Forum menu
It's maybe aspirational, but i'm hoping to have some cash for a new bike and would like something slightly-boutique, excellent quality, great ride and do-it-all which will last for a good number of years. Mostly trail riding with the odd trip to BPW. Replacing a 2013 Orange Five with some pretty high-end gear (XO, Hope, etc)
I have my eyes on a 2021 Santa Cruz 5010 C on PB for about that price, NX gear (bit pants, but probably better than my 8 year old XO).
Bird Aether 9 seems like an option, but feel that the 5010 sits bit in terms of travel with what I do. Any thoughts?
I found an Aether 7 somewhat more capable than my old 2011 Orange Alpine 160.
Less travel, but better travel (forks & shocks have moved on) and better geometry.
The Aether 9 will pedal at least as well as a 2013 Five and be a lot more capable on rougher stuff.
Things change.
at £3000 used there's basically everything, Trek Remedy, Specialized Enduro, even things like an IBIS, an Evil, just about everything.
browse PB and find what looks good and in great condition.
First page finds a Saracen Ariel.... lovely thing
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3319992/
I'm going to recommend what I have - an Airdrop Edit V4 or maybe their new trail bike the Filter.
I got my Edit at the start of March and I love it so far.
Polygon Siskui T8 and the rest on hookers and cocaine
at £3000 used there’s basically everything, Trek Remedy, Specialized Enduro, even things like an IBIS, an Evil, just about everything.
You might even find a Yeti 😀
Work frowns on cocaine, unfortunately.....
Mostly trail riding with the odd trip to BPW
I'd suggest a mid-travel 29er which pedals fairly well and has modern geometry.
The Orange Stage Evo would be a good option, maybe the Cotic Flaremax if you wanted something less flighty and more planted.
Work frowns on cocaine, unfortunately…..
But not the hookers?
Thanks for the suggestions, all....
I suppose the other part of this question would be, if I transferred my forks (27.5), brakes and drivetrain to a new frame/wheelset combination.... Would I get much better value? (Maybe 2k for a frame, 500-700 for wheels and some change for bars/stem/headset which will probably need to change too).
That polygon does look good value. I had go outdoors previous bargain the sentry until it cracked. Got a full refund and bought an aether9 frame which I’ve built up with 140 34s and it’s perfect for everything I need. Does steep tech maybe a bit slower than a bigger bike but still way more capable than me.
If you want something more enduro than trail there is also the am9.
Im not sure we'd qualify as boutiquey, but we're (Bird) about to drop some new fixed build bikes which will get you a great spec on budget.
It misses out on the 'slightly boutique' requirement, but I thought the Specialized Status was the latest bargain full-susser with performance well above it's cost?
I'd not class Bird as mainstream, as such, and you do qualify under the not-previously-mentioned bonus point for being British.....
Specialized always get good reviews, it has to be said.
but I thought the Specialized Status was the latest bargain full-susser with performance well above it’s cost?
They really are better than you'd think. Everywhere i go i seem to see a few now, BPW, FoD, Rogate, there's always several tehre being thrown about.
Im not sure we’d qualify as boutiquey, but we’re (Bird) about to drop some new fixed build bikes which will get you a great spec on budget.
Ben, stop it. You know I have a problem, and you’re just feeding my habit here. 😉
weeksy
They really are better than you’d think.
I'm sure they are great bikes - they look sorted. That's why I made the suggestion 🙂
but we’re (Bird) about to drop some new fixed build bikes which will get you a great spec on budget.
I tested an AM9 and it was bloody great but waaayyyy too much bike for me....so please, tell me more about your great spec budget offerings...please...pretty please... 😉
Stealth Ad
When i get my HB916 frame I'll be selling my large HB160 frame, wheels and E4 brakes
Switched to 29er this year after 6 years on a 5010. Wouldn’t go back to smaller wheels now. Also after 6 years, your fork is likely to be pretty tired. Factor in a full service and perhaps some upgrades and you wouldn’t be saving much.
