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 33 posts - 41 through 73 (of 73 total)
  • Details of the new Bird Aeris 9
  • weeksy
    Full Member

    Mmmmm going against the grain here… but it looks well… Not very nice really. It may be exceptionally functional, effective, whatever you want… but.. It’s very Skoda Fabia in terms of looks/aesthetics. There’s nothing that jumps out and says “buy me”… Sure it may have the reach for Orangutans that many now seem to want… But meh, i’m just not jumping up and down.

    singlespeedstu
    Full Member

    Looks great daviek.
    Seeing a few Birds up here in The Tweed Valley recently.
    Seem well thought out and great geo.
    Killer value too.

    breninbeener
    Full Member

    I love it and i want one.

    I cant see any dates for them being available again…

    I am jealous!

    Jamz
    Free Member

    Mmmmm going against the grain here… but it looks well… Not very nice really. It may be exceptionally functional, effective, whatever you want… but.. It’s very Skoda Fabia in terms of looks/aesthetics. There’s nothing that jumps out and says “buy me”… Sure it may have the reach for Orangutans that many now seem to want… But meh, i’m just not jumping up and down.

    Quite an outstanding lack of empathy there – well done!

    I think it looks like a cracking bike and I hope you thoroughly enjoying getting back up to speed after covid daviek.

    weeksy
    Full Member

    Quite an outstanding lack of empathy there – well done!

    Because i don’t like a particular bike ? Who am i showing a lack of empathy to ?

    ayjaydoubleyou
    Full Member

    Air Lyrics, inline shock and Exos, whats the weight of that thing Daviek?

    daviek
    Full Member

    Weeksy has said before he doesnt like bird bikes and that’s fine everyone is different. As for the weight I dont know but can find out, I do know is that its heavier than my 26″ Bfe though 🙂

    weeksy
    Full Member

    Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that i don’t like what Bird are doing, their pricing, their UK infrastructure, but surely it’s not mandatory to ‘like’ them.

    The frames, well, they look a bit ‘early 2000s’ to me. Bikes now are curving, moulding and shaping in different ways, with a bit more innovation in the looks. Sure the Birds may be cutting edge in terms of geometry, external cabling which i like and external BBs, again which i like…. But many things are sold in the first 7 seconds (according to a recent TV advert) and to me, the Bird fails in that department.

    I find it slightly bizarre that a new Trek gets relased and slated on here, or a new Speciaized/Santa Cruz get ripped apart for being ugly… but somehow it’s wrong for someone not to like the looks of the Bird. Is that just because Ben from Bird posts here ?

    singlespeedstu
    Full Member

    I find it slightly bizarre that a new Trek gets relased and slated on here,

    If you can’t see the difference between that and posting something as negative as you did about a bike someone has just bought and is excited about i can see why you’d be accused of lacking empathy.
    I’m sure all Bird owners will now be selling their bikes after such an in depth review and evaluation as yours though.

    teethgrinder
    Full Member

    It’s a thing he does.

    Congrats on the new bike, btw. Looks very nice.

    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    or a new Speciaized/Santa Cruz get ripped apart for being ugly…

    To be completely impartial here, specialized and SC have been making the same ugly bike for years which I think is (partly*) why they get slated so much. Don’t like the 2015 Enduro, turns out you won’t like the 2025 stumpy either because it looks exactly the same (I quite like the specialized aesthetic mind). Don’t like the 2004 nomad, hmm you might not be keen on the 2022 one then but… We can fix that, look we changed the colour to one that makes the bike 10% more expensive this year.

    FWIW I do like the utilitarian look, and I am a sucker for an ugly bike in a good colour.


    @daviek
    on the subject of which**, what colour is that?**

    *mainly they get slated for being ugly because they’re expensive but clearly not paying for a design department

    **good colours, not the ugly bit. I should put the spade down shouldn’t I?

    daviek
    Full Member

    @ayjaydoubleyou

    if our bathroom scales are to be believed its 15.9Kg for a medium frame with some old superstar pedals on it


    @dangeourbrain

    its black, they only had the purple left when I ordered it but unlike some i like a black bike so they found one down the back of yhe sofa. didnt know what colour I was getting until I picked it up but I asked for that.

    chakaping
    Full Member

    Sweet ride.

    I reckon that weight is a bit over, considering the spec you’ve got.

    weeksy
    Full Member

    If you can’t see the difference between that and posting something as negative as you did about a bike someone has just bought and is excited about i can see why you’d be accused of lacking empathy.
    I’m sure all Bird owners will now be selling their bikes after such an in depth review and evaluation as yours though.

    does anyone think the guy gives a monkey what i think ? This wasn’t a thread about “i bought a new bike” this is a thread discussing the Bird… If someone buys a bike and i don’t like it i don’t post negatiely in their thread, i don’t post at all in it… I leave them to be happy.
    But this isn’t that thread… this is a thread about discussing the Bird.

    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    they only had the purple left when I ordered it but unlike some i like a black bike

    But but but, that purple is bloody lovely!

    singlespeedstu
    Full Member

    Yep.
    Definitely a lack of empath there.

    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    If someone buys a bike and i don’t like it i don’t post negatiely in their thread

    Patently not true. You’ve done it on about 3 threads on the GT fury alone, that poor bloke is so upset he sold it then bought another of the same about 8 times now 😉

    thegeneralist
    Free Member

    Quite an outstanding lack of empathy there – well done!

