All City Macho King VS Niner RLT 9 Steel 2 star

msedbaue · Mar 29, 2016

So I am trying to figure out which bike to buy. A '15 Mk or a '16 Niner RLT 9 2 Star.

I can get the bikes for about even pricing at this point.

I like shimano drivetrains (the Niner is 105) and the Niner also has thru axles in '16 model.

The MK is just a pretty awesome looking machine, I like the bottom bracket (BSA) Im OK with SRAM, I would figure it out.

Does anyone have experience with these bikes? Any recommendations?

jd the nomad · Mar 29, 2016

My All-City Machoman Disc (not machoking) is my favorite bike. The only changes I would make would be putting a SRAM drivetrain on it and take away a few pounds, which would give you a Machoking. I like SRAM shifting better, plus their road and mountain parts are interchangeable, for instance if you want to add a longer or clutch rear derailleur. Plus...their bikes stand out in a crowd.

msedbaue · Mar 29, 2016

I certainly agree that the MK has some "rad" factor there! Not many of them around, simple to work on parts, cool paint scheme.

Im a bit nervous about the aggressive heattube length and cross geometry, the Niner is a bit more relaxed for gravel/touring. I will potentially do a few cross races just for fun, but its mostly going to be a fun bike to ride around and not worry about if I run into any gravel or crappy roads! Just a fun enjoy your day kind of bike!

Nubster · Mar 29, 2016

For what it's worth....I've ridden 70+ mile rides on both a race geo and endurance geo road bike and the comfort difference was nil. Maybe I'm not that sensitive to the differences or in tune with my bikes...but I don't feel slight differences in bikes or adjustments to the same bike.

That said...I recently ordered a Cannondale SuperX CX1 (race CX bike and cheaper than the Niner and I assume the All-City) for my gravel grinder and have no worries it will be perfectly comfortable, as comfortable as a bike can be at least, for the 50+ mile rides I'll be doing this summer with a smattering of 70+ and hopefully a 100 miler or two.

I will also say...that All-City is a great looking machine but then again...so is the Niner. I think I like the Niner better looks wise and around here...you don't see them. Not on the road at least. Maybe once in a while you'll see a mountain bike. I'd love to try out both. There's a handful of CX/GG bikes I'd love to try out but LBS brands are limited mostly to the big names and getting hands on something like this would mean I'd have to buy first, test ride second.

For me, in this situation, the All-City gets the slight advantage simply because it's SRAM and I wouldn't want to deal with the headache of stripping the Niner, selling the Shimano stuff and replacing it with SRAM. Maybe if your LBS would be willing to do that for you...that would be a different story and then I'd lean towards the Niner. Personally, I'd just save up the extra $500 and get the 3-star build because I'd much rather have the hydro brakes on top of it being a SRAM build.

msedbaue · Mar 29, 2016

Thanks for the point of view! I agree that I like the look of the Niner more. I have been able to ride the niner as well, which felt great! The main reason the MK comes into play is the value of it. It has (in my mind) superior parts on it for actually a little less $$.

The MK is full Reynolds tubing while the Niner only uses the Reynolds on the straight tubes (most of the bike anyway).

The MK fork from what I understand (Whiskey 7) is really nice.

Nubster · Mar 29, 2016

But the fork on the Niner is Niner...lol...both great forks. I've had both and currently have a Niner on my SS bike. Not because it's better...because it was a good deal. But it's QR and not super stiff. My Whiskey was 15mm TA and pretty stiff. Good stuff either way.

Yeah...tough choice. I don't envy you...haha...but I doubt you'll go wrong with either bike. I still think I'd bump up to the 3-star build on the Niner. I just have a hard time going back to mechanical brakes after running hydros on both my mountain bikes and my SuperX will have hydro as well. You could replace the mechs with hydros for about $500 and recoop some of that money selling the mech setup. So maybe the All-City with hydro brakes...that would be pretty killer.

edved37 · Mar 29, 2016

I have a Nature Boy disc that I ride on long distance rides (65+mile) quite a bit and love it's geometry (same as Macho Man). I recently almost bought a Macho King for my dedicated gravel bike but found a killer new Titanium Warbird instead. That said I enjoy switching between the bikes depending on conditions (hills/wind on a single speed are chore). I don't think you can go wrong with either in the end

msedbaue · Mar 31, 2016

Cool Thanks for all the info!

big_shmoop · Mar 31, 2016

Nubster said:
Personally, I'd just save up the extra $500 and get the 3-star build because I'd much rather have the hydro brakes on top of it being a SRAM build.

