NEW FRAME MATERIAL

For the updated  Air 9, we have selected a newly available aluminum alloy from the 6000 series family. For those who are scandium loyalists, this may require a change in mindset, but the advantages of our selection are clear. For many years, the lightest alloy racing frames came with round tubes such as scandium. While a historically important material, scandium is not compliant with newly available hydroforming and production methods. When looking to produce advanced designs with a carefully tuned ride-feel, we have to look for better raw material options.

Our new alloy tubing produces a stronger Air 9 frame than the previous material. In testing, the new Air 9 is stiffer than previous round-tube models.

This new material allows us to double, triple or even quad butt the tubing where we see fit, giving us a light but compliant frame.  Those of you riding the original Air 9 will be pleased with the great ride quality.

Our new alloy tubing loves to be shaped, giving us significant design freedom. We are now able to tune our alloy frame as carefully as we do our carbon frames, adding strength where needed and improving ride feel via tube-shaping methods. These methods complement our award-winning geometry to create an advanced alloy hardtail for racing applications.  www.ninerbikes.com/hydroform

Our new alloy tubing is anodizing friendly. While not recommended for the previous material, the new Air 9 can be anodized, allowing folks to get a rugged and extra-light finish in a stealthy black, with low profile logos.

The new Air 9 will win more races. The net effect of a lighter, stronger and stiffer frame with better ride feel is a faster bike.

TAPERED HEADTUBE

The benefits of a tapered headtube aren't just for riders of long travel bikes. XC racers and riders also see significant advantages, which is why we have incorporated the technology into the new Air 9.

By allowing for the use of the newest generation of tapered steerer suspension forks, we create the stiffest front end possible - leading to increased steering precision as you carve a corner and descend toward the finish line.

The change in headtube standards also allows us to incorporate an integrated headset - giving you the same stack height as our original Air 9, but with a significant increase in torsional stiffness.

HYDROFORMED TUBING THROUGHOUT

Riders will notice significant changes to the look of the new Air 9, due to hydroformed tubing throughout the design. However the effect of this upgrade goes much further than appearance. Hydroforming allows us to shape the tubes and optimize strength and stiffness in key areas, giving us the ability to create beautifully tuned frames with the precise ride characteristics we seek for every application. In testing, this frame puts up stiffness numbers much higher than the original, with no weight penalty. We utilize hydroforming in the toptube, downtube, headtube, chainstays and seatstays. (For animation and more details see here) 

Because of the larger welding area created by the new tapered headtube, we are able to include a new, massive, hydroformed downtube as well as a significantly larger diameter toptube, contributing to a much stronger frame.

The shape of a tube is as important now as the material it is made from. Shaping has a huge effect on the way stress is distributed across and around a tube. Controlling the stress distribution enables us to use less material while maintaining, or even increasing, the frame strength.

Shaped tubing is found in many frames. It is important to be aware that how a tube is shaped can change the quality of the results. The least expensive method for shaping a tube is via mechanical forming. In this process, tube shapes are achieved by manipulating a straight gauge tube using mandrils, dies and, tube bending equipment. This approach has limits, particularly when it comes to tube bends and tube butting (wall thickness).To contrast, Niner uses a multi-stage hydroforming process - a straight gauge tube is butted and mechanically formed in preparation for the hydroforming process. Once the initial tube geometry is achieved, the tube is fully enclosed in a die, then pressurized with hydraulic fluid. This causes the aluminum to expand, obtaining the shape of the die. This process allows better control of wall thickness and more flexibility in cross sectional shaping over mechanical forming.

Chainstays, seat tube and seatstays also benefit from hydroforming, via controlled wall thicknesses for increased butting profiles . This translates to a rear triangle that is tuned for stiffness, strength and vertical compliance - in other words, ideal ride feel.

PRESS FIT 30 BB

The new Air 9 now uses the PRESS FIT 30 standard, allowing for further weight reduction. Shimano-style cranksets are compatible, via PF30 adaptors.

REAL WORLD WEIGHT SAVINGS

Finally, the question everyone asks - is it lighter than the old version? Yes. The frames are about 70g lighter than the original, with even more weight savings when considering the new component options:

OLD AIR 9 + EXTERNAL HEADSET + GXP BB = 1773g 

NEW AIR 9 + INTEGRATED HEADSET + PF30 BB  = 1661g

DIFFERENCE = 112g

Sample frame weights - size medium, new frame weighed in Anodized finish

� THE AWARD-WINNING AIR 9 GETS A TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

� LIGHTER STIFFER ALLOY RACER FROM NINER BIKES 

� CUSTOM HYDROFORMED ALUMINUM ALLOY TUBING FOR A CAREFULLY TUNED RIDE FEEL   

� TAPERED HEADTUBE FOR STEERING PRECISION, STIFFNESS  

� NINER'S PROVEN HARDTAIL 29er GEOMETRY 

� OPTIMIZED FOR 80 TO 100MM SUSPENSION FORKS 

� EXCEPTIONAL TIRE AND HEEL CLEARANCE 

� DISC BRAKE ONLY 

� PRESS FIT 30 BOTTOM BRACKET FOR WEIGHT SAVINGS

� REPLACEABLE DERAILLEUR HANGER

� AVAILABLE IN 3 FINISH OPTIONS, INCLUDING A NEW ANODIZED CHOICE  

AVAILABILITY:

The Air 9 is shipping next week to European distributors. Our US warehouse expects to ship a limited number of Air 9 frames to dealers in 3-4 weeks.  

