Spot on review. My only complaint is that the shock valving is way off for heavier riders, even with the large air sleeve. My shock is at PUSH right now. The bike is very versatile. Obviously, it rides the rough stuff very well but I also find that I can compete with my weight weenie ht riding friends on smooth single track as well. The only time they pull away is on sustained smooth climbs where the light bike wins out.
RIP 9 Review at MTBR.com...
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But then again, that's what the JET 9 is for....in terms of keeping up with the HT's on the climbsbikenut316 said:
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I had the Jet and it is more xc than the RIP but weight wise, is not light. I would rather have the RIP and a light 29er HT.BruceBrown said:But then again, that's what the JET 9 is for....in terms of keeping up with the HT's on the climbs
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Hope you guys see the fine points of the review, as the Rip9 is a great do it all bike. I had taken the bike up to Whistler BC, with the hopes of flogging it on the big trails up there, but that did not work out. I had to do all the testing in NorCal, on our 'big' trails. I'm a XC rider, and not a big gnar rider. In the recent year, I've come to really appreciate a All-Mountain bike. I bought a GF Hifi29 18mos ago, and really started to understand the speed I had been missing on certain DH sections. That bike is nice, but not plush on the travel, and too flexy. Keep in mind I'm 155lbs, but push my bikes really hard.
My normal rides are One9 and a Sir9 before that. I sold the Sir9 because of too much flex, for me. I have had the One9 for 2 years now, and it is super bike. I do wish for more frame stiffness, and maybe that's where the Carbon9 comes in.
In reviewing the Rip9, you really have to keep in mind what type of bike it is. On my One9(33x20), no hill is ever too steep(too long and steep, yes, but rarely too steep), and I can virtually hop up on anything. The acceleration is unmatched. On the Rip9, I can sit and spin up the steep and long, and then let go of the brakes, hang on for dear life on the downhills. The 4.5" on it feels a lot like 6" on a 26er. I ride my HT so hard, often with a rigid fork, that a ~3-4" FS isn't any faster for me. The Rip9 is enough of a change, and has enough travel, that I can really enjoy the difference over the HT. I find myself constantly steering TOWARDS rocks and roots, in order to launch off them. It is too much fun.
The Rip9 is really well matched for me, and my weight. As mentioned earlier, the Fox RP23 shocks really can't handle the heavier riders very well, or at least as well as the middle of the range weights. When you have to pump up the shock so much to get the sag where you want it, the compression curve is not very good. I did not test this on the RIP9, but I have set up many bikes for heavier riders and the results are very similar, regardless of suspension design. PUSH will be able to help a little. A DHX air with boost valve would maybe go a long way to help with the last part of the compression ramp. The Niner boys would know much better than I would how the different shocks match up on the Rip9.
If you live in an area that has some rocks and/or elevation, the Rip9 is really hard to pass up.
My normal rides are One9 and a Sir9 before that. I sold the Sir9 because of too much flex, for me. I have had the One9 for 2 years now, and it is super bike. I do wish for more frame stiffness, and maybe that's where the Carbon9 comes in.
In reviewing the Rip9, you really have to keep in mind what type of bike it is. On my One9(33x20), no hill is ever too steep(too long and steep, yes, but rarely too steep), and I can virtually hop up on anything. The acceleration is unmatched. On the Rip9, I can sit and spin up the steep and long, and then let go of the brakes, hang on for dear life on the downhills. The 4.5" on it feels a lot like 6" on a 26er. I ride my HT so hard, often with a rigid fork, that a ~3-4" FS isn't any faster for me. The Rip9 is enough of a change, and has enough travel, that I can really enjoy the difference over the HT. I find myself constantly steering TOWARDS rocks and roots, in order to launch off them. It is too much fun.
