Niner Sir9 Frame: Yes we?ve heard, STEEL IS REAL! We?re on it. Niner introduces the multipurpose s.i.r. 9, a Reynolds 853 frame that can be run as a single speed using Niner?s own super light EBB, or a speeded bike with a replaceable derailleur hanger.
Strengths: Build quaility, geometry, paint and color choices, EBB system, Niner support
Weaknesses: Paint durability
Bottom Line:
This is by far the funnest bike to ride I have ever owned. It is a ridged steel single speed, so its not the fastest, but its pretty close. I have owned and raced it for the last year. During that time I have gone back and forth on running a suspension fork and the ridged. The recent addition of ergon grips has made the ridged fork much more enjoyable, so its going to stay ridged for the forseeable future. The ebb design and set up took some learning, but i pretty much have it on cruise control now and can change out gearing pretty quickly. With a 32t front im able to use the same chain for a 16t, 18t, and 20t rear. The ebb makes it possible to accommodate a wide range of gears with out ever removing the chain. With keeping an eye on weight, i was able to build my small to about 22lbs. Thats not to shaby for a steel frame. The frame is beautiful, tight welds and rich paint. My only grip is the paint chips way to easy. Niner must know this since they ship the frame with a small bottle of touch-up paint. Problem is the touch-up paint dosen't match all that well. Would love to see this frame in some of the new anodized colors since they are said to be much more durable. Bottom line is you cant go wrong with this bike. Run it as a ridged single speed one day, then a geared, front suspension racer the next. The bike can pretty much do it all.
Similar Products Used: Specalized stumpjumper comp HT, Specalized epic comp, Specalized stumpjumper FRS, GT 29r pro, Haro mary SS
Bike Setup: Single speed, matching ridged niner steel fork, carbon bars and steam, xt brakes, a-classic wheels and hubs, thompson seat post, stylo oct cranks, egg beater ss pedals, 2.25 rocket ron tires.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
dustyvelo
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia, MD
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2012
Strengths: Supple ride
Excellent handling
Weaknesses: None found yet
Bottom Line:
I love this bike - it's that simple. After riding the fantastic GF Rig SS for a year, I realized that my sensative knees (due to two cartilage surgeries) started to complain to me after about 20 miles of hard riding. As such, it was time to do two things; add some gears and seek more frame compliance. That, and because I can't own multiple bikes, I wanted a good all-arounder that also supported my SS jones. For me, the obvious choice was a SIR9. I had never ridden one, but knoew many locals with various Niner set ups.
Upon delivery, the frame was stunning. I've read some complaints about Niner paint jobs, but mine was excellent. I did get a price break because of the color - Solid Gold - but I will tell you with all the black bits on the bike it looks great. Further, after a solid year of riding the scratches I have are the same as I have had on any bike.
Where I live in MD, we have access to a huge cross section of trails that include everything from mild to wild - MD, VA and PA. The local club I belong to helps to maintain over 30 - and that's not even all of them! Anyway, suffice it to say, this bike has seen it all.
My set up is not weight-weenie, but is not bad. Before I swapped wheels and went tubless, the bike was 27lbs. My guess now is closer to 25, but I have not weighed it yet. When I go to lighter tires in the spring it will be even better....and I may try a rigid fork for a while too! yes, I use heavy brakes, but I bever have to bleed them, burp them or whatever else the ol' hydro's require.
The compact geometry of this frame allows for very quick handling - but not sketchy. It's rock solid in my book. At 5'-10", the medium frame is just right for me. The compliance is just right - not real noticable on hard sprints, but in rock gardens it gives me just the right amount of flex to help manipulate and pop the bike around. The climbing aspect has been great too. We all know or hear that 29er's climb well. Just know this bike confirms the claims. Running only a single 32T ring up front, I often wonder what insane climbs I could ease into should I add a 22 to the mix and explore the 2x!
Oh - one quick mention before closing..... the eccentric bottom bracket. Absolutely NO problems. In the 1x set up, it's set it and forget it, but know that this bike has seen miles of stream crossings, dirt and dust and it has never been a problem. I believe that Niner has the whole BB thing spot on.
That said, buy this bike with confidence. As far as steel frames go, it's priced right in the middle of many excellent options out there. Make this your choice or the MCR version and I don't think you'll be disappointed. Ride on.
