Niner RIP 9 27.5+ 2 Star SLX Complete Mountain Bike 2016

No, you didn't misread that, the 2017 Niner RIP 9 27. 5 2 Star SLX Complete Mountain Bike has 27. 5 inch wheels, which on the surface sounds a bit like heresy given Niners longstanding devotion to all things 29er. However, the advent of 27. 5 means those big, beefy tires have nearly the same diameter as a normal 29in tire, which makes this move in wheel size a welcome option for added traction and an extra dose of cush. This particular model arrives in aluminum form, mirroring its more expensive carbon counterpart at a fraction of the price tag, with Shimano's workhorse SLX drivetrain and Stan's NoTubes wheels keeping things rolling through the rough.In addition to its newfound versatility to accommodate both 29in and 27. 5 wheels, the RIP 9 underwent quite a few changes to emerge as an all mountain shredder built for any terrain. It features a slacker head tube, steeper seat tube, longer top tube, stubbier chainstays, and a deeper suspension than its predecessor to push beyond its trail heritage and achieve its enduro aspirations.On top of those geometry tweaks, the new RIP 9 gains owes a large chunk of its responsive versatility to the introduction of Boost axle spacing. Pushing the rear axle out to 148mm enabled Niner to wrangle enough clearance at the bottom bracket to shorten the chainstays by 11mm and sharpen the seat tube angle by two degrees. These subtle changes make the rear triangle that much more responsive to input while also pushing the rider's engine up over the pedals.The shortened stays do their part to keep the bike agile, but the slack, 66. 5 degree head tube angle means the RIP 9 also joyfully flattens everything in its path or at least bails you out when you get a bit too ambitious with line choice. Its longer top tube and short stem keep handling on point, despite that low head tube angle, so you can always fall back on those stubby stays to navigate stretches of particularly technical terrain.The new RIP 9's CVA suspension design is ...