[Closed] Bird Zero AM or Whyte 901/905

Had similar choice a year plus back with my 26 Soul. Bought a Bird TR and have no regrets. Even in TR shape it’s still quite long and low and needs a bit of a push on general xc stuff. Other bike is a current geo Anthem. On fast trail centre stuff (Cathkin) Strava says the Bird is faster for me than the Giant, although harder work !

I don’t think Whyte frames are available separately are they?

The Bird TR does get lots of rave reviews from owners - but it’s not boost.

I thought about an AM but decided it was too long and too slack for what I wanted- but that’s because I already have a Bird Aeris 145LT as my big bike. If you’re hardtail only then the Zero AM could be a good option. I find the longer bikes are good for steep technical climbs too.

I went for a Vitus Sentier VRX as I wanted something shorter / nippier for playing on at pumps tracks / flat and pedally sort of trails mostly. Although I did a half day uplift on it at Flyup 417 and it was superb.

Depends what you want really?

I'd be looking at a complete bike probably, I'll need, frame, forks and wheels at least. I'll really like the look of the AM boost in black.

I have the non-boost Zero AM, the new boost AM is a bit longer and slacker. I find it great for steep tech, and fine for longer XC type rides. The biggest limitation in both cases is me. I do run soft aggressive tyres which are ideal for steep off piste but do drag on hard/smooth terrain, some faster tyres would sort that. While it's not harsh I'd say it's a stiff frame and maybe not the most comfortable/forgiving for all day rides, but then I do have a 45 year old back that suffers.

I have a 44 year old back. Hoping yoga might sort it out. In recent years long xc days have been very rare so that's probably less of a consideration. I'm very tempted to go to Hamsterley to test a Bird, 5 hour round trip but should be worth it.

I have a TR Zero , use it for snappy single track, surrey hills etc also XC, South/north downs and local bridleways in between. It's not as slack at the AM but it is always happy to be pointed down hill, on my rides anyway.
Oh and I love it.

I’d definitely do some
Test rides for sure. If you can test the AM and TR back to back that would help settle what you want / like. Maybe take a mate and get one each and swap them over part way through? Bird are great to deal with and it’s really nice how you can adjust your spec to your preferences / budget.

I have a 44 year old back. Hoping yoga might sort it out

To be fair I find the same with any hardtail on long rides these days. Yoga did help me, but I let it slip in the last year or so.

The zero is a fun bike, I'd certainly recommend trying one. Maybe the new 29er will help smooth things out a bit. It's getting good reviews and looks like the goldilocks hardtail in the Bird range.

Mine is a bit older, at 53 years 😜 I don’t find the Zero TR harsh on long rides, although do have a 2.4 Ardent on the back. Having had it for just over a year, I can’t think of anything that would be a better replacement. Mine has a 130 Yari, XT/SLX mix, standard wheels and a Fox Transfer post.

If you find the Zero am too much and the tr isn’t in stock I’m the size / colour you like then it might be worth looking at the Orange Clockwork 137 or Sonder Transmitter. Both are modern without bring full on hardcore.

I’d tou find alloy too stiff for long rides then maybe look at steel bikes like the Cotic Soul / some of the Stantons. Budget Will need to be higher though.....

I have a bird (Aeris) and a whyte 905.
The whyte is simply the most fun bike I’ve ever owned or ridden. Plus tyres are hugely fun and make technical climbs I’d normally have no chance on suddenly doable.

Bird are great and if you’re able to then well worth a test ride on a couple. The AM is quite aggressive and from what you say the TR sounds spot on. Both bikes will be quite different from the 456.

Incidentally no bike will be future proof and you’ll want/need to change your bike long before you can no longer get 142mm wheels.

Cotic and Stanton are too pricey just now. I like the look of the Orange Clockwork Evo, not so fussed for the Sonder and Alpkits sleeping mats have put me of using Alpkit for anything else. I think a Bird test is the next step, I'll message them and see if I can arrange a test of the TR and AM.

If you want a spin on my TR drop me a PM

Cheers. I've messaged you.

The whyte is simply the most fun bike I’ve ever owned or ridden. Plus tyres are hugely fun and make technical climbs I’d normally have no chance on suddenly doable.

I'll second that. I have a 2018 909. 46 year old back here and the Whyte has never given me back issues. The plus tyres certainly help dampen the rough stuff out. I think many people overlook Whytes for Oranges, Cotics, Birds and the like, but I think Whyte offer one of the best all-round packages for UK trail riding.

I’ve ordered a Sonder Evol hopefully arriving this week. I’m haven’t got the money for a big name frame. I’ve looked at lots of options and kept ending up back at the Evol.

