2020 Niner SIR 9 - Niner's most aggressive steel hardtail - First Look

[@noahfritchley1209]

For whatever it's worth, I'm glad to see you be more skeptical and critical of bikes. We don't want to hear more marketing wank. We're looking for an unbiased honest review. Keep it up, I enjoy your vids 👍👊

[@ecoworks88]

I just bought this bike! Its my dream bike I'm pumped that you did a review

[@allanridesbikes5856]

I love riding my hardtail. I love the way it rides and feels on the trails.

[@seancunningham4254]

Iv recently started riding my banshee paradox, I am now happily selling my carbon pivot 429. Hands down the banshee is loads more fun, so true about people not realizing how much fun modern hardtails are, I was one of them!

[@bobk3432]

For anyone curious, White Industries and Wheels Mfg have thread together bottom brackets for press fit frames. I have the Wheels version on my carbon hardtail and love it. No creeks or issues after 3 years of hard pounding.

[@ElevationEveryWeekend]

I’ve been flirting with their hardtails for some time, still am! Thinking of a hardtail 29er for next summer.🤙🏻

[@jasoniannone9675]

The frame is $1200. This is a pretty bike and the spec is intense. I'd balance the derailleur-brakes situation, but it's a hell of a build. Niner has had 72° HTs for so long that they probably honestly believe this is aggressive.

[@CarsandBikes]

I have a Niner MCR 9 RDO full suspension framset that I haven't built yet. Just found out about this Sir 9 yesterday. Looks like I will be getting this framset soon to build a bike packer (thanks to all of the mounts).

[@johnnymitchell5728]

YES! Hardtails are MAGICAL!

[@hardtailparty]

Hardtails can definitely be magical, but there are a few turds out there. Hopefully this channel helps people sort the turds from the magic. :)

[@johnnymitchell5728]

@@hardtailparty yes, I ride a 2020 Ragley big Al and I absolutely love it!!! and its not a turd...lol

[@hardtailparty]

Definitely not a turd. Ragley makes amazing bikes.

[@RideYearRound]

I still regret selling my ROS9 Plus. Since you've been loving singlespeed so much, you'll love that eccentric bottom bracket, such an easy and reliable set up!

[@benyujr.6545]

7:55 "Personally, I'd rather have a threaded bottom bracket & sliding dropout..." that is exactly my sentiment. And my current hardtail is a custom titanium frame based on the geometry of this bike but with threaded bb & sliding dropout.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

I've had a ROS 9 for 5+ years, love it, but I wish Niner would move towards more modern geo. I think you're going to find the reach on this bike really short and the 40mm stem isn't going to help. Wish they had kept the ROS 9, increased the reach by 30-40mm and slackened the head tube to at least 66*. Don't know why they didn't use the Biocentric II BB on this bike so you could use a threaded BB.

[@slobaks]

I have ros9 too and its beast of a bike! Was lucky to get one of the last batches by their dealer in 2018... full suspension geeks laughed at me when i showed up with this bike on extreme mountain. Well they bite the dust ;). So sick bike. Wish they make it again too.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

@@Macuhdohnadadoh Did you not run the ROS9 with the Biocentric BB? I've been running that with threaded bottom brackets, first RF and now Hope, it's been bulletproof and easy to maintain. The Biocentric was supplied with the ROS9 frame, I think with the Sir9 they make you pay for it.

[@coreywilliams8568]

I, for one, am delighted you are covering high-end builds. I have a budget aluminum hardtail at the moment, but I have my sights set on upgrading it in the next year or so to a well-spec'd steel or titanium build. There are a few I am curious about, the Pipedream Moxie and the Moots Womble are a couple, but no bike interests me more at the moment than the 44 Marauder; if I had an unlimited budget, that would be my bike!

[@johnnydoe66]

I love my plus hardtail (Trek Roscoe 8), better than any of my previous full suspension bikes. It may not be top of the line or have the more modern geometry, but it does everything that I ask of it. One day I hope to build up a titanium plus hardtail with my personal favorite parts spec

[@craigpattison5762]

I was looking at the Roscoe as well as the Salsa Timberjack myself for a plus sized HT. Maybe Someday.

