Question #1 for the hardcore 29er group

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by Took

I have a NINER Air 9 , but also just got an 07' Speci S-Works Enduro at a killer deal and I also have a custom 05' Speci P.3 and an 07' Speci SX Enduro short.

How do you like the ride of the AIR9??

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by PacMan

How do you like the ride of the AIR9??

As another Air 9 owner, I absolutely love it. It rides perfectly and I have not found anything about the frame I would change.

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

"but I will not get rid of my 26" bikes.I like both."

heard that many times.........Hate to say it but 95% of riders that spend enough time on a 29'er (beyond parking lot test) never go back

I did ride it on the loop and was very happy. But I still like both. On my big bike I roll with a 24" in the rear and like it also, very nimble.

Edit: 24" rear tire, someone can jump on the sig

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by XCMike

Can someone tell me what forks these are?
And what do you think of the Salsa frames vs Niner......On my way to test a 29er

I own a Niner RiP9 and a Niner ONE9, I also own a Salsa DosNiner with the angry inch of rear travel.

All three bikes are unique and although I am trying to simplify my stable by one I can not decide which one as they all have their place. You need to go ride them both if you can and decide for yourself, as I do not think you could go wrong either way

[sdyeti]

Speaking of which...today was your SS ride #3...dish!!

Originally Posted by J_Sims

I own a Niner RiP9 and a Niner ONE9, I also own a Salsa DosNiner with the angry inch of rear travel.

All three bikes are unique and although I am trying to simplify my stable by one I can not decide which one as they all have their place. You need to go ride them both if you can and decide for yourself, as I do not think you could go wrong either way

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

Speaking of which...today was your SS ride #3...dish!!

Funny I was asking the same ? in another thread

[dudevf1]

Originally Posted by XCMike

Do you still have and ride a 26" MTB bike or is it only 29er from here on?

Absolutely. I have a 26" FS that I'll ride until the frame gives out or technology takes such a big leap that I must upgrade. I expect that then I'll be looking at a FS 29er.

The 29er HT is a great fit for me. It takes the sting out of the low back for riding a HT on rocky rutted trails and it's lighter than my FS so it's a nice compliment. I also have a set of commuter wheels I throw on it to ride to work so it's versatile.

Still, a FS bike is much more fun for me for trail riding. Eventually I'll get a FS 29er but nothing on the horizon yet.

[Took]

Ya the first time I rode a 9er I was hooked and convinced that they rolled better than a 26 . I love the NINIER AIR9 frame , but also wanted a FS bike and 26" wheeled bikes are tried and true .

[sdyeti]

Which one?

Originally Posted by bighit8

Funny I was asking the same ? in another thread

[jschwart73]

Originally Posted by mechmann

nobody else makes anything more than the pussy little 120mm forks!

allison talked to the fox guys at the race this last weekend and said that they really hate 29ers and would rather see them go away than make more forks for them...

That's interesting. Did they have any particular reason?

[jschwart73]

Originally Posted by mechmann

something about the suspension design guys thinking they sucked?

i honestly don't understand. i mean watching the nationals this weekend i was blown away, almost half the XC field was on 29ers!

Hmm, interesting.

[allison]

Originally Posted by Abui

You'll see the biggest demand is to find a 20T chainring.

Honestly, for XC racing and riding, I have no interest in a 20T ring. It's just too small.

I was actually thinking this weekend that a 34/24 might be awesome.

I am rarely in full granny gear on my 29ers!

[sdyeti]

yeah...watching the expert XC went something like this..."oh, there's a Niner. And another one. And another one...."

Originally Posted by mechmann

something about the suspension design guys thinking they sucked?

i honestly don't understand. i mean watching the nationals this weekend i was blown away, almost half the XC field was on 29ers!

[Pho'dUp]

Originally Posted by mechmann

something about the suspension design guys thinking they sucked?

Maybe for this time, it's a good thing the suspension guys aren't in charge of the all the business decisions.

[allison]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

yeah...watching the expert XC went something like this..."oh, there's a Niner. And another one. And another one...."

Well, as long as the suspension designers have no interest, I don't think Fox will be doing longer travel stuff. Maybe it's in the works, though. It should be.

I think a lot of people just don't have any experience with them. Those of us that do ride them and race them know they are bettar

[tkblazer]

Originally Posted by PacMan

How do you like the ride of the AIR9??

doug, its a great riding frame... light, climbs well and the handling is pretty on point. i need to get a longer a-c fork since i'm running a kona with IIRC a 465mm a-c and the niner fork is 490mm. on the flip side of things riding the bike rigid has not slowed me down on the downhills too much, you just can't fly through chunky sections like you can on a FS bike.

[Code Blue]

Originally Posted by mechmann

nobody else makes anything more than the pussy little 120mm forks!

allison talked to the fox guys at the race this last weekend and said that they really hate 29ers and would rather see them go away than make more forks for them...

Reason why I do not own a bike with more travel.

Sorry but IMHO WB is a crap shoot.

RS is our only hope...........

[XCMike]

Ok so I took a parking lot spin on a Gary Fisher X-Caliber 17.5 frame I liked the ride but............... I thought SS stood for "single speed" I had No Sack Space on this bike how do you Guys fit on your 29er??

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

Which one?

It was his or genes on the Blackstar ride