Niner MCR 9 RDO Review! Full Suspension Gravel Bike

Last Updated on 26 July 2023 by Cycloscope

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.

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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