[Closed] Bird AM9 and Whyte s150

Not ridden either but I bought a Bird Zero29 this year and Bird are brilliant to deal with, I saw the other day that they are a planning suspension set up day(s) which hopefully I'll be free to go to. They have a very good Facebook owners page where they are quick to help. I was also looking at a Whyte but my local Whyte dealer didn't have hardtails to demo.

Not sure it helps but Alpine bikes at glentress had a cracking deal on an S150 when we were in the other day.

I'd go Bird, everyone I know speaks highly of the bikes and the service, the only reason I didnt get a AM9 was due to not being able to fit a good size bottle on it. Whyte on the other hand, my riding buddy has had two (T130-G170) and although good geo, was always having issues and the service he received from shop and Whyte wasnt that good.

Dont let the bottle thing put you off, I recently saw this which would alleviate this and makes the AM9 a contender for my next frame/bike. https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/b-rad-system/products/b-rad-double-bottle-cage-adapter lets you mount the bottle slightly offset from the centre of the downtube, they do a two cage version or one.

Had an AM9 for an year.

Amazing bike, really enjoyed it.
Pluses:
- suspension kinematics, with high antisquat, provide an amazing climbing platform. I can't remember using the shock lever, when you push the pedals it goes forward. Climbs better than many trail bikes
- very user friendly design, external cables, no stupid details or mud pockets. Colet pivots are great
- best costumer service I ever experienced

Negatives:
- suspension kinematics cause a relatively high level of pedal feedback and perceived harshness. When bombing through rock gardens and such it feels harsher and with shorter travel than others. My new Stumpjumper Evo feels much smoother and like it has more travel
- it hadn't a "premium" feel, paint isn't the best and it even lacks a chainstay guard
- awkward bottle cage position. You either go with a piggy back shock or with a normal bottle. I chose the later and the RS Deluxe shock turned out to be quite bad on intense DH runs

Had my S150 for nearly a year now and it's been fantastic. Only negatives are the stock wheels on the S and RS models are quite heavy but I had some nice DT Swiss wheels to swap out. I did consider the bird and the fact you can spec the components yourself may be a plus but I decided on the whyte as you can see it in your local bike shop. Also the S150 can run 27.5 plus if you like the sound of chubby wheels.
Prob can't go wrong with either as their both great bikes.

I've got a large AM9 with a RS Super Deluxe with a piggy back. I use one of these to push the bottle down. Needed a little bending, but works fine:

Topeak Aly-Poistion Cage Mounts

I can get an Elite Corse 500ml bottle with a cap on fine. Most other 500ml bottles work.

You'll need a side open cage too.

I was torn between the two but went for a Whyte S-150 C RS, which I've had for 18 months now. I was swayed to the Whyte mainly to support, and be supported by my local lbs, who also did a good deal. I also liked the geo a little better, with a higher stack and 42mm offset fork. Carbon is always shiny as well..

Currently no regrets, in similarity with the above post I'd say the pros and cons are:

Pros:
- Really, really capable geometry, a great climbing position and incredibly stable riding mostly steep off piste in the South Wales Valleys. I've done Ard Rock, a week in morzine, and a week in the tweed valley on mine and it's not held me back at all. I think just about the only time I wished for more travel was ploughing down the 10% section on the pleney black..
- Pretty sorted suspension kinematics, needed a few volume spacers but is properly capable with them fitted. It does bob just a little bit but it gives serious traction on rough climbs.
- Overall I quite liked the spec, GX eagle is standard these days and the carbon cranks were nice. The pike and deluxe work well when set up, and punch above their weight. The 170mm reverb on the XL is a game changer as well.
- Having a good lbs to back me up has been great. They swapped all the bearings out on warranty when they went the first time, and warrantied a GX eagle mech that I exploded during a race.
- It's a very, very silent bike.

Cons:
- It chews through frame bearings but they're free so I have to email Whyte every 9 months or so for a new set. I've found it's only 4 that go so I tend to swap just them out and it's not a fiddly job at all. In all fairness the bike does see some horrendous conditions over winter.
- The stock wheels are rubbish, the rear bearings went 6 monthly and the rims are somehow both very heavy and cheesey at the same time. Swapped out for ARC 30's on hopes and that was night and day.
- Guide R's are shite and were swapped on day 1.