Agreed. Shimano or SRAM can come down to personal preference but hydro/mechanical disc is almost a no brainer.

I recently did an extended demo on a RLT 9 Steel 2 Star build and I really, really like it. The geometry felt spot on and the steel soaked up the bumps and gravel as you'd expect a steel bike to do.

For the sake of being thorough, I tried a TCX Advanced off the recommendation of the owner at my LBS. I was sold almost instantly. I originally avoided it because I thought "race geo and stiff carbon is gonna be a bad time"...I was flat out wrong. The combination of the carbon frame and seat post provided just as good (to me anyway) ride quality as the Niner, and in addition it had the hydraulic Shimano discs as well as being noticeably lighter. I ended up getting the TCX Advanced Pro 2 for less than the Niner as well...which is always a bonus.

I wanted a bike to do some 60-100 mile gravel grinds as well as try my hand at some CX next fall and I couldn't be happier. I will say that if the time comes for a bike packing build or I'm looking to do multiple 100+ miles day I may go back and build up a RLT 9 Steel frame..

msedbaue · Mar 31, 2016

Thanks for the review! As for other rides, Ive already made up my mind that I want a quality steel bike. I have carbon and had some aluminum, etc. I took a ride on an RLT and just loved it.

Like I mentioned a buddy of mine runs a shop in MN so he has been keeping me up to date on whats for sale! I have been wanting the RLT for a while, but he mentioned the macho king, it split my vote. The big thing is the deal on the MK. The other thought was to wait it out?! See if the Niners go on sale at the end of the year or next spring! The wife has given clearance to a certain $$ amount. So ill have to be patient if I want to get past the 2 star build.

big_shmoop · Mar 31, 2016

msedbaue said:
Thanks for the review! As for other rides, Ive already made up my mind that I want a quality steel bike. I have carbon and had some aluminum, etc. I took a ride on an RLT and just loved it.

Like I mentioned a buddy of mine runs a shop in MN so he has been keeping me up to date on whats for sale! I have been wanting the RLT for a while, but he mentioned the macho king, it split my vote. The big thing is the deal on the MK. The other thought was to wait it out?! See if the Niners go on sale at the end of the year or next spring! The wife has given clearance to a certain $$ amount. So ill have to be patient if I want to get past the 2 star build.

I can completely understand why you loved the Niner...I did too. Haha.

The reason I went with the TCX over the RLT wasn't because of anything wrong with the RLT, it's just the TCX was better build overall for the money. At the end of the day you can't go wrong with either, but I had to choose I'd say the Niner. You could always throw some TRP HY/RD brakes on down the line when the spending falls off your wife's radar. I may or may not have done things like this with my wife...

RPG · Apr 1, 2016

I own a MK and love it. I'm 5'9" and fit on a 52 with a 110mm stem perfectly. The hayes mech brakes are ok, not great. They are easy to adjust. The fork flexes a bit. When I hammer out of the saddle, I can hear the rotor hitting the pads (I assume that is due to fork flex?). The steel has a good ride quality where it feels like it floats over the road. I would venture to say that the niner does as well.

The one thing that niner has that the MK doesn't is rack mounts. That niner looks like it would also make a great touring bike and having rack mounts is a nice to have option. MK doesn't but I have a fargo for those duties.

I also like the SRAM drivetrain of the MK as well. I've always been on shimano and this was an easy transition.

Just my 2 cents, regardless you have a good pool to choose from.

Enjoy!

sgtrobo · Apr 1, 2016

save up the extra $500 and go with the hydros on the RLT9 Steel 3-star. Just my 3/4 of a penny.

Nubster · Apr 1, 2016

sgtrobo said:
save up the extra $500 and go with the hydros on the RLT9 Steel 3-star. Just my 3/4 of a penny.

$500 will also put hydros on the MK. And you'll have a SRAM drivetrain which I personally love. Tough choice.

On an unrelated note...I picked up my CX bike today. I can tell after just a quick 3.5 mile ride around town I'm going to love this thing...after a gearing change.

sgtrobo · Apr 2, 2016

Nubster said:
$500 will also put hydros on the MK. And you'll have a SRAM drivetrain which I personally love. Tough choice.

