Niner simply might have simply pegged its new RLT e9 RDO as a straight-up e-gravel bike, however the Colorado firm is as a substitute touting its versatility by calling it an “overland journey automobile” — and as a lot because it pains me to confess this, there appears to be some benefit within the description.
The brand new bike contains a carbon fiber body and fork, and Bosch’s newest fourth-generation Efficiency Line Velocity motor unit with 350 W of nominal energy, 75 Nm of torque, and a 28 mph governor within the US (European fashions get a Bosch Efficiency Line CX motor with a 25 km/h power-assist cutoff). Mixed with the five hundred Wh PowerTube rechargeable Li-ion battery that’s built-in into the down tube, US customers ought to see about 32 miles of vary on common, whereas European-spec fashions ought to get about 60 km or so.
All of that’s fairly normal e-bike stuff, although. What’s extra attention-grabbing in how Niner is additional blurring the traces between MTB and gravel.
Niner has made the acutely aware determination to make use of MTB-style post-mount disc brake tabs for the brand new RLT e9 RDO in order that consumers have extra freedom to combine and match parts. Customized adapters are used on inventory bikes to accommodate the flat-mount calipers.
Virtually with out exception, gravel bikes are constructed round highway element dimensions, with flat-mount disc brakes, 12 mm entrance and rear thru-axles, and 142 mm-wide rear hubs. The RLT e9 RDO, nevertheless, makes use of mountain bike requirements all through, together with 148×12 mm rear hub and 110×15 mm entrance hub spacing (extra generally generally known as “Increase”), and post-mount disc-brake tabs that enable for simpler mixing and matching of mountain bike elements (albeit with customized post-mount-to-flat-mount adapters to accommodate typical drop-bar parts). The seatpost can also be outsized to a MTB-typical 30.9 mm diameter to extra simply accommodate a dropper must you need one, with inside routing ports to match.
Niner is even fast to level out that the RLT e9 RDO’s geometry just isn’t solely suspension-corrected up entrance (for as much as 40 mm of journey), however can also be flat-bar-friendly must you resolve you’d like just a little extra leverage.
The 1×11 drivetrain is a mixture of bits from Shimano and Praxis.
Additional contributing to the adventure-minded vibe are customized entrance and rear racks, devoted mounts for Niner’s assortment of bolt-on body packs, clearance for tires as much as 50 mm-wide (in both 650b or 700c diameters), accent mounts on the fork blades, drillings for a high tube feed bag, and entrance and rear fender mounts. Bottle mounts are restricted to simply two, nevertheless, within the traditional places on the down tube and seat tube.
Claimed weight for a whole 53 cm bike with out pedals is round 18 kg (39 lb).
Retail value is US$5,695, constructed with a Shimano GRX 800 1×11 mechanical groupset with Praxis cast aluminum crankarms, and Stan’s NoTubes Arch tubeless aluminum mountain bike wheels. European pricing continues to be to be finalized, and bikes are scheduled to be accessible starting October 15.
Niner is positioning the brand new RLT e9 RDO as a type of do-it-all drop-bar machine that’s simply pretty much as good for commuting to work as it’s for weekend adventures.
US consumers will get Bosch’s newest Efficiency Line Velocity motor unit.
The 30-mile common vary for US-spec fashions could be a bit limiting if you happen to’re actually off for a correct journey, so a spare battery won’t be a foul thought.
The scale of the Bosch PowerTube battery make for moderately awkward front-end proportions.
Numerous mounts on the fork.
Niner’s customized bolt-on baggage make for a really tidy look.
The small bag that fills on this area beneath the rear rack is particularly intelligent, with sufficient room for a typical flat equipment.
The entrance rack is kind of small, however ought to nonetheless be capable to deal with quite a lot of panniers.
Solely having two bottle mounts is moderately disappointing all issues thought-about, although.
The built-in seatpost binder is a really good contact, though there’s some concern about everlasting body injury ought to somebody be a bit hamfisted with their instruments.
There’s a whole lot of shaping happening across the seat tube space. Tire clearance is kind of beneficiant, however the chainstays are additionally fairly lengthy.
Niner pairs the Bosch motor models with the easy Bosch Purion show.
