Forum menu
Love that in green!
She's a beaut!
No expense spared but the look of her.
These bike are the absolute shit right now and must not be ignored. My ML is longer than my mate's XL Santa Cruz Nomad and takes the pis out of her on the trails for half the price. The writing is on the wall.
Sorry if I'm gushing but I've just got home from the pub and been in the garage staring at my bike for ten minutes before saying hello to my wife!
I'd agree they ride really well. I've been riding steep natural trails and the handling is excellent.
[url= https://s8.postimg.org/l32fhj329/IMG_20170506_093552.jp g" target="_blank">
Loving the green Aeris! Can't wait for mine to arrive now - Friday hopefully.
Glad it rides well on steep natural trails as that's what we've got in Leigh Woods in Bristol and that's pretty much all the riding in getting in at the moment.
I need all the help I can get on that sort of terrain.
For the people on here with an Aeris, did you have to pay extra for the chainstay protector with Bird written on, or did it just come with the bike?
Chainstay protector does cost and the Aeris 145 will be fine around Ashton Court/Leigh Woods
I meant 6'1"! haha
The green is so nice though, really pops and finished off nicely with silver Hope
@jsm it isn't a proper protector, I heli taped the frame and while I was at it got some carbon wrap to protect from scratches. In all honestly it's not lasting well so I might go back to regular clear wrap. Rockguardz did one for the old Aeris so they might have one coming out for the 145 though!
I must say these look very nice. I was looking at a spitfire to replace my current 160mm bike, but im struggling to justify the extra now compare to this.
Took my new 120 round llandegla today. Really nice ride. The 145 looks a bit much for me. Do mostly xc riding and commute on it so this seemed better. Went for a few upgrades including pikes with boost, reverb, guide brakes and turbine bars and stem. Very happy with it and the service from Bird was excellent.
[URL= http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u414/leythervegas/HINDLEY-PC/IMG_20170513_103118_zpsols0crvc.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u414/leythervegas/HINDLEY-PC/IMG_20170513_103118_zpsols0crvc.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
The chainstay protector is £8 extra if i remember correctly joebristol
Nice looking 120. I do like that blue. Shame they don't do the 145 in it.
The blue looks great - if the 145 had been available in that colour that's what I'd have gone for.
For xc and commuting duties the 120 must be better then the 145 I'd have thought. Think it has a 67 degree head angle though - so still pretty modern geometry and plenty of fun I'd imagine? Pikes are a nice upgrade.
Great to see so many others enjoying the Bird bikes!
Proper ride on my 145 this morning. PB on almost every trail and shifted up the Strava leaderboards by a considerable amount. I can't believe a new bike has made so much difference to my riding.
Everyone is teasing me about how good the Aeris is....this is the longest wait ever (well, not really, only 2 weeks or so) for mine to be built and ready!
that blue 120 up there is giving me strange thoughts! what i lovely looking bike. i think that's my next purchase sorted.
I have had mine for about a month now and must say I am loving it.
It may "only" have 145mm travel but to my ham fisted approach I cannot notice the reduction from my previous 160mm bike. I did go for the 160 lyrics though. I am really impressed by how well it climbs steep and technical stuff. There is a trail (green hill @ Pitfichie) that I may have cleared once on my last bike (Orbea Rallon) but I now manage well just my lungs that struggle! I was concerned that while climbing steep bits the front would wander as this is what my last bike did, this does not seem to happen.
As for descending, well that is what the bike was designed for. On paper the bike is long but its not noticeable in a negative way that's for sure. I think it just has well designed geometry. So even on tight steep switchbacks it is fine. Flat out (for me) it feels really stable and just ploughs on through.
It is a bit heavier than my last bike but I did speck some heavier parts so that's not a surprise, haven't weighed it yet.
My only criticism so far is the position of the bottle mounts as with the piggy back shock even a 500ml bottle doesn't fit. I had to drill my cage to move it further down. Maybe a different cage would be better?
For reference I am 186cm tall and bought a large and find it perfect.
30mm stem and 780 bars (I have long arms)
Xt build
Lyric 160s
Hope tech 3 E4's
Hope hubs dt rims
170 reverb
total cost was £3300 which compared to some seemed like a good price to me.
Overall I am delighted.
Cultsdave - you can use a Shimano SM-BA01 to move the bottle mounts around a bit if you're struggling.
Ben
More good feedback. Interesting about the climbing ability. My last bike could wander a bit uphill after I extended the travel on the forks - the worst bit was sharp switchbacks uphill like on Cafell at CwmCarn.
My 145 is about £1000 cheaper than yours with Yaris / the shock one down from the piggyback one (so hopefully I can run a water bottle), and the standard DT Swiss wheels. Assuming mine will be a bit heavier so interesting to see what yours weighs.
When I had a demo bike it was a similar spec to what I've ordered and it felt fairly light to me. My bike at the time was said to weigh around 13kg in comparison. Can't wait to get it now.
Hi Ben,
Thanks for that, got one ordered.
Joe, I will weigh it and see but I wouldn't expect much difference. I also have Maxxis DD tyres which will up the weight too.
I think non-wandering climbing was the thing that surprised me most about the mk1 Aeris. I'm still amazed by it now.
What size chainring have you got on it / which cassette?
I've gone 30t on the front, with 10-42 on the back which should be ok. Coming from a bike that had 32t chainring / 11-42 on the back. Don't think I'll lose much top end due to the 10t instead of 11t with Sram.
Ben - do you guys have any plans for a Sherwood Pines or Peaks demo? I've been meaning to visit since January to try an Aeris 120 and 145 but haven't been able to find the time to get down to you!
