You have to approach the Ninety-Nine with the right attitude. A fully that weighs less than 9.5 kilos is a special tool. A scalpel. Not an everyday cruiser. It is one of the few bikes where you MUST wear tight lycra. Where the estimated one-hour test lap is over after 53 minutes. On which the entire lap is done in the large (39 mm) dial. Where you shift up a gear against all reason because the acceleration is so awesome. Compared to its predecessor, the Ninety-Six, the Ninety-Nine has a new frame layout with a new shock position and linkage. The full carbon frame is said to weigh 1.9 kilos (with 160 g shock), the tapered head tube, post-mount brake mount and the ball-bearing carbon rocker are new. The 7700 euro team version deserves its name not only because of the VW Multivan stickers. Out of the box, the bike is equipped for world championships. Highlight: The super-light wheels weigh 3.1 kilos in total, despite the scandium rims, not carbon.
You accept the fact that the soles are pointed. As with a cup tyre on a sports car, you have to know what you're doing with Maxxis tyres. Overconfidence is not recommended. The suspension works so well that you don't feel it, which is a sign of quality. There is no drivetrain influence, which is also confirmed by the calculations in the BIKE lab. We measured 111 millimetres of travel, which we almost used to the full on the test lap. The fork with twin-shot system can be reduced from 98 to 64 mm and can also be locked, i.e. locked even when lowered. With the suspension completely locked out, you can suck road cyclists into your slipstream on the road. The steering angle is 70.5 degrees steep (therefore also suitable for 120 mm forks), together with the light front wheel this results in extremely nimble steering behaviour. Racers also love the 74.5 degree steep seat angle. The riding position is correspondingly sporty.
ConclusionRacefully of the top class. Objective technically realised at the highest level, a lightning-fast razor for experts on the trail.
PLUS Super light, very efficient chassis, race-like handling
MINUS High price
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