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niner rip9 or hard tail

1236 Views 17 Replies 6 Participants Last post by muzzanic, Jul 13, 2010

single-trac-mind

Discussion Starter · Jul 10, 2010

long story short I am the proud owner of a tang sir9 set up as a SS...I love this bike and have sold my Misfit SS and my 29er Stumpjumper FSR with the intent to order up a RIP9 to have as my geared ride...as I ride my steal is real rigid SS I start to think maybe save the money on the frame and go with a MCR or AIR9 with a fox f29 80mm which I already have on the front and gears anyone have an opinion . I ride southern Ontario I dont do big jumps or huge big drops. Not sure I need the full suspension

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Thor29

· #2 · Jul 10, 2010

I have an older SIR9 single speed with 100mm Fox fork and a RIP9. The SIR9 gets ridden 90% of the time because my local trails are relatively smooth and are perfect for a fast hardtail 29er single speed. The RIP9 is a sweet ride though, especially on rougher trails. The RIP9 was a blast at Moab last year. I like that I can easily switch back and forth between bikes and they feel similar. I also have a Santa Cruz for downhill and it feels totally different. It takes me awhile to adjust to it every time I ride it.

Since you used to have an FS bike, it seems like you ought to know whether or not you want to get another one. For me, if I am going to ride hardtail, I prefer SS. Why ruin a good thing with gears?

muzzanic

· #3 · Jul 10, 2010

single-trac-mind said:
long story short I am the proud owner of a tang sir9 set up as a SS...I love this bike and have sold my Misfit SS and my 29er Stumpjumper FSR with the intent to order up a RIP9 to have as my geared ride...as I ride my steal is real rigid SS I start to think maybe save the money on the frame and go with a MCR or AIR9 with a fox f29 80mm which I already have on the front and gears anyone have an opinion . I ride southern Ontario I dont do big jumps or huge big drops. Not sure I need the full suspension

If you are thinking like that buy a Jet9.

jut8

· #4 · Jul 10, 2010

I had two hardtails at one time, it seemed that one always sat around as the "backup bike." Now that i have a f/s and a ht, they see pretty much equal use. I did however go with the Jet9.

FASTK

· #5 · Jul 11, 2010

I have both the Jet and Rip, from what you describe, the Jet sounds like the better choice.

single-trac-mind

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 11, 2010

Thanks Guys
I had not considered the Jet not sure why...I rode a Rip for a few rides and really enjoyed it but the Jet may be better for around here I have a fox f29 80mm gs fork will that set up ok on the Jet .

FASTK

· #7 · Jul 11, 2010

single-trac-mind said:
Thanks Guys
I had not considered the Jet not sure why...I rode a Rip for a few rides and really enjoyed it but the Jet may be better for around here I have a fox f29 80mm gs fork will that set up ok on the Jet .

definitely go with the Jet if you only have a 80mm fork, the Rip geometry would be screwy with such a short travel. Jet is built for 80-100mm

single-trac-mind

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 11, 2010

If I got the Rip I would I would for sure get the matching fox fork and sell the 80 mm....I was really impressed with how the Rip climbs in or out of the saddle it begs you to attack the hill does the Jet feel like that....I must say I feel myself leaning to the Rip it jus seems like the do all bike

muzzanic

· #9 · Jul 11, 2010 (Edited)

single-trac-mind said:
If I got the Rip I would I would for sure get the matching fox fork and sell the 80 mm....I was really impressed with how the Rip climbs in or out of the saddle it begs you to attack the hill does the Jet feel like that....I must say I feel myself leaning to the Rip it jus seems like the do all bike

Just spent the last 5 hours ot riding.

1.5 hours on a SIR9 ,SS 34-20 gearing,Hope pro 2 hubs,Arch rims & 2.4 racing ralph's

1.5 hours on Rip9 ,Hope pro 2 & Arch rims with 2.1 Ignitor's,2x 10 22/36 11-36

& the rest of the time on my Jet9, Hope pro 2 on flow rims with 2.2 race king rear & 2.4 ardent up front. 2x10 30/39 11.36

Before someone says the jet & the rip need the wheels swaped I did it that way to beef upt the Jet & Wimp down the Rip.

Add what you like about the SS & what you like about the Rip & you have a Jet9

The Sir climbed well & was nice through the very twisty stuff & I enjoyed it,But when I got into the faster flowing track it left me feeling that the Sir9 had a very very good B game but had no A game.

Ok I'm a speed freak & I did like the Sir9 SS but for me fun starts were the SS finishes.

The track would need to be ruff for the Rip9 to leave the Jet9 behind.

