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Wow a new version of my Orange blood!!
Review up on Pinkbike now.
Looks a *lot* like a Cotic Flare but with alu instead of steel.
I hope they bring an Aether 9 with bigger wheels. Like the look of the AM9, but more travel than I need.
527 reach and 470 seat tube on the XL...
Looooooooooong!!
Added to the wish(ful thinking) list!
Lol at "Bigfoot" blue.
Looks nice.
Nice. What's an Aether when it's at home?
Looks a *lot* like a Cotic Flare but with alu instead of steel.
It look *exactly* like all the current FS Bird bikes and even though I've got a 160, I really want one.
No 29er trail bike?
That looks fun. Like a modern day Blood, Bottlerocket, Blur 4x etc...
I'd consider it if I wasn't retired from fun activities.
Looks great, just a pity it isnt 29er
I’m glad it’s not a 29er, I just don’t get on with them. I will be buying one of these!
I'm another one in the 'fingers crossed they make a 29er version' camp. Looks lovely but for now my (hypothetical) money will be going to wards a FlareMax.
Glad it isn't a 29er as well...looks good but from my initial glance and not reading the specs, it looks very similar to my 120LT...so I'm not envious of it as I'm really liking the current one I'm riding.
If it is longer and lower then I suspect it isn't for me, but it does look very nice.
Glad it isn’t a 29er as well…looks good but from my initial glance and not reading the specs, it looks very similar to my 120LT…so I’m not envious of it as I’m really liking the current one I’m riding.
It replaces the 120 and 120LT and shares some of the tubing but mildly tweaked rather than redesigned.
Sort of how the 145LT became the 160.
No 29er trail bike?
29 is dead.
Looks a *lot* like a Cotic Flare but with alu instead of steel.
Well, apart from the strikingly different linkage layout, bend in the lower downtube, welded gusset where the top and downtube meet, shock mount on an entirely different tube and the lack of an open gusset on the seat tube yeah, . Looks exactly like one.. 😉
Ah, ok...that is bad news for me then as that could mean a new bike is on the horizon sooner than later!
Okay fine, superficially it's nothing like the Flare, but intention is the same. Short travel, long, fun.
I'm sure Bird knows what they're doing but this release comes up as odd, at least to my perception. Most people I ever heard commenting on Bird's range was either wishing for a trail 29er or for a longer travel AM9
I’m sure Bird knows what they’re doing but this release comes up as odd, at least to my perception. Most people I ever heard commenting on Bird’s range was either wishing for a trail 29er or for a longer travel AM9
I think given the way Bird "do" travel, I don't think you'd really need an AM9 with more than 150mm?
I have a lot of faith in them, I think they try to design bikes to work really well for their intended use (they work pretty bloody great everywhere) if that means they're best suited to 275 then it's 275. Leave it to SC to make a two versions of the same bike with different wheel sizes.
I'm sure its an improvement on an already good bike (which I own and love), and enough of a change to warrant new name and branding. And I love the Pink.
If people can confuse this with a Flare, I may be overestimating the aesthetic appreciation and understanding of suspension of the general populace.
I’m sure Bird knows what they’re doing but this release comes up as odd, at least to my perception. Most people I ever heard commenting on Bird’s range was either wishing for a trail 29er or for a longer travel AM9
The 120 is the oldest of the current crop of full sussers, and its a considerable amount of time between design and sale.
Had an AM9 for an year, loved it but always felt more like a big burly trail bike rather than an enduro one. Not ragging on it, it was an absolute killer bike for long rough AM rides, it's an unbelievable climber. Also limited to a 150mm fork which shapes the front end feel somewhat.
There would be definitely room for a 170mm front, 160mm rear or so 29er in their lineup
I think given the way Bird “do” travel, I don’t think you’d really need an AM9 with more than 150mm?
I have a lot of faith in them, I think they try to design bikes to work really well for their intended use (they work pretty bloody great everywhere) if that means they’re best suited to 275 then it’s 275. Leave it to SC to make a two versions of the same bike with different wheel sizes.
The implication is that they've got
AM9 - race;
Aeris160 - park/alps/big mountain;
120(and now Aether) - play/trail.
I have used mine for all 3, so they are no one trick pony. A full n+1 stable is still the money no object ideal though.
While I like SC as a brand and they are nice bikes, no idea which one I want. Plus they do a Volkswagen and jump half a category upwards at each new iteration.
Nice bike, looks good. As ever, folk judge it on wheel size without ever having tried it.
Bizarre.
650b is the future !!
The implication is that they’ve got
AM9 – race;
Aeris160 – park/alps/big mountain;
120(and now Aether) – play/trail.
Good analysis there fella. I reckon the 145 might cease, with the linkage available to shrink down the 160...
Builds are pricier than the 120lt mind.
Looks nice, and some interesting options, just wish Bird would fix their site a bit to make it easier to see prices for builds and tweaks, instead of always getting errors due to no stock of something.
Bit like a shorter travel version of my old Process 153.
That was great fun but the 425mm chainstays gave it a very distinctive character and could be limiting in some situations.
Interesting to see Bird bucking the geometry trend, but I'd be concerned the larger models might feel a bit unbalanced.
527 reach and 425mm CS on the XL!
I like the look of that...
Don't worry 29er fans there's plenty of bikes in the pipeline this year. I for one though am replacing my whole FS fleet with just the Aether 7 as since I'm not racing anymore I prioritise fun over flat out speed and the Aether 7 is that bike.
Medium please.
Looks good Ben, would be the bike in the current Bird range that I'd move to, from a Mk1 Aeris.
