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What would a Solaris Max give me over the Bird Zero 29er?
Any opinions will be mulled over, pondered and requestioned until my good lady has spent the dosh anyway....
A lush Reynolds 853 front triangle and 525? rear?
Huge difference in BB height between these two - the Zero is over 35mm lower. And the Zero’s seat angle is about 2 deg steeper. Not much else between them bar the frame materials.
2° steeper seat angle on the Bird which i'd prefer, though kinked seat tube might rob it of some of that advantage depending on saddle height.
I think Solaris looks better, though not 100% fond of current batch of colour schemes/logo styles.
The Solaris Max can be used with Both 27.5+ and 29er Wheels, the Bird Zero 29er is 29er only I think, dew to its low BB height.
With a 140mm Fork
Solaris Max BB drop 55.5mm Sagged
Bird Zero 29er BB drop 90mm Sagged
Gulp!!!
I'm a LS Solaris owner and I'm keen to try the Bird. Lower BB does not sound like a problem.
The good news is that both Bike companies are very good to deal with, responsive and helpful and that they both make Demo rides fairly easy to attain. I'll own up now to owning and loving my Bird Aeris 145.
I've ridden both HT's in last couple of months and enjoyed both. The lower BB on the Bird was a problem in the mild confines of Swinley so amongst proper trails with sticky up rocks etc I'd be a little worried. The Bird Zero riding position was just perfect to me but I felt that the frame gave me a lot more of a pummelling from the cobbles on the trails. Sadly the Solaris test wasn't over the same ground so I can't directly compare but could believe frame materials have an effect? The Solaris felt pretty good, responsive and agile, I rode it for 90 mins approx but it really only came alive after a tweak of the bar position, then it was very good indeed. One negative against the Cotic at the moment is delivery timescales, especially if you're after it as a winter bike?
I'm also looking for a frame that will take both 29 and plus options, so another strike against the Bird there, I'd listen to any arguments about the fact that perhaps it's a more hardcore focused design than the Solaris? Both bikes were tested on 29er 2.5/2.6 tyres, pressures were tinkered with during the ride to even out differences.
As ever - get yourself a test ride on both, then choose the colour you like most?
Not ridden any of the above but have been looking at similar types of frames lately.
Worth looking at also is the V2 Pipedream moxie, Stanton switch 9er or the orange crush 29er.
Had a moxie and the front end total length/reach was an issue couldn’t get the front end to pop up and over stuff easily! due to tendon issues so week arms but if not for that then I’d still have it. Also the new gen longer bikes do take a lot more grrrr to get them to go where you want etc. Low bb not really an issue I have to say and the moxie is a super low
Thanks for the replies all, not fussed about 27.5 +, I have ridden the Bird, med ium and large but not the Cotic, also have a 145, I wanted something that should be quicker around the Chilterns and Swinley, the 145 can cope with everything else.
Hi Boobs,
I'd definitely recommend testing the Solaris in that case.
CS
Right, anyone got a Solaris I could play on? Near Reading / Swinley...
"Low bb not really an issue I have to say and the moxie is a super low"
Zero 29's BB height is 16mm lower than the Moxie's!
You’ll feel the length of the Solaris Maxs chainstays at Swinley in that twisty flat bit in the middle of the blue.
I switched from a solaris max to a Chameleon last spring and the difference was night and day in the tight twisty stuff at Swinley. The Chameleons 415mm chainstays make it much more agile. Where as the Cotics long chainstays make it very stable down hill.