Bird Aeris AM

Saw this at the weekend. Looks really nice in the flesh. Im

not in the market but if I was it would be in with a shout!

I don't really need more travel, but I do kind of want more travel. I'm very tempted indeed to transfer everything but the shock over from my Aether 9C and take a spacer out of the fork...

<p style="text-align: center;">Saw this at Ard rock too.  It looks lovely in the flesh.  Would def be on my shortlist.</p>

Looks like a great option. Geometry seems comparable to a Mega or Slash.

I reckon the "wingspan" geometry just means they'll be dropping S, M, L etc sizes in favour of a numbered system like Spesh etc.

The chainstays are a touch short for my taste, would have preferred the 445/440mm as on my Aeris 9 - and even on that I'd like to try the mullet with 445mm if I could.

Most bike manufacturers have a bit of a family look to their range of frames, especially the ones made of the same materials - that looks nothing like the Aether 9c. The 9c has looks only a mother could love (as an owner I can say that!) - this is in theory a burlier bike with longer travel but it looks a lot more slender and svelte. The 9c's slabby flat sided tubes has the looks my students (I teach a lot of CAD) with more 'rustic' modelling skills would come up with. I guess they've (Dan) learnt a lot between models, or gone to a different manufacturer with different machining capabilities for the moulds.

Oooo I like the look of that, Bird have a demo center at Hamsterley forest which is about an hour away from me and have been tempted to book to hire one to test out when I'm in the new bike market in a year or so (got a goal to lose another 3 stone first), the fact it has an airshock interests me too for things like lockout and correct psi, being 6ft 3 with a higher than average bone mass and muscle density even when I'm looking skinny I'm still 16st with an "obese" BMI so have never got on with coil shocks.

My current bike is heavy and a pig to ride up hill, most of my riding is a mix between rough off piste steep with drops and little jumps or a day in the saddle getting the miles and elevation in, so carbon is a want for my next frame and I didn't see any carbon offerings with Bird up until now

At the moment on the detail provided it looks decent. Think it’ll be a very decent price for a carbon frame, with the sort of travel / geometry for riding steep tech as well  as uplift days and some flow stuff. Plus good backup.

I’ve read mixed things about the reliability of the hardware / cable routing on the Aether 9c (where all their alloy bikes have had very little bad feedback) - but this looks a much more polished frame in terms of looks and detail.

I absolutely don’t need a new frame but this might do everything my Transition Sentinel alloy does, but with less weight….

Because of delays the official press launch won't be for a couple more weeks, so ard rock was really just a preview 🙂 Be sure to watch out for the press launch, there's a ton of new and cool things we're rolling out with this frame that I think you'll like.

@convert I'm one of those weirdos who rather likes the look of my 9C, but I have a medium which best suits the design. The top tube being mostly straight, with kink up where it meets the headtube, makes the front triangle look more balanced. But there's no denying the bike looks a bit like it was made from girders rather than carbon fibre.

This bike is a completely different beast. The slender, ovalised, straight top tube is really nice. The downtube is also less chunky, and moving the kink lower to near the BB makes for a proper front triangle (even if ground clearance isn't quite as good as the 9C 's mid-tube kink).

The other details look great too: the stays are slimmer and better defined, the seat tube brace too, and the headtube area is nicely sculpted.

All in all, it's a very good looking bike which also manages to have lots of space in the frame and a low, straight seat tube. If it rides like much my 9C but with more travel and a slightly longer rear, I'll be made up. Hats off to Dan, Ben and the Bird team!

Like the look of this but really it gets me more excited for what a V2 9c could look like when they update that.

It looks so nice..

I have to ask myself do I need that much travel, having ridden in Morzine just recently with a shorter travel bike the answer would be a yes. However, going to Morzine is a one off life event (according to my wife).

The trip has made me think about upgrading my bike as not only was the travel not enough, it's also a bit short making it unstable on flat out fireroad descents, scaring me in the process.

@benpinnick will there will be an alloy version? I do crash a lot and worry that I might damage a sidewall or something on a carbon frame.

@benpinnick will there will be an alloy version? I do crash a lot and worry that I might damage a sidewall or something on a carbon frame.

