Niner’s alloy RLT9 has proven to be a reliable, fun bike on the gravel paths and service roads. Now, it’s also a more affordable bike thanks to a full Shimano Tiagra group built out with Niner’s cockpit and wheels. The new budget model also comes in a new Gun Metal Gray, which looks awfully similar to the Forge Gray on the recently updated SIR9 steel hardtail.
The new build comes on it’s own distinct version of the RLT9 alloy frame. The original did start life with quick release dropouts, but was upgraded last fall with thru axles. This new RLT9 Complete, though, sticks with a more affordable QR setup on both the frame and the fork. Otherwise, it’s very similar, using hydroformed alloy tubing and all of the rack and fender mounts. The fork is full carbon fiber.
The Shimano Tiagra 2×10 group is paired with SRAM BB5 mechanical disc brake calipers and 160mm rotors. An alloy Niner cockpit and wheels and WTB All-Terrain 700×37 tires round out the package. Retail is just $1,500, available now.
That is a very nice paint scheme. Off on a slight tangent, I’d also like to see a carbon RLT RDO that would differ from the BSB RDO in offering compliance, bigger tire-size capacity and a taller head tube – something to compete against the Salsa carbon Warbird and the Ridley X-Trail.
Totally agree! I love my Alloy RLT. However a more compliant and lighter frame would be a welcome change. My next bike will be a Salsa Warbird most likely however a Niner RLT RDO would fit my needs quite well!
I just wish they’d offer that fork (in a thru-axle version) aftermarket…
They do…
Whereabouts?
That seems like the most reasonable bike I’ve seen all year.
Niner, schminer. In half a year, Bikes Direct dot com will have the equivalent bike at half the price, delivered to your door, albeit without the faux titanium finish.
That’s supposed be some how better because it’s cheaper? They already have a gravel grinder for cheapskates out there. You very much get what you pay for!
Would like to see this same build with a similar price point on their RLT9 Steel.
where’s the motor?
@robert in the seat tube. It’s electric… 😉
No thru axles? Will you even be able to ride in a straight line? Why even make a bike without them, it’s useless, especially on a road bike.
Looks expensive to me for a tiagra equipped bike. It is 400$ more expensive than a Tiagra equipped GT Grade with superior TRP Spyre brakes and 200$ more than GT’s shimano 105 version. I used the GT Grade as an example but there are a lot of comparable bike nowadays. A CaadX or Fuji whatever may be even cheaper. Doesn’t look like a good deal to me at MSRP.
That’s what I was thinking, for $1,500 I would expect 105 with BB7 or TRP Spyre or maybe Tiagra with Hy/Rds if the frame was nice enough.
Avid’s BB5s are crap and shouldn’t be shipping on $1,000 bikes let alone $1,500 ones.
Looks good, until the pressfit bottom bracket starts creaking like crazy.
Beautiful bike for just $1500! Sure it looks like you could get a Fuji or GT for less, but it will look like less and they are Performance Brand bikes which are a dime a dozen IMHO. Not in the market for a gravel grinder bike, but for $1500 this looks really nice.
I have one and after changing the brakes to TRP it is a great bike. I also swapped the seat post to carbon and added cowbell 3 bars, abs WTB Nano 40c tires. All personal preference.