This is Steve with another Bikes We Ride from Maklin Bike Shop. Today I’m sharing a pretty unique build: a previous-generation Niner RKT 9 RDO converted into a full-suspension drop-bar gravel bike. This is the older geometry—shorter, steeper, and lighter feeling than the current version—which made it a great candidate for this kind of setup.
Video review
History & setups we’ve tested
Races ridden on this bike:
- None, but built it for Cheq 40, then got sick and didn’t make it
Wheelsets used:
- Reserve 28 XC carbon wheels (DT 350 hubs)
- Previously: Stock Stans wheelset from the original 3-Star build
Tires we’ve ridden:
Drivetrain configurations:
- Originally: Mechanical GX 12-speed
- Upgraded: XX1 Eagle derailleur + electronic AXS controller
- GX cassette currently installed
- Force Wide road crank installed for power meter compatibility
- 40T chainring previously (shimmed); currently running 36T
Longest ride / biggest day:
Photo gallery (optional):
[ADD PHOTO GALLERY BLOCK HERE]
Drivetrain
This bike started life as a 3-Star GX mechanical build with Stans wheels. Over the past couple years, we’ve experimented with several configurations as upgrade kits became incredibly cheap. It now runs a GX cassette, XX1 Eagle derailleur, and AXS electronic shifting. The Force Wide road crank was installed mainly because I had a power-meter option for it, and it actually fits the frame well with only a minor spacer swap on the DUB bottom bracket.
We tested this setup with a 40T chainring (shimmed with chainring washers to get the chainline right) but eventually settled on a 36T. The 36T works better when single-tracking and doing rowdier riding. The 40T is great for pure gravel, but the 36T is more versatile.
Wheels and tires
The wheels on this build are Reserve 28 XC carbon rims on DT 350 hubs—originally from my ZFS test bike. Like most bikes around the shop, parts get moved around based on what we’re experimenting with. They’re light, durable, and match the bike’s feel well.
Tires were not specifically mentioned in the transcript, but the bike was ridden with the same rubber used on the flat-bar configuration, so the setup works well across both modes.
Cockpit and fit
This build uses the same drop bars and AXS controllers that were on our drop-bar AIR 9. The cool thing about how we’ve built these bikes is that we can swap between drop-bar and flat-bar configurations in about 20 minutes:
- Flat bar + AXS controller swapped as a complete unit (with calipers still attached)
- Drop bar + levers also kept with calipers attached
- Disconnect at the steerer, bolt on the other setup, reconnect, set derailleur pairing, check limits
Because the old-gen RKT routed rear brake lines externally, the swap is very easy.
This is a medium frame. I’m long-legged and long-armed but shorter in the torso, so I tend to run a high seat and shorter cockpits. With flat bars, I ran an 80mm stem. With drop bars, I started with a 70mm, but it’s a bit long. For singletrack and rowdier terrain, I’ll likely switch back to a 60mm to get the balance right.
This generation RKT is steeper than modern bikes, which actually helps this drop-bar configuration work really well for gravel. Aggressive fit with the seat forward and bars low makes it feel fast on gravel. For singletrack, backing off that position and shortening the stem helps it feel right again.
Braking performance
The bike uses SRAM G2 brakes. They work well, and the brake-lever feel integrates nicely with the drop-bar setup when paired with AXS road levers. Rotors were not specifically mentioned, but overall braking performance has been totally solid.
Additional notes
The interesting part about this bike is how differently it feels depending on the bars:
With flat bars:
Quick, snappy, agile—feels like a lightweight XC bike.
With drop bars:
Your brain switches to “gravel mode.” Acceleration feels slower from a dead stop, but once rolling it’s smooth and incredibly comfortable over washboard and chattery gravel.
This older RKT geometry + full suspension + drop bars = surprisingly capable gravel “monster cross” bike. Niner technically already makes a full-suspension gravel bike (the MCR), but this RKT setup lands somewhere between XC bike, monster cross bike, and adventure bike.
For reference, weight with pedals is about 26 pounds 6 ounces.
Final thoughts
This Niner RKT 9 RDO drop-bar conversion has been a very fun project. It’s smooth on gravel, super comfortable on rough roads, and still playful and agile when used on singletrack. If you want something different—or a gravel setup with honest suspension comfort—this kind of conversion is worth considering. If you have questions or want something similar built, just let us know.