MCR = Make Cash Ready! Love it, and I think the bike is worth it. I have a Cannondale Slate with 30mm Lefty fork but no rear shock. I got it 3 years ago for exactly the reasons you said - a more versatile gravel bike that I can take on reasonable single track and other surfaces that would beat me up more without the suspension. But if I didn't own the Slate, I'd buy the MCR! Thanks for the great videos.
Hi Clint. Good review. I have this bike. Got it last year when released. With a dropper as well. Just wanted to add it’s a little more capable on rougher single track. Certainly not black diamond, but I have been on everything else. I did beef up the tires to 53mm gravel kings, that made a difference. Not the fastest on the road, with headwind it will be a tough 50 miler. But on any gravel it’s quick and it’s comfortable, especially long distance. I think you can add the type of rider as someone who also rides occasionally with his mountain bike buddies. Like I said, not black diamond, but you can actually get in front on the intermediate single, trust me, it can hold itself well in that arena. But I agree with you, medium to rough gravel is it’s place. Oh, I just added the custom fit frame bag from niner, looks good. Great for those long days out. Been enjoying your videos Clint..nice.
you all probably dont give a shit but does anyone know of a method to get back into an Instagram account? I stupidly forgot the password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me.
@Abram Kaysen thanks for your reply. I found the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
Thank you for sharing the sheets for shock settings. I don't know why I didn't look there when mine arrived. I did find the AX sag settings at Fox, but I think their PSI is lower. I'm going to readdress my sag settings today and take it out for a spin. GREAT review Clint!
Niner has clearly figured out full sus. Look at their MTBs, and now they have a gravel bike with the same well thought out sus (with patent, btw). So, good luck to the competitors. I own an MCR and RLT 9 and love them both. Frankly, I believe Niner is the most overlooked gravel bike on the market. Obviously, Niner isn't a Cervelo among other big budget companies that spit out "gravel bikes" that many gravite to because of their road bike "name". I've seen the Cervelo offering for example and my impression is "really?, no thank you." Just my opinion as we work our way into mainstream gravel.
A big part of the appeal of Gravel bikes to me is that they do not have suspension. I like the challenge of riding various terrain and also like that they climb fireroads and forestroads so well compared to a MTB. I dont want a nulled experience i want a challenge
You said it man. I was about to write the same damn comment. I also love the "feel" of speed that comes with blasting over bumpy terrain on a rigid bike.
Guess this bike is for people that own an extremely comfortable Endurance Roadbike, where a Standard Gravel just wouldn't differentiate enough. Its like people either having XC+AM+DH bikes or Trail+Enduro, but rarely two bikes closer together in terms of capabilities Riding 140mm Hardtail down and across everything, a standard 35mm tire gravel is just fine as a Roadbike+
I guess it depends where you live, I own a XC (HT) + Trail and I think I want one of these as my comfort road bike that I can also have fun with. I would probably still keep the XC, I love a good hardtail for shorter rides or when I'm ok with getting a little beat up.
I think, like you imply, that this is just the ice breaker for a new breed of gravel bikes with some sort of suspension. Wait a few years on buying your next gravel bike and there are going to be some really interesting options out there.
could see half way between full suspension and rigid for some comfort without going all the way, like elastomers and frame flex designs being a nice middle ground for gravel without the weight and complexity of going full suspension.
Question for you. How long generally does it take to get used to a new bike? I could rail my hardtail round corners and felt completely comfortable on it. Got a new full suss had a few winter rides, but my local trails turn to muddy bogs, today was the first ride where everything is dry and fast rolling but I don’t yet feel comfortable to really push the bike.
This is their first full suspension - they have had a full line of gravel bikes for years. ninerbikes.com/products/rlt-9-rdo, ninerbikes.com/products/rlt-9-steel
My guess is that since 70% of your weight is biased towards the rear when seated on a gravel bike, they wanted to produce a bike that was as comfortable and controllable as possible on rough roads.
@@frankstrobel4350 Frank, FWIW, Cannondale sold the Slate for several years with a Lefty fork, 30mm of travel, hardtail, but they discontinued it I believe. Maybe the market's not there for hardtail gbikes?
@@mattkavanaugh5623 I think if you ride with others in a fast group you'll be left on the climbs unless its technical. But i suppose if its a group you'll be doing what the group wants and if they dont have suspension theyll pick roads not requiring it. Personally i have built a 29er drop bar with 2.35 tyres and with the roads and trails i now ride i dont really require a Susp fork. Plus i don't ride with groups ...Nice bike tho.
So since I also drive a manual transmission vehicle, I need to buy this bike? ... but you didn't? ... I was hoping you would have to have this bike and put your current RLT up for sale so I could buy it ... great review, thanks.
Thank you for the awesome review! Unfortunately I think I may be too short for the smallest frame. I’m 5’5” and my current gravel bike is a Salsa Vaya 52cm with 26” wheels and 1.75” commuter tires. Do you think the 53cm MCR might work for me?
I'm 3 inches taller than you. On a 53 I don't feel like I'm on the border between sizes or anything. I think you may be able to do a short stem (like s 40) and be ok.
Clint Gibbs Thank you for the feedback - this bike has been on my radar for a while. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it to Colorado this summer and demo it 😀
This was a demo that I no longer have but when I did have it in my possession, I really really appreciated the versatility of the bike. Probably not the best tool for gravel races but for everything else I can recommend it.
Is the RLT9 suspension corrected to take that 40mm Fox fork, like Otso offers or Bombtrack(well 40mm mrp fork) offer? Do you think gravel riding benefits more from the rear or the front shock? I ask cause BMC has that gravel bike that only has 10mm rear travel, same with Moot and the YBB rear setup(though that model can also take a suspension fork which is optional).
Hard to really answer but I know that this bike is really balanced. Remember that riding gravel 70% of your weight is biased towards the rear so the rear shock is going to be very beneficial. That being said front suspension absorbs the more direct hits you encounter by the front wheel so even having just that is going to make a pretty big difference.
I'm going to wait a few years until there are more bikes like this and the price comes down. Otherwise I would love to own this bike but as of now the frame alone costs twice as much as my two bikes together.
Love the Niner, my wife and I are looking at them. As a 50-year motocross rider I have to say, group rides on the gravel are different from the road. All this video's you have these guys are being lame, spread out so a rider can dodge rocks and potholes. This pisses me off to no end. You'd never ride a real dirt bike this way. Give the guys room to move. I tell the folks I ride with, once we hit dirt, I'm looking and taking the best line. So don't ride next to me or follow my ass, I'll put you down. Not intentionally. These guys have NO clue about reading terrain.
