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Ah no more snippets of info then??
Appears not.. 😔
Aside from the BB drop, the Zero 29 reigns it in a bit, and having briefly tried one it makes for a nicely balanced bike. 460mm reach in ML is tiny compared to their other bikes.
Food for thought?
Chatting with the guys when I had a demo its more because your weight distribution is different on a hardtail and your just not as fast. So the hardtails are as extreme as they relatively need to be.
Well, still no more details or news on the Bird FB page..
I'm about ready to pull the trigger on an AM9 but was hoping they get the details out so I don't get buyer remorse. I asked Dan Hodge a week or so ago and he said it'd be the next few weeks but I've not seen anything since.
I emailed Bird as I was debating between the AM9 and waiting for the Aether 9 and got the following reply:
The Aether 9 is basically an Aether 7, but with bigger wheels. If you adjust things like BB drop & chainstay to account for the bigger wheels, then you have an Aether 9. The AM9 is probably more rounded as a do anything bike. Like the Aether 7 the Aether 9 is designed to extract the most hoots and grins from trail centre type riding but isn't necessarily the most efficient bike we do. Aether = fun, AM = all rounder (maybe we should have called it AR).
Hopefully that's of use for those debating which one to go for.
So the enduro bike is the "efficient" option, while the shorter-travel trail bike is for "fun"?
Unusual way to position their range.
Not that trail bikes shouldn't be fun, obvs - but that often comes when they are poppy and efficient at pedaling.
Shorter travel, agile trail bike
Longer travel, more capable do-it-all trail/enduro bike
Makes perfect sense to me?
The Aether 7 has 130mm rear travel so the 9 will probably have 120mm.
That quote doesn't specifically mention pedalling efficiency - could be meaning bump-absorbing efficiency.
That'll likely be it, yeah.
Having come from an Aeris 145 that I ran in both 145 and 160mm travel and now on an Aether 7 the Aether is a better do it all sort of bike in the 650b wheel size.
It definitely pedals better uphill and is more fun on mellow / flow trails. It corners really well and pops off stuff easier.
Where I think it falls down vs the Aeris a bit so far is on repetitive roots downhill. I haven’t done an uplift day on it yet but so far it’s been faster everywhere than the Aeris except on a few sections of the red Freeminers extension trail at FOD. There you could feel the Aether slowing up a bit and beating you up a little more than the Aeris. I guess the same will happen on big rock gardens and some of the blended ‘+’ trails at BPW.
Mines a fairly burly build Aether with a 140mm Lyrik at the front, Code R’s and Hope/XM481 wheels. 2.5dhf / 2.3 aggressor for the summer.
I’m a little curious about a coil (with a red spring to match the red forks I’ll shortly have on the front), although what I suspect is that’ll make it better on steep / tech slow stuff and outright fast stuff but might suck some of the ‘pop’ out of the bike - which isn’t really what I’d want.
It's both. My AM9 is efficient pedaling and also in it's suspension use, which is what makes it a great all-rounder.
https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/bird-cycleworks-teases-aether-9c-carbon-frame/
Quite interested in that, so long as its got a short top tube/steep actual seat angle.
Oh, the logo says 'Bird'. I never realised.
Quite interested in that, so long as its got a
short top tube steep actual seat angle.
You've seen birds before? long is kind of their thing. That said, you can of course size down. At just under 6' 1" my hardtail is a ML.
I hope they keep the external cable routing, maybe they've done something similar to deviate with a channel somewhere - looks sleek, but doesn't make changing stuff a faff.
Like many people I am sure, I just so hope they have an aluminium version as well.
Planning on demo-ing an AM9 in the coming weeks, but that's really with this (in alu) in mind to see what size I need and if the AM9 is too much bike for me.
I hope they keep the external cable routing,
Looking at my 120 from the same angle, you can't see the external cable guides. And the Aether7 uses a different system with clips on top of the downtube.
The previous shot of the rear triangle had the brake hose external on the rear at least.
I'm torn on internal routing ATM, annual maintainence faff vs weekly cleaning faff is the tradeoff for me.
You’ve seen birds before? long is kind of their thing. That said, you can of course size down. At just under 6′ 1″ my hardtail is a ML.
You can have a short top tube and a long reach, steepen the actual seat angle, rather than the current made up effective seat tube angles that grace geo charts.
Always gonna bring out this the day after I ordered my AM9 frame haha
You can have a short top tube and a long reach
You're 100% right. I misread/misunderstood your post.
Seated length (tied to TT) vs standing length (tied to reach) is something I've tried to explain to people for ages, and now I get it wrong myself.
Must be time for another drip feed of info, interested in this probably shorter travel 29er
Interestingly it looks like one of the things they've done with the carbon frame is change the downtube shape to improve bottle location on the smaller frames. Cool.
