Niner:
durable, affordable, aluminum
to air 9 is human
an aluminum hardtail with the dna of a trail bike
if a cross-country race bike met a rugged trail bike in the woods, their love child might look a lot like our air 9 aluminum hardtail. This bike blends the agility and efficiency of a pedal-friendly XC bike with the versatility, toughness and capability of a rowdy trail rig.
Versatility x durability = maximum fun factor
let's face it. The air 9, niner's lightweight aluminum hardtail, has always been capable. So how do you make capable even better? For one thing, we keep the excellent qualities of niner's tried and true, hydroformed aluminum. Lightweight and snappy, poppy and peppy, the air 9 has plenty of stiffness to get you up to speed when you stomp on the pedals.
Next, apply our [r]evolution geometry which puts the rider in the sweet, balanced spot on the bike and the ride experience goes up, way up. Then, add boost 148 spacing because tire and wheel options are a good thing. Top it off with internal routing for a dropper post and you've made one capable bike even more capable.
Run it geared. Run it singlespeed. Comfortable enough for all day riding and quick enough to pin it at the races, the new air 9 handles what you throw at it. Genetically engineered? Maybe not. But it sure is fun to ride.
Not just any old aluminum
this modern metal alloy is tried and true. We’ve been working with aluminum and other alloys for more than a decade, and we’re proud of our know-how. The resulting hydroformed air 9 frame makes the most of the material properties to blend stiffness and comfort in a durable package.
Fitted with a 120mm fork and with room for oversized, 29x2.4” (or 27.5x3.0”) tires, this bike is fit for any trail. It’s optimized for modern trail riding, long days in the saddle, and all around good times.
“trail country” geometry
blurring the lines between modern trail bike geometry and traditional cross-country geometry, the air 9 occupies a niche we lovingly call “trail country.” if you’re doing a combination of long pedaling rides, stiff climbs, extended descents, and spicy technical sections, you’ll love what we’ve done here. “trail country” geometry translates to modern trail manners when you need them most, with no sacrifice of efficiency or agility.
The roomy cockpit has a comfortable reach for short stem lengths, giving you quick handling and plenty of maneuverability to blast through rock gardens and cut hard corners. The steep 74-degree seat angle gets you centered over the bb for climbing and pairs nicely with the short 430mm chainstay length for supreme pedaling efficiency.. And of course, the slack, 68-degree head tube angle and long wheelbase contribute stability and self-confidence when you’re dropping into the steepest lines.
Air 9 2-star nx eagle specifications
hit the trail without a hit to your wallet. Thanks to sram’s outstanding nx eagle drivetrain, we can bring every ounce of air 9 performance to an affordable price level.
- marzocchi bomber z2 suspension fork, 120mm
- race face bar and stem
- sram nx eagle drivetrain
- sram level brakes
- niner alloy wheels, boost spacing, 29 or 27.5+.
Available frame sizes: xs, s, m, l, xl
available colors: black/neon blue
frame: niner hydroformed and welded aluminum
fork: marzocchi bomber z2, 120mm, 110x15mm, 51mm offset
shock: n/a
tubes / sealant: stans no tubes sealant (2 x 2oz bottles)
front wheel: niner alloy, 110x15mm front, niner grphic
rear wheel: niner alloy, 148x12mm rear, niner graphic
front tire: maxxis minion dhf 3c/exo/tr 29x 2.5 wt
rear tire: maxxis rekon 3c/exo/tr 29x2.4 wt
brakes: sram level
brake levers: sram level
brake rotors: 180/160mm SRAM g2cs rotors
chain: sram nx eagle 12sp
front shifter: n/a
rear shifter: sram nx eagle 12sp
front derailleur: n/a
rear derailleur: sram nx eagle 12sp
cassette: sram pg 1230 11-50t
crankset: sram nx eagle dub 32t
bottom bracket: sram dub pf30
saddle: niner custom tr with cr-mo rails, printed niner graphic
seatpost: niner alloy seat post, 370mm, niner graphic
handlebar: race face aeffect r 780mm wide, 20mm rise, 35mm clamp
stem: race face aeffect r 40mm, 35mm clamp
headset: niner internal zs shis description zs44/28.6|zs56/40
grips: niner grrrips l/o nylon flanged
approximate weight: 28.3 lbs / 12kg