Bounce, bounce, bounce. Every time I’ve ridden mountain bikes with Kyle over the past year, he’s barely had both wheels on the ground. He’s been riding a carbon Niner RIP 9 RDO, with Shimano XT and all the dressings of one of Niner’s three-star build. It’s still an expensive bike, when compared to something like a hard tail, yet the $5,700 pricetag doesn’t pinch as much as some other full suspension bikes featured here on the site in years past.

This is not a bike review. You see, writing reviews for bikes like this is tough. Kyle didn’t want to do one because he feels like putting your opinion out there about how fun or un-fun a bike is can be tricky. It’s completely subjective and as far as he’s concerned, the proof is in the pudding. That pudding just so happens to be a photo gallery filled with lots of air and fun lines, along with a nice and sated steed set up upon a saddle in the Angeles National Forest.

I agree with Kyle in some regards. Writing detailed, analytical reviews of bikes where millimeters, half a º in angles and other minutiae often result in a lot of banter about what makes a bike “fun” or “shreddy” can sometimes deter a really valuable discussion and finite point: run what you brung.

While Kyle doesn’t enjoy tech writing anymore than I do, I will say he makes this bike look fun with ease. Oh and we’ll both agree on one thing: go to your local dealer’s demo days, try out a lot of bikes and when you’re ready to buy one, go to your local shop and buy one. Just make sure when and if you do, ride with a smile on your face, say “howdy” to people on the trail and obey the common courtesies.

Over and out!