-squat” force under pedaling loads.
- Chain growth: the effective lengthening (or shortening) of the distance between the bottom bracket and rear axle as the suspension cycles.
- Anti-squat: a measure of how the suspension resists pedal bob, or the tendency of suspension bikes to naturally move up and down under pedaling load, due to the rider’s weight shifting as the bike accelerates.
Climbing: stable and supple.
Niner’s CVA axle path (and hence chain growth) is designed to maximize anti-squat right at the sag point, or within the first 25-30% of suspension travel. Chain tension from pedaling force helps to hold the bike up in its travel, right at the sag point, and prevents it from squatting or bobbing under pedaling load.
- Suspension sag or “sag point:” When properly tuned, where the bike naturally sits in its travel under the weight of the rider. Usually about 25-30% of total suspension travel, e.g., 2” on a 6” travel bike.
Furthermore, thanks to our linkage and pivot layout, CVA anti-squat is amplified in larger rear cogs, which happens to be the gearing most used when a rider is pedaling uphill. This goes a step further in minimizing pedal bob and loss of efficiency, particularly when climbing.
Yet the anti-squat stability is “overruled” by bump input, even going uphill. When bump inputs from terrain cause the CVA suspension to move past the sag point into travel, chain growth and anti-squat are reduced to near zero. This prevents pedal kick-back and keeps the suspension supple and active, so that the rear wheel stays smoothly in contact with the ground and the rider maintains traction while pedaling.
- Pedal kick-back: backward rotation of the crank arms when the suspension cycles due to bump input.
At the end of the day, CVA is stable yet supple under pedaling. It gives just enough anti-squat to maximize pedaling efficiency, but not so much as to cause the suspension to “stand up,” kick back, extend, or overly stiffen under pedaling inputs.
Descending: Sensitive and supportive.
As described, beyond the sag point, chain growth and anti-squat are reduced to near zero. The drivetrain is effectively decoupled from the suspension as CVA moves deeper through travel, allowing the suspension full freedom to absorb impacts and track terrain. This keeps the suspension sensitive and fully active while descending.
Furthermore, we tune the leverage ratio throughout the suspension travel, to elicit better performance from our shocks. With a relatively higher leverage ratio early in the suspension stroke, our CVA design transfers more force from the rear wheel to the shock shaft in the early stroke. This keeps the system hyper sensitive to small bumps, allowing the rear wheel to stay smoothly in contact with the ground.
- Leverage ratio: the ratio of rear wheel suspension travel to shock stroke; e.g., if a bike has 5” of suspension travel and the shock stroke is 2.5”, the average leverage ratio is 2.0.
Deeper in travel, the leverage ratio is slightly reduced, which adds supportiveness to the midstroke. Less force from the rear wheel is transferred to the shock shaft, allowing the shock to fully support the rider’s weight. This lets the rider pump and push against terrain without the bike moving too far into travel.
In the end stroke, the leverage ratio curve ramps up just enough to transfer more force to the shock. This overcomes the natural ramp-up of the air shock and gives us perfect end-stroke progressivity. Result? A bottomless feel under big hits and hard landings.
Overall kinematic: Consistentand controlled.
Unlike other designs, the CVA lower link lies below the BB. With this design, we can keep the chainstays super short. And with longer links, the leverage ratio is much easier to control. So we have substantial freedom to control the suspension kinematics, both by bike family and by phase of travel.
- Kinematics: the collective design concepts and parameters that affect suspension, such as anti-squat, leverage rate, instant center, and more.
As CVA cycles through travel, a virtual or “instant center” of rotation around which the rear axle rotates migrates fore and aft, but always remains far out in front of the bottom bracket and relatively in line with the direction of chain pull. Keeping the instant center well in front of the BB keeps the suspension behavior consistent across a range of different gearing choices, especially early in the suspension travel.
By subtly adjusting linkage pivot locations, we adjust the kinematic to achieve desired behavior in each phase of the suspension travel. Each bike family (RKT, JET, RIP) gets an overall kinematic to suit the purpose of the bike.