Similar Products Used: Fisher aluminum frames
Kona test rides
Bike Setup: Fox fork - 80mm, Stan's Crest front & Arch rear, 2.35" Schwalbe Nobby Nics, Thomson cockpit, 1x9 set up with Spot crank and SRAM X9 rear der., Avid BB7's.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
2lits
a Weekend Warrior
from Anaheim,CA.
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2011
Strengths: surprisingly comfortable for an HT frame,EBB, steel frame,
Bottom Line:
honestly I don't want to ride my Intense Spider 29'er(selling her soon). I love the handling and I ride a lot of technical single track.
Similar Products Used: specialized stumpjumper 29 HT
Bike Setup: SS, Reba race fork.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
megalops
a Weekend Warrior
from South Florida
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2011
Strengths: Fantastic geometry. Smooths out roots and rocks something serious. Lightweight for Steel frame. EBB and changeable dropouts to convert to geared or SS. Rides like a dream!
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
After getting beatup on my hardtail 26" Kona Cinder Cone, I was ready to move up to a full suspension bike for our rocky, rooty singletrack courses in south Florida. I then took my friend's Diamondback Overdrive 29er for a lap (while drinking the Kool Aid) and realized I too needed to upgrade to a 29er.
I got a good deal on the frame and rigid fork, so I built the bike with the rigid while I save my money for a squishy fork. This bike rides so nice with a rigid fork, I have no reason to upgrade anytime soon. It rides way smoother than my 26" hardtail did. I can only imagine how smooth it would be with a Fox on the front.
Anyone looking for an awesome Hardtail or Rigid 29er need not look farther than the Niner SIR!
Similar Products Used: Diamondback Overdrive is the only other 29er I've ridden.
Bike Setup: Rigid Niner fork. 1 x 10 Shimano XT.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
crassh
a Cross Country Rider
from NC, USA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2011
Strengths: Ride feel. Don't believe all the hype that this is like a full suspension ride - it certainly is not. However- being realistic, the ride quality is certainly smooth as can be for a hard tail. Coming from riding fisher and bianchi aluminum 29ers and 26ers, this is a TREMENDOUS upgrade in ride quality. Definitely leaves me less fatigued.
Weaknesses: BB design is okay. I know there are alot of complaints about it out there, but there are also many of us who if we take the time to set it up right the first time and maintain regularly - it works like a charm. It doesn't take a whole lot of grit/dirt to start some slippage - if you notice slippage - pull it apart, clean throughly with rubbing alcohol and reassemble - it will then work as advertised
Bottom Line:
Super smooth steel frame with great all around geometry for all day adventure. If you are looking for the racing rocket - look elsewhere.
Submitted by
SIR9 Rider
a Racer
from Winston Salem NC
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2011
Strengths: Light Steel, Cheapish Nice colors Bout it tho..
Weaknesses: This is one dead feeling FLEXXY steel frame for a 155 pound 6 foot rider.. Creak Clicjk Creak Click Creak Click Creak Click EBB.. Shop A no help.. Niner Cust service No help..Shop B no help Shop Genius and Bontrager field tester No Help. Niner says Put EBB in dry.. No grease... Shop guys say they had major creak issues till they greased their bikes..So me no get it?? Low pedal clearance.. EBB needs a barrel nut installed in cup to prevent stripping out bolt hole.Compared to other steel 853 frames this was slow side to side - dead feeling with very little trail feel. Niner Customer Support was less than helpful.
Bottom Line:
She is going on E Bay. I don't ride with headphones and I can't deal with the creaking.. Flexxxy out of saddle efforts work everything lose in the BB area. If you are a trail rider and NOT a racer this will do ya fine.. Wanna get frisky with it.. Get a real frame.
Similar Products Used: Kona Unit Gunnar Rockhound Gunnar Ruffian Trek / Fisher Superfly Kona Kula Deluxe Lynskey Ridgeline
Bike Setup: Singlespeed, Reba 29er, Avid Juicy 7 Carbon, Thomson bits Stylo cranks King BB and King SS Wheels 22.5 pounds Full hardtail race..
