Niner RKT9 RDO Review!

I did a first-look video (linked below) of the new Niner RKT9 RDO, where I discussed the what's changed and showed the components of the 4-star build. This video is my review of the bike after riding it for 2 months.
First-look video: • 2023 Niner RKT9 RDO F...
Check out my blog: www.everyday-explorer.com/
Follow me on Instagram: @clintg37
To support the channel: / clintg
For video sponsorship opportunities, please email [e-mail]
People often ask me how I ship bikes. I use Bikeflights. Click here for a link:
www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Some of my favorite bike gear I use all the time
Outdoor Master Helmet:
outdoormaster.com/?ref=wM2waw...
use code CLINT15
Magicshine lights
magicshine.com/?ref=58dhrcrsdg
Use discount code ClintGibbs15
Garmin Edge 830: amzn.to/3yvAdrB
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus: amzn.to/386czqG
Garmin Vivoactive 4: amzn.to/3y9AD6G
Garmin Varia: amzn.to/3w4jtVo
Sidi Dragon 5 MTB Shoes: a.co/d/igdrlo2
Five Ten Kestrel Pro BOA MTB Shoes: amzn.to/3vJHT7x
SHIMANO SH-RX800 Gravel Racing Shoe: amzn.to/3P14NPi
Giro Artex MIPS helmet: amzn.to/3vIB5Hi
Tifosi Rail glasses: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Tifosi Rail XC glasses:
www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Tifosi Slice Glasses:
www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Tifosi Sledge Glasses:
www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...

[@MTBCoop]

I absolutely loved your old into! One of the coolest I’ve seen! Bring it back occasionally 😉

[@Fitnessdrama]

I was thinking the same thing

[@XCRiders]

Wolftooth makes a over the top dropper lever will work perfectly. The lockout is awesome. turns into road bike mode! 💨

[@hdoan7167]

Bontrager droplock is an all in one lockout and dropper post lever option, works great for my own setup.

[@stephenmurphy4987]

keep the great reviews coming mate.

[@user-rj9ui3sz8u]

awesome! the review I was waiting for. cant wait for more rides with this bike.

[@brucehumphries6889]

I need a comparison between this and the EXIE

[@emer666]

A nice new intro. 🔥

[@robwasnj]

Hi Clint, these kinds of reviews are golden!! When you said "on our trails you're always turning" that sums up the kind of riding so many of us do. I've found too many reviews and trends in mountain bikes are geared towards much harder riding like bike parks or places with rocks and serious downhills and the sweet spot between a cross country race bike and trail bike seems to be lost in many of the offerings. I'm still riding a 2014 Pivot 429C and have recently been looking at something newer but after a demo ride on the Pivot shadowcat I hated it on our trails. Many newer bikes I feel have gone too far with lowering the bottom bracket and on trails where you might want to pedal through some turns that's a biggie. Also the slacker head tube angles which are great for downhills I get the feeling like the front tire is just too far out there and without enough weight on it prone to washing out on the twisty stuff we see here (and I know you have in FL, I've ridden San Felasco many times). At first I thought maybe it was just getting used to the bike but I rode a full 4 hours trying every terrain and setting and came to the conclusion I love my old bikes. Based on this review though I'm really curious to try out some Niner products, I know you've been a fan of them for a long time and you fully recognize the details that make a bike both fun and fast on these kinds of trails. I usually ride with a group and it's mixed, some riders are on electric bikes. When the trails get twisty though I find myself way ahead and stopping to wait for them, lol. I had one rider even say "how the @*# do you go through there so fast"... I think a lot comes down to a nimble bike and a lot of experience knowing the limits especially of your front tire.

[@rjoly8029]

I had the same poppn issue on my rip9 with the dry pivots. Grease did the trick and calmed my brain thinking the carbon was defective.

[@edlorenz1552]

Glad you like the Schwalbe tires. The Ray in the front is a great tire. I usually run a Rocket Ron in the rear.

[@OhBuoyancy]

This is my dream bike. Some day!

[@ashevillescarborough]

Very nice!!!!

[@jordanrhodes]

Great tire combo. How I roll. Nice video.

[@shawngifford]

A finer bicycle than I will ever buy, but a great review. It is amazing the quality of bike you can get now. I’m quite happy with my own hardtail, but a Niner would be a solid upgrade choice.

[@sinist3r723]

I was going to say why get rid of a Selle Italia saddle...but you said you put on the WTB Silverado...that's a win I have Silverados on both my MTB, and Selle Italias on my road bike.

[@mancello]

That's a lot of exposed seatpost. That aids in comfort but I worry about stress overload even though you're a lightweight cyclist.

[@mtbjer9825]

Bontrager drop lock, Wolf tooth bar centric, both good options for cable actuated dropper.

[@ClintGibbs]

Thanks!

[@Rawkus919]

Check out the Sr Suntour remote lock out control. They work great, and mount vertically.