[@stompnucustoms2616]

Sickest reviews ever! So much love Steve and Betty!

[@breakandrun70]

Great review Steve, i am beginning to understand some of the build specs. Thanks, Have a great party in the mountains. Be safe.

[@travisjgood02]

If it wasn’t for already ordering another bike last month I would pick up one of these single speed builds. Pretty cool all niner’s hardtails are offered as single speeds.

[@MartenRun]

I did reach out to Dartmoor company for a review of Hornet! Cheers!

[@hardtailparty]

Thank you! I've reached out to them a few times, but I haven't heard back from them yet. I'd be happy to review one on the channel.

[@marctoro96]

Love the eye roll at 12:43!! Haha that's how I feel everytime I read marketing bs

[@rameseslizardo5065]

Hoping you can do a review on Dartmoor Hornet soon

[@Cesium67]

This is a bike frame I have thought about buying. Cant wait for the ride report being that it’s Reynolds 853.

[@stevencole7331]

I like the the steeper HTA and 67 would be as slack as I would like . My 69 gets me down the steep . Its just how you position your body on the bike . Even my dropper only gives me a 100mm of travel . For this headtube angle at 67 you probably dont want more than 120mm of travel on that front fork . This bike is not a bomber for going downhill but may work very well going up the steep including tech . The press fit bottom bracket is more secure and stable over the threaded but not as user friendly . My pressfit on my 2013 haro flightline is rock solid after all this time while a threaded bracket can wear down fairly quickly .

[@hardtailparty]

I've never had a threaded bb break down in over 25 years of riding and wrenching. In guessing you ride in the Midwest or back east?

[@stevencole7331]

@@hardtailparty Actually i ride the high desert of southern california and the area is hard on components . Looks like you have had good luck . Probably a better quality than what I use . I am budget minded and that has its own pitfalls as you suggest in the video

[@jaymepaololaciste]

My dream bike... I think its perfect for backpacking or with a 1 wheel trailer trekking for days

[@RideAlongside]

That seatpost not dropping all the way to the collar is a deal breaker. I may have missed which post it is and what length it is. I was stoked that the 170mm OneUp dropper I have was able to fit all the way in on the latest steel singlespeed hardtail I have been testing. Threaded BB is a must as well. Love the steel rigs from Niner otherwise. Have always been a fan for how they do high quality steel hardtails since the start of their company.

[@hardtailparty]

Its a 150mm dropper. I agree. In this day and age, all bike should be able to run a dropper slammed all the way down.

[@phrides]

Yeah. That's the way it goes with 4-year-old designs. The reach and HTA are not exactly modern either, but it's still a sweet ride and remarkably capable.

[@will2835]

I’ve got a Niner sir 9 and just thought I’d let you know that the cables are meant to route on top of the down tube through some cable guides that bolt into some of those holes.

[@hardtailparty]

Interesting. I wonder why niner sent it this way then. What year is yours? I don't see any cable guides for those bosses, but that would definitely be a cleaner way to do it.

[@will2835]

@@hardtailparty Mine is the same year as yours, if you look at the pictures on Niners website you can kind of see the way that it’s meant to be routed.

[@hardtailparty]

@@will2835 that makes me happy. I wonder why they sent it routed this way, it looks goofy. I'm glad other users will get the proper routing.

[@fasterwheels]

Sorry @hardtailparty this is old news now but I just picked up one of these frames last week. Of course I see ur vid and I'm waiting to see your [now] SOP rear wheel clearance check and apparently it wasn't as 'sop' 2yr ago. My build goal is a monster gravel since I still had a set of s-works carbon roval wheels. ~30mm or less internal? Not exactly sure, but I'll pair them with Renegade T5 xc 29x2.3. What's ur experience with clearance on a "roadbike" like this then? Not quite the clearance of a lot of ht's lately with 2.6 down a hallway but not bad. 😆🤙and thx!

