Thoughts on new Niner EMD 9 aluminum 29er hardtail ?

At some stage this year, I hope to be in the market for a new 29 hardtail to replace my aged 26 Iron Horse Quantum

Just looking for something to on ride SART/paved/some road and fire road...

Looking for something "cheap", and noticed the price mentioned on the EMD 9 by Niner - $1,499

http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-gear/news-niner-continues-to-drop-the-price-of-entry-for-high-quality-mountain-bikes/

Certainly cheaper than the Santa Cruz Highball I had been looking at...

I (sort of) believe you get what you pay for, but for what I'd use it for... not bad for the price???

 

The Highball may be more expensive, but it allows for conversion to SS if you choose to do so.

My wife has an older EMD....before they started doing the hydroforming frames. First frame she had was fabricated incorrectly....the rear end was not square to the front triangle. Niner was great and warrantied the frame. She likes it.....has run it everything from 3x9...1x9...SS. Hers in S is built up at 23 lbs.

 

After all of these years my Salsa El Mariachi is going strong. Started out as a 1x9 and is currently SS. I have come across several El Mar owners and never a complaint.

 

Airborne has some really good deals, the Goblin complete is nicely spec'ed, or build one up, the frames start at $250.

 

Just bought a full xc 29er hardtail and after rriding 10 bikes I settled on a Cannondale. The build was great and the lefty is a great xc fork.

 

Say What???????????

 

Shit just got real!

 

You realize a HT doesn't have rear suspension and the Lefty fork is only half a fork....right?

 

90mm of super plush travel.

 

SART/Paved/road & fire road...if'n you want cheap, I've got a 2012 Trek Mamba, triple 44/32/22, 11/34 cassette, that I have taken everywhere from the Tour de Palm Springs century, a couple of 68 mile 10,000 ft + vertical gain road epics, to Grizzly Grinder, to dirt euphoria (but sore legs after). Currently set up as a ghetto 2X9 but can put the big ring (44T) back on and back out the high limit.

Needs a new fork...suspension or rigid is up to you. Yeah, it's heavy, but at $250 you can do whatever you want with it. Cheap because I have ridden the hell out of it, but you can upgrade whatever you need to. If you want it let me know, if not I'll keep riding it in places I probably shouldn't....

 

Welcome to the other side. hahahahah

 

Brent couldnt make something for you and put a Lefty on it?

 

I would look at On-One bikes. Their frames are awesome and could possibly get a carbon hardtail for the same price as that Niner you're looking at.

 

I was in the same boat last year and just kept cruising Craigs until I found a used Niner AIR9 frame for $250. Got it built up for less than a grand by using some old and some new parts. I loved it so much I've since upgraded just about everything on it and have exceeded the original budget. However, it was a cheap way to upgrade from my 26'er HT.

 

I have an aluminum AIR9, built up. I'd part with it only because I usually ride my Niner One SS or my FS bike. I love my Niners and the company has always been great with warranties. However, John had an EMD and at over 200lbs, I think he found it flexie. Of course, he found everything flexie and eventually went for a ti bike.

 

I run between 200 and 205 depending on my mid-week McDonalds's cravings and my aluminum Air 9 is very stiff. I switched to that from a Jamis Dragon Pro steel HT and enjoyed the newfound stifness once I adapted to it.

Just finished riding w/ my friend who has an older EMD9 sized medium that he's talking of putting up for sale. I don't know specifics, but he tends to run higher end components. He mentioned trying to get a grand for it.