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Hi all, tried an Aeris 120 last year and really liked it but also want to try the 145 and Am9. So there is no doubt that they will be amazing, confidence inspiring and much more capable than me when pointing downhill, but what I wonder is if they will be a bit too much for longer climbs and all-day type rides in places like the Lakes and Scottish highlands. I know the bikes are marketed as Enduro bikes but is anyone using theirs for the longer rides?
Also, from what read in reviews and on PInkbike it seems that even though they are long bikes they can still be playful for making the most of smaller trail features.
Really interested to hear from anyone who has compared all three bikes too. I will be doing this as soon as I can. I'm 5'9 with shoes on if that makes any difference to the choice between the 145 and Am9. (Probably not - that's old 29er thinking?)
Appreciate any thoughts.
I’ve got a 145 but I’ve probably only done about 4 hours proper pedalling in one day - it was fine for that. Done uplift days and they were fine too.
i wouldn’t say the 145 was playful to be honest. It’s fun and fast but it doesn’t encourage me to jump and pop off everything.
I understand the AM9 might be a little more lively and playful as well as rolling better over stuff but I’ve not had a go on one yet.
FYI I’ve now put the 145lt linkage on my 145 and I haven’t noticed it being any worse uphill, but it feels more planted in corners I think.
I’ve had a 145 for just over a year. I’m 6’ on an ML and I find it lively and responsive over most things. It’s an absolute joy to ride.
Having said that, I’ve also just bought a hardtail specifically for when I feel ‘overbiked’ with the Aeris.
I’ll be interested to see the difference in times once I’m out on the HT. But that’s not the point. The Bird has not once let me down and I bought the HT specifically for ‘easier’ singletrack.
The Bird’s never felt tough on the uphills. It’s descended way beyond my capabilities. If anyone ever asks me about an enduro/fs trail bike then I always ask them to give a Bird a go.
I haven’t ridden an AM9 yet but from within the owners club...it’s outstanding.
Unfortunately, the same old answer applies. Go try ‘em and buy what you most enjoy 👍
Ive never ridden either so keen on hearing thoughts on this also as im looking for a new bike (Jeffsy being current front runner) - my gut says the AM9 is too much bike for the vast majority of my riding and i may want something more suitable on single track and climbs.
Owned tHe AM9 for a few months and also have a 120 as well. The AM9 is just an epic bike to ride regardless of the type of trail and is my go to bike all the time. Pedals very efficiently, is fine for all day rides and picks up speed at an alarming (in a good way) rate at the sniff of anything downhill or trail center style flow trails. Loves to jump and is easy to manoeuvre for a big bike. So far I can't fault it.
Just in terms of Jeffsy vs AM9 aren’t they similar in terms of suspension travel - just the AM9 is slacker?
I have a 145(bought in in Nov), for me it climbs fine although I´ve really got nothing to compare it to. I´d really encourage you to try them out for yourself. Also the AM9 appears to be a monster, which I´m not surprised. Unless you are seriously in love with 650b wheels I see no reason to go for the 145.
However, I have noticed that the low BB sometimes makes it slighlty awkward in some technical climbs, and that due to the slack geometry, it may climb worse than a more neutral bike.
Another AM9 owner here. I'm in NE Scotland and this bike will be used for pretty much everything from my local hill, which is full of natural techy stuff with lots of climbing and descending, to days out in the mountains like Torridon, Ben Macdui, Lochnagar etc, and even the odd uplift day at Fort WIlliam. I'm only 5 weeks into ownership, so still well and truly in the honeymoon period which makes it hard for me to be objective, but based on my experience so far I would have to agree with alextemper above that it is a fantastic all-rounder. I said on another thread, posted after my first ride, that I thought Bird had managed to get the geometry balance right with the AM9, and I still feel like that a few weeks later. It will happily nail the descents carrying speed pretty much everywhere, yet it also has a playful side for the times when you just want to mess about hopping and popping off stuff, or bombing along more mellow flowy trails.
I'm 6' 1" on a large, so 500mm reach. At 5' 9" I guess you'll be pretty comfortable on the medium which has a similar reach to my previous large 29er. The ML might be a tad long but would worth trying anyway if you can, just to be sure.
I can't add much as i've got an Aeris Mk1.5, but will say that the customer service from Bird is incredible in my experience. By far the best dealings I have had with any company.
A friend had a M Aeris Mk1 and went for a ML Aeris 145 and thinks it was a mistake to go ML over M; it's very long unless you've got stretched arms... I'd definitely try before you buy.
