We first heard about the new Niner MCR 9 RDO full suspension gravel bike in its prototype form at Sea Otter last year when it was called the RKT 9 RDO. We've just noticed the radical new adventure bike is live on the Niner website and it looks like you'll be able to buy one soon.

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The Niner MCR 9 RDO or to give it its full name - the Niner Magic Carpet ride is, they say, the world's first full suspension gravel bike. The brand says they blend the control of a cross-country race bike with the efficiency and fit of a gravel bike. Essentially the result is a more comfortable drop bar bike where it is easy to put the power down and it's suggested that it delivers pure, unadulterated fun, if going fast on unthinkable gravel surfaces is your bag!

The brand doesn't want this to be seen as a mountain bike in gravel form, they say it is a gravel bike at the core, it's built to pedal well over long distances but is also one that is more confident over the rough stuff and better equipped to descend at speed. 

The bike has 50mm of travel using Niners CVA (Constantly Varying Arc) suspension system that they say provides a supple system that is also supportive when descending. A far cry from other elastomer designs on gravel bikes that merely mute vibration. The system, as is the case with most suspension, allows the tyre to be in contact with the ground more which adds grip and therefore aids control. Niner says the suspension of the MCR 9 RDO has emphasis placed on the performance when the rider is seated and pedalling, saying "It’s tuned to be especially sensitive to high frequency, low amplitude bumps, and more linear with less end-stroke progression. Configured as a short-travel system, we want riders to easily achieve full travel with less emphasis on big hits and bottom out resistance."  The rear shock used can be locked out too for when you don't want the bounce. 

The bike comprises of an RDO carbon frame and it looks like it will use an X-Fusion shock. Both the front and rear triangle are both carbon with one piece linkages used to ais stiffness. It has a press fit bottom bracket, uses EnduroMax “Black Oxide” pivot bearings and a 12 x 142mm rear axel and a 15-100mm front. The bike pictured on the website uses what looks like a Fox AX fork, which we have reviewed here. The bike in the photos appears to be high end and aggressive build, sporting and Ultegra groupset and fat tyres in the form of 2.0" Schwalbe Furious Fred cross-country mountain bike tyres. There is also a long dropper post which looks to be a KS Lev of some variety. 

What else do we know?

• Removable front derailleur mount
• Integrated mounts for custom frame bags -11 fixed mounting points for frame bags, bottles, and more.
• Two bottle cage mounts inside the front triangle
• Flat mount disc brake fitment on rear triangle
• Integrated rear fender protects suspension components.
• Removable front derailleur mount.
• Clearance for 700 x 50c or 650b x 2.0 tires.
• Clearance for 700 x 50c or 650b x 2.0 tires.
• End-to-end, full Sleeve internal cable guides and integrated frame protection.

We contacted the UK distributor, Hotlines, regarding the availability of the bikes but they can only tell us that the bike will available by the end of the year and there's no pricing ready to tell us about either. We will keep you updated....

• www.ninerbikes.com
• www.hotlines-uk.com

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