Niner MCR 9 RDO, A Review.
The 2-Star VS 3-Star VS 4-Star VS 5-Star for 2022
Specs, components, tire clearance, weight, price, and comparison table
A full-suspension gravel bike? Is this even a thing? Well, we thought you deserved a surprise for making it to the bottom of the article, let’s have a look at something different.
The Magic Carpet Ride (MCR) by Niner is a dream bike that stands by its name, every ride will feel smooth like on a carpet.
The Niner’s Constantly Varying Arc (CVA) full suspension is a patented design that debuted in 2008, for the 2022 MCR 9 RDO, Niner changed the suspension curve, a performance-oriented adjustment to achieve more power while pedaling from the saddle.
This system makes the bike really fantastic to ride downhill also on rough tracks – able even to withstand washboard corrugation and emerging roots – while the climbing ability is not too seriously affected thanks to the aggressive geometry.
The eleven fixed braze-on mounting points allow outfitting all the bikepacking bags and bottle cages you might need, making this a top woman gravel bike for bikepacking adventures.
The integrated rear fender and internal cable guide ensure the components are always protected even in the toughest conditions.
A drop-bar adventure bike that’s responsive and efficient, outstandingly comfortable, and freaking fast, with a maximum speed of 58 km/h.
Pros
- Very fast
- CVA suspension
- Removable front derailleur mount for 2x and 1x chainring options
- Mounting points for bags
| Frame | NINER RDO Carbon Fiber / 50MM CVA Suspension |
| Drivetrain | SRAM FORCE ETAP AXS 1×12 10-36t |
| Brakes | SRAM FORCE HRD FM |
| Tires | Schwalbe G-ONE Allround Evo Superterrain 700 X 38 |
| Size | 53CM, 56CM, 59CM |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs / 10.4 kg |
| Price | $6,000 |
The Niner MCR 9 RDO made it into our list of
> 11+1 Best Gravel Bikes for Women – Gravel Grinding for All Budgets
Niner MCR 9 RDO – Four Versions Compared
2-Star VS 3-Star VS 4-Star VS 5-Star for 2022
| MCR 9 RDO 2-STAR APEX 1Niner · 2022 | MCR 9 RDO 3-STAR SRAM RIVAL 1Niner · 2022 | MCR 9 RDO 4-STAR SHIMANO GRX 800 2XNiner · 2022 | MCR 9 RDO 5-STAR SHIMANO GRX 800 1XNiner · 2022 |
| RRP | $4,999 | $5,449 | $6,499 | $7,449 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Price | $6,000 AT COMPETITIVE | $4,599 AT PRO’S CLOSET | $6,000 AT BACKCOUNTRY | $6,000 AT COMPETITIVE |
| Category | Gravel | Gravel | Gravel | Gravel |
| Weight | 12.2 kg | 11.6 kg | 11.6 kg | |
| Frame | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon |
| Fork | Fox Performance Elite Float 32 | Fox Performance Elite Float 32 | Fox Performance Elite Float 32 | Fox Performance Elite Float 32 |
| Wheel Size | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c |
| Wheel Material | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Brake Type | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc |
| Groupset | Apex 1 | Rival 1, Easton | GRX 800, Ultegra | GRX 800, Easton |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 11 | 1 × 11 | 2 × 11 | 1 × 11 |
| Max Speed | 50 km/h | 50 km/h | 59 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Suspension | Full | Full | Full | Full |
| Front Travel | 40mm | 40mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Rear Travel | 50mm | 50mm | 50mm | 50mm |
| Seatpost | Rigid | Rigid | Rigid | Dropper |
| MCR 9 RDO 2-STAR APEX 1 X | MCR 9 RDO 3-STAR SRAM RIVAL 1X | MCR 9 RDO 4-STAR SHIMANO GRX 800 2X | MCR 9 RDO 5-STAR SHIMANO GRX 800 1X |