Good AM9 review here, it came third in MBUK's bike of the year tests:
At 5'7" I can fit comfortably on both M and ML 145's (think the AM9 sizing is similar). Stem size and sliding the seat slightly can give the same seat to bar 'reach' so you don't necessarily need gorilla arms to size up. The wheelbase and room to move when stood up are more noticeable. Depends how you want the bike to feel. At 5'9" I'd guess the ML would be the best bet.
As for AM9 vrs 145, I've not ridden an AM9 but buy all accounts it pedals better than the 145 and monster trucks the downhills.
I've got Aeris 145 in large and 186cm. I ride in the Lakes and it is fine for all day rides with the caveat that it is a long shot travel bike and not an XC bike.
Mine is set up heavy with dual ply tyres and Lyriks and is 35 pounds.
It is great bike and pedals well. Climbs well, if you have the legs. But this is with the caveat listed above. My new Stache is faster cross country and up hill.
I struggle with slow chunky tech e.g. bottom of Sticks Pass as it goes through the quarries. The length seems to count against it if you don't have the skill/balls to steam through flat out.
I am pleased and pressed with build quality and can't fault it. I am the weakest link, good bye...
I've got a test ride coming up on one with pretty similar questions & criteria to the OP, so all the replies helpful so far for me too. There was a good thread on one of the German MTB sites with similar feedback from owners, but can't find it just now.
Appreciate all of the replies, thanks for taking the time. Will be booking a couple of test rides in a couple of weeks, looking forward to seeing what they are like.
I’ve just got home from MTB Meetup and got to ride the demo 145 in medium long - it’s about 50mm longer than my Tracer.
I only got chance for a quick spin on it and I really liked it.
quick impressions for me, bearing in mind I only gave it a quick go with my shock pump rather than spending half an hour trying to get it right:
Its slightly heavier than my 275A Tracer, geo works better to avoid bob, but you notice the weight when you spin up, probably better to find a pace and take it easy on the way up, not sure it’s the bike for taking KOMs on the ups, nor does it claim to be.
Show it some gravity and it’s a total pussycat, it devours corners, rolls over rocks and roots like they’re not there, despite being very long compared to my Intense it’s great over drops, I was concerned I wouldn’t get my weight back far enough. I think I’d be able to go much faster on it than my Intense downhill, but I’d need to to make it as exciting, it’s very flattering, and I can see why it does so well at Enduro races.
Im told the 160mm linkage makes it more active, not sure which I’d go for.
In short, it rides like a DH, but a DH bike you can ride on trails, so the perfect Enduro bike I guess. If it’s not very exciting I guess you just have to rider faster.
I briefly rode a AM9 and I thought it pedalled brilliantly, albeit I had been riding a Knolly for a few hours before which is hard work to pedal.
I have an Am9, non-stock build.
I think it pedals almost as well as my Trek Fuel Ex, with Re:Aktiv shock. I have the Super Deluxe RC3 air on the Am9. It actually climbs better because the Bird is longer, so I can slide the saddle further forward. This, combined with the slightly longer chainstays means I get good weight over the front end, so for climbing i can stay in a comfortable position. It is not the lightest bike out there (especially with a Lyrik up front and super deluxe in back, and one of the heaviest dropper posts).
So I would say, with decent tire choice, and setting up your saddle far enough forward. It can be a great bike for a long day out.
It is also perfectly fine and fun on our local trails, which are mainly undulating, mostly smith, some rocky sections. Even on small dips and rollers it pumps and pops pretty well, especially considering it’s “steamroller” style on big descents.
Just to add on the 145 it’s definitely not a KOM bike going uphill on long draggy climbs, but I have cleared some steep technical uphills on it that I’ve never done on other bikes.
On the weekend I found the slight disadvantage to the the LT linkage - more pedal strikes on the way up rooty hills. However it also flew down rocky twisty runs without flinching and made me feel more confident on that kind of trail - so I’m ok with that. Plus I have pretty big flat pedals on the bike too.
I test rode an Aeris 145 in Large and XL (LT). I was convinced I would prefer the large but the XL felt amazing. I'm 6ft 2" with long arms and legs and obviously benefit from a bike with very long reach. I was looking for a frame only deal and the Aeris ticked all the boxes. I had an Ibis XL frame but always felt cramped on it so was looking for a roomier frame to switch all my nice bits on to. I didn't have time to test the AM 9 but I would have done if I were looking for another 29er. Definitely test before you buy because the steep seat angle has the effect of shortening the feel of the top tube.
