Details of the new Bird Aeris 9

by 73

The new Bird Aeris 9 claims to be the best value gravity-focussed bike on the market. Have a look and let us know what you think.

Press Release:

Introducing the Aeris 9

Since our first full-suspension bike was released in 2014, five frames have carried the Aeris name. The sixth one, builds on everything we’ve learned from previous Aeris iterations, and adds in some extra goodness.

The Aeris 9 is a 29” wheeled all-mountain machine with a bias towards gravity racing.

160mm of rear travel in its standard form gives way to an optional linkage upgrade to increase that to near DH rig levels of travel – 180mm – all while retaining our usual pedaling response and geometry.

A completely new tubeset for the Aeris 9 also means you can match this increased travel up front with a 180mm fork without troubling your warranty.

Designed, optimised and tested for gravity riding and packed full of new features, the new Aeris 9 was devised while dreaming of long alpine descents and has been tested on the gnarliest bike park tracks in the UK and beyond our borders in EWS races worldwide.

Available in our signature brushed aluminium ‘Raw’ finish, stealthy ‘Jet Black’ and the flippin’ flippy ‘Blurple’.

It still keeps our outstanding pedaling efficiency with fine-tuned anti-squat and size-specific seat tube angles for each frame size to help keep the rider’s weight distribution where it needs to be, aiding optimum handling and pedaling.

Chainstay flip chips, allowing you to increase chainstay length while slackening out the bike for a more stable, gravity focused ride.

Full double lip oil/dirt seals on our new oversize main pivot axle for maintenance free bearings.

Flexible internal or external cable routing allows for either way routing without spoiling the clean looks in either option. Racers and home mechanics can opt for full external routing for minimum fuss, while still allowing for the clean looks of an internally routed bike if that’s your preference.

Room for the biggest coil piggybacks and still get a good size bottle in our smallest frames.

No cables through the headset or bars, because we don’t hate you.

Our geometry was always long and low – now we’ve gone slacker too. With the 160mm linkage and a 160mm fork, out of the box the Aeris 9 has a 64-degree head angle, 340mm bottom bracket height and 440mm chainstays. Run a longer fork or flip the chips and things get longer and slacker.

It’s not all about just the frame. For the Aeris 9 we’re launching new options too. Whether frames or complete builds you can choose from rear shocks from RockShox, Fox, Cane Creek, Formula and Fast and we’re also adding build kit options that offer both more flexibility on your build and incredible value too.

As with all our bikes, we assemble every Aeris 9 to order at our factory in Consett, UK.

Where can I get one?

We were a mere fledgling until recently, we were still in our teenage years and only available on our website but we are now spreading our wings and building new relationships in fresh nests all around the UK (sorry – that’s a lot of bird puns).

Bike Bothy’s stores in Pitfichie and Laggan are the places to visit and spec up your own Bird with our favourite Scottish folk. We’ve also got a fleet of bikes on their way to Glencoe Mountain so the Aeris 9 can be ridden in its natural territory for lap after glorious lap!

As well as having a full demo fleet of Aeris 9’s available from our showroom in Eversley, Hampshire; we are also showcasing the Bird Aeris 9 and our other bikes at the following locations:

  • SES Pitfichie – 3rd & 4th September
  • Laggan Wolftrax – 9th to 11th September
  • Tweedlove – 16th to 18th September

I’m sold – how much are they?

Prices for the BIrd Aeris 9 start at £1285 for a frameset without a shock and full bikes are available from £2870.

We’d recommend a budget of around £3875 for a really nice spec with SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, SRAM G2R Brakes, RockShox Ultimate forks and Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil shock, Bird Factory wheels, Maxxis Assegai tyres at both ends and finishing kit from our Bird range complemented with parts from RaceFace.

bird.bike

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Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

More posts from Ben

Home Forums Details of the new Bird Aeris 9

Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 73 total)
  • Details of the new Bird Aeris 9
  • ta11pau1
    Full Member

    544 reach on the XL, proper numbers! 😁

    mashr
    Full Member

    457 is shorter than my current bike, 486 is longer. Will certainly be after a shot at Tweedlove, would really like to see how it compares for my old Whyte G-160 (that I’ve mulleted)

    sharkattack
    Full Member

    I’m trying to use the configurator on the Bird website and it’s dead. Are there too many people sitting at work speccing up imaginary bikes like me?

