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I recall reading that the Zero 29er is designed for relatively large tyres for a 29er hardtail (2.5's). The bottom bracket drop is adjusted to suit. Running smaller tyres will lower the bb.
I recall reading that the Zero 29er is designed for relatively large tyres for a 29er hardtail (2.5’s). The bottom bracket drop is adjusted to suit. Running smaller tyres will lower the bb.
Even still I’m pretty sure it’s quite low - think it’s got an 80mm bb drop in a hardtail.
When speaking about hardtails, one needs to compare the BB drop with a sagged FS. Static BB drops are meaningless
Perhaps compare that to other hardtails rather than FS....
The current Bird bikes are all low, long and slack. They’re not at the absolute extremes but they’re certainly in the most LLS 10% of what’s out there.
And yes, you have to compare BB heights when sagged. So with a 160mm full-sus deduct ~40mm (assuming 20% sag front and 30% sag rear), with a 150mm hardtail deduct ~15mm. The Zero 29 is bloody low, pretty long and pretty slack.
Ok, i'll release a line from the geometry table today...
Bahahaha
As if lockdown was bad enough, turns out @danbird is a specialist in torture.
I think we'd all be happy knowing when we could buy one before knowing anything about it 😉
Ha! No small is the biggest news. I can't imagine Bird ever needing an XXL unless they sponsor a basketball league 🙂
lol ah you tease!!
That's enough information - now, where do I sign?
Even still I’m pretty sure it’s quite low – think it’s got an 80mm bb drop in a hardtail.
Average-ish 29er diameter wheel is 29.5", so 14.25" to the axle. Take off a 80mm BB drop and you've got 11.1".
Back in the good old days when BB height was measured rather than drop most hardtails had BB's around 11.5", so losing 10mm really isn't much
Plus BITD everyone used to run 175mm cranks, whereas now it's 170/165mm.
We don't build small sizes in 29ers as there just isn't demand for them.
We're hoping you'll be able to buy one earlyish in the second half of this year.
Where's today's line from the geo chart, Dan?
Eh? Eh? Just where is it...?!
Yeah, we need those seat tube lengths now, damnit.
Where’s today’s line from the geo chart, Dan?
*crosses fingers for ‘HT Dia’*
😈
Am so hoping this comes in (with a sensible build) within my possible budget and it's a 'real' Bird not an open mould with a sticker.
The bespoke build options, the UK focused bikes, the amazing customer service and the direct sales value for money makes it the company I really want to be putting my money towards at the end of all this current nonsense.
Just to say the Aether 7 is genuinely really good. Done a few xc type bridleway loops joined with some brutal road climbs and it is really efficient and pedals well. On the rockier bits it absolutely flies. Quite a burly build with 140mm Lyriks / code r’s / xm481’s on Pro4’s etc
Am so hoping this comes in (with a sensible build) within my possible budget and it’s a ‘real’ Bird not an open mould with a sticker.
99% designed by us. 1% by SRAM. Definitely not a rebadge! That's not our style.
Is that 1% by SRAM because you're fitting their forks, headset, bottom bracket, dropper post, rear hub and rear mech or is there more to it than that?
Probably a new hub width. Its about time we had a new one. Or a new bottom bracket standard.
Nope but keep guessing.
It's an e-bike with a SRAM motor and gearbox 😉
Universal mech hanger?
Oooh I like this game. What else can we get out of @benpinnick ?
IT's gonna be 3x12 only, right? Designed around a 26" front wheel? And the shock will be a wedge of Elastomer? Pls confirm
@benpinnick not sure what the implications of this is re: Shimano builds? Forgive my ignorance
Same old standard where it meets the mech, just a new standard where it meets the frame.
Works fine with Shimano too. Sram UDH is compatible with most mechs other than Shimano direct mount (which Shimano don't support anymore either).
Yet another
Universalmech hanger?
Well it's the first time someone credible has attempted a standardised mech hanger and dropout so it would be possible to make it an actual standard. What it does mean is that cheap replacements are easily available.
A key selling point is also that it can rotate, so if you catch the mech it might move not die.
WILL YOU PLEASE STOP TALKING AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!!!
I know we’re not comparing apples to apples here but:
https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/bird-zero-29-2019-ml,bird-aether-7-2020-ml/
I wouldn't be surprised if we did see a slightly more conservative (by Bird standards) geometry.
Aside from the BB drop, the Zero 29 reigns it in a bit, and having briefly tried one it makes for a nicely balanced bike. 460mm reach in ML is tiny compared to their other bikes.
Food for thought?
Ah no more snippets of info then??
Appears not.. 😔
Aside from the BB drop, the Zero 29 reigns it in a bit, and having briefly tried one it makes for a nicely balanced bike. 460mm reach in ML is tiny compared to their other bikes.
Food for thought?
Chatting with the guys when I had a demo its more because your weight distribution is different on a hardtail and your just not as fast. So the hardtails are as extreme as they relatively need to be.
Well, still no more details or news on the Bird FB page..
I'm about ready to pull the trigger on an AM9 but was hoping they get the details out so I don't get buyer remorse. I asked Dan Hodge a week or so ago and he said it'd be the next few weeks but I've not seen anything since.
I emailed Bird as I was debating between the AM9 and waiting for the Aether 9 and got the following reply:
The Aether 9 is basically an Aether 7, but with bigger wheels. If you adjust things like BB drop & chainstay to account for the bigger wheels, then you have an Aether 9. The AM9 is probably more rounded as a do anything bike. Like the Aether 7 the Aether 9 is designed to extract the most hoots and grins from trail centre type riding but isn't necessarily the most efficient bike we do. Aether = fun, AM = all rounder (maybe we should have called it AR).
Hopefully that's of use for those debating which one to go for.
So the enduro bike is the "efficient" option, while the shorter-travel trail bike is for "fun"?
Unusual way to position their range.
Not that trail bikes shouldn't be fun, obvs - but that often comes when they are poppy and efficient at pedaling.
Shorter travel, agile trail bike
Longer travel, more capable do-it-all trail/enduro bike
Makes perfect sense to me?
The Aether 7 has 130mm rear travel so the 9 will probably have 120mm.
That quote doesn't specifically mention pedalling efficiency - could be meaning bump-absorbing efficiency.
That'll likely be it, yeah.