MSRP: $799.99 now $618.99 Frame Only
GBS Impression: The Air 9 is a speedy, efficient and light, little animal. If you’re looking to build up a bike for it’s quickness up the hills and nice flowy singletrack the Air 9 is for you. Not to mention the fact that it won’t hurt your wallet as much as most full suspension bikes. There are so many trails here in the Front Range that don’t necessarily demand front and rear suspension. You will find yourself riding smooth stuff faster and, of course, your climbing power will not suffer one bit. The 29 wheels are the way to go when looking at hardtail mountain bikes, hands down. The Air 9 has been the most popular hardtail here at our shop, and Niner does a great job with all the details in the frame.
The Air 9 is our super light geared-only frame utilizing custom drawn Easton GX2 Scandium. Combining a truly advanced proprietary alloy with higher strength properties than 7005 series aluminum 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.
