Building a SWEET Bikepacking Rig...a Steel Hardtail!

[@billz410]

Ah yes, the SIR 9... Thanks for all your content over the years, Clint. Have always enjoyed watching your videos.

[@keithhammers7404]

I have a 10 yr old Ros9+. I have always wanted a Sir9. Looks great!

[@CarlosLopez-dl5bj]

I have that frame and when I built it for the first time it was like a single speed... I put pressure on the pedal and it came out really well... Well I got tired and now it's a drop MTB and I can tell you that it works incredibly well. In my setup I have a Niner carbon fork... Enjoy the ride!

[@danmorgan7775]

I was skeptical about the idea of using electronic drivetrains for bikepacking/touring but a friend I know just rode across Canada on a gravel bike with Apex AXS on it so it's definitely doable (with a few spare batteries in tow). Sweet looking rig for sure.

[@eddie2go]

Nothing better than a steel hardtail.

[@SurlyriderBilly]

That steel framed beauty might end up being your favorite bike

[@ClintGibbs]

I won’t argue with you about that 🙂

[@spork1125]

looks great. you may want 180 rotors if you end up doing any significant descending while fully loaded.

[@ClintGibbs]

Thanks. It’s in my garage, with the post adapter, so I will exercise that option for touring in the mountains.

[@ROBinJVILLE]

love it. i like to bike camp as well. i use a 2017 Marin Pine Mtn. replaced the rigid fork with a suspension fork, swapped the 3.0 plus tires with 2.8s. has all the braze ons u could ask for and the steel frame feels so good. have fun out there clint!!

[@jankosandrevjr8193]

Black and gold looks sweet.

[@anthracitemafiaoffroad]

Hardtail Party up in here boys and girls 👍👍🇺🇸

[@alexjohnson6462]

Would be great to see you do the Huracan bikepacking event this upcoming February, located in central Florida. Its basically a big loop that goes Croom to Ocala NF to Lake Apopka loop to Green Swamp and then back to the finish. Great course to get a feeling for bikepacking and iron out the kinks in ones set up - also just to learn the strategy for events (e.g. how much sleep do you really need, how many breaks and how often do you need to keep going all day, minimal amount of gear needed for certain temperature range, etc...) A lot of guys do the Huracan as a trial run for the TNGA in northern Georgia, held every August (hint, hint... put that on your bucket list... but try the Huracan first). There is a Facebook group for both events where you can ask questions all year round. I gave the TNGA a go not long ago, but I need a mountain bike - rigid gravel bike was a big mistake. Mulberry Gap and the people that work there really make that race special - well, aside from the amazing Geoegia mountains.

[@texasrogue93]

I can’t wait to see the bike-packing adventure! I always enjoy those kind of a videos as well!

[@stevebennett3587]

👌shes gonna be racking up some miles😎👍

[@stevekelly6544]

I recommend checking out a Tumbleweed Persuader handlebar- they’re wide, and have thee perfect rise and backsweep for the most comfortable ride position and great trail handling, it is truly a perfect blend of comfort and performance, they come in a 20 or 30 degree backsweep, I went 20, because I was skeptical, but I could’ve gone 30, they feel amazing, and handle like a regular flat bar, I’m telling you, they are the most comfortable adventure/bikepacking handlebars out there….

[@Mike-vd2qt]

@stevekelly6544 I've got Tumbleweed's racks front and rear on my drop-bar La Cabra mtn bike. I've been looking to replace a Jones H bar on my Chumba mtn bike, (too much angle). Thanks for Tumbleweed tip, the only other mid sweep I found are Ti bars. Happy trails.

[@BruceChastain]

love my SIR 9

[@danielkarpel3853]

Nice. I also built up a Sir9 as a gravel grinder/pack bike, but I put on Walmer extra wide drop bars with Gavenelle break/shifter combo that works w the GX drive train, and Niner RDO Boost carbon fork and same tire combo as you. I also have a Spur, like you, and find myself grabbing the Sir9 even for cross country single track. You’re going to find yourself preferring your Sir9 for those local trails you ride in central Fla. Have fun!

[@Anth230]

Wow. Looks great... 👍

[@endymion8672]

For recreational bike packing with a mix of roads and trails I would sure choose a hardtail too. But a few weeks ago I crossed several *race* bikepackers on the Arizona trail going north and surprisingly they all rode ultralight, mid-travel, full suspension bikes and even carried some of their weight in their backpacks. The AZT is really rough and steep at times, so probably lock/open the rear shock works best for them.

[@RafaSplanB]

Sweet! I am currently building a Nordest Britango 3 with a 130mm Fox and Sram drivetrain.

[@francoisrdt]

Lovely, congrats! Just replaced my gravelbike with a steel hardtail myself - Panorama Cycles Taïga (my build just got posted on their IG, actually). The gravel we get around Montreal is gnarly enough to justify it. I was still unsure, until a pal showed me that adding inner bar ends to your flat bar basically gives you the gravelbike’s tops position. Then I went for it, with some Spirgrips. Man, those are the truth! There’s a trend coming, i think 🤓

[@kenetics1344]

I love my sir9, just wish the external cable routing was a little better sorted.