This is perfect timing! Or not if you were my banker.
This is going to be their all day adventure, one bike for all occasions, take it to a trail centre to rip round the reds and a snifter at the blacks and do a full day on natural stuff around the Cairngorms bike isn't it? The AM9 is their 'enduro' bike? I get slightly confused by Bird's bike placements and intent. Still working out if this or the AM9 should be my next bike.
Perfect timing for me too, providing the wait isn't too long.
I've narrowed it down to the Whyte S120 or this.
I've had 2x S150's already, so not after an enduro bike again which discounts the AM9.
The image would suggest they arn't using FSR.
I'm after a trail bike/all country bike to sit between the hardtail and the 161, be interesting to see where the 9C ends up. Quite like the look of the spur.
They’ve said on FB suspension design but is similar to their other bikes.
The AM9 is their ‘enduro’ bike? I get slightly confused by Bird’s bike placements and intent. Still working out if this or the AM9 should be my next bike.
I have an AM9 and you couldn't meet a less "enduro" rider (I don't even own a pair of green shorts)
It pedals really well and I don't find it heavy to ride uphill. You should probably try one
If you go cross-eyed you can bring it back into focus on that picture.
10 or so minutes and all should be revealed!
Well I like the looks of it, and of course the price. Like the top tube length. Not so sure about the short stays, but very keen so far. I hope they offer some piggyback shocks. And September delivery allows me some time to think it over 🙂
Yes, it does rather look like the bike I've been waiting for. Can my bank balance handle it though....not had a new mtb since 2009 so I think I deserve one!
looks like it's had a head on crash with the top/bottom tube - pretty ugly
Not gorgeous like a Transition Spur, more kind of industrial.
Its on the list of things to demo. Like the overlap in frame sizes, ML looks good on the numbers.
There are a lot of different angles on the go, it looks a little busy, Spur (although in a shorter travel category has much cleaner lines)
Yeah, the Spur is a bit shorter on travel (10mm), and probably a kilo or so lighter too. It's a lovely bike. I think the bird will do me though, and save me a wedge of cash.
Yeah a complete 9C can be had for just a few hundred pounds more than a Spur frame. The Transition is certainly cleaner looking but I'm guessing the kinked DT on the 9C is there to accommodate a water bottle, to the detriment of looks.
looks like it’s had a head on crash with the top/bottom tube – pretty ugly
I like it, it's quirky.
That Spur is a thing of beauty though. Not sure I can afford and extra £1000 though*...
*I def. can't justify a spur, the Aether might be doable...
Think they will be an alloy Aether9?
Think they will be an alloy Aether9?
They have already said yes to this.
i think that will be a visually nicer looking bike.
i think that will be a visually nicer looking bike.
The bar has been set pretty low!
Are there many people left who want a 430mm rear combined with a long front end on a 29er?
Not throwing shade, genuine question to you all.
Are there many people left who want a 430mm rear combined with a long front end on a 29er?
Given the movement towards varying the rear centre with the front centre based on size, it does seem a bit of an overthought. Granted Bird are at the value end, but a flip chip and sliding brake mount(or something along those lines) would of been a wise move.
I think Bird have kept the short end vs long fronts on the 9c as they want it to be playful and poppy and easy to chuck into corners / into a manual etc.
The AM9 enduro bike they also have is a bit longer at the back end - although they don’t have variable chainstay length based on size like some bigger manufacturers.
I don’t mind the look of the 9c - especially the green one. Bird always seem to air on the side of practicality - although have gone internal routing on this one as some of the criticism of the alloy bikes is the cables look a bit untidy all being external.
That Transition Spur does look lovely - probably because at first glance it has lines like a hardtail with the seatstays lining up with the top tube angle.
Green works much better. in the Zero 29 hardtail the chainstay length does vary with size, but only 5mm.
With aluminium you can have an adjustable jig, rather than a costly mold for each variation of front/rear end,
I honestly can't tell if i like the looks, would need to see one in person I think.
I'm out however as the 430mm chainstays on a 500mm+ reach really does mess with a balance of a bike. I'd love to have been a 440-450mm chainstays on the larger sizes or a flip chip as above.
Interesting how the XL has 541mm reach with 430 stays! Why do the chain/seatstays look way fatter than other carbon bikes? Pricing seems great as usual.
steeper seat angle as the sizes gets bigger which will help with the weight distro, reckon it will def look better in the flesh.
fatter chainstays etc are explained here:
My brain can’t compute what it all means, I’d just have to test ride to know if I liked it. I do find the ideas interesting, I’d always wondered why bigger bikes didn’t have longer chainstays but I can understand the theory of steepening the seat angle instead. I think it looks OK, not the best aesthetics, but I would definitely appreciate the practicality of space for a water bottle (especially as I’d be a smaller size) and rear brake on the left routing
With aluminium you can have an adjustable jig, rather than a costly mold for each variation of front/rear end,
I think Santa Cruz do it by slightly varying the main frame pivot lactation. This means they get different effective chainstay lengths whilst using the same component across the sizes.
