The gravel biking scene is constantly evolving, and at the forefront of innovation is Niner Bikes, a Colorado-based company renowned for its mountain biking expertise. It’s no surprise then that their niner bike gravel offering, the RLT 9 RDO, stands out as a versatile machine built to tackle more than just smooth gravel roads. This review dives into my experience pushing the limits of the RLT 9 RDO, exploring its capabilities on challenging terrain that blurs the lines between gravel and mountain biking.
Niner RLT 9 RDO gravel bike profile on a trail
A side view of the Niner RLT 9 RDO gravel bike highlighting its frame geometry and tire clearance, positioned on a natural trail setting.
Having spent considerable time riding the niner bike RLT 9 RDO before winter conditions set in, and now returning to off-road adventures as the snow melts, it’s an opportune moment to share my initial impressions. My testing ground wasn’t your typical gentle gravel path; it was the rugged Wilden trail network in Kelowna, a location far removed from the tame farm roads I was accustomed to. This network is decidedly mountain bike territory, offering a true test for any gravel bike.
A cyclist riding the Niner RLT 9 RDO through a section of dirt trail, showcasing the bike’s capability in varied terrain.
To understand my perspective, it’s essential to contextualize my riding style and the demanding environment where I tested the niner bike. The Wilden trails are characterized by steep gradients, immediately pitching upwards at 10-15% for a significant 200 meters of elevation gain right from the trailhead. The network continues with a blend of technical descents, fire road climbs, and singletrack sections, much of it maintaining those challenging double-digit gradients, with some descents exceeding 20%.
The Niner RLT 9 RDO pictured during a winter ride, climbing a fire road covered in early snowfall, emphasizing its all-weather capability.
Prior to riding the niner bike, my benchmark was my custom titanium cyclocross (CX) bike, a machine I’ve ridden extensively on gravel events and challenging routes. Designed with a CX focus, it provides a valuable point of comparison to highlight the distinct characteristics of the RLT 9 RDO and how geometry and component choices influence the ride experience.
A detailed shot of the Niner RLT 9 RDO’s frame, focusing on the tube shapes and carbon construction, highlighting the frame’s design and material.
Frame Stiffness and Handling Prowess
One of the first things I noticed about the niner bike RLT 9 RDO was its impressive frame stiffness. The tapered head tube, widening from 1 1/8″ at the top to 1 ½” at the bottom, contributes to significant fork stiffness, enhancing front-end precision.
A close view of the Niner RLT 9 RDO’s head tube area, showcasing the tapered design which enhances front-end stiffness and steering precision.
The frame’s design extends to a flattened top tube that flares at both the head tube and seatpost junctions, likely contributing to vertical compliance while maintaining lateral rigidity.
An image focusing on the seat collar area of the Niner RLT 9 RDO, demonstrating the flat top tube design aimed at improving rider comfort.
Further down, the robust downtube and chainstays work in concert to create a stiff core in the frame.
A detailed perspective of the Niner RLT 9 RDO’s downtube, emphasizing its robust construction for stiffness and power transfer.
A close-up of the Niner RLT 9 RDO’s chainstay, illustrating its sturdy build that contributes to the frame’s overall stiffness and responsiveness.
This stiffness translated directly to confident handling on challenging descents. Despite encountering ruts and uneven surfaces that would typically throw a bike off line, the niner bike tracked predictably. Correcting course and maintaining control felt intuitive, without excessive frame flex or wrestling with the handlebars. The stiffness also proved beneficial for braking performance under pressure, allowing for quick adjustments and maintaining composure.
Tire Choice and Trail Versatility
The RLT 9 RDO arrived with Schwalbe G-One 38mm tires, excellent all-around gravel tires suitable for diverse conditions. While familiar with these tires from winter riding on my Ti bike, the predominantly dirt trails in my testing environment prompted a tire swap to Compass Steilacoom 38mm tires.
The Niner RLT 9 RDO fitted with Compass Steilacoom tires, pictured on a trail, highlighting the tire tread and bike’s adaptability to off-road conditions.