No there wont be an alu version, this one exists to fill the gap for lightweight long travel trail/enduro that the AM9 left. We have the Aeris 9 which has broadly similar geo and other than the changing of how sizes are distributed with the new geo, the Aeris 9 is the alu version of the Aeris AM.

We shaved 1kg off the Aeris 9 > Aeris AM, we couldn't get close to that and still maintain the fork warranty etc. on alu, so we're not going to try.

@asbrooks just get the Aeris 9 if carbon worries you! I built one up recently with Formula coil and 170mm Lyriks and it is great. Very easy to pedal around despite the travel and on paper weight, on the trails it really isn't apparent and just trucks up stuff much more efficiently than my (slightly) older, lighter, shorter travel bike (I did a full parts transplant so only the frame differs in the comparison). And it is so much faster on the downs, virtually every descent has been a PB regardless of trail cconditions. Very impressed all round. I even towed my 6yo daughter around GT blue climbs and it was easier than using my old bike or my hardtail.

I have a 5 year old AM9 that I will probably replace next year. Was thinking about getting an A-9, but the AM is a nice looking lighter alternative to consider so I guess I just need to decide if I want to up my budget or not.

@benpinnick ... what's the ball-park cost (and weight) of, say, an XT-level / DTSwiss XM481 / Lyric etc, with trail/light enduro tyres?

And am I right in thinking full builds will not be until the New Year?

That spec was my test bike for the last year or so. It was just a sneak under 31lb with a super deluxe shock and schwalbe trail spec tyres (so not the lightest decent option you can get).

Price? Less than 4k. Hard to say exact price as there's too many variables.

Were launching frame only just to make it easy as we think this will be a very popular bike. As soon as the starting bump is done we'll move onto full builds. Jan latest.

No there wont be an alu version, this one exists to fill the gap for lightweight long travel trail/enduro that the AM9 left. We have the Aeris 9 which has broadly similar geo and other than the changing of how sizes are distributed with the new geo, the Aeris 9 is the alu version of the Aeris AM.

Thanks for clarifying. As I alluded to in the OP, I wasn't sure whether this was an AM9 replacement or a carbon version of the Aeris 9 - sounds like it's both.

I wonder where this leaves the rider who wants a trail bike that is neither short nor long travel. Wants more than 130mm but considers 160/160 and a 64deg head angle a bit much. Travel doesn't weigh anything and this is light and presumably pedals well, so may well be a fine replacement for a 150/150 AM9.

I really like that. I wanted to like the 9c but it wasn't quite there and then I saw all the pics on here of exploding hardware. For my current bike I went metal again.

I'll have a close look at one if they show up in the Hamsterley container.

Colours? What colours will there be? 😁

That’s one nice looking bike. Had an mk1.5 Aeris which was fun, as trite as it is I haven’t liked the looks of recent FS but this would be tempting. Amazing weight considering intended use

<p style="text-align: left;">Luckily I still really like my AM9 otherwise my bank account works be under threat..</p>

It's here https://www.bird.bike/aeris-am/

Announced on Instagram this morning, still not showing up on the home page unless you add something random after the address e.g. https://www.bird.bike/?123

'Twas cached. Cleared up now 🙂

Framesets only to start, as the lead time is still a little variable and frames can be dispatched quickly if they're a bit late. Full bikes will go on sale soon enough once we have a queue for the frame only options built up.

Looks fab for the wider majority more option to size up ot down. Free bearings for like inc Bb and headset!

but as  a taller rider had hoped the XL was being getting taller etc compared to previous Birds including my current Birds. But not to be.

Problems of being an outlier…

suspect it will fly off the shelves though!

^ in fact one of my riding buddies has just pre-ordered one!

If I am reading the geo chart correctly, similar reach but shorter ETT due to seat tube angle increasing? Other numbers look pretty similar to the AM9 I think?

Stack is up 40mm over the orginal Aeris AM160, and 12mm over an AM9, and of course thats with 160 forks. Many folks will run 170s Im sure.

If I am reading the geo chart correctly, similar reach but shorter ETT due to seat tube angle increasing? Other numbers look pretty similar to the AM9 I think?

Slightly taller stack, slightly shorter ETT, so roughly the same fit for most people but probably a little more comfy.

I ran my V1 and V2 AM with 150 forks and the seatube angle was the one thing I wished was different. This looks good geometry wise and would certainly be interesting to test against my Aeries 9.