That looks like a lot of fun. I'm available for Tweed valley based bike testing Ben.
We have a full fleet in the Northern demo centre, and one on Peebles right now (watch out for a street pigeon video tomorrow). Well be up you way very soon too. If ever there was a Glentress trail bike...
Just about to order one of these as my new do it all bike. Stopped riding 29 wheels last year having tried a few, just prefer 27.5. Going to be running 150mm forks on it with a 44 offset not the 37. Thanks Ben for should prompt responses to queries. Great value as well.
I'm loving my Zero 29 but I'll need a lottery win before I can get a new bike. Or sell a child....
I hope they bring an Aether 9 with bigger wheels. Like the look of the AM9, but more travel than I need.
I have similar wants, but then I'm still not sure short-mid travel 29ers with tasty angles are as appealing to the prime MTB target market (early 20s to mid 30something trail riders?).
I'm just an old duffer who wants 29er roll-over in preference to travel, and some 'modern angles' now for "occasional gnarr, with a fair bit of basic trundling about" and I doubt I'm representative of the majority of people buying LLS mountain bikes...
Going to be running 150mm forks on it with a 44 offset not the 37
What will the difference be with 150 / 44 forks? A bit higher BB, bit slacker with an extra 10mm but what about the 44- is that quicker steering than 37?
I’m just an old duffer who wants 29er roll-over in preference to travel
I'd profer a bike like this with 2.6 650b tyres will roll over stuff pretty well.
Scruff, my understanding is that the reduced offset increases trail and therefore stability, although I am running a longer fork which will slackenit out a bit and may compensate, I can about a bit with stem and bar width a bit as well. Ben at bird said it would be fine to ride so going to give it a go.
Shorter stays is good, if only it was 29er. Am9 geom looks like a straight line plow through it beast! Longer front, short back, 130/150 travel 29er would be awesome... Pretty much a norco optic.
I’d profer a bike like this with 2.6 650b tyres will roll over stuff pretty well.
Probably, but I'm getting on well with 29x2.3" as a trade off for rolling/weight/grip/comfort.
After several happy decades of 26ers I opted for moar diameter, so I'm just not bothered about tweener wheels, I accept this is a niche point of view now though...
Just about to order one of these as my new do it all bike. Stopped riding 29 wheels last year having tried a few, just prefer 27.5. Going to be running 150mm forks on it with a 44 offset not the 37. Thanks Ben for should prompt responses to queries. Great value as well.
@sprocker will that void the warranty?
Checked with Bird they said it will be fine
That raw finish is mighty fine!
That looks beautiful 😍
I have similar wants, but then I’m still not sure short-mid travel 29ers with tasty angles are as appealing to the prime MTB target market (early 20s to mid 30something trail riders?).
I’m just an old duffer who wants 29er roll-over in preference to travel, and some ‘modern angles’ now for “occasional gnarr, with a fair bit of basic trundling about” and I doubt I’m representative of the majority of people buying LLS mountain bikes…
This is me too. The Bird bike I want has sady still not been designed.
The Bird bike I want has sady still not available to purchase
Fixed that for you 🙂
Fixed that for you 🙂
Well that's a teaser!
I’m just an old duffer who wants 29er roll-over in preference to travel, and some ‘modern angles’ now for “occasional gnarr, with a fair bit of basic trundling about” and I doubt I’m representative of the majority of people buying LLS mountain bikes…
Maybe not, but it describes what I do on my (LLS) FlareMax pretty perfectly. They may be sold as hardcore gnarr-machines but a 29er with modern geometry and shortish travel is great for “just trundling about”. Especially natural stuff where you might suddenly come across a tricky section. Sounds as though Bird will have something to suit fairly soon as well, which is good news as they sound like a great company to deal with.
Great to see you guys hooking up with a grassroots mtb channel like Jamie's.
It's a cracking looking bike, but I thought the "down country" thing was for short travel 29ers?
Anyhow it's a rubbish term can we please get it in the bin.
Thought I’d pop back here with my opinion on the Aether 7 after 3 rides on it.
First one was the Cafell lap at Cwmcarn in biblical strength winds plus rain / hail / maybe a hint of sleet / bright sunshine all in 2 hours.
Second time was in a bit of drizzle but less windy - did Cafell with the Pedalhounds DH then the Twrch lap.
Third one was this weekend with the lockdown so just a local bimble to get an hour or so of fresh air / exercise.
It’s everything I wanted / hoped it would be. I sized down from a ML Bird Aeris 145LT - mainly looking for a shorter reach / shorter chainstays and to be a bit sprightlier uphill. Willing to take a hit on the rockiest bits of downhill for it.
I’m finding it manuals and pops a lot easier than my last bike and I’m already cornering better / more confidently on it as a result of the shorter reach and chainstays. It definitely pedals uphill more efficiently despite being barely any lighter than the 145LT - it has all the same build kit off there so why would it be much (if any) lighter. I haven’t ridden anything yet where I feel at a disadvantage of having less travel - I think uplifts days are where I’ll notice it.
Build kit is 140mm Lyriks / GX 11 speed / Code R’s / 180mm Oneup Dropper / Hope Pro4 with XM481 rims / 45mm Nukeproof stem / 780mm El Guapo bars / Maxxis DHF 2.5 and Dhr2 2.3.
What rear shock are you running joebristol?
Went for the Rockshox Deluxe Select+ as I was trying to keep the cost down. Seems ok so far - got 2 tokens in it and it’s not bottoming out with 30% ish sag.
There’s always the option of adding a Megneg aircan at a later date which is in the back of my mind. That said it doesn’t seem to rush through the midrange so I’m not sure if it’s needed or not.