We have great control over suspension behavior based on pivot layout alone, giving us more freedom to optimize shock tuning for descents. The CVA system does not rely heavily on shock tune to control pedal bob. So, we can dial our tune for consistency and control on the downhills.
Another CVA benefit: the relatively low average leverage ratio reduces the amount of shock air pressure needed to support rider weight and we use a longer shock. There’s more oil in longer shocks, which translates to more consistent, smoother, more effective damping and better reliability.
The result is total control, consistency, and ground-gripping traction in all situations. The rear wheel on a CVA-equipped Niner effectively tracks the ground under full pedaling load going uphill, transmitting 100% of the rider’s effort into forward progress. And with optimized kinematics for bump inputs through every phase of travel, plus the smooth shock actuation, CVA is a terrain-tracking missile going downhill.
Patented and Proven.
Niner’s CVA suspension system was designed in-house, has been used on Niner bikes since 2008, and was granted a US Patent in May 2011. The system was awarded a Eurobike Design and Innovation Award in 2012 and has earned rave reviews from riders, product testers, and athletes around the world.
The ultimate goal of a suspension design is simple: to keep the rear wheel in contact with the ground and moving as freely and independently as possible in all situations, yet control and minimize unwanted, inefficient movement. Niner’s CVA is proven to do exactly this.
To test ride one and see for yourself, click here to find a demo near you!
RDO CARBON FIBER
Niner RDO carbon fiber: “Race Day Optimized”
At Niner, we take a careful approach to carbon fiber. Rather than just offering cookie-cutter carbon products, we maximize the benefits of the material and we design products to take full advantage of carbon fiber’s characteristics.
DESIGN
We start with computer modeling. Drawing from FEA studies of our current products and by benchmarking competitor samples, we establish targeted stiffness and strength parameters. Studying frame force inputs and load paths, we develop frame shapes that disperse energy throughout the structure, eliminating stress risers and hot spots. Our objective is to use the natural damping of carbon to increase the fatigue life of the structure and decrease the vibrations translated to the rider.
The external shape of our products directly correlates to the stiffness and strength numbers we want to achieve. With carbon, it’s very easy to get stuck in a game of just ‘layer it up’. The easiest path is to create a shape and then add carbon layers in any critical area until the structure is strong enough to pass testing.
Fortunately for you (but more work for us), we don’t just add material to make a shape work. Structural forms and shapes are critical to establishing stiffness and strength. And we put in extra work to get the right shapes first, so we don’t have to add extra material, which adds weight.
PROTOTYPING
Once shapes are finalized in the computer, we use rapid prototyping to build full-scale SLA models to confirm component fits and tolerances. Next, we build physical samples for testing. All of our carbon products undergo exhaustive physical destructive and strength evaluation before we release them for ride testing.
The path to a final product is long and winding, but every step is critical when creating a Niner product. Carbon is an amazing material with a world of possibilities and our dedication to finding the best options for every frame and component is key to the Niner design process.
RDO CARBON PROCESS
The Niner RDO carbon fiber construction process employs rigid internal molds in addition to external molds during the curing process. This results in tighter, more consistent compaction of the carbon layers, and correspondingly greater precision in wall thickness with significantly reduced resin pooling in the finished product. This tighter construction tolerance allows more refined ride tuning, strength and durability, plus weight reduction.
Our robust development and hours of ride testing make us confident that our products will exceed your expectations. Our RDO Carbon Compaction System rivals the best in the bike industry and we back it up with our 5-year warranty.