Awaiting the additional colour choices...

on the r3 yep stack etc looks spot on.

But in XL/R5 leas than my A9a which replaced my am9 to get some more stack and running 50mm rise bars and 20mm spacers on the 9a.

think the 5 sizes will suit a wider majority better though.

Sharp looking bike and lots better visually than the 9c.

it will do very well.

I like the look of the XL with increased stack. I think Bird have offered long enough reach for years already (528mm on my old AM145) but increased stack is often overlooked. I will be very tempted once XL is available.

@benpinnick ...

Can't quite work out what the website means when talking about complete bikes? Seems to suggest you can (need?) to order a frameset now, and can then amend the order when full build kits become available? Or, can we just wait until the full bikes go up on the website?

Any demo's being planned?

Sizing suggestions for someone just over 5'8"? Think I'd be looking at a ML (R3)?

And future colours?

On the XL/R5. Less stack on the new AM than their Aether9a. Def an improvement on the older AM9 though (I had a v1). Lots less stack though than say equiv size (XXL) Santa Cruz Megatower which is 670mm.

shows the price difference mind. £2k vs £3.3k!

Need to get it on geometrygeeks.bike to ease the above comparisons.

"Free" Super Deluxe the only option, I see.

It's a good price with that shock. I'm feeling a bit coil curious tbh, but that's the air shock I'd want. I have one pre-ordered 🙂

@bikesandboots,

hopefully on here as well: good site as let’s you add bars, stem etc. most bikes on there inc Birds

https://www.bike-stats.de/en/geometrie_vergleich

In case it helps anyone else comparing reach (X) and stack (Y) with the other models and sizes (circles R2/M, R3/ML, R4/L) whose fit they're familiar with:

When I get a chance I will add it to a few sites for the geo.

Thanks everyone thats pre-ordered - great response so far BTW 😉 We'll leave it up on that special for another 10d or so until the photos are in for the 'official' launch.

Can’t quite work out what the website means when talking about complete bikes? Seems to suggest you can (need?) to order a frameset now, and can then amend the order when full build kits become available? Or, can we just wait until the full bikes go up on the website?

You can wait, but the stock for drop one is limited, so if you don't reserve a frame you may miss out.

Any demo’s being planned?

Demo bikes will roll out in a few weeks time after the 'official launch' is done and we get journo bikes back in.

Sizing suggestions for someone just over 5’8″? Think I’d be looking at a ML (R3)?

R2 or 3, I would say its probably a 50/50 split at your height.

And future colours?

Yep, will be announced soon. If you change your mind on the colour thats cool, we'll be making sure that everyone gets what they want. production frames will be painted in quantities to satisfy the need, so when you order a 'Stealth black' today, you're really ordering a blank frame ready for paint.

Curious why you've gone a bit shorter on the rear for this model?

It's the same as the AM9 which it replaces. While longer is getting more popular/trendy, we really liked the AM9s feel in regards to the CS length so we kept it. People wanting longer may likely looks towards the Aeris 9 for other reasons, which also has that option for longer stays.

M & ML geo is now on:

https://www.bike-stats.de/en/geometrie_vergleich?Bike1=Bird_Aeris%20AM_2023_ML

good site as allows you at add in bars and stem etc for a quick visual.

Cheers @bikesandboots.

If moving from my Aether9a, then Aeris 9 would be better than the AerisAM as going up with bars (depending on bar shape - but using spank and they do come back a bit) and spacers, the extra reach of the Aeris9 would allow a bit of reach loss for mods.

It’s the same as the AM9 which it replaces. While longer is getting more popular/trendy, we really liked the AM9s feel in regards to the CS length so we kept it. People wanting longer may likely looks towards the Aeris 9

Ah right, for some reason I thought the AM9 was 445mm CS as well.

Yes, I've already got an Aeris 9 thanks 😀

There's not a way of running that as a mullet with the 445mm rear, is there?

@benpinnick any option of frame only at some point (as in, no shock at all)? Have an AM9 that needs an upgrade soon.

datsunman
Full Member
@benpinnick any option of frame only at some point? Have an AM9 that will need replacing soon.

It's frame only right now

Ignore, didn't realise you meant no shock

@benpinnick what frame colour options will be available or is that still hush?

