I have a 2018 niner rip 9 that’s absolutely kitted. Here’s the build list and pics. I love this bike but i also realize that I rarely do any riding nowadays that warrants the 160-150mm travel. I do big days and i love climbing and exploring. I love me some tech occasionally and I do like to ride some scary stuff once and awhile but it’s becoming rare I need a full enduro bike.
I came across a 2023 transition smuggler and the dude is asking 3k, I have the money and I think I’d love having a better climbing, lighter, more modern bike. Is it worth moving to something different and blowing 3k?
And idea what I can get for the niner? I know it’s an older frame. Thanks in advance.
by aidancrow654
2 Comments
Hard to say. Bikes kinda settled into good geo around 2017. Anything newer just has more internal routing faff.
Plus, you know your bikes history.
Recently someone offered me $2k for my tricked out rim brake road bike. Campy, deep carbon wheels, etc. I sold it because I wasn’t going to get another offer like that and it was on the wrong side of obsolescence.
If your bike was a few years older I’d say to try and sell it but newer bikes than 2018 don’t offer much except having less wear. If your niner is up on maintenance it might be of equal value.
The only real “must have” that my 2021 rkt9 lacks is udh. The other improvements for newer models are aesthetic.
Personally I would ride your current bike until it’s really done and then buy new. Don’t sidegrade.
In my experience it is hard to go from 160-150 down to 130. You notice the lack of safety net more than the weight savings, especially considering that the new transition is probably a physically larger bike with only marginally lighter parts.
Buy the new bike if you want, new shit is cool, but I’d probably hang on to the Niner for days when you want to feel unstoppable, or just to lend to friends/family.
You’ll likely only get $1000 for the Niner and at that price point, I’d rather hang on to a working full sus, especially one that you like.