83/100

BikeRide Score

Users (8 ratings)

Experts (2 reviews)

Where to buy

$1397.50 Backcountry See it $1397.50 Competitive Cyclist See it $1499.99 Jenson USA See it

See on Backcountry

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Facts

Type

Bikepacking, Cyclocross, Gravel - Adventure

Release Year

2019

Brand

Niner Bikes

Wheel Size

700c

Number of gears

Weight

Suspension

None

Brake Type

Disc

Frame Material

Aluminum, Carbon, Steel (Chromoly)

Summary of Reviews

We have read all expert and user reviews on Niner RLT 9. In summary, this is what cyclists think.

14 reasons to buy

The RLT’s geometry is tweaked for prolonged comfort over long distances.
Riders were spoilt by a wide gear-range on models with a 2x compact crankset and 11-34 cassette.
Carbon frames were smooth and forgiving. Steel offered superior dampening offroad.
Hydraulic SRAM Red disc-brakes provided positive stopping power in consort with…
...15mm and 12mm thru-axles, keeping things stiff, especially under strong braking forces.
Versatility was a major drawcard. The RLT performs as a gravel-bike, roadborne commuter and even on root-ridden singletrack.
One expert described the RLT’s hydroformed aluminum frame as beautiful.
Power transmission issues forth with delicious efficiency from this raucous rig.
Appearances have not been overlooked, with owners impressed by the RLT’s unique bottle-cap top-cap and color choices, that include ‘Baja Blue’.
Tire-clearance was generous, with room for a claimed 50c tire on certain models.
Experts painted a picture of a light and fast rig with a whippet-swift demeanour.
Multiple mounts on most iterations, make the RLT 9 RDO suitable for bikepacking.
Steel models are flush with bottle-cages, having mounts for three.
Schwalbe G-One tires came tubeless-ready and rolled fast on-roads and grippy off.

5 reasons not to buy

An expert found the RLT’s fork to be too heavy for serious cycrocross racing.
Some reviewers felt that gearing was angled more toward high top-speeds than steep climbs.
One owner would have liked to see more mounts for racks on the Apex commuter model.
One brevity-endowed rider needed to cut down the ‘superlong’ seatpole to achieve a neat fit.
An expert felt that the beefy strength of the bike’s front-end contributed to an excessive stiffness.

Bottom line

With offerings in steel, carbon and aluminum, Niner’s RLT seeks to please on many levels. Whether one’s main concern is weight, price or the comfort of old-school steel dampening, the RLT provides. It also comes kit-out as a 1x, for offroad or commuting foci. Some owners were more than happy to use it as a road-ride. As regards the bike’s versatility, it also worked for some as a lighter-weight bikepacker. However, while the manufacturer says the RLT can handle 45lb up-front and 55lb in the back, one expert recommended 30-35lb at most. Gearing was sometimes seen as too tall and aimed toward events, while one expert yearned for a larger 50t chainring. Across a range of prices and specifications, the RLT was generally well-liked.