Bike: Niner Bikes One 9 size Large
Price: around $799 (frame only)
Material: Easton GX2 Scandium
Weight: around 3.3 pounds

Niner Bikes is fast becoming the top brand in the 29'er market. This doesn't come as much of a surprise since they only make bikes with 29 inch wheels. In a just a few years the company went from making a one frame to having a full line of big wheeled bikes that are so sought after that production cant keep up. Niner also has spends ample time designing and testing all their bikes to insure that the final product is does what it is suppose to do.

The first thing I noticed when I took the One 9 out of the box was how clean the overall design was. The bike has tons of little details that when put together make for a very nice frame. The frame is weighs in at a feathery 3.3 pounds for the raw color and that includes the Eccentric Bottom Bracket(E.B.B)! Its made of a custom drawn Easton GX2 Scandium tube-set which is not only light but also very stiff. The E.B.B and vertical drop outs make changing flats and setting the chain tension really simple. After having a frame with this set up it seems impossible to go back to the old horizontal drop outs. The S-Bend seat and chain stays are also a nice feature. They allow plenty of clearance for mud even with big tires all while leaving lots of clearance for your heels. To finish the frame off, Niner sends each frame out with the head tube and bottom bracket shell reamed and faced to insure a smooth build. The disc tabs are also faced for proper brake alignment. This kind of treatment isn't common and in most cases it is left up to the shop staff.

I have had the One 9 for almost two years now which has given me plenty of time to get to know the bike. The first thing I noticed was how well the bike handles. It is very quick. In fact it is almost too quick at times and takes a little getting use to. It is also very nimble which is nice for picking your way through slow speed rock gardens. The big wheels and well thought out geometry make the bike a blast at high speeds. Twisty buff single tracks are a riot, the faster you go the more in control you feel. The short rear end makes getting the front wheel over stuff very easy. This combined with the bikes high speed stability means there is little to no reason so slow down for short technical sections. Just point the bike at the nearest transition and fly over them. The frames stiffness becomes apparent as soon as you point it up a hill. The is little to no lateral flex when standing and mashing out of the saddle. The quick handling and nimble steering allows you to easily avoid momentum robbing obstacles while cruising up technical climbs.

The One 9 has had several set ups since I got it. I have tried it with a rigid fork, a 100mm suspension fork, and even a fixed gear wheel. All the set ups worked well and left little to be desired. The bike has spent most of its time in the hard tail single speed mode. Ive taken it all over the country and done every thing from east coast rocks and mud to dusty west coast single track with no complaints. I did a number of ultra endurance races including a 24 hour race and a 100 miler or two on the bike and found it to be very comfortable for long days in the saddle. Pretty cool for a bike with a very racy feel.

After getting to know the One 9 I really cant think of anything I would change. The only issue I ever had was a little noise from the bottom bracket. It was mostly my fault and after cleaning it out and putting a little grease on all was well. Niner has designed a permanent fix for this problem by developing a new E.E.B that is on all 2009 frames and easily retrofit-able to older bikes.
In the end I would say that this is a great choice for anyone looking for a high end single speed frame. It has a great ride, is much cheaper than a custom frame, and just happens to be the lightest single speed frame on the market. Good Job Niner!

All images are courtesy of Niner Bikes.