The Rip9 is really well matched for me, and my weight. As mentioned earlier, the Fox RP23 shocks really can't handle the heavier riders very well, or at least as well as the middle of the range weights. When you have to pump up the shock so much to get the sag where you want it, the compression curve is not very good. I did not test this on the RIP9, but I have set up many bikes for heavier riders and the results are very similar, regardless of suspension design. PUSH will be able to help a little. A DHX air with boost valve would maybe go a long way to help with the last part of the compression ramp. The Niner boys would know much better than I would how the different shocks match up on the Rip9.
If you live in an area that has some rocks and/or elevation, the Rip9 is really hard to pass up.
+1 for me too. I ride a 17.5lbs One9.bikenut316 said:
So light, it literally floats over the road...
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The boys at Push know exactly what is going on with the shock and suspension. In short, the CVA, DW and other short link designs are so efficient that the shock needs very little compression tuning. A low compression tune and a lower psi brings out the best in the aforementioned suspension designs.rensho said:Hope you guys see the fine points of the review, as the Rip9 is a great do it all bike. I had taken the bike up to Whistler BC, with the hopes of flogging it on the big trails up there, but that did not work out. I had to do all the testing in NorCal, on our 'big' trails. I'm a XC rider, and not a big gnar rider. In the recent year, I've come to really appreciate a All-Mountain bike. I bought a GF Hifi29 18mos ago, and really started to understand the speed I had been missing on certain DH sections. That bike is nice, but not plush on the travel, and too flexy. Keep in mind I'm 155lbs, but push my bikes really hard.
My normal rides are One9 and a Sir9 before that. I sold the Sir9 because of too much flex, for me. I have had the One9 for 2 years now, and it is super bike. I do wish for more frame stiffness, and maybe that's where the Carbon9 comes in.
In reviewing the Rip9, you really have to keep in mind what type of bike it is. On my One9(33x20), no hill is ever too steep(too long and steep, yes, but rarely too steep), and I can virtually hop up on anything. The acceleration is unmatched. On the Rip9, I can sit and spin up the steep and long, and then let go of the brakes, hang on for dear life on the downhills. The 4.5" on it feels a lot like 6" on a 26er. I ride my HT so hard, often with a rigid fork, that a ~3-4" FS isn't any faster for me. The Rip9 is enough of a change, and has enough travel, that I can really enjoy the difference over the HT. I find myself constantly steering TOWARDS rocks and roots, in order to launch off them. It is too much fun.
The Rip9 is really well matched for me, and my weight. As mentioned earlier, the Fox RP23 shocks really can't handle the heavier riders very well, or at least as well as the middle of the range weights. When you have to pump up the shock so much to get the sag where you want it, the compression curve is not very good. I did not test this on the RIP9, but I have set up many bikes for heavier riders and the results are very similar, regardless of suspension design. PUSH will be able to help a little. A DHX air with boost valve would maybe go a long way to help with the last part of the compression ramp. The Niner boys would know much better than I would how the different shocks match up on the Rip9.
If you live in an area that has some rocks and/or elevation, the Rip9 is really hard to pass up.
Hey, are you calling my old size XL JET 9 which weighed 24.9 lbs as shown fat?bikenut316 said:
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Compare your bike to a ht with the same build. You are looking at approx. 22-23lbs.BruceBrown said:Hey, are you calling my old size XL JET 9 which weighed 24.9 lbs as shown fat?
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Sub - 18 pounds AIR9's
AIR9's as pictured 18 pounds. The AIR9 M with green saddle and carbon matching fork was 17.69 pounds as pictured fully geared.
RIP9 as pictured just about 30 pounds.
JET9 built race 25 pounds.
Different horses for different courses.
The JET9 for sure has a place on those days I want to go fast for 4 or 5 hours on a lightweight wheelset. I had mine built up at 25 pounds even with Stans "race" wheel set and I can't wait until March when she gets built up under the stiffer chassis. The combo of the stiffer hydro formed tubing, 1.5 tapered head tube and rear end forgings will give it roughly 1 pound lower weight that the RIP9 and steeper HTA for quicker xc riding/racing.
The tang AIR9 is currently my winter bike. It is doing super fast rides linking pavement sections to dirt level 5 or 6 roads linking singletrack then roads home. It flies.