Vitus Escarpe 29 CRS is £3200 (when in stock!), that's 150/140mm travel, Lyrik/Deluxe Select+, full carbon, SLX 12 speed.
Just get a Bird. We have three - all ace. If you want more travel than the Aether 9 go AM9.
It's not really boutique
But the Marin's are great value for really good bikes
https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/2022-alpine-trail-carbon-1#specifications
Id just get a full modern build - not up cycle the old bits from your old bike.
For me I went 29er in December ‘21 and wouldn’t go back to 650b for my full sus. It seems to hold momentum better / is a touch smoother and part choice for 650b are going to get less and less available new I suspect.
I’d drop the ‘boutique’ requirement to be honest and go with the best bike you can get.
NX is serviceable but not great - if you can get Shimano deore instead I’d do that - Bird do normally do a good deal on stuff.
I rode a 5010 CC I built for a mate back to back with an aether 7 and whilst they’re both good I’d take the aether every day. That was a v3 5010 - I found the head angle a bit steep - on steep stuff it just wasn’t as capable as the aether. Same with fast stuff like at BPW.
New stuff that might be in budget is probably the aether 9a / Vitus Escarpe / Sonder Evol or cortex / Nukeproof Reactor 290 etc
If going secondhand think about transferable warranties (or not) that might be available and whether the standards are still current. As long as it’s in the last few years it should be metric shock / boost axle spacing / 12 speed etc
Nice writeup, TVM. I think i'm between a 2nd hand 5010 and new Aether 9C to be honest... stock/final price depending. Ideally, I'd like to test ride them both, but haven't test ridden any bike i've every bought previously so should just get on with it!
If you’re going Aether, I’d go aluminium and get the nicer shock and/or fork options.
But then I just don’t like carbon MTBs - for no particularly rational reason.
A bike shop near me specialises in 2nd hand, but high end/low use bikes. They advertise on PB but are on facebook. Felltrax Cycles in Carlisle. Stock varies on a weekly basis.
I’d go for the Aether 9 personally out of those 2 choices.
The 5010 is nice and probably a touch more efficient pedalling than the Aether 7, but it’s not as capable for me. The aether 9 will be even more capable than the A7 due to the bigger wheel rollover.
I did Antur Stiniog on my aether 7 with a 150mm fork on it - my mate had his 5010 with a 130mm fork on it (same rear travel) and he was ruined by lunchtime. We did 2 or 3 more runs after lunch and he couldn’t do anymore 🤣
As to aether 9 alloy vs carbon I think I’d probably go alloy if both were in stock and get a better fork and shock. Go deore / Slx or gx eagle drivetrain and some kind of 4 pot brakes. The DT Swiss wheel options are all decent so just take what you can get in budget.
The carbon aether isn’t wildly lighter than the alloy one - I’ve seen it suggested it’s about 300-400g lighter. Probably a stiffer frame if that’s something that interests you.
If you’re going Aether, I’d go aluminium and get the nicer shock and/or fork options.
+1 for that plan
I saw one of the new Canyon Spectral 125 aluminium bikes in the flesh the other day, wasn't as heavy as I expected and looks great VFM in the current climate...
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/spectral-125-al-6/50016322.html
Might be right up your strasse if you want something on the burlier side OP?
The Spectral 125 was definitely on the list, slipped my mind of late!
I'm not a carbon fan boy as such, I've enjoyed both carbon and ali bikes.... But if the budget covers carbon then why not?!
I’d say £3k can get your carbon but compromising on components. I’d rather have a decent alloy frame with better components.
It’s why I have an alloy Transition Sentinel frame but running Lyrik Uktmates / Cane Creek Kitsuma coil shock / XT and X1 drivetrain / Code brakes / decent wheels and tyres.
If I had a carbon sentinel I’d have much cheaper forks, a base spec air shock, cheap wheels and probably NX / Deore drivetrain. It may weigh a tiny bit less but with worse suspension function (the lighter frame would be offset partially by some heavier components).
My reading is that Joe's mate's 5010 is the V3. The V4 (2021 onward) is only 0.4 degrees off the aether 7. I challenge any amateur to actually be able to tell the difference.
