So, assuming I survive redundancy again, I fancy a new bike…also a big birthday later this year.

Quite fancy a new hard tail as I really don’t need enduro travel fs, etc,etc.

Alternative is my mate has offered up a surplus 29’er Canyon al frame and bits – it may build into a decent hardtail with appropriate forks, etc.

However, Bird or Sonder?

Never ridden a sonder. Have ridden a Bird. But not the current one. Anyway, get the Bird. Help?

My first hardtail for years was a Bird Zero TR that i bought Easter this year. Excellent bike with even more excellent customer support.

I have the Sonder NX Revelation and I love it. I recommend trying a plus bike before you buy one though as they do feel different to a normal hardtail. I changed the wheels to a set of Hopes with Easton 35mm rims as I didn’t like 45mm rims. The standard wheelset is very heavy, the Hopes transformed the ride.

I’m slowly building up a Bird Zero AM. It’s a beautiful looking thing. I can also vouch for their great customer service. The Sonders look lovely too though. I suppose it’s down to whether you fancy running plus tyres or not. The zeros can run up to 2.5s. Do you need fatter tyres?

I would stick to the Bird but that’s because I don’t understand Plus. I find 25mm + 2.35 tyres about perfect for anything off-road so I don’t get the need for bigger. I have tried a fat bike once and understood even less !

Alpkit will post you a transmitter to demo for a weekend, worth a go.

https://www.alpkit.com/support/stickies/sonder-bike-demo-days

I thought everbody’s heard about the Bird?
Don’t you know about the bird?

Bird is the word.

DrP

I think ^^^ should seal the deal really.

I have a Sonder Transmitter and am running it with normal 2.4 maxxis high roller 2s. You don’t have to run plus on them.

What size rims are you running the HR2s on Lemures (or is it Casper) ? 🙂

What size rims are you running the HR2s on Lemures (or is it Casper) ?

I was running them on WTB Asym i35s which worked great. I now have DT Swiss 28mm internal rims on there and these are almost as good but the tires are about 60mm wide not 63mm.

The Transmitter only has a gap of 78.5mm so you can’t go too big. i tried 2.8 NNics (72mm wide) but they where quite close to the stays. Ok in the dry but rubbish in the mud. I think it’s best with 2.4-2.6s

[/url]Bird Zero AM by Gavin Williams, on Flickr[/img]

Whats your location OP? Any opportunity to test ride a bird.

Took it on its maiden voyage this morning. It’s pretty awesome. My first taste of modern bike, having ridden a 456 Evo for a few of years. Highly recommend one. But knowing that the Sonder is happy on non-plus wheels, I think you’d be sorted whichever you choose.