[Closed] New Bird Day!

Is that really a Judy fork or just a different one styled retro?

You could take your bike with you to Snowdon - get up really early and go up Llanberis and down Rangers. Then drop the bike back to wherever you’re staying and then walk up / down it. Bet the bike is more fun 😝

Did Snowdon a few years ago on my Bird Aeris 145LT and the Rangers path was quite enjoyable on the way down.

It's a 160mm Yari, but with a 140mm air shaft, new wiper seals and a Charger 2.1 RC2 damper 🙂
With a Bignosecustoms spray job to finish it off!

It crossed my mind to be honest, but I'm going with a mate who isn't a biker and he's driving lol. We're up at 4am, driving down to walk a route he's plotted.

One day me and the missus will get to do it, it's on the list!

Just can't help yourself can you haha.
Must admit these are lovely looking bikes and was eyeing them up myself after my rear wheel ended up seizing last week

Very nice, I like that red.

I’m on an am160 which is far, far more capable than me!
I’m off to the Bird site to look at the carbon ather again..

What happened to the phantom?

Very nice.

Spider plant? Takes me back to the nineties student houses.

Good work. That looks lovely.

That's one odd looking elephant.

That red colour is ace.

RockShox should definitely bring back some older colours like that yellow or Psylo gold. Looks good. 👌

What size is it? It looks long, but squashed in the middle.

Like that Red 👍

Looks real nice. Love the custom painted fork, it's very effective.

He got the last cc inline coil it seems too. Damn.

haha @keefezza I wondered if you'd see it before I saw you again 🙂

I'll probably be listing the Banshee frame soon @thestabiliser

@sharkattack it's a large, which is slightly bigger than the XL Phantom it's replaced. I think it's just the angle of the photo. I'm hoping to get some better ones when I can get out on it.

I'd have had the carbon, but it was a bit out of budget, and I really wanted red haha.

It was the last Cane Creek coil shock, sorry 🙁

Looks ace - enjoy! Lovely clean build with the AXS.

Quick (random) Q… can you mount the fidlock without that extra cage/wedge? Guessing not and the base of the bottle wouldn’t clear the frame?

Cheers,

Rich

I’ll probably be listing the Banshee frame soon

Ooooh

XL

Curse my little stumps!😭

Cracking colour by the way, red stem has got to go though

@RichBowman I think the little step thing is just to mount the cage on top of the cable management. I haven't tried it without.

Haha, I may swap the stem for a silver one in a shorter length yet 🙂

In case it helps if you can find a 200x57 ccdb inline coil then it can be lengthen to fit a aether 7 or 9. I had that done for my new aether 7.

Ron’s Burgundy?

Quick (random) Q… can you mount the fidlock without that extra cage/wedge? Guessing not and the base of the bottle wouldn’t clear the frame?

The adapter offsets downwards slightly, so maybe, on that size frame with that shock. https://www.bird.bike/product/aeris-aether-bottle-cage-adaptor/

I think the little step thing is just to mount the cage on top of the cable management. I haven’t tried it without.

You can mount a cage without it, the bolts would go through the cage and the cable guides. The purpose is to angle the bottle so its top clears the shock, particularly for piggybacks.

That looks ace with the coil shock.

That’s a really nice looking bike! I procrastinated long and hard over one of these before finding my Sonder cheap. Having buyers remorse now 🤣

RockShox should definitely bring back some older colours like that yellow or Psylo gold. Looks good. 👌

Hmmm, my Pikes are a little tired looking, a repaint in Psylo gold could be on the cards now! I’ve still got a pair of the original ones in the shed.

I am awaiting on my AM9 to arrive. Can't wait.
Stealth ad, my Aeris 145 with 160 linkage is for sale in the classifieds.......

Reactor chainstay and downtube protection fit nicely on my 7 so I imagine they'd fit your 9 too.

Nixie - I wish I'd read that before I bought a new coil for mine! How much did cost to lengthen yours?

Can you get yourself a yellow ohlins spring to complete the ketchup and mustard look?
Love the clean axs look

How much did cost to lengthen yours?

Without finding the bill I think the parts where about £25 and the rest was workshop time (£40 maybe). But if it was being serviced i don't think there would be a workshop charge. My shock had only done 50 miles so did not need a service.

@ayjaydoubleyou you read my mind 😉

I might have to get a heavier spring yet, but I'm going to see how this goes first. The first ride will probably be suspension fettling mostly.