As much as I know I'm shooting us all in the foot regarding resale value, if you are buying a complete bike, I'd take a new bike with full warranty over a used bike.
Much as I personally enjoy little wheels, I think you would be better served with a 29er, especially with a 9+ year expected service life.
With a hard 3k budget I'd go 9A and up the component spec rather than economising a 9C down to a price point.
For transparency, I have recently switched from a Bird 120LT (precursor to the Aether 7) to a 2021 5010 V4.
The V4 is what I was looking at, mainly due to the brand name and "playful" nature mentioned by every review.... I'll keep a keen eye on the Bird website and see what happens over the near future!
Yeah my mate’s is a v3 - you feel like the wheel is tucked under the front w bit vs the aether. It’s playful but for me not in a great way for tech stuff.
The v4 looks better but I would not invest a lot of money into 650b now personally. A year ago I might have but having ridden a few 29ers I’ve massively changed my tune. I can’t see a downside to my sentinel - I’m 5’9 so not a huge tall person either.
Slight hi jack:
I need a Transition 29er in my life, circa £3.5k budget
2nd hand carbon Sentinel or new Alu Spire?
Both fairly low spec components but I've been pleasantly suprised by my lowish spec Flaremax, I'm a serial upgrader anyway.
I just had a spin around FOD on a friend’s Spec Status and thought it was great. I’m normally a fan of longer rear centres but quite enjoyed the short back end. He’s replaced the wheels with something he already had (Hope Pro4 on DT Swiss something) but apart from that it was standard and it ripped. (160mm version, so jo idea if the 140mm version is better or worse)
If I was in the market for a new bike I’d get one.
I offered him a Trek Fuel ex9.8.... he ignored me 🙁
Personally I’d think about what you want from the bike and ignore the material difference.
For me my sentinel is on the cusp of long travel trail / enduro lite - I’ve got a 160mm Lyrik and it’s got 150mm rear travel with a coil shock.
It’s surprisingly lively / playful even on red flow trails and covers ground pretty well. Also the best bike I’ve ever had for technical climbs - the grip it finds is outrageous sometimes.
Decends really well and is happy popping off lips and really scooting round berms.
The Spire is a much bigger bike and more of an enduro plough from what I can make out.
There is a fairly big difference in weight between the sentinel alloy frame and the sentinel carbon frame. So I’d think the carbon sentinel would be a good chunk lighter than the spire as long as the components are broadly similar.
So the carbon sentinel is probably a great allrounder trail bike (at the longer travel end) and the Spire is the better option for racing enduro.
Check out my ad for a 29er Cortex frameset. Not boutique but very capable!
I’d avoid NX, it’s not Deore level, it’s junk.
we’re (Bird) about to drop some new fixed build bikes which will get you a great spec on budget.
V interested in this, as I generally CBA with the select-every-component-yourself-and-then-realise-you're-now-over-budget model.
V interested in this, as I generally CBA with the select-every-component-yourself-and-then-realise-you’re-now-over-budget model.
+1. I’ve been looking for a robust 140mm FS bike to play on and if I could pick an SLX build from Bird vs a Vitus I’d be quite interested in popping down to Swinley.
+2. As long as it’s not SX, Deore would be fine. SLX may take it out of my £3k budget.
5 mins with the builder gets an A9 alloy for £2920:
V interested in this, as I generally CBA with the select-every-component-yourself-and-then-realise-you’re-now-over-budget model.
It’s meant to be deore but the only cassette available is XT so that’s upgraded. All the Shimano 4 pot brakes at sensible prices are out of stock so I selected deore 2 pot assuming you want all Shimano.
Yari fork - all the pikes are a lot more expensive. Still got DT Swiss wheels and an ultimate spec rear shock in there. Would be a pretty decent build:
V interested in this, as I generally CBA with the select-every-component-yourself-and-then-realise-you’re-now-over-budget model.
https://www.bird.bike/product/aether-9-shimano-12-speed/#choose-your-brakes