On an unrelated note...I picked up my CX bike today. I can tell after just a quick 3.5 mile ride around town I'm going to love this thing...after a gearing change.

yep, I got the same one. Did a 22miler, was surprised how comfortable it was. I put a set of Roval Control wheels (21mm Internal) and Terra pros, plus an 11-32t cassette. Really liking the value of that CX1

i gotta warn you though, the white bar tape and the white saddle will NOT stay white for long. Just speaking from experience

Nubster · Apr 2, 2016

sgtrobo said:
yep, I got the same one. Did a 22miler, was surprised how comfortable it was. I put a set of Roval Control wheels (21mm Internal) and Terra pros, plus an 11-32t cassette. Really liking the value of that CX1

i gotta warn you though, the white bar tape and the white saddle will NOT stay white for long. Just speaking from experience

First thing I said when I pulled the bike out of the box. I only put it on there because I'm going to double tape the bars with the white underneath and I need to decide on a saddle as the stock one does fit my fat arse that well anyways...and not a fan of the white.

I ordered a long cage r/d and I'm throwing an 11-40 cassette on there so I can do some climbing this summer. Most of our gravel loops are 5,000+ feet of climbing in 50-60 miles so I need some LOW gearing to get my butt up those hills. But yeah...for a race geometry bike...so far in those few miles I can tell it's going to be just fine for long rides and I'm loving the 35c tires...nice and cushy.

Did you see the bike before you bought it? If not...where you a bit shocked how bright it was? The pictures don't do it justice and on the Cannondale site the orange is much more subdued. I opened the box this morning and it was like a box full of sunshine. I was a bit startled...lol

sgtrobo · Apr 2, 2016

Nubster said:
Did you see the bike before you bought it? If not...where you a bit shocked how bright it was? The pictures don't do it justice and on the Cannondale site the orange is much more subdued. I opened the box this morning and it was like a box full of sunshine. I was a bit startled...lol

no, I didn't see it in person, at least, before I bought. It looks pretty drab on the Cannondale website, it looks a LOT livelier in person, I was pretty darn pleased to be honest

msedbaue · Apr 2, 2016

That is a really nice looking bike for sure!

msedbaue · Apr 2, 2016

RPG said:
I own a MK and love it. I'm 5'9" and fit on a 52 with a 110mm stem perfectly. The hayes mech brakes are ok, not great. They are easy to adjust. The fork flexes a bit. When I hammer out of the saddle, I can hear the rotor hitting the pads (I assume that is due to fork flex?). The steel has a good ride quality where it feels like it floats over the road. I would venture to say that the niner does as well.

The one thing that niner has that the MK doesn't is rack mounts. That niner looks like it would also make a great touring bike and having rack mounts is a nice to have option. MK doesn't but I have a fargo for those duties.

I also like the SRAM drivetrain of the MK as well. I've always been on shimano and this was an easy transition.

Just my 2 cents, regardless you have a good pool to choose from.

Enjoy!

Thanks for the info. If you had to "re-do" would you have purchased the bike with thru axles (this would help with the disc rub). Thats really my major hold up if anything. I like shimano parts but im OK with SRAM. I just want a frame that will be relatively future proof! And I see the thru axles being a benefit to that. Unless they decide to go boost 148 or something. I can get the MK for $2K. Thats a big incentive for me right now.

Nubster · Apr 2, 2016

msedbaue said:
Thanks for the info. If you had to "re-do" would you have purchased the bike with thru axles (this would help with the disc rub). Thats really my major hold up if anything. I like shimano parts but im OK with SRAM. I just want a frame that will be relatively future proof! And I see the thru axles being a benefit to that. Unless they decide to go boost 148 or something. I can get the MK for $2K. Thats a big incentive for me right now.

I wish my bike had TA's but when I rode it last night...only a few miles, I didn't notice any rotor rub. I get it on my rigid mountain bike that has a carbon QR fork pretty bad but it gets torqued on a lot more and differently than I think this bike will. I only paid $1300 for the bike so really...I can't be too picky at that price. If I was paying upwards towards $2k or more...I'd definitely make sure I had more or all the options that I wanted in a bike.

All City Macho King VS Niner RLT 9 Steel 2 star

msedbaue

jd the nomad

msedbaue

Nubster

msedbaue

Nubster

edved37

msedbaue

big_shmoop

msedbaue

big_shmoop

RPG

sgtrobo

Nubster

sgtrobo

Nubster

sgtrobo

msedbaue

msedbaue

Nubster

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