Gary Fisher Rig vs. Niner Something

SIR Nine - can be single speed or geared, steel (is real), 2 year warranty

MCR - set up to be geared only, steel, 2 year warranty, does not have horizontal dropouts

Fisher Rig - can be single speed or geared, aluminum, lifetime warranty

Was he really riding a Cobia this summer?!

2008 RIG? http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/archivemodel/397

Nice subtle color, beefy fork, would you ride it rigid?

2009 RIG? http://garyfisherbikes.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/gary-fisher-rig.jpg

Nice color, I like the brown wheels, would you keep the components?

2010 RIG? http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/rig-single-speed

I'm pleasantly surprised by the color/graphics. Most of the 2010 fisher graphics seem obnoxious. Looks like the same fork as '08 and '09.

NINERS: http://www.ninerbikes.com/fly.aspx?layout=bike

What to think about:

Aluminum vs. steel

-(do you love Reynolds 853?)
-"It has soul."

-Will it rust? what does frame saver do to the paint job?

-how are the welds --does it matter?

-will you ride it in the rain? snow?

-steel is classic, timeless

-aluminum is cheaper, doesn't rust, but has a general life capacity before it just breaks --but if it does, GF has an amazing warranty.

Single speed vs. geared

-SS - always the wrong gear?

-SS - no muck in your derailleur

-SS - what ratio will you run it? will you be changing this often?

-Geared - 1 x 9?, heavy, ride anywhere

-If buying MCR, how difficult is it to run SS, can it be done?

Cost

- Niner EMD - why buy a Niner if you want an aluminum bike?

- is there a 2009 still in the shop? what upgrades to the RIG have they done since '08?

Graphics

- do you like the flecky, glittery paint of a Niner?

- do you want your bike to have the same graphics of one sold 3 years ago?

- do you want your bike to be identified as an '10 model?

Other thoughts...

Resale value?

Sizing - standover?, toe rub on the front wheel?, does the fork hit the frame when it is turned?

Would your wife consider riding it if you decided it was too small?

Component upgrade? - would you sell some of the components that are stock on the GF?

How difficult is it to get the fork that you want for the Niner? - what about color? Do you really want a hard tail bike?

Niner and GF have been making the 29er bikes for quite a while and seem to know the technology and what works -- rake?, frame geometry?, can you go wrong?

Didn't Gary Fisher sell a steel 29er a while back? Yep--Ferrous seen below.

What else?