WFO 9 RDO - FRAME

Wide, Full Open - Our enduro-ready, long-travel 29er brings 170mm of wheel travel to slay any singletrack, yet ascend uphills with Niner’s signature CVA suspension efficiency.

A Legend Reborn

The WFO 9 RDO: It's F*cking Back

More than a decade after our first W.F.O. 9 defined the category and set a benchmark for what a long-travel 29er could do, we're bringing it back. The 2021 WFO 9 RDO draws on our years of 29er evolution to establish a new paradigm of unbridled, big-wheel domination. Reborn with 170mm of stable CVA suspension, a 180mm-travel fork, adjustable geometry, increased frame stiffness, and our signature RDO carbon fiber, the new generation of WFO 9 RDO is an enduro-ready brawler with the pedaling prowess to get you to the top in style.

Wide, Full Open: A decade later

Loyal Ninerds feared that it was extinct forever. But the WFO 9 RDO was only dormant, lying in wait, evolving and mutating to reemerge as the apex predator of long-travel 29ers

That first W.F.O. cut fresh 29er tracks in too many ways to count. Technologies that we take for granted today were pioneered in that legendary frame.

What a difference a decade can make. The strongest remaining genetic link between our original and this new WFO 9 RDO is simply an unquenchable appetite for wide, full open, edge of control, “honey, I can’t feel my face” SPEED.

Genetically engineered for “just right” geometry

All the descending capability of a 170mm travel 29er is fully expressed in this new WFO 9 RDO. Yet any detectable trace of the dreaded “climbing compromises” chromosome is edited out.

We all know that modern enduro bikes have to manage descents into madness on the scale of World Cup DH tracks. Yet they also need to get you efficiently back up to the top when pedaling is your only option. Which, let’s be honest, is usually the case.

With this schizophrenic spectrum of duties in mind, we dialed in a “just right” geometry chart for the WFO 9 RDO. It’s low and slack by nature, but not so slouchy as to kick you out of contention on the steepest climbs.

The native low mode geometry is optimized for all-out, top to bottom, brake-rotor-bluing descents. A 64-degree head tube angle combined with the low BB and long top tube scream “stability” even at eye-watering speeds.

Yet the wheelbase isn’t so rangy as to prevent tight, uphill transitions when the need arises. And a 77-degree seat tube angle keeps your weight centered over the bottom bracket for composed climbing.

If your daily dose of dirt includes more pedaling, tighter corners, and sneaky sniper rocks, you might want a higher bottom bracket and steeper head tube angle. Not to worry - the built-in flip-chip seatstay pivots allow riders to raise the BB by a full 9mm and steepen the geometry by 0.7 degrees.

CVA suspension: the core DNA code

At the heart of our WFO 9 RDO is the Constantly Varying Arc (CVA) suspension system. The first suspension layout made specifically for 29ers, CVA debuted in 2008 and has been the core of Niner’s DNA ever since.

Our CVA fundamentals are rock solid: it’s stable yet supple while climbing and pedaling; going downhill, it’s sensitive and supportive; it’s consistent and controlled in every phase of travel.

On the WFO, a trunnion mount shock adds width (and therefore stiffness) to the frame and linkage. The shock bolts directly to the rocker link with bearings at the interface. This allows for extra-smooth articulation through the entire rocker sweep of 40-degrees during suspension travel. Furthermore, trunnion shocks occupy less space, allowing a compact form factor.

In consideration of the dueling demands riders expect from the WFO 9 RDO, subtle refinements to the kinematics give it superior pedaling behavior despite 170mm of travel on tap. The leverage ratio curve starts at 3.0, hits 2.4 at 67% travel, then hits 2.6 at full travel. It’s also tuned for a slightly falling rate (about 6% in the last 33% of travel). If you’re running an air shock as the bike is spec’d, the overall rate in every phase of travel feels consistent and natural. Even with a coil you won’t feel as though the bike is bottoming out.

Confidence to drop into the biggest lines, knowing you’ll get consistency and control from top to bottom: that’s CVA suspension.

The brawny big brother in our family tree

From a distance, the new WFO 9 RDO looks like a fraternal twin to the trail bike in our line, the popular and handsome RIP 9 RDO. However, Niner’s characteristic full-suspension frame cosmetics deceive your eyes. A closer look reveals that the new WFO 9 RDO is clearly the bigger, brawnier sibling that got its square-jawed genes from cousin Vinnie’s side of the family.

With our signature Rib Cage struts across the front triangle, flattening of the top and down tubes, widening the main rocker link pivot, and beefing up the rear triangle, the entire bike is stiff from front to back. The struts reduce bottom bracket deflection while keeping the upper portion of the front triangle supple and compliant. And the wide, flat surfaces on the top and downtube help to absorb frontal impacts and vibrations while resisting deflection and twisting under torsional load. Finally, crossmembers in the rocker link and swingarm keep the rear of the bike on lockdown.

In order to get the best possible shifting performance, we designed the smoothest, straightest cable routing possible. Cable housing slides easily through full-sleeve guide tubes in gentle arcs from front to back. And an integrated “cable cage” above the bottom bracket area keeps the housing free to move as the suspension cycles, yet far from harm.

