Niner

WFO E9 3-Star e-Bike - 2021

When the snow finally melts off the highest peaks and the trails are good to go, there’s no waiting for your friend with the pick-up truck to get off work to shuttle a lap. The Niner WFO e9 allows you to run your own shuttle, with the Bosch-powered pedal assist to access the rowdiest terrain the mountain has to offer you. Trails that used to be out of reach are now well within your domain, and the climbs that left us dreading another lap are a chance to enjoy the views. With a trail-gobbling 180mm of coil-sprung rear travel, the WFO e9 amplifies everything we love about mountain biking, so we enjoy the ride more than ever.

Niner built the WFO e9 alloy frame around a 29in front wheel and 27.5+in rear. The larger front wheel better rolls over obstacles in the trail, while the smaller rear wheel allows for shorter chainstays and thus more nimble handling in the tight sections given the increased mass of an ebike. The overall geometry is true to similarly aggressive downhill rigs with an ultra-slack 63.5degree headtube angle to keep the handling stable at speed and a 76degree seat tube for efficiency and comfort on the pedal sections. The rear utilizes Horst link four bar suspension system and 180mm RockShox coil shock for Niner’s supple yet stable suspension feel in an ebike platform.

In designing the WFO e9, Niner turned to the experts at Bosch, as their pedal assist platform has become the pinnacle of ebike systems. The 625Wh motor provides an estimated range of 80km, plenty of distance for even our most ambitious days. Up front, the Bosch Purion display makes it simple to switch between power modes as well as check charge level, so you never end up stranded without a shuttle home, unlike that time your pal bailed on the ride. Five drive modes provide the assist you need for any given scenario, from turbo to eco to walk-assist for a little nudge when getting your bike from point A to B. Bosch’s PowerTube battery is nestled into the downtube of the WFO e9, with an integrated bash guard to protect against any wayward rocks or roots. The Bosch CX motor provides an even and available torque with a maximum of 85Nm and 20mph for the sportiest sections. Even torque means less of the ebike feel of yesteryear with a wrenching to get up to speed. The WFO’s alloy frame helps with the motor’s already superior temperature regulation to avoid overheating.

Niner decks out the WFO in SRAM’s SX Eagle drivetrain for reliable shifting across a 12speed cassette. SRAM’s Guide RE brakes provide powerful speed control as their ebike-specific model to better handle the mass and speed of aggressive riding. Up front, a RockShox Zeb R 180mm fork is a capable partner to the coil spring rear for technical and steep terrain. Stans NoTubes Flow wheels handle the rolling duty, with Maxxis rubber to provide grip through corners and over rock gardens.