[@kiznile123]

Yewwwww 🤙 I'm not a niner fan boy perse, just been treated very well by mine lol.

[@shaunroach7829]

You don’t see many Niner bikes in my neck of the woods. Only ones I’ve seen are on Sid And Mackey channel!! Looking forward to the review, frame and build look sweet!!! If you’ve got the time Steve wouldn’t mind seeing it as a Single Speed set up!!! A lot of people online say they’ve have one but as a SS!!.!! 💪💪💪👍👍👍

[@hardtailparty]

Unfortunately I don't have their unique eccentric bb to set it up singlespeed. Otherwise I'd love to try it.

[@tubemaster1205]

Different perspective and video from everybody and that's a good thing. I also love hardtails . I really like to make a comparison between Specialized Fuse and Santa Cruz Chameleon both alluminium . These bikes are great bikes but i value your insight about them and things that might missed out. Thank you and keep up. P.S. I don't know how many EU ppl are watching you but they should. I know i am.

[@hardtailparty]

I've reviewed both the fuse and chameleon on the channel. For direct bike comparisons, I save that for my patrons. It's one of the few ways I can afford this channel.

[@Jinedan]

Very excited to see the review of this one ... I am almost ready to order one. NICA Coach discount of 30% too! That is NOT the stock X01 build though - 34SC 120mm (as you noted) and DT XM1501 Aluminum wheels are what you get now. I wonder how much those Stans Carbons will alter the ride ...

[@adenjames5306]

I would love to see the new norco torrent both steel and aluminum, I’d really enjoy a comparison.

[@hardtailparty]

I just sent them an email today asking for the same thing. Unfortunately stock is completely deoletef at the moment, even for review bikes. Hopefully I can get my hands on something early 2021.

[@guyguy3750]

That’s my bike! Love it

[@phrides]

Me, too, although not with the ridiculous build. Trading down to the 34 Rhythm, GX drivetrain, and Raceface Aeffect wheels and bits made the bike way more affordable and still a pretty well specced build.

[@guyguy3750]

Lol the Jenson build

[@guyguy3750]

$2000 for a complete build of $1200 frame

[@snoopy10411]

Would love to see you reviewing some British stuff like On One (Planet X) just bought an On One Scandal and can't find many reviews. Would be good to see some other brands like Orange, Stanton, Ragley and Cotic too

[@hardtailparty]

See my other videos. I have ragley and cotic reviews already posted. Stanton coming soon. On-one hasn't replied to my emails, so I'm afraid I'm out of luck reviewing one of those.

[@bobk3432]

+1 for Stanton. Thinking hard about dropping $ for a Slackline sight unseen.

[@usernamwdrama]

I had a ROS about five years ago, great bike and well made with some nice details, it would be good if Niner moved quicker with updates to geo like some of the UK and Euro brands do because they make cool stuff.

[@toddcourtney672]

Just want to give you a budget hardtail to look at. Octane one prone made a believer out of me. Broke my Turner frame and needed a bike before I left town. Take A Hike bike shop in St. Charles, MO went above and beyond

[@hardtailparty]

I used to have an octane one DJ that I built up as my pump track bike. Cool bike for the price.

[@toddcourtney672]

I was not enthused when I got the frame. Switched over the gear from the Turner and it weighs just over 25 lbs. Had a DHF with DD casing on the back until today when I put on my wife's specialized ground control grid. Holy Crap what a difference!!! I totally see what your saying now so I had to post. Just finished putting in Cushcore insert and really looking forward to seeing what it feels like at 22 psi.

[@hughsnyder891]

I was thinking about Niner hardtails the other day . I looked up to see if they have updated their aluminum version which they have .