Having previously ridden 33mm tubeless CX tires, the impact of tire choice was immediately apparent. The jump to 38mm tires, run at a lower pressure of 32-35 psi compared to 40+ psi for the narrower tires, was transformative. Beyond just width, the Steilacooms offered a significantly more supple casing. This allowed for even lower pressures (I ran as low as 32 psi at 64 kg weight) without pinch flats, even when aggressively riding over roots and rutted terrain. The tread pattern provided exceptional grip on softer surfaces, yet remained surprisingly efficient on harder packed trails and roads.
A detailed shot of the Niner RLT 9 RDO’s fork and front tire, emphasizing the generous tire clearance and the aggressive tread of the Steilacoom tire.
Braking and Gearing for Demanding Terrain
My niner bike RLT 9 RDO test build came equipped with a full Shimano Ultegra mechanical groupset with hydraulic disc brakes and 140mm rotors. Initially, I had reservations about the smaller 140mm rotors compared to the 160mm rotors on my CX bike, particularly given the steep descents on my local trails.
A close-up view of the Niner RLT 9 RDO’s hydraulic disc brake and 140mm rotor, showcasing the braking components and their compact design.
However, those concerns quickly dissipated. Modern hydraulic disc brakes are remarkably powerful and offer superb modulation. Throughout testing in both soft, almost muddy conditions and hard, dry trails, braking performance was consistently excellent. One-finger braking provided ample control even on long, technical descents. While the 140mm rotors performed admirably, I’m curious to evaluate their performance under heavier loads during bikepacking trips.
The gearing on the RLT 9 RDO also represents a significant departure from a typical CX setup. My 1x CX bike features a 42×32 low gear, often requiring standing climbs or seated grinding on steep gravel sections. In contrast, the niner bike boasts a 50/34 chainset paired with an 11-34 cassette. This wider gear range made climbing significantly easier, allowing me to remain seated and spin comfortably even on sustained 15-20% gradients. This gearing will be a major advantage for longer gravel events, conserving energy and reducing fatigue.
An image focusing on the Niner RLT 9 RDO’s cassette and rear derailleur, illustrating the wide gear range suitable for varied terrains and gradients.
Gravel-Specific Features: Flared Bars and Bottom Bracket Drop
Beyond componentry, the RLT 9 RDO incorporates gravel-specific design elements that enhance its off-road capabilities. The Easton flared handlebars, widening from 42cm at the hoods to 50cm at the bar ends, offer increased stability, particularly on technical descents.
A view of the Niner RLT 9 RDO’s handlebars, emphasizing the flared drop bar design that provides enhanced control and stability on rough terrain.
This wider stance provides more leverage and a planted feel compared to traditional, non-flared bars. The flared bars also offer additional space for handlebar bags, beneficial for bikepacking.
Another key geometry difference contributing to the RLT 9 RDO’s stability is the lower bottom bracket. Comparing the 53cm frame size of the RLT 9 RDO to Niner’s CX-specific BSB 9 RDO, the BB drop is 75mm versus 68mm, respectively.
A close view of the Niner RLT 9 RDO’s bottom bracket area, highlighting the frame construction in this critical zone for power transfer and stability.
While a higher bottom bracket on a CX bike prioritizes pedal clearance for racing conditions, the lower BB on the niner bike RLT 9 RDO lowers the center of gravity. This results in a noticeable improvement in stability, especially at higher speeds and on descents. The enhanced stability was immediately apparent from my first ride on the RLT 9 RDO.
Expanding Gravel Horizons with Niner
The niner bike RLT 9 RDO truly broadens the horizons of what’s achievable on a gravel bike. It has opened my eyes to a new realm of trail possibilities beyond just gravel roads. While my hardtail mountain bike is still suitable for these trails, tackling them with drop bars and without suspension on the RLT 9 RDO pushes my bike handling skills and offers a unique and exhilarating challenge. Exploring these limits is part of the fun of cycling.
The Niner RLT 9 RDO positioned on a scenic overlook on a trail, with a lake and landscape in the background, representing the bike’s ability to access beautiful and varied terrains.
Discover the full potential of gravel riding and explore the Niner Bikes range at Niner Bikes Official Website.
Note: This review is based on initial riding impressions. Further long-term testing, particularly with bikepacking loads, will provide additional insights.
