{"id":39319,"date":"2022-07-13T13:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T11:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=688795"},"modified":"2022-07-13T13:20:21","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T11:20:21","slug":"niners-2023-race-rocket-rkt-9-rdo-is-designed-for-cross-country-courses-and-burlier-trails","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/niners-2023-race-rocket-rkt-9-rdo-is-designed-for-cross-country-courses-and-burlier-trails\/","title":{"rendered":"Niner\u2019s 2023 \u2018Race Rocket\u2019 RKT 9 RDO is designed for cross-country courses and burlier trails"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Oscar Huckle\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 13 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Niner has announced its new RKT 9 RDO cross-country mountain bike, with 100mm of suspension travel front and rear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the new bike, the brand says it has focused on improving the RKT\u2019s agility, as well as its versatility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The updated design features the brand\u2019s own CVA twin-link suspension system, as well as updated longer, lower and slacker geometry<\/a> with a flip chip and improved cable routing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been expecting an update to the RKT platform because it was the last Niner bike to remain without an updated frame design.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>outgoing RKT 9 RDO<\/span><\/a> was offered in a cross-country \u2018RS\u2019 flavour with 100mm of <\/span>suspension travel<\/span><\/a> at the front and 90mm at the back, as well as a souped-up model with 120mm of suspension travel up front.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Niner appears to be consolidating both models with this update and says the new RKT 9 RDO can also be used off the race course for burlier riding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pricing has not been made available yet, but Niner says it will be \u201csimilar\u201d to the outgoing model.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The RKT will be available in \u2018Blood Red \/ Silver\u2019 and \u2018Nude Carbon \/ Silver\u2019 colourways. Availability is expected to be from September.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Frame technology\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Niner says the new RKT 9 RDO is more versatile than ever.<\/span><\/figcaption> Niner<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Other than offering a <\/span>27.5in wheel<\/span><\/a> option on the RIP 9 RDO enduro bike<\/a>, as its name suggests, the brand has long been a stalwart for <\/span>29in wheels<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The RKT 9 RDO is made from Niner\u2019s own \u2018Race Day Optimized\u2019 (RDO) carbon fibre, which the brand claims offers a balance between lightweight, stiffness, strength and compliance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Niner claims a 2,267g frame weight in a medium with the rear shock and seat clamp installed, but without the rear axle and headset.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The RKT\u2019s maximum tyre clearance has been boosted to 29\u00d72.5in, up from 2.3in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Easy, right?<\/span><\/figcaption> Niner<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The RKT can accept a <\/span>bottle<\/span> cage inside the main triangle, as well as under the down tube with a secondary mounting point.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are also mounts on the top of the top tube for extra food or tools, or as the brand jokingly suggests in the press kit, \u201csupplemental oxygen\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rear post-mount disc brake caliper is now fitted on the non-driveside chainstay rather than the top of the non-driveside seatstay of its predecessor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The RKT now also incorporates a ribbed protector on the driveside chainstay to silence chain slap, compared to the flat-profiled protector of its predecessor. Moulded frame protection is also utilised under the bottom bracket junction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On that note, the RKT uses a 73mm <\/span>BSA threaded bottom bracket<\/span><\/a> for mechanical ease and moves to SRAM\u2019s <\/span>universal derailleur hanger<\/span><\/a> (UDH) standard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not just for the race course<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Niner claims the RKT 9 RDO is now more capable both on and off the race track.<\/span><\/figcaption> Niner<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

While Niner explains the RKT 9 RDO was designed for <\/span>cross-country racing<\/span><\/a> efficiency, it says it\u2019s more than suitable for tackling harder terrain, too (although it\u2019s not a <\/span>downcountry bike<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The RKT 9 RDO is compatible with a 120mm suspension fork and the brand says you\u2019re welcome to spec a shorter stem and wider bar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Niner tells us the RKT can accept a <\/span>dropper seatpost<\/span><\/a> (all of the builds with the exception of the entry-level 2-star feature rigid seatposts).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a flip chip at the lower shock mount that slackens the head tube and seat tube angles by half a degree.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cable routing<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The cables run internally.<\/span><\/figcaption> Niner<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

