Niner WFO9 Part 3

If you have been reading up on the WFO9 reviewing that I have been doing, this is  my conclusion. It will be followed by Charlie's review and I am sure I will get feed back coming in from other riders.

I have commented on the climbing ability and the Niners stellar performance in rock gardens. This is my overall impression of the bike, pro's and cons and who should be on it.

The WFO9 is going to appeal to a particular type of rider. I would say most people fit into the category of the RIP9 as it is more versatile.  The WFO9 is a monster of a bike. Its ability to plow over things is one of the best I have ridden. The 29" wheels are one of the big reasons that this is true. Add 5.5 inches of travel and a slack(for a 29er) head angle and you have an explanation for it's ability.

In my opinion the WFO9 does not feel like a 6.5 inch travel 26er. It feels like a 5.5 29er. That is to say more capable of smoothing out trail obstacles. The wheel has less of a tendency to hang up on medium size irregularities. It is smoother and holds it speed far better then a 26" wheel bike of any travel range.  It does not cushion as well as longer travel 26" bikes. This is especially true when it comes to drops. This is not a weakness just a difference. Different tools for different jobs. I personally feel that the WFO9 holds a line better then 26" bikes with more travel. It plows over terrain and is less affected by large impacts due to terrain.

I bottom out the WFO9 even on 3-4 foot drops with the shock set at 25% sag.  If you are doing drops on the WFO9 invest in a coil shock with bottom out resistance.  I have not ridden it with a coil so really have nothing more to add. So for courses where there are alot of drops, or you are a drop hack like myself  this may be an issue.

To really appreciate the WFO9 you really need long steep down hills. It was a little hard to get the full impact of this bike on our local trails. It felt the most comfortable on the steepest terrain we have. The steering was precise and the handling got better the faster and braver  I got.

The WFO9 was a bit long for really aggressive handling.  Tighter berms caused me to feel very tall on the bike even with the seat 3" lower due to the crank brothers Joplin seat post I have been using on the WFO9. This feeling combined with the long wheel base and long top tube made the bike a little cumbersome in the turns.

I can't really wrap my head around this feeling. As long as you are able to get low on the bike this should not  be a problem. If I had the smaller size I would have had the saddle set at the same height and the Joplin would have  the same 3" drop. I don't know why but the sensation stayed with me. I would down sized the frame if I had to do it over. For the record I am 6' 1 3/4 inches tall with a 35" inseam with shoes on. That is an actual measurement not a jean size measure. Incidentally I would buy the Large RIP9. The RIP9 we tested was a medium.

Other notables. The rear Maxle axle broke. The lever part, I am not that hard on parts to actually brake the axle! Second and the only flaw with the WFO9 is the front derailleur hits the chain stay at full compression. I did not notice it too much while riding but it does happen.

So who should buy a WFO9? If you are a big person and are hard on equipment, ride demanding trails with lots of immovable obstacles  and want a kick but trail bike that won't hold you back, look no further. The WFO9 pedals so well and is so stiff/strong it's  really hard to beat.

If you are an aggressive rider who looks for the nastiest trails and are more inclined to bash through stuff then poke around the WFO9 would fit your riding style.

If you like to go really fast on rutted out rocky terrain or ride steep root infested trails with some drops This would be an excellent choice.

I see this as a really killer Super D racing bike. It could  handle a DH course also. I would have to caution though it would not be my choice for true DH riding. In the event I was going to go a couple of times a year I would not hesitate to ride the WFO9.

Who should not. If you are timing your local XC loop and are trying to shave time off every time you ride. If climbing is one of the priorities in buying a bike(if it is I imagine that type of rider is not reading this.) If you ride tight XC  trails with lots of twists and turns and if you want to pump berms and really like to get aggressive in corners. If you like to manual and pump every depression in the trail this also would not be my first choice.

In conclusion the WFO9 is a great bike for the right rider. The frame was nearly flawless and clearly over whelmed the Marzocchi fork. It is reliable, predictable and bomber. If that is your definition of "All-Mountain and sounds like the right tool for your trails buy the WFO9.

Leave a comment, and if you'd like your own picture to show up next to your comments, go get a gravatar!