| SIZE | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: SEAT TUBE LENGTH | 390 | 419 | 462 |
| B: EFFECTIVE TOP TUBE | 575 | 597 | 627 |
| C: STACK | 626 | 631 | 635 |
| D: REACH | 430 | 450 | 480 |
| E: BB HEIGHT | – | – | – |
| F: BB DROP | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| G: HEAD TUBE LENGTH | 90 | 95 | 100 |
| H: HEAD TUBE ANGLE | 64 ° | 64 ° | 64 ° |
| I: SEAT TUBE ANGLE | 77 ° | 77 ° | 77 ° |
| J: STANDOVER HEIGHT | 725 | 727 | 748 |
| K: CHAINSTAY LENGTH | 438 | 438 | 438 |
| L: WHEELBASE | 1205 | 1227 | 1259 |
| CRANK ARM LENGTH | 170 mm | 170 mm | 170 mm |
| STEM LENGTH | 40 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| HANDLEBAR WIDTH | 800 mm | 800 mm | 800 mm |
| FRAME SIZE | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIDER HEIGHT | 5’3″ – 5’9″ 160 – 175 cm |
5’8″ – 6’0″ 173 – 183 cm |
5’11” – 6’5″ 180 – 191 cm |
WARRANTY
Niner Bikes Limited Lifetime Warranty
Niner is a company of cyclists. We believe in the quality of the bikes and components we produce. We ride, we race, and we engineer our products to give our riders the best experience possible. Therefore, we back up our bikes with the best service and support possible, including a limited lifetime warranty for the original owners of Niner bike frames purchased after Sept 1, 2019.
This warranty only covers defective materials and/or construction. It does not cover external factors such as: damage due to crashing, impact damage due to rock strikes, impact damage due to frame tip-over, paint scratching due to muddy rides or abrasion by foreign material, nor corrosion due to humidity or saltwater. Please read the full policy below.
We hope you’re riding daily. But the normal wear and tear associated with using our stuff is not covered under warranty. This warranty applies only to the original owner with valid proof of purchase and is non-transferable.
Warranty registration is mandatory! You MUST register your product with Niner to be eligible for warranty coverage. Be sure to upload valid proof of purchase: a dated sales receipt from an authorized Niner dealer showing description of the Niner item purchased and price; and/or an official, dated confirmation email from an authorized online Niner dealer or reseller confirming the purchase and shipment of the Niner product, including product description and price. Niner can’t honor warranty claims without sufficient proof of purchase.
NINER FRAME WARRANTY POLICY
Niner Bicycles will repair or replace, at its sole discretion, any frames that it determines to be defective due to defective materials and/or workmanship, as specified by purchase date and material below:
- Lifetime: All Niner frames purchased after Sept 1, 2019 are warranted for the life of the frame, for as long as the original owner is in possession of the frame, if the original owner has registered the frame on Niner’s website.
- Five year: All Niner frames made of steel or alloy purchased after January 1st, 2017 have a 5-year warranty from date of purchase.
- Five year: All Niner carbon frames purchased before Sept 1, 2019 have a 5-year warranty from date of purchase.
- Two year: All frames made of steel or alloy purchased before January 1st, 2017 have a 2-year limited warranty.
Terms and conditions
All limited warranty coverage is only for original owners. This warranty only covers defective materials and/or construction. Normal wear and tear, claimed defects, malfunctions or failures that result from abuse, neglect, improper assembly, improper maintenance, alteration, collision, crash, or misuse, are not covered under these warranties.
All limited warranty coverage is conditioned upon the bicycle being ridden under normal conditions and having been properly maintained. “Normal riding conditions” includes racing, if that’s your thing, but it does not include damage due to crashing while racing. Nor does it include damage due to improper maintenance (which we hope you don’t do) or normal wear and tear from frequent riding (which we hope you do do). It does not cover external factors such as: damage due to crashing, impact damage due to rock strikes, impact damage due to frame tip-over, paint scratching due to muddy rides or abrasion by foreign material, nor corrosion due to humidity or saltwater.
This warranty does not cover the component parts attached to the frameset such as suspension components, wheels, drive train, brakes, seat post, handlebar and stem. Niner branded components may be covered by a separate warranty as specified below.
This warranty applies only to the original owner with valid proof of purchase from an authorized Niner retailer. A valid proof of purchase is defined as one of the following:
1) A dated sales receipt from an authorized Niner dealer or reseller. The receipt must show the product description and price.
2)A dated official email from an authorized online Niner dealer or reseller confirming the purchase and shipment of the product. The confirmation email must show the product description and price.