Curious why you’ve gone a bit shorter on the rear for this model?

Its 440 which is same as AM9 (and Aeris 9 in short/steep setting). What we haven't done is offer a longer/slacker setting, but instead you have an MX which is shorter, but the tyre clearances don't really make that a viable short/steep 29 option. So on the AM with full 29" its 440mm just like the AM9.

The Aeris AM is the replacement for the AM9 not the Aeris 9's carbon brother, hence the differences. Of course for the MX crowd it is shorter, but we expect MX to be really popular on the R1 and R2 sizes to ward off brown stripes, and on those sizes TBH the AM9 was kind of long for the ride we want - punchy and fun all-rounder rather than super planted.

@benpinnick what frame colour options will be available or is that still hush?

We have something like 6 new colour options coming in the next couple of weeks, which we need to whittle down to three including the black. Watch this space!

@datusunman - No problems - pre-order the frame and I will remove the shock, but be aware you're only saving £95. Better off getting that new shock! Its cheaper than a service and honestly the performance is worth it.

Bit of a general geometry question I suppose - why do you want shorter chainstays when running a smaller back wheel?

Bit of a general geometry question I suppose – why do you want shorter chainstays when running a smaller back wheel?

You dont necessarily, but in the same way that taller people sometimes want longer stays, shorter people will equally want shorter stays (than a given arbitrary mid point).

One of the ways to do MX wheels also creates different chainstay lengths. This has the side effect of making the RC shorter for those MX versions. Since we expect MX to be more popular with shorter people as it helps with backside clearance etc. it's logical that the MX bikes should (on average) be shorter in the chainstay than the full 29 version as they'll also have shorter front ends on average.

Its seems a bit dated logic that tall people wont want to ride mullets or that there is no benefit. I rode a mullet setup on 455 stays for a while and can see the benefit. Currently riding a AM9v3 as a 29er and would love to try a mullet on this but not at 430mm on an XL. That would be likely be a bit of a handful at times. A 160mm bike with long reach is a big bike and mullets just make them a bit more fun regardless of you height! I guess in perfect world a 430,440,450 adjustment would be nice! I guess you sell a lot more smaller frames than XLs so I can understand your logic. Would love to see 440-450 adjustment on the L/XLs in future instead.

I'm not sure the logic is that tall people won't want to ride mullets, it's rather that the mullet was created because shorter people couldn't ride a full 29" setup.

Mullets were invented on the race track because some of the world's fastest DH riders are about 5'8".

I was late to 29er's (because early ones were crap) but now I've got fun, agile bikes with sorted geometry, big wheels and I'm tall enough to ride them without being bumped on the arse by a tyre. Mullets are no use to me.

I have pre-ordered a size medium, I am a little concerned as my Aether 9A has a reach of 462mm but the new AM has a reach of 450mm. I would have expected a closer number but then again the Aeris 9 has a shorter reach too at 457mm.

I trust the guys at bird and it’s probably the right bike out of the line up compared to the Aeris 9 (Will keep the aether possibly, see how it compares!)

Just to add I’m 5’7” and will be looking to run it full 29er - even though I’m a short arse!

Hey Ryan, I remember we got our 9As around the same time. I'm 5ft8 and had similar thoughts although I have no intention of getting a new bike anytime soon.

The stack is 8mm lower, so if you add 10mm of spacers under the stem to make that up, with the 64deg head angle, it reduces the reach by 4mm. So the reach comparison after normalising for stack becomes 446 vs. 462 so 16mm shorter. But also remember the head angle is a degree slacker on the AM so the different in front centre is 783 vs. 778 so 5mm longer.

My original Bird was a medium 445 reach at 5'10.

My V2 ML AM9 was 475 reach and great.

It never felt overly small but I also enjoy my new 486 reach Bird.

At 5'7 I reckon the medium AM9C will be grand.

Added the XL Aeris AM geo to here:

https://www.bike-stats.de/en/geometrie_vergleich?Bike1=Bird_Aeris%20AM_2023_XL

Not seen much more about the Aeris AM - wonder where they’re up to with colour selection and official release?

Any update from @benpinnick (or anyone else 'in the know') as to when we'll get some reviews? And dates for demos, full builds and colour options coming on stream?

