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That Ron burgundy colour is interesting, do like a vibrant bike. Good job as I'm awaiting my bright yellow AM9.. But did consider one of these
Ideally I'd demo the Aether9c and Al back to back but Reckon theyed feel different enough. But I guess it depends on how you build them up as it's not just about the frame. Can't wait to test my Aether9 Al on more rowdy terrain. Have fun with your decision
So is "Ron Burgundy" burgundy or vibrant red?
I really like the red. The pic above is true to life in sunshine but on overcast days or in artifical light it is more pink, it puts me in mind of black cherry yoghurt!
I like that colour, looks way better in your pic than it does on the Bird website
That Ron burgundy colour is interesting, do like a vibrant bike. Good job as I’m awaiting my bright yellow AM9.. But did consider one of these
I like this burgundy https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/19884431/ but not the vibrant red as it looks in @Shackleton 's photos and Bird's frame selector cropped photos.
Only been out a few times on it. And it feels very similar to the Am9 but a bit more lively. It’s still poppy but don’t think it’s as poppy as the Aether9c, probably because I’ve put heavier components on it and the frames a little bit heavier.
I debated on the Am9 or aether9 Al I’m glad went with the Aether9 Al.
Don’t need any more travel.
I have both AM9 and Aether9a and would agreed, very similar ride, but the 9a even with 150 forks just feels a little crisper to ride.
I like this burgundy https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/19884431/ but not the vibrant red as it looks in @Shackleton ‘s photos and Bird’s frame selector cropped photos.
Its the pinkbike burgundy
This is the exact bike I want to replace my Whyte T130RS, but every time I visit the site I can't build the bike as there's always parts out of stock. From shocks to stems. I go through the whole options on out of stock items and there's never anything else to pick. Not even an option to pick a placeholder item and get an ETA. I wouldn't mind if it was 3-4 months even. I might just leave it and go for the Whyte S120 that's at the LBS.
It must be costing them more orders than just mine?
Sadly as helpful as Bird are I suspect they can't override a global pandemic and Brexit.
Have you tried ringing them and asking them what can be done? Maybe they can get on on order for you even if parts aren't in stock. If you're happy to wait.
The reason we don't put them up when others might and thats because we hate to let people down and at the moment supply is all over the place. Just this morning I chased 2 suppliers of our suspension for firm dates on shock orders I have open for the Aether 7/9/9c As soon as I know them they'll be online! Also going online today is more cranks for Shimano as stems/bars etc.
You need to keep checking back on the website. I managed last week to finally get my Aether9A order placed with just the fork showing out of stock (but available to order because they have a firm delivery date). Nice to have something to look forward to 😁
This. You gotta keep checking the site.
ah, so close to ordering with the perfect spec and then they run out of axles 😀 ! I'll have to keep checking back.
Anyone else got theirs? What are your thoughts?
I’d imagine that if you speak to them you could get an order going without using the configurator.
Should get my Aether in the next couple of weeks I hope 🤞
Order without an axle? Not difficult to find a compatible one.
Can't wait to get my aether built up. Invisiframe now fitted, wheel build in progress, shock and forks back early next week 😃.
I sent them a small but key part I already had to let them build a complete bike for me. At their suggestion I might add - fantastic people to deal with.
I've got an order in for one, but looks like it might be June before the Pike 140 select are back in. Give them a ring or drop them an email. Couldn't be more helpful as I also kept trying to order daily without success.
Just wish I'd made a firm decision a month or two ago. Been hoping something from LBS would come in to test but their prices have shot up and the other direct I was considering is now saying August for any more bikes.
Thanks all- will gve them a call and see if I can lock it in.
Order without an axle?
Their configurator doesn't let you do it.
Ah. That could be an issue. It does for frame only so assumed it would for a bike.
Done! Can't wait 🙂
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Awesome! Mine's currently awaiting build slot
Nice! I like the raw finish better than the painted versions. Glad you’ve not been tempted to exceed the bounds of taste with too much coloured kit! 😎
What size is that?
Please let us know how it rides.
Cool decals 🙂
Just looked for some of them on Invisframe now for my DPX2, but can't find... where did you get yours ?
Try Slik graphics, just got mine from them for my 9A
Very nice!
Raw frame with a few colour highlights is my new favourite colour scheme I think.
I've seen it done in red too, which goes nicely with some DTswiss rims, and RS coil shocks.
Here's my large with orange hope bits (assuming I've managed to post a picture). Have some orange graphics for the forks, shock and wheels waiting to go, but thinking all three might be too much?!
I used Slik graphics- quality is normally spot on but the galaxy pattern is a little pixelated in this case.
Only cycled round the corner for photos but amazing how long it is and how short the backend is. Feels fun!
Off to a trail centre at the weekend and FOD the following weekend so should give me a good flavour for it.
Size is M/L- I’m 173cm/5’9” and the saddle has gone up a few CM. I’ve got short legs and long torso.
Love that build! Congrats. I think orange decals will finish it off!