This warranty is non-transferable. This warranty is void if the bicycle was not properly assembled by an authorized Niner dealer.
To exercise your rights under the above Niner limited warranties, the bicycle or frameset must be presented with proof of purchase to an authorized Niner dealer. The original owner is responsible for costs associated with the repair or removal of all components required to process a warranty claim. Under no circumstance does this limited warranty include the cost of travel or shipment to and from an authorized Niner dealer.
Warranty processing
Warranty claims will be processed in the order they are received. Niner warranty processing may require 6-10 weeks depending on variations in claim volume and staffing. International warranty claims may require an additional 4-6 weeks for shipping and customs clearance.
Replacement products
In the case of a valid frame warranty claim by a rider, Niner will repair or replace the frame at its sole discretion. In the case that an exact replacement frame is not available due to lack of available stock, product discontinuation, running changes to production, or for any other reason, Niner may provide the rider a substitute replacement frame of the nearest available size, model and color.
Niner is not responsible for costs incurred by the rider when industry standards or specifications change. For example, frames with “pre-Boost” rear hub or fork spacing will be processed according to warranty and replaced with a current model year, “Boost” hub spaced frame. However the rider’s cost of changing wheels from “non-Boost” to “Boost” will not be covered as a part of the warranty process.
International warranty coverage
In the case of valid warranty claims made by riders outside the USA and in areas not currently served by an active Niner dealer or distributor, the rider will be responsible for all shipping and import duty costs incurred. International warranty claims may require an additional 4-6 weeks for shipping and customs clearance.
Disclaimer
Niner is not responsible for any damage, injury, or disability to the rider or to other individuals arising from riding, transporting or other use of a Niner bike. If your frame breaks or malfunctions, Niner shall have no liability or obligation beyond the repair or replacement of the frame pursuant to the terms outlined in the warranty. If you have a warranty question or concern, please contact your authorized Niner dealer.
COMPONENTS
Niner branded components purchased after January 1, 2017 are covered by a 5-year limited warranty. Components purchased prior to January 1, 2017 are covered by a 2-year warranty.
Niner Bikes will repair or replace, at its option, any of its branded components (including handlebars, stems, seatposts, wheels, forks, and singlespeed cogs) that it determines to be defective due to defective materials and/or workmanship. These limited warranties, with durations as specified by purchase date above, are conditioned upon the components being ridden under normal conditions and having been properly installed and maintained.
We hope you’re riding daily. But the normal wear and tear associated with using our stuff is not covered under warranty. This warranty applies only to the original owner and is non-transferable.
CRASH REPLACEMENT
In the event of an unfortunate accident, such as a crash, transportation mishap, wildlife encounter, or any other non-warranty situation, Niner will sell replacement frames and component parts to the original owner at a minimum cost to the rider as determined by Niner at the time of the rider’s request. Niner Bicycles does this at its sole discretion and reserves the right to rescind this offer. Crash replacement purchases are made available only for in-stock product. Backorders will not be allowed and discontinued models may not be available.
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
The above warranties and conditions are updated and current as of October 2019. For warranty information on Niner frames sold prior to January 1, 2017, please consult that model’s manual or your local authorized dealer.
Warranty FAQs
Q: Can I buy a bike from Niner directly on your website?
A: We do not sell direct to customers on the web or ship from our factory store directly. Please visit our Dealer Locator to find an authorized Niner dealer to assist you with your purchase. They can order any bike in our line for you.
Q: What is the warranty on my bike?
A: Our full warranty policy is located here.
Q: Will repainting my frame void the warranty?
A: Repainting and powder coating will void the factory warranty. Niner frames come from the factory in first quality condition. Any alteration of the original finish leaves the frame in a quality different from the first quality and a warranty does not cover any alteration to factory standards.
Q: Is the warranty transferable when a bike is sold or purchased second hand?
A: It is not transferable. Niner Bikes warranty starts from the date of purchase and is valid for the original owner only.
Q: My derailleur got sucked/shifted into my spokes. Is this covered by warranty? My derailleur hanger broke when I was climbing a hill / shifting to an easier gear in the rear. Is this covered by warranty?