£719 boost spacing current geo 🙂

Can I ask what issues you had with alpkit ?

I've got an AM, and I've done a few twenty mile plus rides. It's absolutely fine, and I'm in no way the fittest rider. With a 41 year old back. It's a superb bike, but Bird will admit to the TR being the better all rounder bike. Saying that, the mate I ride the most with has an Airdrop Edit and he's also done twenty plus mile rides on that with no issues.

I’ll second that.

+1; love riding my Whyte 905.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't saying the Bird is harsh, I specifically said it wasn't, or that it would give you a bad back. It's just that I would describe it more as stiff and taught than compliant, and with my back I prefer comfort on longer rides. I still ride my Zero though as it's a lot of fun and a very capable bike.

I like my original Zero AM a lot. Am just about to swap some nicer parts onto it, bigger gear range and more dropper drop. I may stick an angleset back in, will see how it feels - I’ve been on my ebike monster truck for the last couple of months and that’s a slack 29er with a short offset fork and nothing knocks it offline! I wrote lots about it:

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/bird-zero-am-review-warning-bicycle-content/

https://whyte.bike/pages/events

One other thing - if you like black bikes, the current Zero AM is anodised black rather than painted. I’m just in the process of selling my anodised black Spitfire and the finish is in far better condition than my painted black Zero despite having had twice as much use.

I was in similar situation as OP when updating my 2011 steel (tange) Charge Cooker. Replaced 2 weeks ago with the COTIC Solaris Max Longshot. Ridden nearly 150 miles on it in just under 2 weeks. Love it. It’s more forgiving than the Cooker so am enjoying long rides on it. Can’t decide whether it’s the Reynolds 853 tubing or the longer reach but I suspect it’s a mixture of both. Funnily enough I’ve got my 3rd fastest times down some cheeky local trails and I’m not even used to it properly yet! My other bike for reference is a Bird AM9. Can see the Bird only coming out for trips to Wales now.

Another Whyte 905 owner. Love it. Really flaters my riding. Choose lines I wouldn't normally. Not necessarily faster, but maximum fun!

I'd hoped to get a Whyte to demo from Edinburgh bike co-op but they don't have them. Emailed Bird about demoing the Zero Tr and Am. An ex demo P7 has also popped up as an option, waiting to here back on price.

Wee update. Didn't have any joy with the Orange but Ben from Bird sorted out a test ride of an AM and a 29. Loved the 29, so much fun and felt like it would be very forgiving and comfortable on longer rides. So ordered one last night. Feel like a kid at Christmas.

Nice work. Would like to try the 29 Zero. The Bird guys are really helpful too.

Enjoy, let’s see a photo when it arrives!

Interesting thread - wanting change to a more all water more fun setup I posted a couple of weeks ago about a Cotic Solaris replacing a 100mm Carbon HT, but keep getting drawn to the 905.

Got the Tr it's an ace bike. The green is really nice as well.

Try before you buy, and don't believe the hype. Went for a new 2019 901 - current rides an old 2006 Pace / 2012 Five. 901 great downhill, but by heck is it a heavy thing. If you winch & plummet, fine. Bit of XC and you'll not be so happy. Currently trying to drop some mass, which essentially means losing the key selling point - the 2.8" tyres! Think the Saracen Mantra may be interesting?

I love my 905.
My brother has recently bought a sonder transmitter which is similar. Both great - the 905 is definitely the most fun bike I’ve had. I have the 2018 and 12 months on it still puts a massive smile on my face.

I didn't try the Bird on anything too pedally but it felt quite quick sprinting out of corners. And climbs didn't feel any harder than they normally do. Horses for courses and all that but I'm happy the Bird will tackle most of the boxes.

I've got a 909 I think it's what it's called. Really good fun bike much much better than my previous bikes all 26 and 10 years old. Dropper posts are a revelation, the new big tyres and rims are great as are the fox forks. I'm not quite sold on 800mm wide bars and despite being 5'9" I wish I'd gone for a large to get a longer seat tube despite that not being how bikes are measured now. If you are set on a hardtail perhaps look at 29ers. I think in the next year I'll swap my parts onto a full suss frame as I've not had one before. Slightly less slack. Great bike though perhaps not suited to 20 miles off road more of a singletrack specialist that flies downhill

Removed the Whyte bars and grips from the 2019 901, replaced with Renthall fat bar with death grips. Worked out 6cm narrower - bike so much better now. Not only does it look less aggressive on the trails, I don't clatter against trees etc.. It also rides really well. Happy with the bike at last!