    Yetiman
    Free Member

    @Sharkattack – I was on earlier and it kept crashing so I assume that’s the case. Liking the look of it though and the timing is good as I’m starting to think about replacing my 4 year old AM9. Wonder if the Aeris 9 would feel too similar though ??

    doomanic
    Full Member

    No cables through the headset or bars, because we don’t hate you

    a11y
    Full Member

    That’s proper sizing, and I say that as a Geometron owner! 544mm reach on an XL might even mean I’d be looking at the L on this @ 188cm.

    ta11pau1
    Full Member

    I’m trying to use the configurator on the Bird website and it’s dead. Are there too many people sitting at work speccing up imaginary bikes like me?

    big_scot_nanny
    Full Member

    😆

    mashr
    Full Member

    definitely not speccing up a frameset here either . . .

    sharkattack
    Full Member

    That black one looks mint. I’ll have to wait until the site is working to see how much a sensible build will cost.

    I’ll certainly hold fire on the Propain build for now.

    That’s proper sizing, and I say that as a Geometron owner! 544mm reach on an XL might even mean I’d be looking at the L on this @ 188cm.

    Same here. I say that as an ex-Geometron owner who can’t afford to get back in the gang.

    chakaping
    Full Member

    Kudos to Bird for getting so much right with this.

    It would be at the top of my list for my next big bike if it weren’t for the big jump between M and ML frame sizes. Might be able to cope with the ML but might be a bit too stretched out.

    Shame they don’t offer the choice of linkages, rather than a £90 upcharge to get the 180mm linkage as well. I’d want to go straight for that.

    benpinnick
    Full Member

    @Chakaping – we will once everything is in stock and normalised, but TBH we don’t want the stock 160s we have already got coming if everyone wants a UK made 180! So this is one way we can subsidise the UK made 180s a bit by charging them on – once the frame has been in for a while we can start to balance up getting 160 v 180 linkages and they’ll be just in the price – the same was the case for the 145 vs 160 AM.

    chakaping
    Full Member

    Thanks for the swift reply Ben.

    Sorry I don’t understand the UK-made bit, do you mean the 180mm linkages are being CNCed here at the mo?

    While you’re about, I don’t suppose it’s got any mullet capability as well, has it?

    benpinnick
    Full Member

    Thats correct (or generally is anyway) Extra linkage options are normally made standalone in the UK while the stock linkage that the frame comes with is a bit different being ‘OE’ and so made in bigger batches. The Linkages that come on the frames therefore are kind of spare, as we’d rarely sell a shorter one to anyone.

    Mullet options are in the pipeline.

    sargey2003
    Full Member

    Very interested to hear about the mullet option (speaking as someone who has owned 2 x Aeris 145LTs (M & ML) an ML AM9 and a mullet Geometron G1 (M) – mullet option would mean all my boxes are ticked…

    chakaping
    Full Member

    Mullet options are in the pipeline.

    Righto cheers, same chassis or different rear end?

    This could be the clincher, especially if it happens to shorten the reach.

    benpinnick
    Full Member

    Same chassis. Just an extra tweak on some stuff we already have in the works as options.

    endorium
    Full Member

    This looks good and great timing. Nearly bought a nukeproof giga but this looks great. Wonder how it pedals. Would want the 180/180 build.

    Shackleton
    Free Member

    @Ben when can we expect some first ride reviews? I need to have my preconceptions confirmed 😉

    benpinnick
    Full Member

    Well we’ve got one mag that asked for a tester, so that will take around 3 months I guess. But why wait? If you’re in Scotland anyway then we have demo days 1st three weekend in Sept at Pitfichie, Laggan and then Tweedlove, and ones to test in the south at our main office in Eversley, Hampshire.

    endorium
    Full Member

    All demos right up north or right down south 🙁 nothing near the Midlands?

    chakaping
    Full Member

    Where would you say it sits on the spectrum of pedaling efficiency Ben?

