Latest news and notes fron our friends at Niner!
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· The next generation JET 9 is stronger and stiffer, and because of this, features better tracking.
· The redesigned Jet 9 is based on FEA standards established via work on our proven frame designs, the W.F.O. 9 and R.I.P. 9.
· The tapered headtube is at the center of improvements on the Jet 9, contributing to increased stiffness throughout the frame.
· A tapered head tube allows the use of the newest generation of 1.5" tapered steerer suspension forks, creating the stiffest front end possible - something traditional steerer/head tube combos can't match.
· A tapered head tube makes room for a massive, hydroformed down tube. This new tube puts up stiffness numbers much higher than that of the original with little to no penalty.
The Jet 9 Redesign Summary:
We really like using hydroformed tubes, they allow much greater stiffness to weight ratio over round tubes on a full suspension bike. When you are carrying so much speed through the chunky sections of trail, a stiffer front end of the bike mated to a tapered steerer suspension fork will:
1. track straighter 2. allow you to carry more speed.
The latest 1.5 tapered 100mm forks allow you to significantly stiffen the front end at the top end of the fork, as well as at the hub via 15mm or 20mm axles if you choose this model. Through testing, the stiffness numbers are too great to ignore and we feel you will see a dramatic increase when you pair these two together on our new JET9.
Available in Kermit Green, Black Anodized and Vana White. We don't have photos of the Green or Black yet, but will post them as soon as we do.
Estimated availability is the beginning of April. We are trying to be conservative with this date, and will offer updates as we have them on the Niner Bikes Facebook page.
Additionally, Niner Bikes will offer 4 Reba XX forks for this season:
· Reba TAPERED XX 100mm black 9mm
· Reba TAPERED XX 100mm black 20mm
· Reba TAPERED XX 100mm white 9mm
· Reba TAPERED XX 100mm white 20mm
The new Jet 9 is available for pre-order through your local Niner dealer.
Geometry and technical details are available here:
The new Jet 9 incorporates a tapered headtube for added stiffness and steering precision:
Hydroforming allows us to shape the tubes and optimize strength and stiffness in key areas :
New forgings for the chainstay and seatstay yokes provide increased stiffness and strength:
The details:
1. Designed around the same award winning CVA™ suspension system found on our other suspension frames, the new JET 9 features 80mm of plush, fully active rear travel via the superb bump compliance and damping of a custom valved FOX RP23 shock.
2. The frame features a 72° head tube angle (based on an 80mm travel fork) and is designed to give the same precise handling as our hardtail frames. The Jet 9 accepts 80 to 100mm forks, allowing riders to fine tune the ride. New to the Jet 9 is the tapered headtube, which, in addition to dramatically increasing steering precision, brings a new level of strength to the frame by offering a larger surface area for a stiffer/stronger downtube to be welded to it. The headset that comes with the frame will accept a straight steerer fork as well.
3. The Jet 9 features hydroformed tubing, already a feature on the R.I.P. 9 and W.F.O. 9 frames, bringing the technology to the Niner cross country frames for the first time. Hydroforming allows us to shape the tubes and optimize strength and stiffness in key areas, giving us the ability to create perfectly tuned frames with the exact ride characteristics we seek for every application. You will find this technology in the toptube, downtube, chainstays and the rear triangle Y-brace.
4. We explored every small detail of the new Jet 9, including re-evaluating the smaller frame pieces. For our final design, we created new forgings for the chainstay and seatstay yokes to provide increased stiffness and strength. These are based on FEA and real world testing we did while re-designing the RIP 9. Forged pieces include: left upper linkage, right upper linkage, left lower linkage, right lower linkage, BB/lower pivot area, seat tube pivot, drop outs (l & r), seatstay yoke and chainstay yoke.
The new Jet 9 is available for pre-order through your local Niner dealer.
Geometry and technical details are available here:
>> NINER STORE KEEPS GETTING BETTER!
We are adding new high quality gear to the Niner Store every week! Newest additions include:
Pedal Damn It T-Shirts!