I really like the looks, agree the downtube is challenging but because teh whole thing's got that blocky, geometric feel to it, it works for me. It'd have been pretty tempting to have made individual parts curvy or swoopy for their own sake but lose a bit of the cohesion of it.
It's not for me, just not really a type of bike I want just now but it looks pretty ace.
Are there many people left who want a 430mm rear combined with a long front end on a 29er?
Not throwing shade, genuine question to you all.
Personally, I prefer shorter stays, having ridden a few different bikes, 440mm is the maximum I like, anything above that becomes very sluggish to me in the corners & loses some elements of fun.
430 however, is really short. But then it also has the looks only a mother could love, so wouldn't be in my world for a short travel trail bike.
frame pivot lactation
Dodgy grease nipple?
Geometry looks perfect for me, but I can't stand the blocky aesthetics of the carbon. It looks like a homebrew 'I made my first mtb from carbon in the shed' vibe. Overbuilt and agricultural. Looks like I'm in the minority though.
I think I'll have to wait until the alloy version comes out and hope it matches the AM9 for looks, which I think looks superb.
I'm also disappointed by such long lead times.. November for medium! I assume Covid is to blame.
It's also impossible to price it up as everything is out of stock.
I've been waiting for a couple years for this, so just venting :D. I'm sure I'll love it by tomorrow.
Grumble, grumble, grumble.. etc.
the00
I think Santa Cruz do it by slightly varying the main frame pivot lactation. This means they get different effective chainstay lengths whilst using the same component across the sizes.
They really milk every last bit of value out of that mould.
Will anyone tell us how much the thing weighs? I presume given that they haven’t given a weight it’s on the portly side for a carbon frame which then begs the question of why bother with carbon. I would love my suspicions to be wrong
They do look nicer in the flesh, it seems that dead square side on really exagerates the kinks that mean it all fits together. When do you ever see a bike from that angle in real life? The black one with the silver linkage and finishing kit reminds me of the HB130.
I think the short stays are deliberate, and match the well recieved Aether7, which I have ridden breifly, and find it playful and poppy so assuming that this is similar in its intentions. I doubt anybody is buying it specifically to race, so playful makes sense.
Unrelated - that Spur is the most beautiful full suss bike I have ever seen; and I am not fan of the other trannies aesthetically.
Another fantastic bike from bird, selfishly gutted it’s more I’m the trail category than the shorter travel rear I was hoping for.
I think with the am9 now getting longer legs (or wings) this will sit nicely in the slightly less travel but great for everything category.
key points
lifetime guarantee on carbon!!!
reasonably priced (although more than I expected tbh)
all that good stuff geometry bird get praised all the time for.
it fits a 750ml water bottle minimum!!!! I’ve lost count of how many people have bitched about not being able to fit one.
ill certainly have a looky at one, for me its really nice looking but I think I’d be looking for it to fit my need too far away from the design brief and it would sit too close to my v2 am9.
Now a carbon am9 could be interesting!
“Will anyone tell us how much the thing weighs?”
Geometry looks perfect for me, but I can’t stand the blocky aesthetics of the carbon. It looks like a homebrew ‘I made my first mtb from carbon in the shed’ vibe. Overbuilt and agricultural. Looks like I’m in the minority though.
I agree and I had similar thoughts when I first saw it.
The confusing thing is I quite like the functional simplicity of Bird bikes, external cables, threaded BB, basic paint jobs etc and this kind of fits into that ethos. So I should like it, but I don't. Its a bit minecraft
Its a bit minecraft
Lol, I hate to be mean because Bird as a company seem to have a fantastic ethos but that isnt a pretty bike.
Love the fact that the 541mm reach size is only 20mm more ETT than my Size XXL 510mm reach jeffsy.
Size L is equivalent to a XXL Jeffsy 😀
Size L is equivalent to a XXL Jeffsy
Its looooonnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg for sure.
Surprised that the whole range share the same standover though? Do people not get longer legs as their need for longer reach increases? Or do tall people just get a broom handle for a seatpost? Not just a Bird question but a general observation on new bikes.
Is that heavy or average for a carbon frame?
IIRC the last frame I weighed was a metal Nukeproof Mega at a touch under 3.8kg with piggyback shock, hardware, axle and headset cups.