Decked out with some of the latest components, my Summer test sled is complete. The Niner RIP 9 has been adorned with some of the latest products from all the usual and some unusual suspects. The end result is a solid do-it-all trailbike that can climb forever and descend with the best all-rounder bikes of our day.
I’m looking forward to putting the RIP 9 through its paces, and will also bring the following components along for the ride:
- Roval Control EL 29 Wheelset
- 2011 Fox 32 TALAS 29 Terralogic
- Syncros FL bars, stem and seatpost
- Continental Mountain King 2.4 and Mountain Race 2.2 29er tires
- Truvativ Noir carbon crankset with ceramic GXP bottom bracket
- Avid Elixir CR brakes
- SRAM X0/X9 drivetrain
Stay tuned over the coming weeks as I get this bike out on the trails in earnest. So far, the bike looks amazing and after a single ride, I’m confident that this mix of parts will perform well on the trail. be a ton of fun on the trail. Trail weight came in at nearly 30 lbs, which is much more than I had thought. So, I’ll try to lighten things up through the course of the Summer as well.
Stay tuned as I ride and tweak this bike throughout the Summer — bringing reviews along the way.
15 Comments
Looks nice! Size Medium?
Medium indeed. I’ve already got to do some cockpit tweaking, but I wanted to ride it as-is for reference. I’ll reverse the stem today, then potentially swap out to a Syncros flat bar for comparison.
Standover is a bit tighter than I thought it would be, but not worrisome as the fit feels just right overall. I love the feel of Niner’s… they just know their stuff.
The TALAS is great on this bike too… dropping down the front end a titch on the climbs has been like icing on the cake–not completely necessary, but nice.
Probably too soon to tell, but initial impression between regular Mojo and the Niner?
Each is very different yet awesome. I’d still lean towards the Mojo as a do-it-all machine. 29ers still have some limitations in tight, twisty terrain and you do have a weight penalty (4 lbs heavier than the Mojo).
Love them both, but I still say the Mojo is the Gojo.
I look forward to your Mojo/RIP comparisons as well. I sold a Mojo this year due to chain suck and pedal strike issues and have been thinking about picking up a RIP.
Hmmm… I never once experienced chain suck with my Mojo, nor did I have issues with the pedals striking the ground. I did hear that older Mojo’s did have more chain suck, but with my Shimano SLX crankset, I had zero issues there.
I’ll keep everyone in the loop on the comparo. I still feel they are two different bikes and comparing a carbon to an aluminum frame is an unfair comparison, IMO. That said, they are both way fun bikes that can do a ton of things well.
Pingback: Syncros FL Bars, Stem and Seatpost Review - FeedTheHabit.com
Jason, I’m looking forward to your review of the RIP. I have one too and love it. I have the same crankset as you and I experienced severe chain suck. I had to remove my chain (thank god for SRAM) during a race. My rememdy and the one recommended by others is to replace big ring with bash guard.
Here’s a thread with lots of details…
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=516222
Pingback: Roval Control EL 29 Wheelset Review - FeedTheHabit.com
I just bought a Rip9 a few weeks ago. Mine ended up right at 30 lbs (sans pedals) also. I went with the Marzocchi 44 micro Ti fork, XT/XTR drivetrain and Elixir CR brakes. So far I am very happy with the set up. Looking forward to hearing your experiences over the summer.
Cheers!
The RIP sure has been a great bike this Summer! I have little complaints about this setup overall and absolutely love the new TALAS fork on this bike. It really tracks well downhill and can handle a ton of abuse. Not only do I love pointing this bike downhill, but it climbs like a billy goat–it simply can’t be stopped.
Pingback: 2011 Fox 32 TALAS 29 Terralogic 120 Fork Review - FeedTheHabit.com
Jas,
Any more thoughts on Niner vs Mojo SL? How about Mojo HD vs Niner?
Robert… Both are different bikes in many ways yet both perform amazingly-well in a variety of conditions. I honestly can’t say I prefer one over the other. Both are efficient and capable. Both are fast.
I’d give the nod to the Mojo SL on overall maneuverability and weight, but the RIP takes the Mojo on momentum and traction.
Both are stiff, fast and fun. If you want to make the 29er leap, there’s no finer bike than the RIP to cut your teeth on. But, if you want versatility and lightweight performance, the Mojo SL simply can’t be beat.
If you’re really interested, I could meet you somewhere and you could take the RIP out for a quick ride. Drop me a line: jason at feedthehabit dot com.
Pingback: Specialized The Captain Control 2.2 29er Tires Review - FeedTheHabit.com