| Frame | NINER RDO CARBON FIBER | NINER RDO CARBON FIBER | NINER RDO CARBON FIBER | NINER RDO CARBON FIBER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fork | FOX 32 SC FLOAT AX PERFORMANCE ELITE EVOL FIT4, 40MM, 100X15MM, 44MM OFFSET | FOX 32 SC FLOAT AX PERFORMANCE ELITE EVOL FIT4, 40MM, 100X15MM, 44MM OFFSET | FOX 32 SC FLOAT AX PERFORMANCE ELITE EVOL FIT4, 40MM, 100X15MM, 44MM OFFSET | FOX 32 SC FLOAT AX PERFORMANCE ELITE EVOL FIT4, 40MM, 100X15MM, 44MM OFFSET |
| Rear Shock | X-FUSION MICROLITE RL W/ REMOTE LOCKOUT | X-FUSION MICROLITE RL W/ REMOTE L/O | X-FUSION MICROLITE RL W/ REMOTE LOCKOUT | X-FUSION MICROLITE RL W/ REMOTE LOCKOUT |
| Bottom Bracket | PRESTINE PF30 THREAD TOGETHER | EASTON PF30 | EASTON PF30 | EASTON PF30 |
| Headset | NINER INTEGRATED SHIS DESCRIPTION IS42/28.6|IS52/40 | NINER INTEGRATED SHIS DESCRIPTION IS42/28.6|IS52/40 | NINER INTEGRATED SHIS DESCRIPTION IS42/28.6|IS52/40 | NINER INTEGRATED SHIS DESCRIPTION IS42/28.6|IS52/40 |
| Stem | NINER ALLOY | NINER ALLOY | NINER RDO | NINER RDO |
| Handlebar | EASTON EA50 AX | EASTON EA50 AX | EASTON EA50 AX | EASTON EA50 AX |
| Saddle | NINER CUSTOM WITH CHRO-MO RAILS | NINER CUSTOM WITH CR-MO RAILS | NINER CUSTOM WITH CRN-TI RAILS | NINER CUSTOM WITH CRN-TI RAILS |
| Seatpost | NINER ALLOY, 400MM | NINER CARBON SEAT POST, 400MM | NINER RDO CARBON, 400MM | KS LEV SI DROPPER, 27.2/100MM TRAVEL |
Groupset
A choice between the best Sram and Shimano groupsets. Here it really comes to a matter for personal preference. Remember you can always get the 2×11 or 1×11 alternative for any version of the Niner MCR 9 RDO (the 2-Star, 3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star).
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM APEX 1 LONG CAGE | SRAM RIVAL 1 LONG CAGE | SHIMANO GRX800 GS 11SP SHADOW PLUS | SHIMANO GRX812 11SP SHADOW PLUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | N/A | N/A | SHIMANO ULTEGRA R8000 | N/A |
| Crank | SRAM APEX 1 40T | EASTON EA90 40T (53/56 – 172.5MM, 59 – 175MM) | EASTON EC90 CARBON 47X32T | EASTON EC90 CARBON, 40T |
| Shifters | SRAM APEX 1 11SP | SRAM RIVAL 1 HRD 11SP | SHIMANO GRX800 11SP | SHIMANO GRX800 11SP |
| Cassette | SRAM PG 1130 11SP, 11-42T | SRAM PG 1130 11SP 11-42T | SHIMANO ULTEGRA HG800 11SP 11-34T | SHIMANO XT HG8000 11SP 11-42T |
| Chain | SRAM PC 1130 11SP | SRAM PC 1130 11SP | SHIMANO HG 601 11SP | SHIMANO HG 601 11SP |
| Brakes | SRAM APEX 1 HRD FLAT MOUNT | SRAM RIVAL 1 HRD FM | SHIMANO GRX800 | SHIMANO GRX800 |
| Brake Levers | SRAM APEX 1 HRD | SRAM RIVAL 1 HRD | SHIMANO GRX800 | SHIMANO GRX800 |
Wheels
The difference in rim quality is noticeable between the various models of MCR 9 RDO by Niner, although none of them offers a carbon option. You can still upgrade to some of the best carbon gravel wheelsets if the best alloy is not enough for you.
| Rims | NINER ALLOY, 22.5MM INTERNAL | DT Swiss G 1800 SPLINE 25, 700c aluminum clincher | DT SWISS G 1800 SPLINE 25, | STANS NOTUBES GRAIL CB7, NEO ULTIMATE HUB CL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | SCHWALBE G-ONE ALLROUND PERFORMANCE, RACEGUARD, TLE, 700 X 40 | SCHWALBE G-ONE ALLROUND EVO SUPER TERRAIN, TLE, ADDIX SPEEDGRIP, 700 X 45 | SCHWALBE G-ONE ALLROUND EVO SUPER TERRAIN, TLE, ADDIX SPEEDGRIP, 700 X 38 | SCHWALBE G-ONE ALLROUND EVO SUPER TERRAIN, TLE, ADDIX SPEEDGRIP, 700 X 38 |
| Disk Rotors | SRAM CENTERLINE 160/160 CL ROTORS | SRAM CENTERLINE 160/160MM CL ROTORS | SHIMANO RT800 160/160MM CL ROTORS | SHIMANO RT800 160/160MM CL ROTORS |
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