Without question, fatbikes are fun. Last winter was the first time they went mainstream. They were everywhere in Utah and nearly everyone I know was either riding one or chomping at the bit to get one.
The sad reality of fat bikes is once the trails dry out, they aren’t as much fun as a regular mountain bike. Yeah, they are fun to tool around on in the summer, but for serious riding, they just aren’t the right tool for the job.
Well, the folks at Niner have an alternative to the piggy fatbikes on the market — the ROS 9 Plus. This bike is a 29er that’s built to handle up to 3-inch tires. That ends up being about an inch narrower than fatbike treads, but the reality is 3-inch tires are pretty girthy and will float on top of most rideable snow conditions. And, the narrower width reduces the gyroscope effect, thus making the ROS 9 Plus an all-year tool instead of a “winter only” toy.
Niner ROS 9 Plus Features:
- Fits up to 3.0 tires
- Short chainstays for a playful feel
- 4130 chromoly frame
- External or stealth dropper post routing
- Niner 4130 chromoly fork with 15mm thru axle
- 12×142 rear axle
- Eccentric bottom bracket
- Built for 1x drivetrains or singlespeed only
- Price: $2999 (X1 kit complete)
