2022 Niner Jet 9 RDO Review: The Easy Rider | 2021 Fall Field Test

According to Niner, the Jet 9 RDO has just enough travel to ride just about anything. With short chainstays and a taller than most stack height, this 120mm Down Country machine might come across as relaxed but how does it handle the Pemberton Terrain?
Watch all the videos from the 2021 Fall Field Test: pinkbike.link/2021fallfieldtest
Read the full review on Pinkbike: pinkbike.link/ninerjet9review
Presented by:
Bontrager - trekbikes.com/bontrager/
Rapha - rapha.cc/
00:00 - Intro
00:29 - Bike Overview
03:10 - Climbing
06:34 - Descending
08:46 - Components
09:58 - Models
10:36 - Pros
11:18 - Cons
11:39 - Verdict
Pinkbike Merch - pinkbike.link/merch
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Website - pinkbike.com
Podcast - pinkbike.link/pbpodcast
Instagram - / pinkbike
Facebook - / pinkbikecom

[@davidwangeman11]

I love these reviews very informative. Will I ever have one of these machines probably not but I'll still watch.

[@briancunningham1927]

Never say never

[@metalmuchkin1342]

Yeahhhhhh love to see Henry back on our screens

[@oloov1]

Wait all day for this

[@jancker06]

Great review!

[@MightyFireL]

I totally agree about the sag indicator. A friend of mine got this on his old Lapierre, it's really nice when you want to adjust air pressure, just pump until you are on the mark and ride. Air shocks don't all have sag graduation on them so that's a nice feature to have on the frame.

[@buckroger6456]

I agree! The O-ring works nice but having that along with the markings on the shock can be a huge help for a lot of riders.

[@jigglemore]

Gotta love Henrys cheek in these videos!

[@hanstubben]

The Jet9RDO is a trail bike, Niner has the RKT9RDO with the 120 mm Fork as a down country bike, it's a bit lighter and has less rear travel.

[@MrPete95]

Love the music gents

[@GFClocked]

Waiting for the canyon vid. The price on that is super tempting.

[@t-woodpeckers1185]

Will be good bike, go for it as long as it's available

[@rascal1234]

A couple of years ago, this was designated as a trail bike. I’d consider the Scott Spark as an example of a “Down-Country” bike. My daughter uses her jet 9 as her preferred DH bike. She also races XCO with it. I am considering getting one for myself as well.

[@TeddyParker]

The Levy vs Quinney era may be the best PB content yet. I hate to ask them to lean in to the bickering buuut...

[@mtbville]

🔥🔥🔥

[@Necron023]

Wish the comparo was between the Rocky Element, Transition spur, Trek Top fuel, YT Izzo uncaged, Orbea Oiz tr, and maybe the Blur.

[@86309]

Here they are again! the Wicked Wills ! When are they going to be available to the public , not just through OEM?

[@kor-032]

love

[@sebastianfs3825]

the aesthetics of this bike are all awesome, except for that rocker link, looks awfully small compared with the rear triangle, however, neat bike for trail shredding

[@mcischke]

What bikes do you guys own and ride most often?

[@skyerains2754]

Jet has pop!

[@notice_fpv]

I'm walking away confused. Maybe I misunderstood, but this sounds like a positive review by a bunch of guys that don't like the bike?

[@dominicbarnett5334]

Yo, Henry when did you make the move!?

[@seantierson2633]

I think Henry is MUCH better utilized here, plus he can let his sense of humor out!

[@piciu256]

Damn, why did nobody else think of using the lower links as a bash guard 😅 that's genius!

[@bobohunter1776]

Its awesome. I have a WFO which is the enduro version of this and I have never bashed my chainring. My lower linkage is scratched as can be from logs and rocks that were a bit steeper than I thought but zero chainring damage.

[@oskarstaudte]

@@bobohunter1776 I'm not conviced thats better

[@bobohunter1776]

@@oskarstaudte Better than your chainring still

[@piciu256]

@@oskarstaudte its a big ass piece of aluminium which articulates out of the way with enough force, so it absorbs some of the impact, much better than a thin, rigidly mounted chainring, nevermind a bash guard mounted to a chain tensioner mount 😜

[@oskarstaudte]

@@piciu256 If you look at it like that you're right

[@kgdaqbyn]

which santa cruz did you test?