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
brewidaho
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, ID
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2011
Strengths: Absorbs trail well, responds very quickly on quick turns, very nice steel!
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
This is a real step up from the sanko steel on the redline. A bit stiffer (laterally) but so much more responsive. Still has the softness of steel over small bumps. I have over a dozen rides on this bike and loved every minute.
Bike Setup: Stans crest wheelset, Chris King hubs, avid juicy brakes, truvative stylo crank, chris king headset, thomson post, wtb rocket seat, easton carbon bar, rockshock reba fork, CB pedals. weighs in at 24.5 lbs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
tipsmiller
a Cross Country Rider
from Ft. Collins
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2011
Strengths: Light weight, incredible ride quality, great stability and control.
Weaknesses: Yeah, the paint is a little weak. Whatever, it's a mountain bike.
Bottom Line:
I got this bike because I wanted a strong, all-purpose, long-lasting bike. I found one on super-sale, so I picked it up for cheap. I may switch it to geared w/ front suspension (or some combination), but so far I have not needed it.
This bike is sweet. It has a very solid feel to it, and I have found it very stable at any speed, as well as easy to control; I can maneuver around just about anything, placing my wheels right where I want them. This bike is VERY light, at least in my view.
I took the bike to Moab, Utah, this week, and I rode the bike through some very tough terrain. It was able to handle anything reasonable that I threw at it.The 29" wheels rolled right over bumps, and smoothed out the ride nicely. The increased surface of the tires made hem float through sand traps, and I only broke traction on an uphill once, on some gravel/sand nastiness.
This frame/fork combo feels like it has as much "travel" as my old bike with the 60mm fork. The SIR was comfortable, with more small-bump damping than you would probably get out of most forks. I ride a large SIR. I have a 32" inseam, but I am over 6 feet tall (I have a lot of torso). I found that I had plenty of standover room, and with my seat set back and no-rise handlebars, I have incredible control and comfort on this bike.
Similar Products Used: My last bike was a '98 Schwinn Mesa... So really nothing compares.
Bike Setup: Niner steel fork, Easton XC One wheels, 32-18 gear ratio.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jwsb
a Cross Country Rider
from Sta. Rosa Philippines
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2011
Strengths: Set-up Flexibility. Ride Comfort, Service Life, Simplicity. Blurs the line between a short travel XC bike and a HT. It in class on its own!
Weaknesses: Cable Routing, You need to be careful with setting up. The cables tend to rub on the bottom bracket and the guide underneath the chain-stays will also rub. Make sure you don't rung your cables bare in these areas. Not a product weakness as any competent shop should build this up right.
Bottom Line:
One bike for all rides! This bike defines the essence of mountain-biking. Less thoughts on the Bling and fads. Keeps you riding and forgetting everything else that doesn't really matter.
This bike is for those that don't get carried away with technology and just want a bike that works any given time at any given occasion.
Similar Products Used: Chumba XCL, Niner Air 9 Scandium different mountain bikes since 1993
Bike Setup: Reba Fork, SRAM XO, Custom rims
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
David Malan
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town South Africa
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2011
Strengths: Great build quality & finish. Comfortable, quick, easy to ride, surprisingly light, nimble and stable.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
Fantastic frame! It is a rare treat to be able to buy a high end steel frame without having to pay the premium of a custom build. I feel that good quality steel is possibly the Ideal frame material for a 29er hard-tail. Unless of course you are an elite (sponsored) rider and prepared to sacrifice some comfort and ride quality to shave off a few seconds on a long climb. I have no reservations in recommending this frame to anyone who appreciates quality, simplicity and how a good bike should feel.
Similar Products Used: Kona "Big Unit" scandium, single speed, hard-tail.
Bike Setup: Single speed, Mavic rims, Fox 80mm fork, Raceface crank, Shimano brakes.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
single speed kid
a Cross Country Rider
from Hayward, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2010
Strengths: Nice welds, great steel, and good price.
Weaknesses: The paint is simply terrible! I know, it's a mountain bike but the paint Niner uses is the incredibly crappy. What a shame. The geometry that Niner uses is also not good for me. I am 5'11" with long legs and the large SIR9 was too big and the medium was a tad bit too small. I went with the medium and had the 410mm Thomson seatpost maxed out.