[@hardmtnbiker]

I have a an older Sir9 and still ride it occasionally. Originally set up as a rigid SS and with Niner’s EBB but now has an old Shimano 2x10 XTR group. Steel frames are just so alluring. I just can’t part with this Sir 9, plus the new Sir9 is a press fit and I don’t ever want to go there

[@NCtrailX]

Looks good. I would cut the bars down some. Like a wide bar on a dedicated trail bike but narrower for an all rounder where you could be on the road in the wind. Also consider adding bar ends - you'll find some climbs where you'll be there for a while with the bike loaded. Just adds some grip options and fatigue relief. After ditching bar ends years ago, I've gone back to them on a couple of bikes.

[@theymademepickaname1248]

I use inner bar ends. This gives me an alternate hand position and the ability to get "aero," but I still have the wide bar control when needed.

[@ian_pedalz]

Love these frames. Very cool bike and a great build. What races or events are you planning on hitting with this bike?

[@ClintGibbs]

I mainly going to focus on endurance cross-country (30-50 miles). Most likely will ride the spur for these but there’s a chance I may pick this bike.

[@531c]

What a great looking bike. Should be very robust. Whats a lb or two when youre carrying 30 lb of clobber. Top work mate. Thanks for posting. Look foreward to the roadtest

[@newoldsteel]

Clicked as soon as I read “steel”

[@S.Mallard]

once you go steel there is no going back, you'll see 👌

[@ClintGibbs]

First trail ride on this frame I was reminded how good steel is. So fun to ride.

[@50whatnomadtravelnursemtb5]

Nice bike, was looking at one of those frames, but decided not to because it's way to XC geo for me, I ended up buying a Revel Tirade which to me the geo is more all around and can take a 140 fork, these forks with sag probably more around 120, the 120 is more around 100mm with sag, not enough for a do it all hard tail. No ambition to bike pack, but may set up as single speed some day if I'm bored.

[@mellissanash7517]

Niner is being a little optimistic calling it trail country if that hta # is not at sagged. At sag would be better for trail country, but a little over kill for bikepacking in places not in the mountains. I personally like 27.5+ tires for bikepacking, which I think SIR 9 maxes out at 27.5x2.8, perfect for the sand and rocks of the desert where I bikepack.

[@jrbowens]

Steel is Real!

[@mazzerattimike8695]

My aluminium identifies as a carbon😂

[@muhammadrehman5121]

Really looking forward for this review. I heard the newer sir 9 frames don’t ride as smooth as the previous 2019 one that was gray and orange

[@ClintGibbs]

Preliminary findings…this one rides REALLY well!

[@woduk]

Looks good I’ve been looking at building something similar with a Stanton frame. What colour is it black?

[@ClintGibbs]

Yep

[@hardmtnbiker]

Stanton frames are amazing! I have a Sir9 but would get a Stanton Sherpa frame any day.

[@alexjohnson6462]

The Brits make some amazing bikepack oriented bikes. Plenty of good U.S. companies, but I have been eyeballing both Stanton and Mason bikes in the U.K. because both companies really understand bikepacking specific bikes, but Stanton in particular really knows titanium hardtails. I have been wanting either the Stanton Sherpa Ti or the Sherpa Ti+ (bikepack version geometry) for a few years now. Although, Mason has a brand new alloy hardtail bike (the Macro) that I am liking (and I want their Exposure gravel bike also. Welded in Italy by one of best steel bike welding companies in the world).

[@hernehill6282]

I've got a 2012 Niner MCR with Reynolds 853 tubes that I love. I'm super eager to get your impressions of the ride and quality and flex when fully loaded for a bikepacking. Thanks in advance! Alas, I might switch to another bike with the same tubes, as my frame has a reputation for breaking at the dropout derailleur plate mounting hole. If anyone knows how to prevent the breakage please post a reply here.

[@ybb3211]

Very nice!! Can you fit 2.6" rear tire?

[@roberte1890]

Love the Burt Reynolds Niner look🙂👍. Where you plan on riding on your first trip?

[@ClintGibbs]

First overnight test session will be at a campground called Oleno State Park which is next to the Santa Fe river.

[@mtb7018]

How do you like that tire setup for XC? Love the new ride👊👊👊

[@burningatthetrailhead]

Steel is real

[@wanonaw1]

Whats that tire combination like on the trail? I'm running Rekon on the front, Rekon race back, but I ride to my local trails on asphalt and gravel paths. Was considering moving the race up front and running an xc rear.

[@ClintGibbs]

Perfect tire combination for the trail. I’m loving this thing on single track. I originally got those tires for my transition spur dream build swapped over to the Schwalbe to save a little bit of weight.

[@saddleweary2777]

Looking for for the reviews, that bike is a dream, shame I'm bike poor😂

[@tomassanesson902]

Awseome bike and good lyck

[@simant5361]

Clint, Reynolds Tubing is pronounced by individual numbers, i.e. Eight Five Three not Eight Fifty-three

[@531c]

Haha. Here in England where we invented Reynolds tubing, we pronounce it eight,five, three. But its fine to call it eight fiftythree. I know what youre referring to. So carry on in the USAnian way, its your content that counts.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

I had a ROS 9 for many years, still a bit sorry I let it go.

[@pingpongballz5998]

Is Niner out of business? They have no bikes available