[@marcoantonioalmazanfranco3819]

I like the last part..... its almost like if down country doesnt exist!! haha

[@pdadv77]

The og Niner Jet RDO was likely the first dc bike. Back when it was 24 lbs and could still handle any trail and race on the weekends. Unfortunately I don't think after 3 newer generations has it gotten any better.

[@BL-zt4es]

The RKT is a more suitable comparison towards the blur and trek.

[@chimps4gimps]

Is Pinkbike saving Kazimer for the cool bikes 😉

[@thingswelike]

Yeah I think Matt Beer and Kazimer have tested the useful ones ;)

[@jamesdanby8982]

Need to get some sound treatment in that room

[@Windband1]

Yeah, I've been noticing that these last few vids in this room have sounded bad.

[@bicycleremedies4391]

Never mind all that. Get the only bike worth talking about ! Wheres the Starling ??

[@Ilovethisaccount500]

Thank you for this review. I was interested in a niner, but I will never buy one after this review haha. Not my type of bike

[@Ishdz7]

Henry in Pink?? Why

[@captaintraction4024]

Seems like if a rock or some mud gets between that lower link and the bottom bracket area, you could be screwed.

[@Windband1]

Agreed. I haven't liked Niners in a long time for that very reason. Their lower linkages look like trouble waiting to happen.

[@captaintraction4024]

@@Windband1 I work at a shop, had a customer do something similar with a gg. It was between the front of the chainstay swingarm and the back of the bottom bracket. The shock forced the rear triangle down, which shoved a rock through the frame and almost into the back of the bb shell itself. Had to replace the frame.

[@downhill5247]

please do a review of hardtails under 1000usd including polygon strada6, trek x caliber9 etc etc

[@bobohunter1776]

I don't think this was Niner's true downcountry bike. I think that's technically their RKT.

[@TheDavidjakeson]

I think that Niner would say that this is their downcountry bike & the RKT is their XC race bike

[@michaelsteven1090]

@@TheDavidjakeson Your wrong, Elk is right....the RKT 9 is the downcountry bike..The RKT 9 RS is the xc race..The Jet is an anomaly.

[@AlexTampa-zn9xo]

I own this bike and ! … I race the Jet9 XC Endurance but! have also taken it to Lift-Bike-Parks and done many downhill trails. Yes, of course it is very limited on huge jumps or big features - But did you die!!!? 😂 It is an incredible versatile bike, I run Carbon 29 light wheels OR! Enduro 27.5+ alloy rims. Lately have run it MULLET🤘🤘🤘 4 piston brakes are a must for fast fast descending.

[@alanrock27]

Hi Alex, how is the CVA linkage design? I am thinking about 2020 Jet 9 or Rip 9 at the moment. What is your feeling overalls? Good capable all rounder? I own a 2020 stumpy Evo with custom linkage 160mm travel F&R. Thinking another bike for trail use.

[@PeanutPearBear]

When will u guys review the trek roscoe 7 2022, very populair right now

[@trailblazeratv6306]

It's a Trail-Country bike !!

[@MsHigheagle]

Boys were gelling on this one

[@paodepota8373]

The crashes had enough of Henry. He had a lot of em back at GMBN.

[@battistaverardi1240]

In reality these “ new “ design suspension systems are nothing but a gimmick. They are only there to sell the bike. Suspension systems have been around for a long time and certain one’s are a masterpiece and can’t make them any better. As far as I’m concerned the Jamis Dakar with the MP2 suspension design is the best ever and has been in the mountain bike industry since the mid 90’s and has received numerous accolades till this day. This bike company were the first to come up with a proven horizontal suspension design that will stand the test of time. It is truly an amazing innovation and not many can test it.

[@johnr5001]

Clearly you haven't test ridden many bikes. The MP2 by Jamis is a simple linkage actuated single pivot. And wasn't really very good for its time, nevermind now. CBF, DW Link and VPP are some of the best designs available now.

