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Hi
Considering going for one of these as a general do it all bike.
https://www.ninerbikes.com/air-9/
Struggling for time these days and so looking at selling my Flare Max (in the classifieds) and my road bike and replacing with one of these, a Solaris Max or a Pace RC529.
It’s gonna be mainly for hour long local West Yorkshire rides off road but not too taxing, but still some fairly rocky sections on certain routes that I don’t want to do on a gravel bike. Still want to be able to do the odd longer ride in the Peaks though and occasional trial centre red and blues.
This seems to fit the bill better than the two steel bikes as is a fair bit lighter even in SX build, although not sure how it will feel on rougher stuff coming off something much slacker and more capable. Should make the tamer rides faster and more fun.
I’m not looking at anything other than the above three at the moment as want to buy either from a local brand or from a local shop and so these are pretty much the options available. Budget around £1700. If went Pace or Solaris would prob move most bits over from my Flare Max and sell the frame, with the Niner I’d likely take the full SX build.
Appreciate any feedback on the Niner.
Cheers
why limiting yourself to those brands? want a slightly less well known brand? For all the stuff you have suggested I have my scott scale. Brilliant bike, really shifts and I all day comfy. I would just go with whatever version your budget stretches too.
I regularly look at niner but other than liking the brand I can't see what I would get more than the scale.
Just wanted to buy from a local brand or from a local shop and these are what’s available that I liked the look of.
Ive actually considered a Scale - been to look at one that was on the classifieds that is seriously kitted out and mega light but out of my budget unfortunately, especially if going second hand. So a Scale is def an option I’d consider but Ive not seen one locally available new.
Cheers
I've got a Pace and it's certainly capable enough! Comfy enough for long all day rides, it's a sit and spin bike though, the extra weight is noticeable. But then that's probably mostly the enormous wheels and tyres more than the few extra grams in the frame (over aluminium). It'll be lighter than your Cotic! I had always heard that the Niner's were quite stiff and harsh - but I don't know how much of that you'd notice with 29er wheels and wide tyres.
I had an Air9 once.
Hands down, the worst bike I've ever owned.
No matter what combination of forks/tyres/wheels it was an incredibly harsh ride to the point of being painful. The handling was strange but I can't remember what the actual issue with it was. It also had the worst paint quality I've had on any bike, the slightest ding from a stone would knock huge chunks out of the paint. A mates wife had a full sus Niner as well and had the same issue with the finish.
It was a nice looking bike though.
I'm currently on a Solaris Max and it's probably the best hardtail I've rode, very much a do anything bike.
It also had the worst paint quality I’ve had on any bike
I have a 2021 Niner steel gravel bike, and had not issues at all with the paint (and I have ridden it a lot!) - hopefully they have resolved any issues.
OP if you are looking at getting a Niner locally, I assume you are dealing with Stage 1? They have been great. Afraid I can't comment on the Air specifically.
In that case, they must have improved it since I had mine.
Even with the best paint quality int he world I'd still avoid them at all costs!
@ahsat - yes Stage 1, they aren’t that close but close enough, just happened to be staying across road from them a couple of weeks ago so popped in and they were really nice to deal with. They have actually offered me a nice build on a Ragley Marley too but not sure it’s what I’m looking for.
Cheers all def some food for thought, some alarming comments as well!
Cotic I would def happily deal with again as they were brilliant with my Flare Max. Pace seem to get mixed reviews on service but Ive always fancied one.
Can I start the betting on when you post up looking to go back to a full sus?
Inevitable. Hopefully last longer than my annual trip back onto flats.
What size is the Flaremax?
Looking at buying one myself and getting rid of my hardtail!
Currently riding a Travers ti hardtail but my rides are getting a bit more technical.
If it's an XL I may be interested!
Regards,
Max.
Other end of the spectrum I’m afraid - it’s a small 😂
Ah shame you're on a small, I'm in west yorks on a large s max and you'd have been welcome to give it go. Anyway I find it a great bike for local riding, tyre choice makes a big difference to how the rocks feel!
I had an Air9 Carbon and can confirm that they're VERY hard riding - Similar to a Santa Cruz Chameleon. Paint quality on all of my 3 Niners (2012, 2014, 2017) has been superb. I did almost 30000km of commuting and gravel riding on the 2014 and it was almost mint at the end of it.
I just swapped my Air9 for a Titus El Viajero from PlanetX. It's a much nicer all round bike. maybe not quite as fast is race trim, but as an XC bike - much nicer.
Shame it's a small!
Thanks for the offer of test rides but I am in the Midlands!
May just bite the bullet as quite fancy the grey one.
Regards,
Max.