[@ioandruga7420]

Great review. Any chance you will be doing GT avalanche/Zaskar review? What are you're thoughts on the floating seat stay? Some lower budget hardtail info would be greatly appreciated for people in developing countries. Your opinion weighs quite a lot :D

[@hardtailparty]

I've tried to get one for review, but no luck I like the idea of the floating seatstays. I don't love the idea of their chainstays that are a mile long.

[@bertuganvlogs7081]

What tires and size used in this beast bro? Great content!

[@bigshan5806]

Great build up, loving the mix of bikes and yes kias are good but sometimes a Ferrari review is also good. As all of us want to know what options we can have.

[@hardmtnbiker]

LOL, my fully rigid SS hardtail Mtn-bike is actually more expensive than a full suspension. I've owned a Niner Sir9 but mine was a frame and fork only purchase than I built up a fully rigid SS about 6 years ago(again spent more than a FS bike. It has now been repurposed to a commuter bike for my daughter.

[@phrides]

Hey, if you were to have been thinking about a singlespeed conversion video, I wouldn't be upset if it happened to be on this bike, since I do intend to do just that as soon as the Eagle derailleur has eaten its fill of sticks.

[@hardtailparty]

I wish I could, but I only have this bike for a limited time and I won't be able to do it. I think it would be a perfect candidate though.

[@derekstangle6521]

How about a review for a Ritchey Ultra

[@hardtailparty]

Last I checked there wasn't any stock to review. I'd love to review the ultra though.

[@MrBig617]

I've never owned a Niner, but I've always wanted one. However, it seems like their entire fleet is in serious need of geometry updates.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

The RIP has been updated and now has modern geo, but the JET is badly in need of a geo update. Niner filed for chapter 11 in late 2017 and I think their priority following restructuring was full sus carbon bikes. I don't think they've invested much in moving their steel hardtails forward, they just combined the prior gen SIR 9 and the ROS 9 into the current SIR 9. Based on the color scheme, the bike on review here is the 2017 model.

[@MrBig617]

@@thomaskuhn6541 You're right. I guess I overlooked the RIP. The RKT, AIR, and JET are very out of date.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

@@MrBig617 RIP is the only one, everything else is geo circa 2015. AIR is basically the exact same geo as the SIR in aluminum at half the price. I think the hardtails are targeted to the gravel/bike packing segment.

[@oxirosmusic]

Pleas review the Ritchey Ultra!

[@hardtailparty]

I've reached out to them a few times, but no luck getting one.

[@strix2035]

I’m still on the fence if I’m going to go hardtail or go full suspension, this Sir 9 is in my top 3 of hardtails, top is Chromag and Ragley as of full suspension, I settled on the Giant Trance X or Reign 29. Hardest part now is finding something in stock.

[@MartenRun]

Hi! Do you have the possibility of try out Dartmoor Hornet? (I ride NS HT, Dartmoor is also a polish brand. HT seems to be very popular in Polen). Cheers!

[@mellissanash7517]

I take this was a 4 star build? Will you be test it out with plus tires?

[@drfishynoooo9960]

Some great comments on the 'negativity' of some peoples assumed views of hardtails. My stanton switchback completely destroyed my assumptions of hardtail vs full sus.

[@ianrecla3958]

Hope soon you review ritchey ultra...,

[@hardtailparty]

I hope so too. They're out of stock at the moment.

[@guitarwzrd6]

Hey Steve, Any chance you could get your hands on a Curve Downrock or Sklar Sweet Spot?

[@notpablo8369]

Does the Air9 (aluminum) have EBB?

[@b4oh]

Hardtail party yall always hit the spot! Great stuff and always fun to watch!! But really, Surly Karate Monkey All day over the SIR easy. With the gnot spacing and the tight real end, with the ability to run 27.5+ and 29er, no brainer! and did I mention it's almost half the cost?

[@hardtailparty]

But what about the geo?