The RIP9 is the bike for the chunky trails, or when I have under 2.5 hours and I want to ride primarily dirt fast. Build it light and it's a great do everything bike and the three words which come up are stiff - smooth - efficient.
Merry Christmas,
Brett
Take off the suspension fork - add Niner carbon fork - lose two chainrings - now you are talking 18 pounds.bikenut316 said:
AIR9's as pictured 18 pounds. The AIR9 M with green saddle and carbon matching fork was 17.69 pounds as pictured fully geared.
RIP9 as pictured just about 30 pounds.
JET9 built race 25 pounds.
Different horses for different courses.
The JET9 for sure has a place on those days I want to go fast for 4 or 5 hours on a lightweight wheelset. I had mine built up at 25 pounds even with Stans "race" wheel set and I can't wait until March when she gets built up under the stiffer chassis. The combo of the stiffer hydro formed tubing, 1.5 tapered head tube and rear end forgings will give it roughly 1 pound lower weight that the RIP9 and steeper HTA for quicker xc riding/racing.
The tang AIR9 is currently my winter bike. It is doing super fast rides linking pavement sections to dirt level 5 or 6 roads linking singletrack then roads home. It flies.
The RIP9 is the bike for the chunky trails, or when I have under 2.5 hours and I want to ride primarily dirt fast. Build it light and it's a great do everything bike and the three words which come up are stiff - smooth - efficient.
Merry Christmas,
Brett
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True. But I would be on a HT.:nono:bikenut316 said:
At my height and weight - two, three, four pounds of extra overall bike weight makes no difference at all at the finish line in terms of where I place and at the level I compete. I race my Dos Niner at 23 and change, so I know. My potential divorce build on the JET would have weighed 22 and change (not bad for an XL size fully). However, the wife said "NO!" to the custom race wheels and the Formula R1 brakes which put the kabosh on my dream build at this time last year when I was building up my first JET.
Brett - nice collection of toys you've got there.:thumbsup:
Take off the suspension fork - add Niner carbon fork - lose two chainrings - now you are talking 18 pounds.
I've got a road bike for that.
Now, now. Don't forget I'm 48 with a pair of well used kidneys and typical back issues of a tall thin man. I have pretty much had to shelve my rigid Karate Monkey because of that.
I am looking forward to the new tubing on the JET 9 and the tapered steerer fork/headtube solely based on how much I love all of that on my new RIP. The RIP is such a fun bike that is only being hampered at the moment by all this white stuff we keep getting on the ground.:madman:
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Not Bashing the Jet...
If I had unlimited funds, I would own the RIP, Jet and AIR. As of now, I am trying to cover more bases with the RIP and a ht.BruceBrown said:True. But I would be on a HT.:nono:
At my height and weight - two, three, four pounds of extra overall bike weight makes no difference at all at the finish line in terms of where I place and at the level I compete. I race my Dos Niner at 23 and change, so I know. My potential divorce build on the JET would have weighed 22 and change (not bad for an XL size fully). However, the wife said "NO!" to the custom race wheels and the Formula R1 brakes which put the kabosh on my dream build at this time last year when I was building up my first JET.
Brett - nice collection of toys you've got there.:thumbsup:
Take off the suspension fork - add Niner carbon fork - lose two chainrings - now you are talking 18 pounds.
I've got a road bike for that.
If I had unlimited funds, I would own a RIP, Jet and a ht. As of now, I am trying to cover more bases with 2 bikes instead of 3 and the RIP and ht accomplish this.
Now, now. Don't forget I'm 48 with a pair of well used kidneys and typical back issues of a tall thin man. I have pretty much had to shelve my rigid Karate Monkey because of that.
I am looking forward to the new tubing on the JET 9 and the tapered steerer fork/headtube solely based on how much I love all of that on my new RIP. The RIP is such a fun bike that is only being hampered at the moment by all this white stuff we keep getting on the ground.:madman:
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