After introducing the first two models of the e9 line with the 150mm travel RIP e9 and the 180mm travel WFO e9 back in July, Niner is launching the new RLT e9 RDO e-Gravel bike. The new RLT adds the first drop bar e-bike to the brand’s lineup, with enough versatility to handle road, gravel, or urban riding using Bosch’s 4th generation Performance Line Speed drive system.
Niner has always been about getting people out on dirt, so adding e-bikes to the line was a natural progression in their desire to help riders gain access and enjoy the exhilaration and adventure of riding. With the addition of e-bikes, riders that might not have previously been able to enjoy tougher terrain or longer rides, now have the ability to join in, not to mention the ability to carry more on their commute,
While it’s been dubbed a gravel bike, the RLT e9 really is much more than that. You can rack it up for cargo, pack it up for bike packing, drop a flat bar and front suspension on it for a more relaxed ride, or just take it out and ride. It’s ready for race day with Niner’s highest level RDO (Race Day Optimized) carbon frame and fork, yet you can mount up custom racks or frame packs to use it for all-day adventures. With spacing up to 50mm tires for 700c or 650b wheels, you can fit some wide rubber inside. It uses boost spacing allowing it to work with modern mountain bike components for extra versatility. If you want to go the flat bar route, you can swap controls and remove the custom flat mount adapters to reveal the post mounts for mountain brakes. There is even internal routing for a 30.9mm dropper seat post, and the geometry is correct for a short travel fork on the front up to 40mm, like the Fox AX.
At the heart of the drivetrain is Bosch’s 4th gen Performance Line Speed drive system. The motor is mounted in the bottom bracket area using a one-piece machined mount, keeping the center of gravity low. The removable 500wh Power Tube battery is integrated into the downtube keeping the lines clean with a rigid backbone to keep the frame rigid and durable to meet ISO standards for mountain bikes.. The latest generation is 26% lighter and 40% more compact while being 20x faster in responding to your pedaling (or stop pedaling) than any other system on the market. It makes for zero lag time from when you start pedaling to when the motor provides power. Performance Line Speed boosts up to 28 mph (25 kph in the EU using the Performance Lince CX) using 75Nm of force for smooth, quick acceleration.
Out front, the RTL e9 uses the Bosch Purion display. This Bosch unit provides info for speed, distance, and range, along with displaying and controlling the riding mode. With a touch of a button, you can change between Turbo, Tour, Eco, and Off modes to control between higher boost or longer range, and there is also a Walk assist mode when moving off the bike. The easy to read display is also the access point for Bosch’s vast dealer network to perform any diagnostics needed.
As mentioned earlier, Niner makes custom racks and bags to fit the RTL e9. The frame pack hugs the curves of the frame nicely, while the rear pack fits between the frame and rear wheel in the rear rack. The packs are made from durable, water-resistant canvas, and frame packs bolt onto the frame for a stealthy look. The front and rear racks are made from tubular aluminum and provide mounting points for panniers and other bags to carry up to 40lbs. per rack. There are additional mounts on the fork legs and top tube for additional cargo options. It also has fender mounts to add to the bike’s versatility.
The RTL e9 will be available in five sizes from 50 to 59 in 3cm increments. It’s built up with what Niner dubs a “4-star Shimano GRX 600” groupset. The shifters are GRX 600, with an 800 rear derailleur and 400 brakes. The SLX M7000 cassette will provide a wide range of gears to the bike with a Praxis crank. The cockpit uses a mix of an Easton bar with Niner branded stem, seat post, and saddle. Rolling stock is a pair of Stans NoTubes Arch d rims with Formula hubs and fast-rolling Schwalbe G-One Speed tires.
Pricing will be $5,695 (EU TBD) and will be available through Niner dealers on October 15th.
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