@Mugboo thanks for the suggestions, I'll have a look at them.

I don't get the forks, it's like putting a polo badge on a golf gti, although that along with the colour scheme did temporarily distract me from that shock mount tig welding.
Please change the stem and headset spacers 😀.

Thanks for the compliments haha.

More of a tribute than down-badging, but I get what you mean.

No love for my lovely red stem 😂 I'll get it changed eventually (along with the spacers).

Is nobody going to address the elephant in the room.

Looks great.

Funny how they make such a handsome aluminium frame alongside the - ahem - more challenging-looking carbon version.

I think the carbon one looks better in the flesh to be fair, some of the pics aren't flattering 🙂

I don’t get the forks, it’s like putting a polo badge on a golf gti

Depends how old you are, anyone over about 35 probably remembers when yellow Judy's were THE downhill fork.

I'm over 35 and I remember the yellow Judy SL was an XC fork. The Judy DH was red.

That one would go nice with the OP's frame, eh?

I remember original dh judys and those plastic adjusters at the top of the stanchions flying in the air after I'd replaced the elastomers with aftermarket coil springs, I nearly died, put me off rockshox for about 10 years.
Come on Bird sort out some moulded stays protection, that chainstay protector is more retro than those forks, you can add it to your nothing included selection section of optional extras 😃, no offence but the yellow pedals and grips cheapen it imo, cracking build with some lovely bits of kit otherwise.

Come on Bird sort out some moulded stays protection, that chainstay protector is more retro than those forks

Definitely this. Those neoprene things are whack. I'd also protect the back of the seatstay. That's where my Geometron got hammered, much more than the chainstay.

I have put some of that AMS frame protection on the seat stays too. I generally don't put a lot of protection on my bikes, usually just a bit of heli tape in high rub areas.

I know it won't be to everyone's taste with the colours, but I got a bit sick of "Black" everything. I just like a bit of colour 🙂

I'll consider the Nukeproof stuff though as it's not that expensive.

I'm not averse to a bit of colour myself and a big fan of nukeproof stuff, the blue anodising is my current weakness and my chainring, pedals and stem are never bought in black, so its whatever floats your boat, but bright coloured grips will always get a no from me.

That's lovely, I really like the red and the coil looks ace too.

Not a fan of the coloured stuff but I am a boring old fart so I wouldn't pay attention to me.

Hehe, I'm old enough to know better!

Still thinking of a Yellow Ohlins spring...

Finally got to go out on it's first ride today! I didn't adjust the rear shock much from the base tune, just a touch less HSR and a touch more LSC. Had to stick a bit of air in the fork, then had to stick a lot more when I let it all out by accident!

Rose-tinted new bike googles/first impression is very positive.

Climbing/Pedalling:
I was pleasantly surprised by how responsive it is. It's the first bike I've had in a while that feels like it's goading you to go faster on a climb! Combined with the coil, it feels like it just hoovers small bumps up and spits them back out as traction.

The steep seat tube angle feels like it puts me in the perfect position to get the most out of my leg strength and the front wheel stays on course without any wandering or lifting.

Every stab of the pedals translates well into forward motion, with no soggy feeling or hesitation.

Descending:
This was as expected to be honest. It feels composed and fast, without feeling choppy or wild. Tried it on a few small jumps, drops, berms and rock/root gardens today. The low bottom bracket with the short rear end makes it corner incredibly well.

The rear suspension feels bottomless and buttery smooth. I've missed having a coil on a trail bike and feel they are 100% worth the slight weight penalty over air.

I'm looking forward to getting more used to it and so far, it feels like exactly the kind of bike I've been wanting.

One thing to point out is that I'm using a 500lb spring. At my weight that's on max sag I'd like on this (around 30%). I feel this most on technical climbs where it's easy to snag a pedal due to how low the BB at sag. I'll try a 550lb and see how that feels after I've had a few more rides.

Here's a pic of the bike a bit dirtier and a pic of some cute chicks we saw in a nest today. They look a bit like Owls, but I've not a clue lol. Birds in a nest... surely that's a good omen?

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I have to admit it looks a lot better in its natural habitat, that ohlins spring might just be the missing link to tie the yellow bits together nicely, you can go up in 25lb increments with ohlins instead of 550.

Yeah, I noticed that with the Ohlins. When I do get another spring, it'll be most likely one of those.

Forgot to add, I've got a Nukeproof Reactor chain stay protector on the way to replace the neoprene wrap thing.

