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Hi All,
Just wondering if anyone has any experience with both the Bird Aether 9 and the 9C? Is there much of a difference and would it be worth switching from an Alloy version to the Carbon frame?
I have the Alloy version currently which is great however I'm tempted by the Carbon frame but only if it provides a noticeable difference in ride quality.
I ride a mix of trails in the Surrey Hills and XC in the Swinley area. I have a Carbon hardtail already for XC races but would alao be keen to know if the 9C would be an option for more technical XC courses.
Cheers
Very personal but having ridden a carbon frame 10 years ago, I've no desire to ride them again as it wasn't very stiff or light. I've also grown to dislike the idea of a carbon bike frame going to landfill as they can't be recycled.
At a complete guess, I reckon the ride will be very similar between the 2 bikes though...but not based on anything with any real experience behind it of the 2 bikes.
The aether 9 alloy is quite light for that type of alloy frame, the Aether 9 carbon is fairly robust for that type of frame. I can’t remember if the difference was quoted as 300grams or 600grams between the 2 frames in terms of weight when I saw it mentioned a while back. So not a massive difference.
I’d guess the carbon frame is stiffer given the weight and how it looks. That said I didn’t find my aether 7 carbon flexy th at I’d notice.
I’ve just gone from an alloy transition sentinel to a carbon sentinel (all geometry / parts / suspension the same) and I’ve noticed it feels a little more lively and easier to pop and pick up. Weight difference there is 1.2kgs between the 2 if you go by the transition quoted weights.
There have been a few niggles with the aether 9 carbon mentioned on this forum with hardware breaking (I think this has now been changed to steel hardware) and some of the cable routing around the bb area. Try and find that thread and have a read.
having ridden a carbon frame 10 years ago, I’ve no desire to ride them again as it wasn’t very stiff or light.
and all carbon frames, from all manufacturers, made since then are exactly the same. So no point trying another.
Bird told me the 9C has the same kinematics but is stiffer.
Frame weights here, 300g difference https://www.bird.bike/frame-data-geometry/
Cheers all, might just have to visit Bird HQ next week to have a look at all the options.