As with most of Niner\u2019s bikes, the RKT 9 RDO now features the brand\u2019s full-sleeve internal cable routing. Niner has also resisted fully integrating its cables through the stem and steerer tube, as we are seeing on many new <\/span>cross-country race bike<\/span><\/a> releases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This sees moulded tubes inside the frame, so when you route a cable through its designated port in the down tube, it will simply pop out at the other side, without any \u2018fishing\u2019 required.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is even full-sleeve routing to account for a dropper post. The brand includes blanking plugs for any redundant holes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Suspension kinematics<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The RKT 9 RDO uses Niner\u2019s CVA suspension design.<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption> Niner<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Like Niner\u2019s recent full-suspension releases, such as the JET 9 RDO and WFO 9 RDO, the RKT 9 RDO inherits a lot of the same technologies, only in a 100mm-travel package.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The RKT 9 RDO uses Niner\u2019s CVA design, a short dual-link, <\/span>four-bar rear suspension system<\/span><\/a> that is unique to the brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The brand says the CVA suspension is \u201cmade to send every ounce of thrust directly to the rear wheel\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like its other bikes, there is now a sag indicator window on the rocker link pivot to make setup easier. The brand recommends aiming for 25 per cent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Niner adds it is using a trunnion shock mount for \u201csmooth articulation and added stiffness\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3-star builds upwards feature remote suspension lockouts front and rear, and as with the rest of its bikes, Niner uses Enduro Max Black Oxide pivot bearings for improved longevity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Niner RKT 9 RDO geometry<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The geometry has been brought up to date.<\/span><\/figcaption> Niner<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The RKT 9 RDO is available in five sizes from XS to XL.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It features a 68-degree head tube angle in its high-mode and 75-degree seat tube angle. The reach is 440mm in a size medium.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is pretty much in line with other cross-country bikes, although the reach is on the shorter side.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Switching the flip chip to its low mode slackens the head tube angle to 67.6 degrees and the seat tube angle to 74.6 degrees. The reach reduces to 436mm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compared to <\/span>Canyon\u2019s Lux World Cup<\/span><\/a>, which doesn\u2019t feature a flip chip, that bike has a steeper 68.5-degree head tube angle, identical 75-degree seat tube angle and longer 450mm reach in a size medium.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Specialized\u2019s Epic is more progressive with a 67.5-degree head tube angle, 75.5-degree seat tube angle and 445mm reach in a size medium.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the RKT 9 RDO\u2019s geometry doesn\u2019t seem radical on paper, the CVA suspension system should also play a significant part in its ride feel.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/colgroup>
\ufeff<\/th>High mode<\/th>Low mode<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
XS<\/td>S<\/td>\u041c<\/td>L<\/td>XL<\/td>XS<\/td>S<\/td>\u041c<\/td>L<\/td>XL<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>561<\/td>577<\/td>599<\/td>626<\/td>661<\/td>561<\/td>577<\/td>599<\/td>626<\/td>661<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube length<\/b> (mm)<\/td>351<\/td>376<\/td>406<\/td>446<\/td>497<\/td>351<\/td>376<\/td>406<\/td>446<\/td>497<\/td> <\/tr>
Rear centre <\/b>(mm)<\/td>429<\/td>429<\/td>429<\/td>429<\/td>429<\/td>430<\/td>430<\/td>430<\/td>430<\/td>430<\/td> <\/tr>
Front centre<\/b> (mm)<\/td>672<\/td>689<\/td>710<\/td>739<\/td>775<\/td>671<\/td>688<\/td>710<\/td>739<\/td>775<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase <\/b>(mm)<\/td>1,101<\/td>1,117<\/td>1,139<\/td>1,168<\/td>1,204<\/td>1,101<\/td>1,118<\/td>1,140<\/td>1,169<\/td>1,204<\/td> <\/tr>
BB drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td>40<\/td>40<\/td>40<\/td>40<\/td>40<\/td>45<\/td>45<\/td>45<\/td>45<\/td>45<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>90<\/td>95<\/td>100<\/td>110<\/td>120<\/td>90<\/td>95<\/td>100<\/td>110<\/td>120<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>68<\/td>68<\/td>68<\/td>68<\/td>68<\/td>67.6<\/td>67.6<\/td>67.6<\/td>67.6<\/td>67.6<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube angle <\/b>(degrees)<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>74.6<\/td>74.6<\/td>74.6<\/td>74.6<\/td>74.6<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>661<\/td>674<\/td>676<\/td>705<\/td>740<\/td>657<\/td>670<\/td>672<\/td>701<\/td>736<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td>405<\/td>420<\/td>440<\/td>465<\/td>497<\/td>401<\/td>416<\/td>436<\/td>461<\/td>493<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack <\/b>(mm)<\/td>583<\/td>586<\/td>592<\/td>601<\/td>611<\/td>586<\/td>590<\/td>595<\/td>604<\/td>614<\/td> <\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>