I'm trying to decide on an all purpose gravel bike that will serve as my only ride. I will use the bike for gravel rides of varying lengths, short and long, riding on the road and paved trails, commuting, and some light single track. I have narrowed it down to: Niner RLT 9 in steel or carbon (3 star build with shimano 105), the new 2019 Salsa Warbird Carbon 105, the Norco Search, or the Trek Checkpoint SL5. Although I will attempt to try all the bikes first, tracking down the Niners, the Salsa, and the Norco in my neck of the woods is next to impossible. The Niners and the Salsa are particularly intriguing to me as I often find myself between a 58cm and 61cm frame and they come in 59. Any insights on these bikes would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Well its going to be a while before you can get a new Salsa Warbird (quality production issues) - so I would check that off the list. I got a leftover Niner RLT RDO (2 star build) for a really good deal and now I am slowly upgrading it when I can. It is my road and gravel bike and I love it so far. It is a very stout. I had it on a mountain on trails that I should have had my full suspension mountain bike on - and it was solid. I was interested in the Norco Search also but there are none around me. The Checkpoint looks like a nice bike but I have not ridden that one.
tdilf wrote:Well its going to be a while before you can get a new Salsa Warbird (quality production issues) - so I would check that off the list. I got a leftover Niner RLT RDO (2 star build) for a really good deal and now I am slowly upgrading it when I can. It is my road and gravel bike and I love it so far. It is a very stout. I had it on a mountain on trails that I should have had my full suspension mountain bike on - and it was solid. I was interested in the Norco Search also but there are none around me. The Checkpoint looks like a nice bike but I have not ridden that one.
67DGS wrote:Love my Niner RLT9 steel. Not light, but a great ride for long distances. Am currently setting up a 650b wheel set for 650 x 47 tires.
After researching a bit more I am leaning towards the RLT9 steel. I don't need or plan to be winning any speed contests and comfort/durability are primary factors for me. I plan to test ride one next week. Which build/groupset did you go with on yours?
Mine was the 3 star Rival build. I am not young and live in a mountainous area, so wanted 22 speeds. I have always had Shimano on my road and mtn bikes , but am getting along nicely with the SRAM.
67DGS wrote:Mine was the 3 star Rival build. I am not young and live in a mountainous area, so wanted 22 speeds. I have always had Shimano on my road and mtn bikes , but am getting along nicely with the SRAM.
Nice, I'm looking at either the Sram Rival or Shimano 105. I have never owned Sram and was leaning 105 by default but maybe that deserves a second thought. Any reason you went Sram over Shimano on yours?
I bought my Niner used so had no choice. Would have preferred Shimano and if I was buying new the 105 is what I would get. I live in Vancouver and Shimano parts are just a lot easier to get up here. Also, in my case, I have to adjust my thinking every time I go from Niner with Sram to road bike or trainer, both with Shimano
Wilkens wrote:I'm trying to decide on an all purpose gravel bike that will serve as my only ride. I will use the bike for gravel rides of varying lengths, short and long, riding on the road and paved trails, commuting, and some light single track. I have narrowed it down to: Niner RLT 9 in steel or carbon (3 star build with shimano 105), the new 2019 Salsa Warbird Carbon 105, the Norco Search, or the Trek Checkpoint SL5. Although I will attempt to try all the bikes first, tracking down the Niners, the Salsa, and the Norco in my neck of the woods is next to impossible. The Niners and the Salsa are particularly intriguing to me as I often find myself between a 58cm and 61cm frame and they come in 59. Any insights on these bikes would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Nice bikes in that list. I enjoyed trying them. One of the dealers was stocked well and also had Konas. I ended up liking the Sutra Ltd and with time like it even more. It's not really a racy or weight weenie bike but it really does about anything including single track and touring.
FYI about the 1x. Most of the time I love the 1x simplicity but there have been a few times when I can tell my wife, son or a riding buddy has a ratio between mine.
A friend with same bike is running smaller tires than the 50mm here but I love the MSO 50s set up as tubeless for the truly does anything bike. That friend says this is the bike you buy if you want to do pavement and a jump line in same ride and rarely use your car.
I'd like to throw my 2 cents into the hat! First you cannot go wrong with a Warbird. I absolutely loved mine. Well that was until I rode the Trek Checkpoint. My local dealer let me take it out for a day and I fell in love. Not even set-up for me, the 25 mile ride we did was enough to know I loved it. What I like is it's an all around bike with the option of going SS thanks to the adjustable rear axle. My plan is Gravel and Road all year round with some SS riding on both. I used to own 4 bikes, now I have one do it all.
![[xkVTwUJ]](https://i.imgur.com/xkVTwUJ.jpg)