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When the Niner MCR (Magic Carpet Ride) was first teased at the 2017 Sea Otter Classic, it was the talk of the event. Back then, the bike on display was their RKT 9 RDO mountain bike with 100/90mm of front and rear travel built up with drop bars. The hype was extended over many years, but to be honest, the bike never really found an audience. Here is a quick look back at a bike that was before its time and a tip of the hat to Niner for pushing the boundaries and evolution of modern gravel.
In 2018, Niner was back at the Sea Otter Classic with an unrideable plastic 3D-printed model built up with all the appropriate small parts and components they had been testing with alloy prototypes. A few months later, I visited Niner and rode the first carbon Niner MCR. In short, the Niner MCR was magical to ride in the correct terrain and with the correct mindset.
The Niner MCR is not a full suspension bike in the same way that we think of mountain bikes. Instead, it is amazing when it comes to washboard roads and constant small bumps. Essentially it was designed to keep the tires on the ground and your butt comfortably planted on the seat when the road gets rough.
The Magic Has Faded
It turns out that while the Niner MCR does an amazing job, it has not been as well received as Niner hoped. The frame is overbuilt and meets all of the mountain bike test standards, like all of the Niner gravel bikes. Add in the suspension and linkage bits, which are heavy, and a complete bike is over 25 pounds. That is heavier than many modern full-suspension XC bikes.
Well, it looks like the Magic Carper Ride is over, and there is a Niner MCR fire sale on their website. You can get a frame & fork for $1600, normally $4100. There are currently many frameset discounts on their site, but none as drastic as this. Yes, it is the older 2021 Fox 32 Float SC AX FIT4 fork, but that alone had a retail of $800 or so.
The Niner MCR 9 RDO only comes in three sizes, 53, 56, and 59. While I don’t ride it super often, I actually own one of these, and I will claim that it is amazing on my local fire roads. I truly enjoy riding mine, and I’m a bit sad to see it go.
Get One While You Can
I know they are not for everyone, and it will likely be tough to get small parts in the future, but at this price, it might be a great deal for someone looking for gravel comfort. The Niner MCR 9 RDO frame (with rear shock) is $1300, normally $3500. I want to say the better deal is the frame & fork for $1600. However, the new Fox 32 Taper-Cast fork is much better. Even the RockShox Rudy is night and day better than the original Fox gravel fork that is in the deal. So if you want to buy one and build it for fun, get the frame and fork, but if you want to build it up properly, get the frame only and get one of the better and newer gravel suspension forks.
Niner doesn’t sell complete bikes on their site, but the MCR hasn’t been updated in a while. I’m sure that if you wanted a complete bike, Niner would be happy to make you a deal.
Check out all the Niner deals while they last.
www.ninerbikes.com/collections/frames/
The Things to Know at the MCR Launch
