RIP 9 RDO 3-Star SRAM GX Eagle

The Niner RIP 9 RDO is an aggressive mid-travel trail bike built for riders who want downhill composure without sacrificing pedaling efficiency. Redesigned from the ground up, this generation steps down slightly in rear travel to 140mm, paired with a 150mm fork, shifting its focus from pure enduro to versatile trail riding. Niner offers the frame in dedicated 29-inch and 27.5-inch platforms rather than compromising with a single adaptable chassis.

The defining visual and structural update is the Rib Cage strut design surrounding the shock, which significantly increases torsional stiffness at the bottom bracket while allowing the upper frame to absorb trail chatter. With its refined Constantly Varying Arc (CVA) suspension and modern trail standards like a threaded bottom bracket and fully sleeved internal routing, the RIP 9 RDO is positioned as a highly capable daily driver for technical, demanding terrain.

$6,500

Build

Size

Stack	615mm
Reach	440mm
Top tube	596mm
Headtube length	95mm
Standover height	712mm
Seat tube length	406mm

Fit and geometry

The RIP 9 RDO features a modern, adjustable geometry that balances high-speed stability with everyday trail agility. A flip chip in the seatstay pivot allows riders to toggle between a High and Low setting, altering the head tube angle by a full degree and dropping the bottom bracket by seven millimeters. In the High setting, the 66-degree head angle and 75.8-degree seat tube angle create a centered, upright pedaling posture that keeps the front wheel tracking cleanly on steep climbs.

Dropping into the Low setting slackens the front end to 65 degrees, pushing the bike’s handling toward aggressive downhill stability. Across all sizes, the reach is roomy but restrained—measuring 440mm on a medium and 465mm on a large—which prevents the bike from feeling overly stretched out in tight corners. Niner also shortened the seat tubes and increased insertion depth, allowing most riders to run long-travel dropper posts. Combined with a reduced-offset fork, the geometry yields a low-slung, maneuverable feel that responds well to active rider input.

Full specs

Frameset

Frame

NINER RDO Carbon Fiber frame, 140mm travel, Geo Flip Chip, RIB Cage construction, full sleeve cable routing, Enduro Max black oxide pivot bearings

Fork

FOX 36 Float Factory GRIP2 EVOL, Kashima Coat, 150mm, 110x15mm, 44mm offset

Rear shock

FOX Float X Factory EVOL, 2-position w/ adjust, Kashima Coat

Groupset

Shift levers

SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed

Rear derailleur

SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed

Cassette

SRAM Eagle XG-1275, 12-speed, 10-52T

Chain

SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed

Crankset

SRAM Descendant 7K Eagle DUB, 32T, 170mm

Bottom bracket

SRAM DUB BSA threaded

Front brake

SRAM G2 R

Rear brake

SRAM G2 R

Front rotor

180mm SRAM CenterLine

Rear rotor

180mm SRAM CenterLine

Wheelset

Front wheel

Stan's Crest S2 29 CL front wheel, 12x100

Rear wheel

Stan's Crest S2 29 CL rear wheel (SRAM hub), 12x142

Front tire

Schwalbe Hans Dampf EVO Super Trail, TLE, Addix Soft, 2.6

Rear tire

Schwalbe Nobby Nic EVO Super Trail, TLE, Addix Speedgrip, 2.6

Cockpit

Stem

Race Face Aeffect R, 40mm, 35mm clamp

Handlebars

Race Face Aeffect R, 780mm wide, 20mm rise, 35mm clamp

Saddle

NINER Custom TR saddle with Cr-Mo rails (printed NINER graphic)

Seatpost

KS LEV SI (S: 125mm; M: 150mm; L/XL: 175mm)

Grips

NINER GRRRIPS L/O nylon soft compound

Builds

The RIP 9 RDO lineup is built entirely around Niner’s premium carbon frame, with complete builds structured to prioritize suspension quality across the board. The range starts with the 2-Star SRAM SX Eagle build, which delivers strong value by pairing a Fox 36 Rhythm fork and Float X Performance shock with a reliable, entry-level 12-speed drivetrain and Niner’s alloy wheelset. This setup provides the core CVA suspension experience but uses basic SRAM Level brakes, which heavier or more aggressive riders may find underpowered for the bike's descending capabilities.

Stepping up to the 3-Star SRAM GX Eagle build introduces significant performance upgrades. This tier moves to top-tier Fox Factory suspension, featuring a GRIP2-equipped Fox 36 fork and a Float X Factory rear shock with Kashima coating. The drivetrain upgrades to the crisper SRAM GX Eagle, while braking power increases slightly with SRAM G2 R four-piston calipers. The 3-Star build also upgrades the rolling stock to Stan's Crest S2 wheels. Both builds feature a Race Face cockpit, KS LEV dropper posts, and aggressive Schwalbe 2.6-inch tires, ensuring the bike is ready for demanding trails right off the showroom floor.

2-Star SRAM SX Eagle

$4,999

3-Star SRAM GX Eagle

$6,500

Selected

Reviews

Reviewers consistently praise the RIP 9 RDO for its balanced suspension and structural stiffness, noting that it descends with the composure of a much larger bike. The updated CVA linkage provides excellent mid-stroke support, allowing riders to push hard into corners and compressions. On rough descents, the suspension "feels like it has more than 140mm of rear suspension" (Outdoorgearlab), absorbing heavy impacts while maintaining a predictable, grounded feel.

The frame’s Rib Cage struts deliver noticeable power transfer benefits, though multiple testers pointed out that the design makes attaching a shock pump difficult, requiring an included adapter. Despite this setup quirk, the resulting chassis stiffness translates directly to trail performance. The bike is highly efficient on climbs, with a pedaling platform that "minimizes feedback while pedaling" (Freehub) even when the shock is left fully open.

Handling feedback highlights a slight tradeoff depending on the trail. While the bike is "very stable with predictable handling" (Bike Rumor) at high speeds, some riders found the slack front end and long wheelbase could feel slightly sluggish in tight, uphill switchbacks. However, by avoiding the extreme length of some contemporary enduro bikes, Niner preserved enough agility to keep the RIP 9 RDO responsive and engaging on rolling, technical singletrack.