We ended up on the top of a hill watching a race go past down a fast flowing ruff ish single track,I was stoped & off the bike but ready to go when 1 of my friends went past,I jumped on the Jet9 & had caught & passed him in 300 meters that is what kind of bike the Jet9 is.

Note he was on a 09 Carbon Epic 26er.

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single-trac-mind

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 11, 2010

hey thanks for doing all that research sounds like a heck of a good day .....I think I will go with a f/s and you are making a good case for the jet especially since where I ride I am not going off big drops or jumps just roots and log overs and rocks lots of switchback type single track the rip maybe little overkill and I like that the Jet maybe a bit quicker tuff choice both are awesome I like how you solved this problem by just having them both that's not going to work for me

edgerat

· #11 · Jul 11, 2010

another vote for the Jet9. I was actually hoping it would not be as good as it is so that I could order a Black Sheep. But it is. The Jet9 has one fault that I can find, the small size won't fit a bottle on it. Other than that the Jet9 is the "one-bike" that could do it all.

muzzanic

· #12 · Jul 11, 2010

single-trac-mind said:
hey thanks for doing all that research sounds like a heck of a good day .....I think I will go with a f/s and you are making a good case for the jet especially since where I ride I am not going off big drops or jumps just roots and log overs and rocks lots of switchback type single track the rip maybe little overkill and I like that the Jet maybe a bit quicker tuff choice both are awesome I like how you solved this problem by just having them both that's not going to work for me

There really is not that big a gap between the 2 bikes but a very short way to some up the small difference is the Rip is more fun & the Jet is more business.

If you were looking to do mere Jumps & drops go the Rip9 but if you what to go real fast over everything else go the Jet9

Hope this helps.

single-trac-mind

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 11, 2010

great info thanks

OK here is a dumb question and I think I know the answer but .....I have found a new never built Jet frame thru a buddy of mine...it was a warranty replacement but he had bought another bike and wants to sell this frame I can get a good deal on it BUT...it's size large and I am only 5'9 and a bit....can this be played with stem and seat to get a good fit or is it just too big....

muzzanic

· #14 · Jul 11, 2010

single-trac-mind said:
great info thanks

OK here is a dumb question and I think I know the answer but .....I have found a new never built Jet frame thru a buddy of mine...it was a warranty replacement but he had bought another bike and wants to sell this frame I can get a good deal on it BUT...it's size large and I am only 5'9 and a bit....can this be played with stem and seat to get a good fit or is it just too big....

If you were buying new & paying retail you would go for med, However the guy who's single speed I was riding was just on 5.10 & rode my Lge Rip9 & said a couple of times that he couldn't beleave how close the fit of my Lge Rip was to his med Sir9 & my bike had the same 100mm Thomson stem on it so at the right price its not a deal braker.

FASTK

· #15 · Jul 11, 2010

If the original post says "not sure I need full suspension", then the RIP is overkill, the JET can be setup soft or hard, still provide 3.25" rear travel. I have ridden the JET at Rockrock State Park, PA and Dupont/Pisgah NC. Just a great bike if you don't need a big squishy.

I have also ridden the RIP in both Rothrock and Dupont, it climbed very well and handle the rocky stuff better than the JET. I love them both.

I did test ride the MCR recently (as well as the new Carbon), Wow, liked them both, steel is real springy and with a suspension fork could be in my stable. Just FWIW the Niner Carbon was a brief rough, parking lot ride, much stiffer rear, geometry was classic Niner, It felt fast, stiff, from my brief test.

single-trac-mind

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 11, 2010

muzzanic said:
If you were buying new & paying retail you would go for med, However the guy who's single speed I was riding was just on 5.10 & rode my Lge Rip9 & said a couple of times that he couldn't beleave how close the fit of my Lge Rip was to his med Sir9 & my bike had the same 100mm Thomson stem on it so at the right price its not a deal braker.

True I will see what I can work out with him

single-trac-mind

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 13, 2010

Thanks for the great comments and insight guys....I do think that for where I ride the RIP would be over kill and I had used one for a few rides earlier in the year I do remember it while being wicked fun being more squish than I needed.....i love my SIR which i originally set up with a fox 80mm fork SS but soon went rigid SS and have never looked back......also with the ability to run gears on the SIR9 makes buying a MCR and setting it up with gears redundant....So with a combination of further research and the opinions given here as well as finding someone who has a brand new frame never built I have purchased a beautiful Vanna White Jet 9 frame and the build begins ,,,,thanks again for the help pics to follow next week when complete

muzzanic

· #18 · Jul 13, 2010

Good on you, I'm sure you will be very happy with the Jet9 it is a great bike.

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