Bottom Line:
Great steel makes for a very comfy ride and the welds are indeed nice. I got rid of the frame because I could never get fit correct. Always felt like I was stuck between sizes. It seems that the geom of both Specialized and Gary Fisher are a much better fit for me - and that's what I will buy.
Submitted by
yemajah
a Cross Country Rider
from Minden, NRW, Germany
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2010
Strengths: looks nice, good handling
Weaknesses: too short chainstays for a XL frame, result: low climbing ability, expensive, weight, BB too much behind, rear part is luffing
Bottom Line:
great looking frame, nice paintwork, but the BB is too much behind for a XL frame - result sitting far behind, low climbing ability, too expensive. The Singular swift costs half price and the weight is nearly the same! Rear part of the frame is luffing (?) bobbing from the pedaling. I was a little bit disappointed. But good handling with the original fork!
Submitted by
The_Missile
a Cross Country Rider
from Switzerland
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2010
Strengths: Well made. Reynolds Tubing. Steel Is Real. Light. Stiff. Accelerates like a bat out of hell.
Weaknesses: One small one: the cable guide on the rear chain stay has no slot - need to un attach the cable from the derailleur when switchin geared to SS
Bottom Line:
The most fun you can have with your (biking) clothes on!
Similar Products Used: My last hard tail was when I was still young...and 29'ers were still a twinkle in somebodys eye.
Bike Setup: Niner steel fork, SS / 1x9, stans arch rims wheelset, wtb weirwolf 2.5 tires, XT, carbon and green oury grips!!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
yourdaguy
a Cross Country Rider
from Newburgh
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2010
Strengths: Most versatile frame possible. Rides great full ridgid with the Niner carbon fork. Perfect all arounder with the Fox RL29 fork too.
Weaknesses: If running geared, you need to move the crank to the 2 O'Clock position or the cable will fall off the back of the Shimano m770 front dérailleur due to the forward position of the seat tube with respect to the bb shell.
Bottom Line:
Rides like a dream. Can be used as ss, full geared, 2x9, 1x9. Works great with the Niner Carbon fork or a suspension fork. I can convert from ss to geared in 30 minutes and change forks in 20. This is an all around bike that excels at everything. It is not as sharp as an Air 9 or an Air 9 Carbon, but rides way smoother. If you just want to ride and enjoy it, this is the bike. If you are paid to race and worry about every ounce and absolute point and go handling then you need to look at a very stiff unforgiving bike. If you can only own one bike and want to try everything: geared, ss, full rigid, hardtail, and combinations of the above, I can't think of a better platform.
I settled into geared and the carbon fork, but that is because I am 56 and the place I rude the most has some 20% grades. The only place I miss the Fox fork is on the steep downhills with a 6" log. The carbon fork is not enough there but makes up for it everywhere else. If you do a lot of nasty downhills with big bumps, get the suspension fork, otherwise this bike rocks full rigid ss or geared.
Bike Setup: convert between geared and ss. Geared I run 34/22 front and 11 or 12 34 rear. Various Stan's wheel sets tubeless with various tires. Niner Carbon fork now, but formerly Fox RL29 and I may switch back.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Silver Potato
a Cross Country Rider
from N. GA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2010
Strengths: Best damn bike I have ever owned! Excellent handling & excellent ride quality.
Weaknesses: None damn it! Pedal damn it!
Bottom Line:
The One9 was an awesome bike for me until I reached the ripe old age of 40 then I needed the comfort of steel and I do not know why I did not go this route from the start! This is an all day, any where bike for me. I love it!
To be built Rigid, with a singlespeed and a disc brake. small, slick tires... mostly urban riding. I want something snappy.
which is better?
[IMG]http://tubulamarok.free.fr/p Read More »
I'm looking for the lowest stack height headset that works with a S.I.R.9. Does anyone have any knowledge on this? The FSA, Cane Creek, etc. all have so many options, it starts to Read More »
Well, the biking bug has bitten me again HARD. Went from having no bikes two weeks ago to two bikes now (one in my possession, one with build parts on the way).
Anyway, ordered Read More »
Hey guys what do you think of the Bio-Centric BB system? I am pretty much at wit's end for the ideal steel bike for SS and geared platform. I go either a Niner or something else. Read More »