    Dude, it’s a bike. If someone posted saying their grandad had died and weeksy had replied saying ” meh, elderly male relatives are much overrated” then yes that would be a major lack of empathy.

    But saying he doesn’t particularly like someone’s pushbike* isn’t exactly the height of evilness. 🙂

    * I promise this is the first and last time I will ever use this vile word

    docrobster
    Free Member

    Bird owner here (aether9). So I guess positively predisposed to the brand hence I opened the thread.
    I thought about an am9 when I bought my frame last June, but decided to go for the smaller bike. If this was available at the time I might have gone for it over the aether. But probably not as was looking to fit 140mm forks I already had.
    Regards aesthetics, maybe I’m less bothered or tuned in to the look of a bike but it’s about the last thing I consider… those initial 7 seconds referred to above are usually spent looking at geometry numbers and price. Brand image must play a part- is it something I’ve heard of, what’s their reputation? Etc. bird have an excellent rep. As do other brands.
    I only look at my bike when I’m riding it and then I can’t see if it’s ugly or not… currently got mudhugger fitted and covered in crap from yesterday’s ride so not going to win any beauty contests!

    lightfighter762
    Free Member

    Bike looks really capable and well setup for that area. Which will see hard use.

    Mmmmm going against the grain here… but it looks well… Not very nice really. It may be exceptionally functional, effective, whatever you want… but.. It’s very Skoda Fabia in terms of looks/aesthetics. There’s nothing that jumps out and says “buy me”… Sure it may have the reach for Orangutans that many now seem to want… But meh, i’m just not jumping up and down.

    Guys posts his bike and you just jump his ass? We need to jump that POS celery trek (actually skoda weiner of a bike!) that will not go away.

    ads678
    Full Member

    Personally I thought the bikes industry had mainly moved on from swoopy tubing and was more into straight tubes again nowadays.

    You look at the Atherton, or most Santa Cruz, Hope HB916, or most Nukeproofs, all have pretty straight top tubes and just a bend at the BB.

    I like the brid up there, I’d have the purple one though.

    weeksy
    Full Member

    Guys posts his bike and you just jump his ass?

    That really wasn’t my intention, i wasn’t actually aware of his post as it was at the top of Page2 and i replied when viewing page 1… But that doesn’t change the fact it isn’t a thread about his bike, it’s a thread about discussing the new Bird… Not HIS bird, or someone elses Bird… but just the Bird Aeris 9… Jeepers.

    johnjn2000
    Full Member

    FFs perleese can we just get to the elephant in the room here rather than beating up @weeksy (he is wrong by the way but that is fine) It is BLURPLE not purple!

    lightfighter762
    Free Member

    10-4. Just banter. I would buy his bike if I could.

    v7fmp
    Full Member

    i havent like any previous Birds… something a bit agricultural about them that just didnt float my boat…. but i do very much like this new one. I am considering a burly long travel bike for trips abroad, bike parks etc (rather than beating up my carbon trail bike) and one of these is definitely on the list.

    ticks so many boxes… LLS, great value, awesome customer service from what i hear and the best bit…. squint slightly and it looks like a Rocky Mountain Altitude.

    ads678
    Full Member

    It is BLURPLE not purple!

    Apoligies, but I just couldn’t bring myself to type that.

    nickc
    Full Member

    Looks a cracking ride @daviek, love the black frame/red forks combo 👌

    daviek
    Full Member

    Well I wasnt expecting it to turn out like this but being STW maybe I should have?

    ticks so many boxes… LLS, great value, awesome customer service from what i hear

    This sums it up for me and I can confirm the customer service was very good when getting the spec right for me and a couple of changes as parts came back into stock.

    Things have conspired against me today so dont think I’ll even get it out for a quick lap around town but will see if I can squeeze one in as the rain has stopped and the suns made an appearance!

    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    Things have conspired against me today so dont think I’ll even get it out for a quick lap around town but will see if I can squeeze one in as the rain has stopped and the suns made an appearance!

    If you’re really stuck and it needs a shakedown over the weekend…

    daviek
    Full Member

    thanks @dangeourbrain I’ll keep that in mind 🙂

    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    Always happy to help 😉

    If you do get out on it, please come back here and make sure you moan about it being horrible to pedal and things.

    I’m pretty much sold on an aether but I can’t stop looking at the aeris in blurple even though I’m pretty sure a 160 travel bike is not what I want, at all, and it’d be very dull and make me miserable and always want to do things I don’t enjoy and go places I don’t like, and I’d be very happy with the shorter travel much more fun and interesting aether that would like the places I like and things I like such as going up to the top of a hill.

    But the blurple one, its so pretty. How could it not make me happy?!? Even though I know that colour won’t age well…

    chiefgrooveguru
    Full Member

    I think that looks badass. (And weeksy’s opinion on aesthetics is not to be trusted because he’s owned plenty of Whytes! 😉 )

    DickBarton
    Full Member

    He doesn’t like it this week, but given the volume of bike changes, he’ll own one next week… 😉

    Looks good to me, but I’m Function over Form…and I can’t recall the last bike I thought looked bad (although there have been more ebikes I’ve had to look twice at as the down tube has appeared out of place being so much larger than the others), my thinking is pretty simple though – got wheels, forks, bars and saddle strapped to a frame then it is good.

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