I approached my test ride with an open mind as some reviews said she wasn't great at climbing but I found it brilliant mainly because of the seat angle. I found the suspension very supportive on the climbs which is one of the main things I look for and she ripped going downhill. For me the riding position, geometry and sturdy feel of the bike gives me a lot of enjoyment and confidence.
I was sold on 29ers when I got a Whyte T129 because it felt stable but the Aeris feels far more stable and I don't miss the 29 inch wheels at all when I'm riding the Aeris. Despite its length the Aeris feels a bit more nimble and fun in tight, techy woodland trails. Not much between my Strava times on these two bikes. The T129 possibly climbs a tad quicker but the Aeris is a lot better downhill, I suspect the AM9 is a bit better at everything.
The only negative from my initial test ride was that the Aeris felt a little slow to pick up speed on the flat but I think this might have been due to the massive tyres on it. It feels better with my carbon wheels and 2.35 High Rollers.
Just to add to this I’ve upgraded the internals if he Yari on my 145lt so it’s now 170mm travel, with a 2019 debonair air spring and a charger 2 damper. Only ridden it once but it feels more playful - I think maybe I was running too much rebound damping on the moco damper.
This weekend I’m doing uplift Friday then cycling cross country / trails all day Saturday and half of Sunday. I’ll update how the Aeris does on the hills up when I get back (if I remember).
I didn't realise you could upgrade the Yari, I might look in to that.
Yes, a Lyrik charger damper bolts straight into the damper side. The Yari is a Lyrik chassis.
I've had my 145 for a few months now and the LT linkage for about 6 weeks. I would say that the LT linkage makes it better in every single way apart from oddly a smidge more wheel lift when climbing gets vertical. I actually found that I get a lot less pedal strikes but I put this down to the link being a bit more progressive and sitting a bit higher in its travel.
On the flat or swoopy stuff I find it handles better, pedals better and it's far more playful. I'm a self confessed wuss but I find myself looking for any and every possible feature to pop off. The other week in the peaks I was flying down a rock strewn path thinking "I'm going waaaaaay too quick here". Not out of control in the slightest, just aware of going very very fast and the bike swallowing everything far better than it should.
If I had a lighter bike and was heading out for a 40 miler I would be torn which to take. Yes, something else might be faster overall but for technical climbs and the most incredible descending I think the Bird would still win.
I'm convinced the 145 LT is better than the 145 but if I were to buy again I think I would have to go for the AM9. Either way you would not be disappointed.
We just did a big 38 mile ride the other day. Used my Am9 with a fast rear tire (RockRazor).
Even at the very end of the ride, the bike still felt good for the last big climb. Thanks to the supportive suspension and the steep seat angle, it’s a relaxed climbing position, even when your legs and core are toast.
On the final smooth, gentle descent I could still pop, slash and play around.
What more can you ask of a bike for a long day out?
I agree on the 145lt front - it seems better in virtually every way than the standard 145. Definitely more poppy and playful and it corners better. Uphill it doesn’t feel any worse so far either - although the B.B. definitely feels lower and I occasionally catch pedals now.
Did a lot of riding over the weekend - a full uplift day at BMCC Friday (the Aeris was amazing there), 7km at Cwm Rheadr early Saturday than 42km at Brechfa after that (black / red super loop), then a play in the bike park and a 14km ride at Afan on the Sunday. The Aeris didn’t miss a beat all weekend and monstered all the downhills. My mate was quicker uphill on his Process 134, but we swapped bikes for some runs at BMCC and even he had to admit it was mega.
There will be bikes better uphill, but not many better downhill that also winch fine uphill. Mine is quite a heavy build too. I’d be curious to have a go on an AM9 though to compare, given the test reviews it’s had.
I would say that the LT linkage makes it better in every single way apart from oddly a smidge more wheel lift when climbing gets vertical.
If you can get away with it shunt your saddle forward about a cm, that will compensate for the change in seat angle the LT linkage causes and you should regain some of the steep climbing plantedness.
Don't know about the 27.5 models, but been riding an AM9 for 3 months now.
Generally do a ride with a XC group from work every week. normally 40/50km long, 1000 or 1200m of climbing.
Never have a problem to keep up with them. Focusing on climbing, I'm generally faster or slower in different places. The steeper and more technical it is the faster I am. I'm a lot slower in gentler grades and smoother paths/roads.