Not just for your top-tube anymore! American Apparel shirts in Men's and Women's sizes!
See here.
Sigg Bottles!
Our new Sigg bottles have been a hit. We have plenty more in stock and ready to ship. Give your day a little off-road flavor even sitting at your desk. They make a great gift for any rider in your life! Pick yours up here.
Niner California Beanies!
Niner was founded in Southern California and we are proud of our roots! Get your beanie here.
International Customers! See your Niner Distributor to order Niner gear!
>> PRODUCT TESTING AT NINER BIKES
At Niner, we take testing very seriously - it's the critical first step to the creation of extraordinary frames. From new testing methods and standards to creating our own proprietary testing jigs to carry out these testing parameters to investing in a full fledged Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software package, Niner has taken testing to the next level. Every new Niner frame goes through a rigorous testing process - in the computer, on testing machines and under our test riders.
It starts in the computer, with a powerful FEA program that gives Niner the ability to test different ideas and concepts before delving into molds or physical samples. We evaluate stiffness and strength and run our frames through a battery of virtual situations that mimic the physical strength and destructive testing we do in the lab. This way, the data from the computer is verifiable, and we can create accurate reports based on the simulation and the real world outcome. It's the reproduction of the virtual tests in the real world that gives us our raw data.
Finally, riding is always paramount to making an amazing product, and many of the testing methods we have devised and put into our testing protocols have been from countless hours on the trail. The Niner Test Team is made up of people from around the country, different sizes and weights riding different terrain. The feedback we get from the field is logged into a database for each product, and every comment, good or bad, is taken into account. Niner is also owned and operated by riders who are passionate about what they do, and can give their own critical analysis of a frame's performance. We are our hardest critics. Ultimately, it's the time on the trail that takes a product from good to great, but there has to be an understanding of the difference, where it comes from, and how to extract that feel from every single frame we make, and testing is the only way to insure we're doing it the right way.
>> WHY AREN'T YOU WINNING NINER GEAR?!
If you haven't been following our Facebook page.. well why the heck not? There is some great stuff going on over there. Niner-Ergon team members posting up fun info from the road, fellow riders talking about rides and much more. You never know what you will find and who you might get to connect with. There is a good chance you can pick up a little swag along the way as well. Get connected. Visit here for more info.
>> MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS FOR JANUARY:
- First, there is a nice long W.F.O. 9 review on Bike198.com. Check it out, these guys have a great site.
- "Race Across the Sky" - movie. A great mountain bike movie. If you did not get to check it out, hit the site and watch the promo clip here. It's nice to see a slice of the mountain community highlighted, AND ON THE BIG SCREEN TOO! The movie follows riders in the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race in 2009. One of the bearded duo, Niner-Ergon team member Dejay Birtch, has a little cameo in the movie. Keep your eyes open and you will see a pan shot of an Air 9 on the trails. Start training to earn your belt buckle!
- MBA Buyers Guide. Mountain Bike Action included Niner's line-up in their latest issue. Pick it up at the news stand!
>> THE W.F.O. 9 BEGINS THE SEASON WITH A WIN!
Our versatile photographer and good friend, Michael Darter, has been testing the limits of the WFO 9 in the Southridge Winter Series held in Fontana, Calif. Darter took the first two DH events in the VetPro category. He took the first race by almost ten seconds over second place and only about seven seconds behind top pro Eric Carter's time. Series event #2 he won by almost six seconds. He was racing the WFO with WTB Kodiak tires out for only the second time for the series opening race. Darter says he is looking forward to more experimentation with the rubber over varied terrain, but his initial impressions were hugely positive. This guy has the skills and the W.F.O. 9 helped him take them to the next level. Way to go, Darter!
For more info on the frame, check here, to pick up a set of Kodiaks for yourself check here, and for complete results from the Southridge series opener go here.
Niner Bikes will always be dedicated to building hardcore 29 inch mountain bikes. We thank our loyal customers and dealers that make this passion a reality.
Chris & Steve
Niner Bikes