Thanks Cokie, and yours looks great too. Purple would have been my choice if I didn't already have a host of orange parts from the donor build.
Agree with you about how long it feels. Seems to roll really well though (street tests only so far) and I'm hoping that and the geometry will mask some of the weight of the coil Z1s!
Interested to hear anyone's experience of their Aether 9 in some really rough stuff. I'm thinking uplift days, Alps, Scottish black runs and Lakeland hike a bike.
The reason I ask is that I used to do all of the above on a 2010 Spicy frame with 160mm rear and 170mm coil up front and it dealt with all. But it was a pig on long Peak district days, overbiked for trail centres and kind of just flattened everything and made line choice almost irrelevant for most average rides. So whilst it was fast, it kind of took some of the fun away, hence thinking about the Aether 9.
The reality of the majority of my current riding favours the Aether 9 over the AM9 but eventually I may be back to doing the above types of rougher rides again and I wonder if it would cope. I'd be interested to hear if anyone feels they've pushed the their Aether 9 to it's limits and in what circumstances?
I pressed mine into service at Staunton, FOD a couple of weeks ago, a bit of Mendip limestone action since March and a 'PIN IT!' circuit at Cwmcarn, but I won't get a chance to test it on the Lakes best chunder until September - thanks to Covid for the thrice delayed trip.
FWIW, I changed to an Aether 9C from a Banshee Prime for the trail deadening reasons you cite. So far so good on that front. I think the back end is a bit less cable at high speeds in chunder, but it seems a fairly marginal difference and the geo seems to provide enough stability that you get a good solid wake up about it before causing problems. The flip side is that it climbs and traverses with interest instead of dragging along these sections like a sullen teenager.
That 9 with orange looks a lot like my 7 :D. Very nice.
The reality of the majority of my current riding favours the Aether 9 over the AM9 but eventually I may be back to doing the above types of rougher rides again and I wonder if it would cope. I’d be interested to hear if anyone feels they’ve pushed the their Aether 9 to it’s limits and in what circumstances?
I’ve got a 7 rather than a 9 but I’ve not got to the point yet where it feels out of its depth. I think the point it gets to that is beyond my own skills - I’ve had mine coming on for a year and a half now - ridden Cwmcarn trail centre stuff, FOD DH runs and various off piste, uplift day at BMCC, pedal up day at BPW, laps at Flyup 417 etc - handled all of that no problem. On really choppy stuff it’s a bit slower than my Aeris 145 LT was (170mm Lyrik / 160mm rear) but everywhere else it’s quicker / more fun for me.
I guess the 9 will be even more capable with a bit more rollover from the bigger wheels.
Am expecting it to be a pretty capable all-rounder, and intend to use it for everything from short spins in the Pentlands, to everything the Tweed Valley has to offer and big days out in the Highlands.
Given availability of stock I'd originally gone for a Pike Select, but was really wanting an Ultimate level fork and whilst upgrade kits are available, it's cheaper to get an Ultimate fork from the start with Bird. Then a Lyrik Ultimate RC2 became available as an option and whilst there's a little weight penalty compared to the Pike, I think it should make for a great bike (will be paired with a Deluxe Ultimate rear shock).
Will be really interesting to see how it rides, last full sus was a Yeti ASR 5 about 4/5 years ago and have been on a rigid Surly Krampus 29+ since.
Cokie - what frame protection is that you've got fitted, Invisiframe?
Mine is a 7 with a Cane Creek coil and 150mm Pikes and I think it will ride just like you imagine it would. Its not going to handle really chunky stuff like your 170/160 did but the other 95% of the time it will be as much or more fun 🙂
Doug - the Nukeproof frame and chainstay protection fit well enough. Chainstay needed a slight trim at the wheel end. I went with 275 Reactor kit.
I did the tape myself. 3 hours, a scalpel and lots of patience. Not sure I’d cut it myself again. I see invisiframe now have a kit for this bike. I enjoyed putting it on it was just the shaping that was hard work. Materials was about £25 too.
The Ron's Burgundy colour is really nice, def though one of those colour's that is really hard to photograph and really changes depending in the light conditions.
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rootes1, have you found the mudguard to hit the fork crown about 8mm from full compression? Mine does with the v1 guard and 140mm 2021 Pike.
Hiya, @bikesandboots
This my sisters bike, so not sure will ask, i have a v1 on my aether it does come very close, the later pro guard i fitted to by sisters bike does seem to been redesigned a little to stop this and didn't recall it hitting when testing with air out of the forks.
My aether9 frame arrived today. At 1.81m tall I felt in between a ML and L in size so went for the ML as that has the same reach as my previous bike, just a bit shorter wheelbase due to shorter chainstays, and I’ve gone for Ron burgundy. Turns out it matches our kitchen units…
With the shortage of parts I’ll be building it up initially with bits from my hardtail- fox 34s at 140mm and slx 11 speed. Everything should be a straight swap.
Can I just ask about people’s experience with cranks?