A: This is always unexpected when it happens. This is not a defect covered by warranty. Unfortunately, this is because the derailleur hanger got bent or the derailleur was not adjusted properly or something got tangled in the drive-train.
Derailleur hanger…. this is the part by the rear gears that holds the rear derailleur to the frame.This is a replaceable part that is designed to bend or break like a fuse to protect the frame from permanent damage. It can easily be straightened or replaced. Please, check your bike before each ride.
Q: I recently moved, do I have to process my warranty through the original shop that I purchased my bike from?
A: You are not required to process your warranty claim through the original bike shop that you purchased your Niner from. Any Authorized Niner dealer will be able to assist you with the process.
Q: I purchased my bike from one of your online retailers; example (Competitive Cyclist or Jenson USA) how do I process a warranty claim?
A: Our online retailers are setup to assist you with a warranty claim for items that were purchased through them. Please contact the online supplier that you bought your frame/bike to begin the warranty process.
Q: How long should I expect my warranty claim to take?
A: At Niner we strive to handle your claim as quickly as we can to make sure you experience minimal downtime. From start to finish a standard warranty claim should be completed within 7-10 business days.
***Please note that unforeseen circumstances may increase the amount of time it takes for a warranty claim to completed. i.e replacement inventory, pending evaluation, incomplete documentation***
Q: I crashed and damaged one of my triangles, will I be able to purchase an exact color-match replacement?
A: If we have an identical replacement in stock we will always offer that option first. However, with new paint schemes arriving often it is not a guarantee that we will have that option available at the given time. In this scenario, we will offer a neutral color as a replacement.
Q: I was out riding and took spill, then I noticed afterwards that I damaged my frame. What do I do now? Am I out of Luck?
A: At Niner we realize that accidents happen when you’re out on the trail, although impact related incidents are not covered under warranty we want to make sure that you’re not left stranded. As the original owner, you are entitled to receive a new frame or triangle at a 35% discount from retail pricing, we call this Crash Replacement pricing.
***Niner Bikes does this at its sole discretion and reserves the right to refuse this offer at any time if it is evident that damage occurred out of neglect, misuse or if the required information is not provided.***
Q: I purchased my bike from a dealer that no longer carries Niner or has since closed their doors, where do I process my warranty?
A: Please visit our Dealer Locator which can be found under the “Dealer & Demo” tab on our webpage. If you still need help locating an Authorized dealer, or do not have an authorized dealer nearby please contact our warranty rep: warranty@ninerbikes.com
Q: I found a great deal on a Niner that is being sold by a private party (i.e craiglist), the bike is in great shape and they mentioned that it’s still within the given warranty period, will Niner honor the warranty even though I am the second owner?
A: The Niner warranty is visible here . It is extended only to the original owner, with proof or purchase only. The warranty is non-transferable and is considered void once the bicycle has been sold. Additionally, any Crash Replacement offer or discount(s) will only be offered to the original owner, with proof of purchase.
***Niner Bikes does this at its sole discretion and reserves the right to refuse this offer at any time if it is evident that damage occurred out of neglect, misuse or if the required information is not provided***
Q: Does Niner cover paint under their warranty policy?
A: Niner will consider paint, clear coat, and some decals for warranty within 1 year from the date of purchase.
***Niner Bikes does this at its sole discretion and reserves the right to refuse this offer at any time if it is evident that damage occurred out of neglect, misuse***
Q: Is it required that I register my frame before I submit a claim for warranty?
A: We do require you to register your frame, however, registering your frame upon purchase may help in certain circumstances. For example, if you have misplaced your original proof or purchase, we may have a copy on record if you decided to upload it during the registration process.
Q: Will changing the components on my frame void my warranty?
A: Niner’s product team works together to spec components that we feel are best suited for each model. With that being said, we also understand that there are individual preferences. If you are thinking of customizing your Niner, but you are unsure of whether or not it is compatible or meets the frames intended use, please reach out to warranty@ninerbikes.com.
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