[@notpablo8369]

Wished the RKT have room for 2 bottle like the Factor Lando

[@mikeytek]

i just ordered a 3 star rkt and ordered a Bontrager droplock to run a dropper post

[@mikeytek]

bontrager droplock for the dropper lockout issue

[@frankstrobel4350]

Interesting….you got me thinking. On my trail bike i have a 50mm stem. Bike has a 140mm fork. But was designed around a 130mm.(Evil Following)…… i wonder if a 40mm stem or thereabout, would be better then 50mm. Bike was spec’d with a 50mm

[@user-rj9ui3sz8u]

Hi Clint, I have a question for you. I have a Shimano Deore rear hub and cassette. I was wondering if I could just slap on a XT cassette on it? Would they be compatible? Thanks in advance.

[@KongChaiStudio]

Clint, You mentioned the popping noise from the rear shock, could you please tell me exactly which pivot is causing the noise? Appreciate your info. Thanks 🙏

[@ClintGibbs]

The main pivot by the BB. I removed the lower link and greased both bolts

[@johnnyrocket1320]

Would anyone know if this new RKT 9 RDO is significantly stiffer than the latest Santa Cruz Blur - torsional and lateral? I'm currently eyeballing a BLUR TR 120mm but am now comparing the two head to head.

[@mellissanash7517]

Do you think you can try out the Magura XC brakes? How is the weight of the new RKT9 vs the old?

[@silver_c1oud]

Shimano period

[@IIISentorIII]

Hey Clint, just wondering, do you still have the Stumpjumper in your fleet or did you sell it? 😊

[@ClintGibbs]

Sold it to make room for another bike that will be shown in a few weeks (hasn’t arrived yet).

[@gkellsfamilia4743]

Hey Clint, not sure if I missed it but what is the stock weight here?

[@ClintGibbs]

Check out this video: (Weight shown at 2:10) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6uaYmSjhtRqpJI

[@bikebudha01]

Just sold my last gen RKT9. Replaced it with a Rocky Mountain Element C50. The fact that I can get two water bottles 'in frame' alone, makes the RM a better choice. But in the more 'meatier' aspects, I find the suspension pedals more efficiently (and there is way more rear travel).

[@bikebudha01]

Put the remote lockout on the 'top' of the left side. Vs. the drop lever, you barely ever use the remote lockout.

[@silver_c1oud]

Glad That you prefer shimano. im sick you youtube always talkin about Sram I Hate Sram

[@andrewmerriman2963]

Spiritual Crossroads: There is a point when all who claim the name of Christ reach a spiritual crossroad for Gods direction and will. Broad is the easy way but narrow is the difficult path that leads to eternal life. You have been blessed with talents of communication and leadership. My prayer for you is to slowly transition from the broad way and take the road less traveled for the glory of God. Start a new channel and lead those with ears to hear to the narrow path. Don't let all your talents go to waste on the temporal things of this world.

[@thiosemicarbizidebenzoylal2921]

This is 10,000 dollar comp xc bike folks, and that is simply absurd for sporting equipment in 2023. With AXS, this thing cost about 8,000 bucks TOO MUCH in todays world of comp xc frames and if you are not sponsored then the question is WHY? It was cute when full carbon bikes were top line equipment, NOT ANYMORE. I can EASILY equal this bikes performance for under 2k bucks in 2023 if i still raced competitively, and at this point in the declining bike sales game you have to wonder what athlete would choose this ONE bike over 5 for a full season of competition. Im talking FULL CARBON bikes here as well, with NO compromises other than without electronic shifting. Im also talking about T1000 frames or above. This price is absurd.

[@ClintGibbs]

$6700 is on par with other high-end carbon bikes today with Fox factory suspension and Shimano XT. Yes, this bike would’ve been about $1500 less a few years ago. Inflation is the worst I’ve ever seen. But this is also a bike that I will ride several times a week for years to come.

[@tinshield]

⁠​⁠@@ClintGibbs you compare against a $6500 Specialized EVO it gets interesting. While the Niner comes with great wheels (DT 1700’s) but it’s $200 more than the EVO with carbon wheels also with DT350 hubs. GX vs XT is close but I’d give the nod to XT and the Niner has a carbon crank. Niner has much better brakes as well. Niner has a more solid component spec so the value can certainly be argued. Cheaper carbon wheels aren’t always better either so 🤷‍♂️

[@ClintGibbs]

@@tinshield very true. Cheap carbon wheels can ride like bricks.

[@robwasnj]

I think it's GREAT that affordable options now exist in the MTB world! The more people that get out and enjoy the sport the better. With that said the majority of people that ride wouldn't even notice the subtle nuances that make a high end bike better than a mid level BUT for those that ride all the time and it's our passion one can appreciate these differences... that's not to say more expensive is always better or that newer designs always beat older ones. This review was a fantastic assessment of a high end product that some of us might want to check out.

[@tinshield]

@@robwasnj I remember the sweet spot was like $1500-2000 (dating myself) then it was $3000. Now? My bikes are in the $7k range.