First Look: Niner M.C.R. 9 with SRAM XX and Chris King Components

Niner M.C.R. 9 Steel 29er Hardtail

The crew at Niner Bikes just sent over a beautiful steel hardtail 29er for review on Bike198. This moondust gray frame is also kitted out with some of the best components in the industry ranging from full SRAM XX to Formula R1 brakes and the complete line of red Chris King Precision Components. 29ers originally got their start in the mountain biking community on steel hardtails as custom manufacturers could quickly react to the growing trend and the large volume, diameter wheels really came alive and showed real promise on the hardtail geared and singlespeed platform.

From NinerBikes.com:

A geared, steel hardtail for dirt connoisseurs

Custom drawn, 29er specific Reynolds 853 tubeset

Angled toptube to maximize standover clearance

S-bend chainstays

Niner’s proven hardtail 29er geometry

Optimized for 80 to 100mm suspension forks

Disc brake only

Breezer style forged dropouts with replaceable derailleur hanger

The M.C.R. 9 is the perfect go-anywhere bike that will keep you in the saddle and more comfortable for the long haul. The superlative quality of Reynolds 853 steel tubing with Niner-specific geometry and the stability of the 29” wheel offer a ride quality unsurpassed in any other production hardtail frame.

The M.C.R. 9 is built from the ground up to give you nothing short of a Magic Carpet Ride. Featuring our proprietary Reynolds 853 tubing and custom s-bend rear seat stays and chain stays, the M.C.R. 9 smooths out even the roughest of trails without the weight penalty of other steel frames.

Our proven Niner geometry uses short chain stays and a steep head tube angle to keep the wheelbase compact, making the bike maneuverable around even the tightest hairpins, while the larger wheels help to increase high-speed stability, creating a fast and nimble ride. A radically sloping top tube makes room for the family jewels and the disc-only frame means you’ll stop on a dime. Tubing is drawn out for each frame, and external, as well as internal, wall thicknesses have been tweaked to produce the best possible ride quality for each frame size. Everything about this frame was thought through, including tire clearance for fat tires and downtube clearance from pesky high fork crowns.

Niner M.C.R. 9 Component Highlights

Full SRAM XX 2×10 Drivetrain
RockShox Reba XX w/hydraulic lockout
Red Chris King hubs (laced to Stans Arch rims), bottom bracket and headset
Formula R1 Hydraulic Brakes
DT Swiss RWS
Thomson Post and Stem
Continental 2.4 Mountain Kings

Niner also provided the steel rigid fork that matches this frame, so we will be testing that along side of the RockShox Reba XX fork over the coming months. In the meantime, check out the pictures of this fully decked out rig from Niner Bikes.