So want that blue one with some 29" wheels:(
What's wrong with 27.5" wheels?
My Aeris is being delivered early - getting it tomorrow. Can't wait! Had to go with Orange in the end as green not available for a month or two. Even though the weather is biblical at the moment I may have to go out on it tomorrow night.....
What's wrong with 27.5" wheels?
Nothing, 650b is great, but 29er's are greater.
I liked it when things were simple and it was all 26" wheels......
Haha. I just like 29ers and don't see any dissadvantages for me. So I'd buy a new 29er.
I still ride 26" bikes too though! They've not gotten any worse.
Maybe I'm missing out on good 29ers - I've only ever ridden a few hardtail 29ers and I found them hard work getting turned into corners. Think they were quite xc orientated / head down fast uphill machines.
So any updates, people still liking these? Im looking at a large 145.
I'll tell you in a month or so, just ordered up a large
Fwiw Bird are teasing what looks suspiciously like a 29er...
https://mobile.twitter.com/Bird650b/status/896051199673225216
Looks like a full sus 36er to me
So, it seems I'm gonna be riding a new Bird....
Got a large orange 145 being built up, 2018 Pikes, GX drivechain, E1700 30mm wheel set with DHR2s, Guide RS brakes, teeny weeny 32mm RF turbine R stem and bars, should be a riot!! I was torn between this or an Edit V2 or the obligatory Capra or Strive, but I'm sure I've made the right choice. I've been massively impressed by the Bird boys attitude and service, nothing seems to be too much trouble and they're what decided it for me really. I'd sooner buy from a company with such a customer based ethos than a faceless Canyon or YT. Keep up the good work guys!! Can't wait to hit the home trails n see how she goes....
Do you mind me asking how tall you are Pete? I'm just under 5'11" (32" inside leg) and have ordered the Large. I'm coming from a Large 2013 Mondraker Foxy XR with the Forward geometry (super long top tube, no stem) which I'm very comfortable on so figured that would be the way to go as the geometry figures seem close. Now, for no particular reason, I am beginning to question my own research and spent last night fretting as to whether an ML might be more suitable for me! I will call Bird HQ in the morning for reassurance/guidance. P.S. I've specced mine exactly as yours Pete, but in green.
Yes, best to call Bird and see what they advise. Fyi I'm same height, slightly longer in the leg and have the 120 in ML and I think the 145 about 10cm longer in the same size so you may be right to double check.
I'm 5'11ish, and got an M/L a week back. I didn't have a test ride on the 145 before buying, just a quick spin up and down the drive at Bird, but though the L felt novelly stretched, I went with the shorter frame/35mm stem/800 bars. Big advantage to me was that I could (just) fit a 170mm dropper, but I may try a slightly longer stem in the future.
Took it out to the Alps a few days after picking it up, and the bike's been a hoot so far, hugely different to the Mojo HD it's replaced, and a lot more confidence inspiring to me as a very average rider. Only real downside is the low bb and a pedal strike issue, it's made riding properly narrow or rutted singletrack a bit unnerving, especially where there's been a bit of exposure to punish mistakes.
Hey exupmonkey, I'm 6ft and was wondering about the ml, but Ben and the Bird boys were adamant I'd want the large. I was considering it for the option of running a 170 Reverb, but went for the large with a 150 on their recommendation. Reckon coming off a Mondraker, the geo will feel pretty familiar. I'm stoked, should be here in a few days time, can't wait!! I'm just figuring out what frame downtube protection to go for, any recommendations? Rockguardz are doing one now, albeit a bit pricey.
Onedpete - I'm on an ml 145 - not as high specced as yours - but I'm not convinced on the dhr2 as a front tyre.
Got an aggressor on the back which seems good, but the dhr2 seems to let go very suddenly when it runs out of grip. Been running it between 20 and 25 psi and in the wet it's prone to just let go. That's with really getting weight forward too.
The bike is awesome though - andnive only got Yaris / GX 11 speed / Guide R's.
The Bird guys are so helpful too. Rang them last week to ask about tokens in the fork / shock and they were really happy to talk through what's in there as standard and the options etc.
Pete.... I'm still at the 'what size' stage so haven't got to the frame protection bit yet. I will watch this post with interest for your update
Fwiw Bird are teasing what looks suspiciously like a 29er...
Last time they teased a new bike it was SRAM GX so I'm not getting my hopes up.
Just ordered a rockguardz for the new Bird. 35 bucks isnt cheap, but better than a dented frame! Loadsa loose rocks up on Exmoor where I do a lot of my riding, better safe than sorry...joe, I'm surprised your having issues with the Dhr2, I've been running one up front on my Devinci for the last year and find it awesome. I just swap it to the rear and pop a shorty up front when it gets really soft but find it bites good in everything else. I've got the 2.4 wt one on the front on the new build with a 2.3 up back, so should be even bitier!! How you finding the 11spd GX stuff? Been on 10 speed Shimano the last few years, Saint shifter n Zee mech which is basically flawless. I think I'm gonna miss the double up shift most, I do often use it.
Love the GX 11 speed. Previously had 10 speed GX mech and shifter with a Sunrace 11-42 cassette and 32t oval superstar chainring.
The 11 speed shifts a bit slicker, so far hasn't needed any adjusting and retains the chain better in mud. Love it.
When I went from 2x10 to 1x10 I didn't miss the double at all - not even on the first ride.
The Aeris is awesome - sounds stupid but the bike is so quiet even on big rocky sections - really confidence inspiring.