I’ve got some non boost race face cranks that have little spacers on the axle that allow adjustment of chain line so I think in theory I can do a 51mm chainline. This was fine on the hardtail with boost back end but I wondered how close things are to the chainstay, especially through the range of suspension travel. Is there plenty of room? I’ve got a 30t chainring.
Should I order some proper boost cranks? (I may want to go 165 crank arms at some point in the future too).
Looking forward to getting g it built up on Saturday.
Perfect match
Are your cranks cinch direct mount? If yes then you can deal with the chainline using a different offset ring. I'm using turbines on my A7 with the older 134mm axle (new turbines come with a 136mm axle). There is plenty of heal clearance. Ring wise I'm using a one up switch trying with their boost offset cinch carrier.
Unfortunately not no they are some “ride” cranks that take 104 bcd rings. Got them super cheap last year. Will just have to try I guess…
Longer chainring bolts and washers then. Though it'll probably be fine.
Ah should’ve said. It’s a triple crank they’ve resold with a single ring so on the inside of the tabs in the old middle ring position. Outside of the tabs won’t work.
I’ll offer it up and see
Hiya, just ref proguard. Just check on my Pike with no air and just contacts, but does not with MRP Ribbon.
Mudhugger clears on both.
Thanks. Will have a play around with different holes for the cable ties, currently I'm on the rearmost and 3rd rearmost ones. I have the v1 but your v2 looks exactly the same shape and hole positioning.
So to update on the non boost cranks. Nearly got away with the 30t ring but it was too close for comfort. Added a 1mm spacer for now but going to order some new cranks.
First ride today and it definitely feels more sprightly than my previous bike which had 20mm more travel both ends, and a degree slacker HA. You really feel the short rear end on berms. Will need to adjust to it a bit. Felt rapid but strava says I was average…
Managed to round the Allen key bolt hole on one of the cable guides during the build as it didn’t want to undo which is annoying. Going to need to get the bolt removers out. Unable to fit the bottle cafe till that is done.
Mine arrived on Friday. Aether 9Al, size large with Deluxe Ultimate and Lyrik Ultimate RC2. Mix of Deore, Sunrace, SLX and XT across the components due to availability but it's turned out well. Size is absolutely bang on, I'm 6ft and can still fit a 200mm dropper which is great. The team at Bird were fantastic from start to finish, accommodating a number of changes along the way. Definitely makes a change from my rigid Krampus!
Early Bird out at GT on Saturday
Hiya, test i did was on my bike (not the Burgundy one) which is a Mk1 pro guard, will ask my sister to check hers - even on mine the contact is very minimal if an issue for you perhaps couple of spacers under the arch?
Bit of a random one, which framebags are people using? i’d quite like to squeeze something into the front triangle (forward of the shock).
I have one of these blackburn bags https://www.blackburndesign.com/p/outpost-corner-bike-frame-bag/. Fits in front of the shock on my large Aether 7.
I had one of those Blackburn bags - fitted ok on my ML Aeris 145 but won’t fit nicely on a medium Aether. Either way I found it didn’t actually hold very much and I didn’t like the look of it. So I sold it and either use a hip pack or back back. I need them for the water carrying most of the time anyway.
I had a Wee Cog Cage made for my size M. Usefulness is borderline TBH as it's so small (expected), and the thick fabric results in some chunky seams on the inside - the area between each side of the shock brace isn't usable, and there's not much slack for opening out the opening. It takes a 25g CO2 with head, tubeless repair kit, and medium multi tool - zero space left for even a car key, and won't work if you have big fingers. It's well-made, only just enough for a packless ride. TBH for a size M I can't recommend it at £55 shipped with the 10% STW member discount.
For people at 6ft, would an ML or a L make more sense? Seems the reach on these is really long for the frame sizes
That depends in your preference.
My current bike is a HT with 480mm reach (large) which feels quite big. But I'm aware reach is a bit different with full suspension sag vs. HT.
Assuming that's unsagged I guess reach on your hardtail will grow by up to 10mm or so once you've weighted it.
That would make you between the ML and the L.
On the basis that you feel this is quite long, maybe the ML would be best for you.
I'm 182 cm and I ended up on an ML.
Possibly maybe if I was high speed slamming open moors and mountains the L would have been better, but I have lots of woodsy singletrack and decided a little shorter was better.
I'm also finding that I prefer my even longer Nu-skool hardtail a little shorter recently, so that kind of backs up where I am with it. YMMV.
Head tube on the ML is a little on the low side, but that's easy to overcome with a riser bar, spacers and stem as required.
Cheers for the tips. I need to go sit on an ML and L before buying then as im in-between.
Definitely going for raw finish in either case - looks amazing.
I’m a smidge under 6 foot. Let’s say 181cm. I went for the ML rather than the L.
So far I think I made the right choice.
Did any of you do a trial before buying one? For only £20 to borrow one for a day seems like a very generous scheme from Bird.
Possible to run a 160mm fork with this frame?
Aether 9 is a 130mm frame (same as my 7) and is warranted for 150mm max forks I believe.