� THE AWARD-WINNING E.M.D. 9 GETS A TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

� GREAT NINER DESIGN DETAILS AND FINISHES IN A HYDROFORMED ALLOY HARDTAIL

� TAPERED HEADTUBE FOR STEERING PRECISION, STIFFNESS    

� NINER'S PROVEN HARDTAIL 29er GEOMETRY

� OPTIMIZED FOR 80 TO 100MM SUSPENSION FORKS

� EXCEPTIONAL TIRE AND HEEL CLEARANCE

� DISC BRAKE ONLY   

� STANDARD BOTTOM BRACKET

� REPLACEABLE DERAILLEUR HANGER

� AVAILABLE IN HOT TAMALE OR MATTE BLACK PAINT FINISHES 

AVAILABILITY:

The E.M.D. 9 is shipping next week to world-wide distributors. Our US warehouse expects to ship a limited number of E.M.D. 9 frames to dealers in 3-4 weeks.  

>> JET 9 RDO AVAILABILITY UPDATE      

>> NINER ENGINEERING PROGRAM IN MBA MAGAZINE   

      GEORGE PARRY, HEAD OF OUR R&D, FEATURED

"The importance of such a significant investment in testing cannot be overstated. It is an added value to every Niner rider that may take the rider five to eight years to fully appreciate. This lab proves just how serious Niner is about their business and their future."

Mountain Bike Action 

>> WONDERING HOW TO FIND OUT ABOUT EVENTS? WIN SWAG? GET SNEAK PEEKS?  

Have you won a Niner Carbon Bar lately? How about teeshirts for you and your S.O.? Wondering how to find out about our demo days? Want to meet other Niner riders? All the answers are on our Facebook page - our community spans the globe and definitely includes your hometown. Click like and get great info about our projects, new products and events. We love seeing your Niners and the places they take you!  

>> NINER STAFF INTRODUCTIONS!  

Kelly Mack is our US Sales Coordinator. She makes sure everything flows smoothly from Niner and our distribution center to our dealers across the country.

A rider for life, Kelly bought her first MTB in the mid-80's and at 6 feet tall, adopting 29" wheels was a natural progression for her. In Kelly's words, "Niner is the best of the best!" Her favorite Niner is the RIP 9 because "It's the bike you can take anywhere, that can handle anything." Kelly likes to load up the car and go, travelling as frequently as possible to ride and surf.

Every rider has a list of favorite trails and Kelly can't pick a favorite among Happy Hour at Highland MTB Park, the Ashland Oregon Super D course, Whitefish Mountain and Quaking Aspen at Camp Nelson. If you see Kelly out riding her RIP 9, give a wave.

Kelly's riding tip: "Speed is your friend. (hahaha, one day I'll listen!)"

Rebound Cycle is located in the picturesque town of Canmore, Alberta Canada. A small town of 12,000, that has every level of single track riding that any mountain biker could ever dream of.

Rebound has been around for 13 years and has deep roots in the local cycling community. For those who love to ride, Rebound has been there to educate and facilitate their involvement in cycling. From elite level racing to short haul commuting Rebound has the knowledge as well as the equipment to get all riders to their destinations. Keeping customers riding is the shop mantra and unique products and gadgets can always be found.

With over 30 years of experience in Rebound's service center your bikes are always well built and taken great care of. Alongside Niner's full line of 29er mountain bikes they have three mainstream brands to fit whatever type of riding you need to do. Niner is a relatively new line for Rebound but has come on strong with an Air 9, Jet 9 RDO, RIP 9 and Jet 9 being ridden by the staff and open for demos with more bikes to come! Rebound is definitely on board with all of Niner's technology. Rebound's latest involvement with the Niner brand came from having shop manager Ryan Draper race the seven day epic Trans Rockies Challenge on the new JET 9 RDO. After seven solid days of single track abuse the RDO passed the Trans Rockies Test with flying colors with no issues to report other than a few flats. Ryan will also be taking the RDO to Brazil this October to race the seven day Claro Brazil ride. Tune into Rebound's Facebook page to follow the RDO or just to see what the local riding scene is like in Canmore.

Rebound is also the longest standing shop with the Dirt Series ladies camps that have popped up all over North America and facilitated women's involvement in cycling over the last eight years. With strong and ever growing support for Niner, women's mountain biking and all of the trail riding community, Rebound Cycle is definitely worth a visit!

Rebound Cycle on Facebook 

>> ALOHA MOUNTAIN CYCLERY, CARBONDALE, CO

Located in beautiful Carbondale, Colorado, Aloha Mountain Cyclery is more than just a independent bicycle retail operation. They choose to use the word "aloha" in their name because it can mean "hello", "goodbye", or refer to a friendly, relaxed state of mind or atmosphere such as the "aloha spirit".  They like to think it refers to all of these in our business as well.  

Aloha is a great place to learn about  bicycling in Colorado focusing on three aspects of what a bike shop should be: service, education, and community. Service refers to both customer service through retail sales as well as professional bicycle fitting and providing an experienced, educated, and extremely helpful service department for bicycle repair. Education focuses on providing the knowledge to the customer in order for he/she to make the best decision regarding a purchase or mechanical repair.  Lastly, community refers to participation in events which support our community.    

Darren and Nick, the owners, and most of the rest of the staff, ride Niners. You will see them on everything from a RIP 9, Jet 9 to a SIR 9. They have made a huge commitment to 29ers and Niner in particular, including a great demo fleet:

E.M.D. 9: SMALL

JET 9: SMALL, MED 

R.I.P. 9: SMALL,  MED,  LARGE 

To keep up on events and rides, visit the Aloha's Facebook page.