[@battistaverardi1240]

@@johnr5001 lol, you have no clue what you are talking about. Simple design is the best and the MP2 has won numerous awards and races and a proven design till this day. And on top of that Jamis are one of the first bike companies to invent a mountain bike 1981. Nothing compares, CBF, DW and VPP are all gimmicks for marketing to sell the bike. Jamis has other designs which are incredible as well but they have stuck to the MP2 and will probably forever. The simplicity is what makes it the best.

[@johnr5001]

@@battistaverardi1240 My bad, clearly Jamis is one of the best brands out there. So many great reviews, accolades and world cup wins for this amazing pioneering company!! Like who can fault a "proven horizontal suspension design" like the MP2? That must be why so many other companies copied it. Stupid designers like Dave Weagle don;t know what the heck they're doing.

[@battistaverardi1240]

@@johnr5001 hahaha, evil bikes, e-thrirteen and iron horse? These are all Walmart brand bike and components. Like comparing Chevy to Ferrari. I've never even heard of evil bikes , and the linkages on the dw link design is ridiculous. Big and bulky. MP2 is far superior in every aspect ask anyone who knows mountain bike suspension and they will tell you that it is in the top 3.

[@johnr5001]

@@battistaverardi1240 Sure, sure. So many great reviews on the MP2..... too many to count. Cluttering my news feed. Pftt evil who??

[@trentvlak]

Upright position, +4lbs, 70% antisquat at sag = slow climbing time.

[@camdaddymcpimperson]

Wait,... Downcountry doesn't exist?

[@jorgmischke5839]

Guys, you're producing great really thorough reviews of the bikes in the field test. I like this a lot. BUT: PLEASE create another interview/ conversation situation. The three of you sitting closely in front of an odd brown-yellowish background behind something like a huge table really looks like three little schoolboys having to report to the principal. Please get a relaxed and less irritating setting....

[@iancanuckistan2244]

Are your bike prices in Murrican or Canuckistan dollars?

[@trentvlak]

The $8400 is 29lbs with pedals, so the $5000 must be over 30 lbs.

[@michaelsteven1090]

Yea, their a bit heavy..I've had 3 of them..But, they are awesome, bulletproof bikes..worth every penny..

[@Windband1]

I know you guys are all wearing lavalier mics, but for some reason the audio is pretty poor on these Field Test vids. It's like they're not working and instead the ambient room mics are picking up all your sound/voices. Hard to listen to....

[@buckroger6456]

Then add in that the music transitions are too loud.

[@XNick291X]

Why does Henry look green screened? 🤣

[@david.stachon]

Be very interesting to see how strong they are now. The older Jet 9s were very easy to break.

[@HandlebarVentures]

"Comfort Country" 😂

[@ifonly4486]

Aye ?

[@cesarcastillo760]

Que mal con su producción, a mi amigo Fucher no le han dado la el.

[@tonyparkin3379]

Never seen a niner in the field.

[@fishrideandski4910]

as they say if your not crashing you an't trying

[@chrismade123]

8400$ ?!

[@Crazzzybob]

hype

[@jg8273]

Spoiler Best on the ups - Canyon Best on the downs - Rocky Best overall - Trek

[@vermillion.__-_.]

looks like any other mtb ever......

[@georgelove3385]

RUINED BY QUIIMMEY! NOT A TYPO.

[@th_js]

I can't take this seriously, when you use the word "downcountry"..

[@Headlessthirst]

P.S..... You Canadians never HAD to social distance... its just what bootlickers do... smh

[@adamdavidson2095]

This bike is not a down country bike. It is a trail bike.

[@_MPP_]

You are wrong. This bike is a trail country cross hill bike.

[@matthewgriffith8059]

Third

[@harovod8645]

i am fourth!!!

[@danielgrafik]

Ok guys, can we move away from the silly imperial measurements for weight? - everything else is in millimetres or centimeters, even individual components are in grams sometimes... Isn't New Canada using metrics too? - Also, the frame details with the cable-collectors and the sag-indicators are brilliant. Wish SC would copy it.

[@adamcline121]

For some reason we use the metric system for everything but weight. Not really sure why.

[@158158cow]

@@adamcline121 and wheel size? ;)

[@joshharvey6247]

First