Niner Geared Hardtail Frames

The ultimate 29er hardtail. The Air 9 Carbon features Bio-Centric EBB technology and CYA Bottom Bracket system – the most flexible BB/gearing system available. Run your Niner singlespeed or geared or take advantage of several BB inserts to accommodate your choice of bottom bracket technologies, including the new BB-30 standard.

Structurally, this is a full carbon frame that utilises alloy interfaces in critical areas (such as in the headtube bearing journals and bottom bracket). The high modulus carbon in specially designed layers and layup patterns create a light, strong frame and the alloy interfaces allow the precise tolerances that critical component interface areas demand.

• Custom hydroformed alumium alloy tubing for a carefully tuned ride
• Tapered headtube for steering precision and stiffness
• Niner's proven hardtail 29er geometry
• Optimized for 80 to 100mm suspension forks
• Disc brake only
• Press fit 30 bottom bracket for more weight savings
• Replaceable derailleur hanger

     The Air 9 is a fast, light, geared-only alloy racing hardtail. This upgraded version integrates hydroformed tubing throughout. More than a cosmetic feature, hydroforming allows tubes to be shaped to optimise strength and stiffness in key areas. Hydroforming is found in the toptube, downtube, headtube, chainstays and seatstays.

     Because of the larger welding area created by the new tapered headtube, Niner are able to include a massive hydroformed downtube as well as a significantly larger diameter toptube, contributing to a much stronger frame. Chainstays, seat tube and seatstays also benefit from hydroforming via controlled wall thicknesses and enhanced butting profiles. This translates to a rear triangle that is tuned for stiffness, strength and vertical compliance – in other words, ideal ride feel.

     The Air 9 features a tapered headtube with an integrated headset. By allowing for the use of the newest generation of 1.5” tapered steerer suspension forks and integrated headset, the stiffest front end possible is created – leading to amazing steering precision as you carve a corner and descend toward the finish line, all with the same stack height as the original Air 9 Scandium model.

The S.I.R. 9 is the most versatile bike in the Niner stable, fusing the “steel is real” feel of Reynolds tubing with the ability to run the frame as either a geared bike or single speed. The S.I.R. 9 uses the same custom drawn Reynolds 853 tubing as the M.C.R. 9 and combines it with Niner’s ultra-light eccentric bottom bracket. Custom “breezer” style forged dropouts have a replaceable alloy derailleur hanger and come with an insert piece for running the bike as a single speed to eliminate the unnecessary derailleur hanger for a clean look.

Niner’s own EBB, at 100 grams, is the lightest eccentric bottom bracket on the market. In addition to being light, it’s extremely functional. The EBB has more swing than any other EBB, over a full link, so you will never have to hunt down a half link to get correct chain tension and vertical dropouts mean you’ll never have to mess with the disc brake to remove the wheel.

The S.I.R. 9 is truly a do-everything frame. Run it single speed at your local race, then convert it to a full gear set to do the Trans-Alp. Want a 1 x 9? No problem. Or, if you’re just not sure, the S.I.R. 9 will give you the option of trying it all.

The M.C.R. 9 is built from the ground up to give you nothing short of a Magic Carpet Ride. Featuring proprietary Reynolds 853 tubing and custom s-bend rear seat stays and chain stays, the M.C.R. 9 smooths out even the roughest of trails without the weight penalty of other steel frames.

Proven Niner geometry uses short chain stays and a steep head tube angle to keep the wheelbase compact, making the bike maneuverable around even the tightest hairpins, while the larger wheels help to increase high-speed stability, creating a fast and nimble ride. A radically sloping top tube makes room for the family jewels and the disc-only frame means you’ll stop on a dime. Tubing is drawn out for each frame, and external, as well as internal, wall thicknesses have been tweaked to produce the best possible ride quality for each frame size. Everything about this frame was thought through, including tire clearance for fat tires and downtube clearance from pesky high fork crowns.

The M.C.R. 9 is the perfect go-anywhere bike that will keep you in the saddle and more comfortable for the long haul. The superlative quality of Reynolds 853 steel tubing with Niner-specific geometry and the stability of the 29” wheel offer a ride quality unsurpassed in any other production hardtail frame.

• Great Niner design details and finishes in a hydroformed alloy hardtail
• Tapered headtube for steering precision and stiffness
• Niner's proven hardtail 29er geometry
• Optimized for 80 to 100mm suspension forks
• Exceptional tire and heel clearance
• Disc brake only
• Standard threaded bottom bracket
• Replaceable derailleur hanger

     The E.M.D. 9 may be the least expensive frame in the Niner lineup but it benefits from the same design process and expectations that are required for every Niner frame built. Newly redesigned to integrate custom hydroformed tubing and a tapered headtube, the E.M.D. 9 is a worthy little brother to the Air 9.

     Because of the larger welding area created by the new tapered headtube Niner are able to include a new, massive hydroformed downtube as well as a significantly larger diameter toptube, contributing to a much stronger frame. By allowing for the use of the newest generation of 1.5” tapered steerer suspension forks and integrated headset, the stiffest front end possible is created – all with the same stack height as the original E.M.D. 9 model.

The Air 9 is a super light geared-only frame utilising custom drawn Easton GX2 Scandium. Combining a truly advanced proprietary alloy with the rare earth element of scandium, Easton achieved the impossible: a super lightweight tube with a compliant ride characteristic. Blending Easton’s tubing with custom drawn and shaped rear s-bend chain stays and seat stays, the Air 9 is a light, agile ripper of a frame that offers a surprising amount of comfort to the long haul.

Niner worked directly with Easton engineers to dial in the Air 9’s tube set, including the custom bent Niner down tube, which strengthens the head tube/down tube junction while simultaneously increasing fork crown clearance. Chain stays and seat stays have maximum tire clearance and heel clearance, and the top tube is radically sloped to allow for better stand-over height.

Whether you’re a racer or a fan of lightweight, high-tech bikes, the Air 9 delivers the goods in a stunning, wicked fast masterpiece that combines the best Easton tubing with Niner’s proven geometry and gives it to you with the hope that you will set it free.

The E.M.D. 9 (Eat My Dust) is the least expensive frame in the Niner lineup, but this frame went through the same design process and had to meet the same design expectations that are required from every Niner frame. Even though using a less exotic material, the primary goal with the E.M.D. 9 was to overcome the idea that all aluminum frames are harsh. Starting from scratch, Niner developed a 7005 series tube set that met these needs. In addition, the rear triangle receives the same s-bend curves as the Air 9, allowing for some vertical compliance of the rear wheel, meaning your body doesn’t have to take it all.