[@b4oh]

@@hardtailparty The Head tube angle is 67.5° chainstay is 423 and the reach is 412 - Also the Karate Monkey was first to really get the 29er off the ground and running! Which means cool points for sure. Plus its pimped out on mounts everywhere. This thing rips on single tracks, crushes bike packing (I've done the divide, hot springs loop and a bunch of other Montana routes) and you can through anything parts on it and it'll take it (from 135 QR to 148 boost thru axle)

[@tmwei396]

I would love for you to review a Sonder Signal but that would be a stretch because they're a British company. I have the Ti version of the Signal and I love it but I'd be curious to see how you would like it compared to all the other hardtails you've tried.

[@hardtailparty]

You can always reach out to sonder and help them know you'd like to see it on my channel. A lot of companies still don't see the value of youtube. It'd one thing for me to try to convince them, but when my viewers start requesting it, they really pay attention.

[@tmwei396]

@@hardtailparty I just sent them an email. Let's see what happens.

[@tmwei396]

@@hardtailparty I sent them an email and just got a response. They said they're pretty impressed with the variety of hard tail bikes you've reviewed so they forwarded it to their marketing department. Hopefully something comes of this.

[@jenningschris]

First you had me sold on this, but now I think I've settled on the DV9. I need help with sizing though as I fall between the SM and MD. Would the $20 Patreon get me your opinion on what size I would like best?

[@hardtailparty]

Yes, definitely. Make sure you watch my spot rocker video too.

[@dayjeecuyangan9631]

3.0 luv it!

[@JasonScottCarter]

I love both my bikes...but my Surly Krampus 29+ is way funner to ride than my Cannondale Habit FS. Been flirting with the idea of getting a Niner SIR 9 for a while now.

[@trailblazeratv6306]

I like the carbon Air 9

[@hardtailparty]

Have you ridden one?

[@trailblazeratv6306]

@@hardtailparty No but it looks like a ripper

[@trailblazeratv6306]

@@hardtailparty I have a Scott 27.5 plus size Hardtail and I just bought a brand new Trance 29 Advanced Pro 1

[@shawnalexander1305]

When are you getting your hands on an El Roy??

[@hardtailparty]

Last I heard, marin only had 2 in existence. We'll see when they can get me one, but they told me I'm on the list to review one. I'm betting it'll be spring, when all the other manufacturers get their stock in too

[@braydenjohnson1063]

Reminds me of kind of a steel salsa TJ

[@steveherman1374]

What size did you get? I am between a med and small at 5’7”.

[@hardtailparty]

Med

[@PJSinohin]

Stoked.. Uploaded 1 minute ago.

[@x7tristan]

Any chance you'll be reviewing Moots Womble anytime soon?

[@hardtailparty]

I've tried to get my hands on one, but no luck yet. Maybe a few of my viewers need to reach out to moots and recommend they send me one.

[@x7tristan]

@@hardtailparty welp, I hit up Moots on the IG, hopefully some more of your followers are interested as well!

[@bigbuggabear7179]

Some of the most expensive Cannondale's are Hardtail xc racers.

[@shawnalexander1305]

This has numbers similar to my 2016 singletrack bike 😅😅

[@adamrossi7010]

Hardtail's really are magical!! Steve I’m sure you know this but just in case you don’t, punch in the forks 4 digit code on Fox’s website and it’ll give you all the fork details. Maybe there’s a 130 stepcast?

[@hardtailparty]

They only show the stepcast as going up to a 120mm. I'll have to punch it in and see what it is.

[@tonyschmidt5824]

@@hardtailparty did you end up finding out whether this was a 120mm? Curious as a 130 / 140 would obviously change the hta

[@hardtailparty]

@@tonyschmidt5824 it was 120mm

[@pkpatkel69]

My SIR9 *barely* fits a 2.3 tire on i27 rims... cannot overstate how big of a miss that is.

[@hardtailparty]

Which 2.3 tire are you running?

[@yarbrough462]

I didn't think you could get a Step Cast 140mm? I thought it was max 120mm.

[@hardtailparty]

You are correct, it's a 120mm fork, but it has 140mm of stanchions showing. Weird. I imagine it'll sag down more once I equalize the negative air pressure.