Be great if you could post a picture of that fitted please when it arrives. I'm not a fan of the neoprene wrap on mine.

Stuff the bike (sorry) - look at the owl chicks!!!!!

@nixie Sure, no worries as soon as it's on 🙂

@Clink I know! I was shocked as they were nested in half a tree that had been snapped off. It was just a gentle downhill slope and they just caught my eye.

John, updates on the chicks please if you ride that trail regularly.

@ogri
I ride around there at lest once every coupe of weeks, so I'll pop back and see how they are 🙂

@johnw1984...how heavy are you? Does what you are experiencing with sag tie up with what the Bird site says? How much sag are you aiming for?

Ian

I'm about 16 stone + gear. I don't carry loads of gear though (2 x 500ml bottles and a multitool, spare tube etc).

I'd say the spreadsheet is pretty spot on. I'm at the maximum of the 500lb spring though. It's rideable and plush (I don't notice any harsh bottom out on 4ft drops or small jumps), but I'm going to go up a bit and get another spring to try out.

For anyone who wanted to have a look at the Nukeproof Reactor chain stay protector (excuse the dirt).

It's a very good fit! I'd say about 95% without trimming it a bit in places.

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I'm on a 500lb spring on my CB IL shock too, sag is around 30% which is a little more than I'd like - but I'm very much a wheels on the ground rider and happy to take the extra plushness for the odd bottom out on bigger landings. I will say I've never felt it bottom out, the bottom out rubber is pretty firm so the last 20mm travel should ramp up very quickly.

that weld for the shock mount is a bit agricultural is it not? I'd hate to look down at that on a ride.

what's the rubber thing over the seat clamp for?

Thanks for the picture. Looks great in place.

The shock mount is not noticeable when your on the bike. It is even less obvious on the raw finish.

Yeah, I try not to look down when I'm using it for it's intended purpose 🙂

To be fair though, it looks fine in the metal. I think pics make is stand out more.

The rubber thing is a Bike Yoke Willy! It's to stop grit getting in the seat tube. I've found on a lot of aluminium frames I've had, most of the creaks have been grit getting between the seat post and tube.

Forgot to update this...

Went back to see if the Owls were still there. The nest has gone and there's no trace of them anymore. It was actually hard to figure out where I'd seen them 🙁

Bit of a crap update this though. The Aether 9 is a very good bike, much better than I was expecting.

But! It's already showing signs that feel very similar to my old Aeris Mk 1.5. On the Aeris, the shock bushes didn't last more that a few months and this seems no different... There's a knock/rattle on the back of the bike and you can only feel it properly when pushing or putting slight weight on it.

It feels like the shock bushings are already worn, not costly to replace but this is how my last Bird frame started. Next the main bottom pivot bearings died prematurely (Bird sent me some FOC at the time).

Last of all, the crap X Fusion O2 shock decided to collapse riding home from work as it was due it's first service (coming up to 12 months old). Bird deemed that it was overdue and out of warranty because of that.

So, back to the Aether 9A. I hope it's just the bushings and everything else will be fine because for once, I was planning on keeping this bike as it's surpassed my expectations.

Boring I know, but I see why people like hardtails so much!

On the shock bushings are they a Bird part or Rockshox? I’ve got an Aether 7 and had to replace the lower one of those after about a year. Bought some from offset bushings (but standard fit - not actually offset) and so far so good. Think they’re pretty cheap to replace. On my last Bird with a higher spec shock it had a bearing mount and that was still going strong after 3 years.

I’ve had the Aether about 16-18 months now (built from frame only) and changed all the frame bearings in the last week. I’d say the main pivot ones were quite ropey but most of the others were still spinning but not like new - so just changed the lot. I’ve ridden it through some awful slop over the winter so fairly happy with how long they’ve lasted. They would have gone on a bit further I reckon but I’ve got a big ish North Wales long weekend coming up and I’m just overhauling everything on the bike pretty much. New bottom bracket / new brake pads / new bearings / new cables / rear mech service etc.

I'm not sure to be honest, the shock is a Cane Creek coil. I've built it up from frame only and to be honest, I've hardly ridden it.

I did the same thing on my last Bird frame (bought replacements from offset) and they were fine till the other issues.

With the lock downs etc, I've barely had it out in any nasty weather yet. I'll order some replacements this week and see how I get on. Not jumping to conclusions just yet. Hopefully the bushes will be the last of it for a while 🙂