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So with covid having ensured that every new bike in the UK has been snapped up, I have been considering building up something on a budget. I've seen the Bird Aeris 145 is reduced and I can piece together a decent build for £2200 approx. Anyone else know of any other decent frames on offer. Open to either 29 or 650b. As a left field choice I've seen some old Liteville mk13 frames on offer in XL, not bang up to date but still a serious piece of kit!
Anyone know of anything interesting out there? New is my preference as I tend to keep my bikes a loooong time!!
Sonder Evol/Cortex.
I have a hard time believing you'd get any better than the Bird Aeris 145. A friend of mine just started riding his, really happy, another one ordered one yesterday.
Regarding Bird's quality and service, I'll just say I'm on my second AM9 (now a V3) and would pick the same bike even if my budget was the double or triple
I have a hard time believing you’d get any better than the Bird Aeris 145. A friend of mine just started riding his, really happy, another one ordered one yesterday.
Regarding Bird’s quality and service, I’ll just say I’m on my second AM9 (now a V3) and would pick the same bike even if my budget was the double or triple
Just looking the full build kits look decent value but no stock 🙁 How have you found yours longevity wise - bearings, paint quality etc.
I can only comment on the AM9 quality, but it's construction seems to be on par with the 145.
I got my V1 AM9 in 2018, put it for sale this week. Zero creaks, zero play, bearings still sound, everything as it should be. Paint is is not on par with the very best in the market, but it's not bad either.
To put things in perspective, I had in parallel a Stumpjumper Evo for an year, same type of riding and care, got rid of it some months ago, the thing was creaking everywhere, half the bearings gone and went through 2 bent shock bolts.
Draw your own conclusions
Dartmoor blackbird/bluebird?
It depends what you want and your budget but we're shipping loads of bikes daily and still have plenty of stock for more builds and new stock arrives daily.
was going to say Aeris 145, grabbed mine when they came on sale
potentially a frame set with top end air shock or coil for a grand is a good start
I love my Aeris, got no other full sus to compare however
Another thumbs up for the Bird aeris 145..... Ive had mine about a month now and love it. First class service from the Bird guys and you can up the travel with the extra linkage if required.
Have also considered that XL MK13 Liteville (I ride a MK11) but while the increased reach over my current bike (L) would be great, the loss of stand-over would negate any benefits so its' a no from me.
So you are after an XL frame?
How about this in 21in for £650?
The 145 is pretty unbeatable for quality of that frameset at the price - as long as you’re after a short travel enduro kind of bike. I had one for 3 years and had no issues at all with mine during that time - the original bearings were still going when I sold it. Paint is ok - it’s not invincible but it’s not the kind that stone chips if you look at it wrong either.
I’d just pick up some 3M helicopter tape and cover the main tubes that take most of the chips - for me that’s the underside of the downtube, top of the top tube and the seat / chainstays. I think I paid about £12 for enough to do those areas on my Bird Aether that replaced the 145 (I fancied something a bit shorter travel).
The quality of backup from Bird was always top notch - there aren’t many bike companies where you can ring up and speak to one of the owners of the business and talk through ideas with them.
The Sonder Evol is normally pretty cheap, but from what I’ve seen it’s not quite up to the same quality.
In terms of full builds the only places you tend to find a bit better spec for the money are YT / Radon / Canyon but then you’re dealing with a direct to consumer seller in Germany and there have been some issues with that over the years.
There’s also the Vitus Mythique / Escarpe / Sommet in budget for a full build but on the owners Facebook page the Mythique seems to be having issues with chainsuck on a number of the models resulting in gouged chainstays so I probably wouldn’t put my money there. Warranty and customer service backup is also questionable from Vitus / CRC.
Thanks much for the replies, I’m actually closer to large in size but the liteville sizes up quite small by modern standards. I had actually bought a 2019 Banshee Spitfire which then proceeded to be lost in shipping and led to a whole PayPal dispute etc. Which has led to me awaiting a refund and 7 weeks without a bike. PayPal dispute was just finalised Monday (though still waiting on funds to hit account)
So Sod’s law being what it is, earlier today the tracking number updated after 6 weeks of non activity and it looks like the bike is now imminently due to arrive. Have contacted seller to make him aware, the money has left his account but not hit mine, talk about mental!!!!
I had more or less decided on the Bird, now I don’t know what to do, worried that the Spitfire has been through the mill in the past 7 weeks but it’s a lovely piece of kit.....
Airdrop Edit? In stock and on budget at £999.
My V2 did over 750,000m of descending with no problems before it was sold and replaced with the V3 which looks and feels like it should easily manage the same, so that should fit the hold on to it for a long time bit too.
https://www.airdropbikes.com/collections/airdrop-edit
If the Spitfire suddenly arrives in ok shape then I guess you’ll have to go with that. Thy eye get good feedback online - other than some of the early versions which seem to crack / break on the rear triangle.
I didn’t realise Airdrop Edit frames had got so cheap if that’s £999 with a shock. I test ride one on back to back days with the Aeris 145 but preferred the Aeris. It was more poppy and I just felt more comfy on it than the Edit. I think that was a V1 though.