[@schlooonginator1227]

Wasn't Niner bought out by some financial group? Might explain the lack of progress in their designs which is sad considering they stood out earlier for being quite forward thinking. Hardtails were their specialty in the past.

[@hardtailparty]

They still make solid hardtails, they're just not aggressive or rowdy.

[@carpenter751]

I’m done with pressfit I’ll probably never buy a pressfit bike ever again.

[@vivoslibertos]

I'm done riding with people who rides pressfit especially the carbon frame ones, the squeaking and creaking really give me headache.

[@jmvdigital]

Get a thread together BB from Wheels Manufacturing. Doing that with my SIR 9. Grease the cups and crank both sides together. Done.

[@carpenter751]

@@jmvdigital The issue is marginal gains vs longevity/ serviceability and a better design to do that. I think pressfit is a marginal gains that also saved company's some money on the manufacture of each bike multiplied over the entire product line it saves them money and makes sure that a bike doesn't last you too long.

[@jmvdigital]

@@carpenter751 Generally don’t disagree with you. Press fit is not ideal. In this case however, I think Niner did it specifically for their eccentric BB compatibility to run it SS. I’m sure they could design a threaded eccentric BB (at least I imagine they could, never checked one out to see exactly how it works). The other thing to keep in mind is that this frame design is a few years old, and in that time, press fit has fallen out of favor. I’d bet the next SIR is threaded, but who knows.

[@123dwd]

68 is pretty slack, for a gravel bike

[@danielkarpel3853]

Great comment - that’s what I bought this bike for. Built from frame up, carbon fork, super wide drop bars...ton of fun, can ride it for days. A bit spendy but that Reynolds 853 steel is terrific

[@dunneryak]

drill it out ..lower the seat post and put a sticker over it..

[@hardtailparty]

That's definitely an iption. Its steel, so it's likely to rust. However, when you're paying $1200 for a frame, you shouldn't have to do that.

[@dunneryak]

@@hardtailparty can steel frames rust from the inside out?

[@noonster55]

Press fit on a steel bike, not good, and why?

[@schlooonginator1227]

whhhatever happened to lightweight steel frames? Iis it impossible to build a relatively light steel frame thhat won't break? 7lb frames are pigs. Even for FS. Would be nice to see a 4.5lb steel frame for trail riding.

[@hardtailparty]

I don't know what this frame weighs, but a few other steel frames ice reviewed lately were around 5.2 lbs.

[@tinman1955]

Yeah but for the price of that Niner I can buy 30 hardtails from Walmart.

[@Habaneroranger]

And be 30x less satisfied every time you ride. “ The frustration of low quality remains long after the joy of low prices is forgotten”

[@tinman1955]

@@Habaneroranger Yeah I know. Was being sarcastic. A little joke....apparently very little.

[@josesbox9555]

That is really expensive though.

[@arlowaisman3635]

He says how he doesn't like boiling a bike down to a number then, says he sizes bikes based on reach.

[@j123poop]

He uses the reach number to get the size of bike he thinks will fit him well. When Steve talks about boiling a bike down to a number, he refers to how many people think that because a bike it slack, then it will handle well on aggressive terrain compared to a bike with a steeper head angle. Or, some may think a short chainstay means the bike is more playful. Using a variety geometry numbers and thinking about how they work together will give you a better understanding of how the bike _might_ ride. However, the only way to really know is to get on the bike yourself.

[@hardtailparty]

Bingo. I'm taking about people judging a bike by one number, or frame material, or wheel size. I'm not judging a bike by its reach, but I am using reach to determine my size, since effective stack, ett, and sta are all adjustable.

[@strix2035]

I looked in to this bike but as I looked deeper into it I realized it was not aggressive enough for how I want to ride. And I think over priced.

[@hardtailparty]

See the ride review.

[@strix2035]

@@hardtailparty I’m looking forward to your Chromag review! My next build is a rootdown.

[@tomf2013]

68 is pretty slack for Niner