[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50468972013_e2f8244ea4_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50468972013_e2f8244ea4_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jTLF4T ]p6pb19549170[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
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This is going to end up being a bit of a GP type slow burner thread. Basically the plan is to build it up over winter/spring for when the boy is too tall for his current specialized FSR Stumpjumper.
Only downside is a minor one which is that his rear wheel won't fit, but that's far from to sort, i think i can even steal one from Crust for now as a spare.
Bird are a highly thought of bike and they were built just down the road from Swinley Forest, which is my boy and my stomping ground and where he's grown into the rider he is today, so it's very close to us in that context to buy one from them.
There's the added benefit that the guy who designed it is a regular on here.
I've still not quite decided how we'll build it yet, we've got many of the bits in spares, so we could in theory build from spares, add some bits like a set of forks and then sell the Specialized as a whole bike, or we can split it up, use all the bits off the Specialized and then sell the frame only.
Collection this weekend, but either way, it's a bit big for the boy so won't be going into full build for a while yet.
I had dual position Pikes on mine, not a hugely popular choice but really suited the build and lighter than the Lyrik. Also had some Roughcut Sweeps which were great for the cash at the time
What size did you run ? I think his current forks are 150s, so if we do use components they'll be that.. But not against picking something else up used/classifieds.
It's very ORANGE!
Looks nice, I like a slow build thread.
It’s very ORANGE!
He's going to LOVE that as we've both been KTM fans for years too, plus he's 12, so something lairy like that will go down brilliantly.
I'm not going to tell him, just turn up to meet the guy on Sat and see his reaction.
A much smarter buy than that capra if you ask me. Top dadding!
That looks in fantastic condition! Bird's tend to get rode hard!
I'd go for something like a 150mm Pike for a lad (who I assume is reasonably light). 1x drivetrain (if you're buying new the new Doeore 12sp looks good) and a lightish wheelset with 30mm rims.
P.S. Not to be too much of a Nerd, that's an Aeris 1.5, not a 145. 😉
A much smarter buy than that capra if you ask me. Top dadding!
You'll like it even more when you hear it was half the price the Capra went for !
Looks very nice - although it’s an Aeris 1.5 not a 145. Still decent and I expect your lad will love it. Think it’s a bit shorter and maybe a touch less slack than a 145.
I’d go for something like a 150mm Pike for a lad (who I assume is reasonably light). 1x drivetrain (if you’re buying new the new Doeore 12sp looks good) and a lightish wheelset with 30mm rims.
P.S. Not to be too much of a Nerd, that’s an Aeris 1.5, not a 145
Don't mind you being a nerd, i'm happy to be educated on things 🙂
I've ordered a headset from Bird and i'll steal some wheels and forks in the interim from a mate.
I'll likely go 1x11 not 12 as i've got 11 on all our other bikes/spares, so like keeping it simple.
I'll need an 11sp mech for it, but the cranks i've got will be perfect along with pedals, brakes etc etc... So we're good to build once i've ordered a 30.9<31.6 seatpost shim.
The forks for building will be Suntour Aion in 130mm, but that's only for the build process, i'm thinking a set of Yari potentially or maybe Fox36, depends what's in the budget and about on Ebay when i get round to that part of it.
Pikes were 130/160, the 130 was good for longer climbs as it kept the nose on the deck.
I had a medium, at 5'10 it was fun but I really enjoy the +30mm reach on my current ML AM9.
Great support from Bird in general
He's currently 5'3" so as i say, no major rush on it as he's still growing.
How much was that beast?
Nice! Looks mint.
There's an epic site for checking out dimensions on bikes.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50470749933_7d0a90aa0c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50470749933_7d0a90aa0c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2jTVMzF ]2020-10-13_05-10-56[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
What we learn from there is that the Bird is a fair bit longer than his current bike, it's also slightly longer than the wifes Liv Embolden E+ which currently feels too big for him. So that's kind of good as this was always planned as a future bike... But also means there's really no rush at all to get it built.
Although i can bet my arse there's at least 1 member on here who'll want it built ASAP so he can ride it because just like myself, he's been interested in Birds for a long time (stop s****ing).
Looking through my spares boxes and piles, i can build the bike apart from a front 10 speed shifter and a stem without spending any money (once i've borrowed the same persons forks and rear wheel), it'll only be 10 speed and a none clutch SRAM X7 rear mech, but will have good brakes, dropper, cranks etc. All for what's in spares 🙂 (It will also have some proper ugly bars to start with)
Once that's done and we can then have a play with it and over spring i'll get the 11sp kit for the bike and get it fully built with the nicer parts.
Still debating which is the best way to do this. Whether to use the spares and build a lower spec bike for the lad then sell the Specialized as a whole bike, or use the parts from the Specialized and have a higher spec bike and then sell it just as a frame only.
Both should work OK financially as far as plans go, assuming the frame will sell of course.
Oh errrrm, i've just noticed... There's no water bottle mount points on this ! Even if there was, with such a large shock nothing would fit anyhow.
Correct - the 145 which came later has a bent downtube and top tube mounted shock which allows for water bottle mounts. The one you’ve got doesn’t. Camelbak time!
Not gonna fly for a 12 year old for many reasons. It may work for me, but for a small kid it's just not going to work. I don't want him lumping 2kg round on his back at a young age either really. Plus he's going to forget, or leave it somewhere, with his phone and keys lol... It's really a complete deal breaker for us.
Have you bought it already? What size is your g160 - could you ride the Bird and he gets the Whyte?
We'd done the deal @ £350 for the frame, but wasn't collecting till Saturday. Not paid, was paing cash.
My G160 is a M, but geometry is bigger as it's proper LLS, 30mm longer TT/Reach on the G160.
So that's not going to fly as a plan either... I could arguably easily ride the Bird yes, but no chance of him getting on the G160 for several years yet.
A G-160 in same model as mine but in a small would be the ideal upgrade if you ask me, but tricky to find of course.
Correct – the 145 which came later has a bent downtube and top tube mounted shock which allows for water bottle mounts. The one you’ve got doesn’t. Camelbak time!
I wouldn't call it a 'token' but even on a 145, if you're running a piggy back you're very limited on what will fit. I managed to get a 590ml fidlock in, but even that needs a bit of modifying and fiddling around with cables etc.
Fair enough - at least you’ve found out before buying it.
Bird have 1 x small 145 left in their stock clearance sale (of that model) for £577 by the looks of it. But no shock for that cost and the only one they’re listing as an option is an expensive piggyback one. If you could find a cheap shock that would still be a good cost for a frame - the 145 is a bit more modern geo than the Aeris 1.5
I haven't tried but I think you can get a small Fidlock 450ml in a M at a squeeze.