    The only reason I’m interested in a new big bike is that my current one pedals like a sack of spuds.

    ed-
    Free Member

    How does it peddle and ride compared to the am9?

    benpinnick
    Full Member

    Its plusher than the AM9, and doesn’t pedal quite so well but… almost ever shock we do now has LSC adjustment which means we’re able to back off the anti-squat a little and rely more on shock adjustments. So all in all, it pedals almost as well as an AM9 if you set it up right. Its good uphill for a monster bike.

    benpinnick
    Full Member

    @Endorium MTB Meetup used to be our main midlands demo day, but thats now gone and we don’t have a replacement as yet. Unfortunately having to deal with paperwork for FE sites is more than I can bear generally. At the moment nearest site to you we have anything at is Hamsterley in Durham or Swinley depending on your location.

    jeffl
    Full Member

    @Ben happy for you to send me a van load of bikes and I can act as your East Midlands based demo location, I won’t even charge for my time 🤣

    sharkattack
    Full Member

    Hmmm, daydreaming about running a Bird demo fleet out of my well equipped garage in central Sheffield.

    endorium
    Full Member

    Well after looking some more at this bike, I have bought on 🙂 couldn’t of times it better as nearly got a nukeproof giga. Got the 180 link as well. Cannot wait for it

    CalamityJames
    Free Member

    Not in the market for one of these, but it’s amazing to see the options, prices, background and first hand response from Ben here. More need to be like Ben and Bird. Have we ever mentioned we need a like button on here?!

    ta11pau1
    Full Member

    Tell you what, if I wasn’t already 98.5% sold on a Geometron G1, I’d be onto one of these like a rat up a drainpipe…

    £1800 squids for a frame with the formula coil, headset, seat clamp and the 180mm linkage. Billy bargain!

    riklegge
    Full Member

    Same chassis. Just an extra tweak on some stuff we already have in the works as options.


    @benpinnick
    so presumably if someone were to order an Aeris 9 frame now, the parts to mullet it could be purchased and retro fitted at a later date?

    benpinnick
    Full Member

    Yes thats correct – it will be a linkage adaption to correct the geo.

    WildHunter2009
    Full Member

    Is this going to a replacement for the AM9. Or they more different than I’m thinking.

    v7fmp
    Full Member

    as someone thinking of getting a durable big rig for certain trips and whatnot, these have defo entered my radar. I look forward to seeing and hearing more about them.

    ta11pau1
    Full Member

    Those interested might want to keep an eye on Street Pigeon MTB’s videos, he’s just got one. In the blurple colour too…

    https://youtube.com/channel/UCdlqFfODQX_moEh9V5oOv2g

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgy0JINM_2J/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

    chakaping
    Full Member

    a durable big rig for certain trips and whatnot

    I think Bird should use this as the tagline for marketing purposes.

    benpinnick
    Full Member

    Is this going to a replacement for the AM9. Or they more different than I’m thinking.

    More different and surprisingly similar in other ways. Not a direct replacement for an AM9, but you’d not need both unless you’re a fanboi. A light built Aeris 9 picks up where a burly AM9 ends.

    mashr
    Full Member

    ta11pau1
    Full Member

    Those interested might want to keep an eye on Street Pigeon MTB’s videos, he’s just got one. In the blurple colour too…

    As much as I like Street Pigeon, I can’t imagine a less impartial view of the bike

    daviek
    Full Member

    Got an e-mail yesterday saying that the ship taking the frames to the UK has been delayed so im guessing itll be very late October early November before they are shipped out to customers. Bit gutted as the weather will no doubt be worse but itll give me some extra time to get over Covid.

    daviek
    Full Member

    Well I got a nice phone call today from Bike Bothy Pitfichie saying my bike had arrived.

    Need to take it out for a wee shot tomorrow but as I’m still not right after having covid 7 weeks ago it’ll just be a spin around town to make sure everything’s working. Pedals not arrived yet so pinched a pair off of another bike to get at least the sag set up. See how the cycle goes tomorrow before I get more adventurous:)

    Its having to stay in the house for now as I’m trying to gut the garage of years of accumulated crap.

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