CVA suspension

Supple yet stable, and the confidence to drop into gnarly lines, knowing you’ll get consistency and control from top to bottom: that’s CVA suspension. Read More

RDO carbon fiber

Niner’s premium Race Day Optimized carbon fiber means more strength, higher stiffness, and less weight. Read More

Full Sleeve cable guides

No more fishin’. We built in end-to-end cable guides through the frame for easy installation and maintenance.

Enduro Max Black Oxide pivot bearings

We use the smoothest, most durable pivot bearings in the industry. Made by Enduro, they’re built for life. Read More

Protection where you need it

Factory installed, integrated frame protection to keep your ride safe from harm, even when you’re in over your head.

Lifetime warranty

Ride, race, rally. We have you covered with warranty service, small parts, and a support team that actually answers the phone. Read More

More Information
Available Frame SizesSM, MD, LG
Available ColorsHot Tamale; Fade to Black
FrameNINER RDO CARBON FIBER, 170MM TRAVEL, GEO FLIP CHIP, RIB CAGE CONSTRUCTION, FULL SLEEVE CABLE ROUTING, ENDURO MAX BLACK OXIDE PIVOT BEARINGS
Tech Specs
FRAME FITTINGS AND MOUNTS 1 BOTTLE CAGE IN FRONT TRIANGLE REAR SUSPENSION TRAVEL 170MM
MAXIMUM FRONT SUSPENSION 180MM FORK OFFSET 44MM
SHOCK SIZE 205X65MM TRUNNION SHOCK MOUNTING HARDWARE UPPER - M10 X 54 TRUNNION, LOWER M8 X 25MM
SUGGESTED SHOCK SAG 0% (19.5MM) SEATPOST SIZE 30.9
SEAT COLLAR SIZE 34.9 CABLE ROUTING INTERNAL
FRONT DERAILLEUR N/A HEADSET SIZE SHIS DESCRIPTION ZS44/28.6 | ZS56/40
PIVOT BEARING SPECS (8X) 26 X 17 X 5MM Enduro BO MAX,
(2X) 26 X 17 X 10MM Enduro Double Row,
(2X) 22 X 10 X 6MM Enduro BO MAX
CHAINRING COMPATIBILITY 1X
MAXIMUM CHAINRING SIZE 36T Q-FACTOR N/A
ISCG COMPATIBILITY ISCG 05 BOTTOM BRACKET TYPE BSA THREADED
BIOCENTRIC COMPATIBLE N/A BRAKE MOUNT TYPE POST MOUNT (180MM MIN ROTOR)
MAXIMUM REAR ROTOR SIZE 203MM REAR WHEEL SPACING 12X148MM
REAR WHEEL THROUGH AXLE SPEC 12 X 182MM, M12 X P1.0, L15MM FRONT WHEEL AXLE SPACING N/A
FRONT WHEEL THROUGH AXLE SPEC N/A MAX TIRE SIZE 29 X 2.6
Geometry
Geometry Chart
(A) TT Length (B) Seat Tube Length (C) Chainstay Length Actual (D) Horizontal Chainstay (E) Front Center (F) Wheelbase (G) BB Drop (H) Headtube Length (I) Headtube Angle (J) Seattube Angle (K) Standover Height (L) Reach (M) Stack
Metric (MM)
Flip Chip Position High Mode Low Mode - - - High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode - High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode
SM 573 575 390 433 432 770 771 1203 1205 19 28 90 64.7 64.0 77.7 77.0 732 725 437 430 621 626
MD 595 597 419 433 432 793 794 1225 1227 19 28 95 64.7 64.0 77.7 77.0 734 727 457 450 626 631
LG 625 627 462 433 432 825 826 1257 1259 19 28 100 64.7 64.0 77.7 77.0 755 748 487 480 630 635
Imperial (Inch)
Flip Chip Position High Mode Low Mode - - - High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode - High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode High Mode Low Mode
SM 22.6 22.6 15.4 17.1 17.0 30.3 30.4 47.4 47.4 0.75 1.1 3.5 64.7 64.0 77.7 77.0 28.8 28.5 17.2 16.9 24.4 24.6
MD 23.4 23.5 16.5 17.1 17.0 31.2 31.3 48.2 48.3 0.75 1.1 3.7 64.7 64.0 77.7 77.0 28.9 28.6 18.0 17.7 24.6 24.8
LG 24.6 24.7 18.2 17.1 17.0 32.5 32.5 49.5 49.6 0.75 1.1 3.9 64.7 64.0 77.7 77.0 29.7 29.4 19.2 18.9 24.8 25.0
Sizing

Frame Size Recommendations by Height

SM

5'3"–5'9"
1.6–1.75M

MED

5'8"–6'0"
1.73–1.83M

LG

5'11"–6'5"
1.8–1.91M

Inseam Sizing

Bike inseam sizing example chart

For riders who fall between sizes, we recommend sizing down for a more maneuverable ride or sizing up for more stability.