The Niner RIP 9 RDO is a well-rounded trail bike but with big travel to make it one of the fastest and most capable trail bikes available. The Push Edition uses the Push Elevensix coil shock, tuned specifically for the RIP to deliver unparalleled traction and control.
- Push Industries Elevensix Coil Shock
- Niner Dual Link CVA Suspension
- 150mm rear travel
- 160mm Fox 36 Factory fork
- SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain
- ENVE M730 carbon wheels
- 29er compatible with 27.5+ wheels
- Special edition “Push” graphics on top tube
2018 Niner RIP 9 RDO Push Edition Details
The RIP 9 RDO has a 67° head angle, which puts it in the company of capable trail bikes designed to handle the downs and the ups on a wide range of terrain. But with 150mm of travel in the rear and 160mm up front, the RIP 9 is surprisingly long-legged for a normal trail bike. Not only that, but the addition of Fox’s big and burly 36 Float fork and a Push Elevensix coil give the RIP an enhanced downhill look and attitude. The Fox 36 is the benchmark for downhill oriented forks, and the Push Elevensix is one of the most advanced coil shocks available. The Elevinsix damper is specially valved by Push from the factory to perfectly suit whatever bike it’s spec’d on. It also has two separate, dedicated damping circuits controlled with a lever that allows you to easily switch between tunes (e.g. downhill and pedaling) to essentially give you two shocks in one. Travel is articulated through Niner’s CVA suspension, which is remarkably efficient when pedaling with any chainring size.
Pedaling force is transmitted through SRAM’s wide range X01 Eagle drivetrain. The bike rolls on ENVE’s next-generation M730 carbon wheels. These wheels are designed to improve on the previous M-Series with better compliance and improved durability. They have a 30mm internal width to support wider 2.4-2.5” tires and feature ENVE’s newest protective rim strip to help protect the tire from pinch flats and the rim from hard impacts. The bike uses SRAM Guide RSC brakes, a 150mm KS Lev dropper, and has a Race Face cockpit. The full carbon frame uses a threaded bottom bracket, which will please plenty of home mechanics. On the top tube, the Push Edition RIP 9 has special push graphics to further set it apart from other RIP 9 builds.
Rider Type
- Aggressive trail riders
- Riders who ride tight, technical, and rough terrain
- Riders looking for a big travel bike to pedal all day
The Niner RIP 9 RDO is a bike that lives between two categories. It has big travel and burly suspension for taking big hits, but its geometry is decidedly more sporty than much of its big travel competition. The 67° would have been sufficiently slack for enduro five years ago, but now it’s decidedly more conservative and trail oriented than the vast majority of all-out enduro focused bikes. This means the RIP 9 won’t have the extreme high-speed stability and steep track confidence of a slacker bike, but will instead be a lot snappier and easier to flick around on more moderate terrain. This makes it an excellent option for those who have to navigate tighter and twistier sections of trail, who need a more nimble bike for technical climbs and trails, or who simply aren’t interested in the lazy and floppy feeling slacker bikes tend to have when moving at more sane speeds.
The RIP 9 definitely isn’t for those looking for pure enduro race performance, or a dedicated park bike, though it will be more than enough for those who want to dabble occasionally. With plenty of travel still, the RIP 9 will be capable of bailing you out of trouble when you get in over your head. The Fox 36 and Push Elevensix combo is a dream setup for suspension nerds and it’s unlikely any rider would ever need anything more. The great efficiency of the CVA rear suspension linkage makes pedaling uphill pleasant and bob-free. The shock can ostensibly be left in downhill mode for the majority of trails with any noticeable loss in efficiency. The RIP 9 is the perfect bike for someone looking for a bike that can be pedaled comfortably all day and a capable big travel trail bike in the same package. It’s easily one of the sportiest and most climb friendly big bikes available.
Bruce is a writer who loves getting his bikes dirty, trying new tech, and riding tough trails that make him suffer for hours at a time.
