Niner Air 9 Carbon Frame

The Niner Air 9 Carbon is Niner’s latest iteration of the renowned Air 9 frame. Niner has proven year after year that they’ve got the 29er hardtail geometry down to a science, which they are demonstrating yet again with the new Air 9 Carbon. Although it’s technically not an RDO, it borrows the mold and several other features previously only seen on the Air 9 RDO frame.

The Air 9 Carbon features internal cable routing (the frame is Di2 ready and side swing front derailleur compatible), thinner tube profiles, smaller junctions, carbon molded headset races, a low profile disc brake mount, and a PF30 carbon bottom bracket shell. Niner decided to go with a PF30 bottom bracket shell for the Air 9 Carbon geared-only carbon hardtail. The PF30 bottom bracket shell allows for 24mm or 30mm spindle cranks to be installed, however this frame is not compatible with an EBB (hence ‘geared-only’).

To keep this horse tame, Niner continues to use tapered headtubes in order to maintain a stiffer front end to drastically improve the overall handling and control. Additionally, Niner also decided to go with a very sleek integrated headset that is lightweight, easy to install and maintain.

This version of the Air 9 Carbon is the first to feature a 12 x 142 rear hub spacing allowing a thru axle to be used as an added measure to increase the overall stiffness of the ride while shedding roughly 50 grams. Other improvements making their debut on the Air 9 Carbon include its 2.4” tire clearance versus its previous 2.35” clearance, as well as the lighter headbadge that sheds valuable grams without expensing the Niner charm.

The new Air 9 Carbon is a stellar frame that anyone can and will enjoy. Although it’s technically not ‘Race Day Optimized’, this bike is as much at home on the XC course as it is enjoying the scenery on your weekend loop. By providing their proven hardtail geometry in a lightweight carbon frame, Niner definitely knew what they were doing when they designed the new Air 9 Carbon.

Niner Air 9 Carbon Frame Features

• Niner Carbon for strength, stiffness and ride quality
• 142 x 12 rear spacing (over 50 grams lighter)
• Tapered head tube for front end stiffness, strength and steering precision
• PF30 Bottom Bracket
• Low profile disc brake mount
• Replaceable rear derailleur hanger
• Clearance for 2.4” tire
• New lighter Niner headbadge
• Titanium chain drop and chain suck protection pieces
• Compatible with standard 3x chainring systems
• SRAM recommended 2x chainrings: 26/39 or lower
• SRAM XX1 recommended max chainring: 32T Q-Factor: 168mm
• SHIMANO XT recommended 2x chainrings: 28/40 or lower
• SHIMANO XTR FC M9000 series recommended 2x chainrings: 28/38 or lower. XTR FC M980 series 2x chainrings not recommended
• C5 Carbon warranty – 5 years
• Frame Weight: 3.4 lbs
• Includes Headset and seat post collar
• Seat post size: 31.6mm
• PF30 Bottom Bracket
• Headset compatibility: IS42/28.6 IS52/40

Note: White/Black sku image is for color illustration purposes only. Upon purchasing, you will be shipped only the frame.