Had a test ride of the new Aeris AM at Hamsterley yesterday ... here are my thoughts:

So ... it was great. Felt reasonably light. High-ish end build but not ridiculous. Lyric, XT drivetrain, Formula Cura brakes, Hope Pro 5s & carbon rims, Schwalbe Tacky Chan 2.4 Supersoft/Soft rubber.

Pedaled really well up hill, both just spinning steadily, or if you wanted to put in an effort, it was pretty responsive.

Great just pedalling along on boring fire roads.

Felt really capable down hill (Obviously I'm the limiting factor! 😆). Jumped nicely, dealt with chunder well. Did a couple of off piste runs, but they were ridiculously muddy/slippy roots which I just didn't feel confident on (not the bike's fault).

Felt really nailed on swooping berm type trails, really taut platform.

It certainly communicates the trail a little more than I'm used to, I quite liked the feedback, but did end up feeling like I'd had quite a workout ... so, either my steel Contour frame does just 'damp' the trail a little in the way carbon perhaps doesn't as well? Or, might just be a combination of slightly less tyre volume (I run 2.5 Maxxis), tyre pressure perhaps being a little higher than I sometimes run, fork/shock set up/carbon bars and a not very comfy saddle ... 🤷🏻‍♂️ (Also, I subsequently read some reviews of the Tacky Chan tyres that were fitted, which describe a fast-rolling, but also quite 'sporty' (rather than cushioned) ride feel.)

From speaking to Ben, sounds like the frames/full builds are not very far away now!

Did the test ride cost you anything? I wouldn't mind taking one out on familiar trails and seeing how it goes up and along compared to my bike. I'm not really bike-fit at the minute and I'm really suffering on the climbs but also my bike is a porky beast so I was wondering how much difference it would make.

Did the test ride cost you anything?

£20! But is knocked off the price of the bike if you buy one.

I'd pay £20 just to satisfy my curiosity to be honest. I've never had an actual lightweight bike before and nothing made from plastic.

lightweight bike

based on the frame specs rom Bird site

the ML AM frame is 2600g vs 3180g of the discontiued  AM9v3 (150mm travel) and 3600g for the Aeris 9 (160/180mm travel).

so saving of 500-1000grams - so 1/2 to a bag of sugar.

they posted this up of one of the colour options - never sure about flipflop paint (TVR yes, Nissan Primera/Micra no..) but in the pics this looks good.

I quite liked those Primeras and I'd buy one of these if it fitted my needs.

Prefer the geometry on my Aeris 9 though, even if it's a bit more of a lump for most riding.

I quite liked those Primeras

now that is quite a statement! 🙂

Would anyone buy a Primera in this colour just because of how cool it would look with one of these Bird's on the rack?

sharkattack
Full Member
Would anyone buy a Primera in this colour just because of how cool it would look with one of these Bird’s on the rack?

Hell yeah. Little bit of a deeper air dam at the front, wing on the back - full super tourer look with matching bike!

I was a little unsure on how the Grurple colour would look as a full build but the picture posted to Facebook yesterday was really really nice!

I was a little unsure on how the Grurple colour would look as a full build but the picture posted to Facebook yesterday was really really nice!

I saw one in the factory yesterday. Looked good (probably would have looked ace outside), but if I'm going ahead, I think I'd go with the matt black, nice & stealthy, and then add a splash of colour with component choices.

Would anyone buy a Primera in this colour just because of how cool it would look with one of these Bird’s on the rack?

There's a mint one (not that colour) on ebay. Im so tempted to get it resprayed...

Surely as a british bike brand, you need to hunt down one of the MGs instead of a Nissan...

https://theloamwolf.com/2023/11/02/review-bird-aeris-am/

Sounds alright but I'm more interested in long term reviews from paying customers. All these bloggers and YouTubers are just buzzing on free bikes and never criticise anything. They also don't ride them long enough to uncover the real PITA issues that people have to deal with

None of this is aimed at Loam Wolf or Bird in particular. I'm interested in the bike which is why I'm still here. I always overbike myself and I've never had a light and nimble trail machine. This looks like a top candidate.

I know what you know mean, sharkattack, but I also rather like Robert's low-key reviews. The video shows what a nice looking bike it is too.

Off the back of that not video I think I now need* a 9 and an AM - not ideal

*want