Had it for a week or so now so I figured I should probably add a post. First full new bike to me in about twenty years so pretty exciting.
It's a ML frame (which is a flipping revelation for my short legs and long body), RS Deluxe Ultimate and Lyrik Select, DT Swiss E1900 wheels, Deore group set.
Rides lovely, quite different toy old 26" Rocket.
Nice colour!
Looks great - interesting comment on sizing as I am also short of leg
I'm also short of leg but long of torso and my Aether 9a is the first mountain bike I've had that feels close to being long enough without massively to high.
I bloody love the colour. Might even keep it clean.
@morecashthandash it feels like a bit of a game changer. For reference I'm about 5'11 and on my old medium Rocket I can run a 120mm dropper, on this I have a 170. And the length is amazing, though it'll take a bit to properly get used to it I reckon. If you're ever up this way you're welcome to swing a leg over it.
I've got very acquainted with Geometrygeeks the last few weeks and there aren't that many frames with short uninterrupted seat tubes and 480mm reach.
I'm only 5'9, so probably one size down, but thanks for the offer
Lovely bike although I’m a Bird Ae7 owner so would say that!
Love mine, ML for the same reasons. All my other bikes are large and the lack of stand over is noticeable. Had to play around with the shock to get it more linear (came with a negative spacer fitted) and the lyrik went back to Bird to have the bushings burnished but the bike is lovely now. Firm, sharp, precise without harshness.
I'm on the 9C (not showing off, just for context)
Amazing bike for flat trail centres through to bike parks.
I've not played with spacers or anything in the shock yet - need to get some more miles on it and get used to how it feels, I think. I quite like the poppiness of it though, which I guess is to do with the progressiveness of the shock.
I actually tried a mate's 9c which swayed me towards this one!
Very nice! I'm really enjoying my new Aether 7. Similarly I've gone from a Small Cotic to a medium Aether 7 with a 170mm dropper, measuring up I've gained about 40mm more clearance to the saddle when fully dropped which has helped my confidence on the steeper stuff.
I really like how poppy and 'fast' it feels too with the same shock as you, I am keeping an eye out for a decent coil though to swap in and try with half an eye on beefing it up for an Alps trip (and just to try it!).
I'm another Aether 9c owner. I think all Aether variants make great UK trail bikes in the broadest sense. Mine covers everything from XC rides, blasts in the woods, prepped and natural surfaces, the odd attempt at things above my pay grade, etc. With hindsight, I should've got an aluminium one... questionable looks aside, the internal cable housings rattle a bit on the 9c... but it was super cheap when they were selling off the last batch of them.
I also rate the long reach to short seat tube geo ratio. Mine's a large (I'm 6'2") and its defining characteristic is pairing a 512mm reach with 430mm chainstays. It's not exactly balanced and you have to ride around that a bit, but its flaw is also its strength IMO - it does sort of cheat 'big bike' and 'small bike' into one frame. That long reach inspires confidence when things get fast and loose, but the short rear keeps it poppy and it turns well. I think the ML size you have is probably the sweet spot geo-wise, I did read it was the size the frame designer rode himself too.
Mine also has a Deluxe Ultimate. The optimal air pressure operating window is pretty small on them in these frames, there's just a few psi between a soggy back end and being overly stiff, but the sweet spot is in there. I had to replace my very cheap shock pump with a slightly better digital one to get it dialled, but I got there eventually. The shock is the one thing I will probably upgrade one day on my bike, although I'm in no rush either. TBH I built mine on a pretty tight budget and wanted to get some miles in to decide if I liked it enough to outlay more on.
The megneg is pretty popular on the Aether, could be a budget option compared to a new shock @mattrockwell
Might have to have a look at the MegNeg - I've definitely noticed it's not as plush as my old Rocket at the moment, but then it's shorter travel and I may have too much pressure in the shock. I probably need to invest in a decent shock pump first, tricky to be accurate with my twenty year old analogue one where you can't really see the dial.
Nice, these seem like they'd like such a good bike for a lot of the trails I ride. Been thinking about getting one for a while, might do it when my C2W voucher renews, I almost did it last year but they were out of stock! Although I can't really decide between the 7 or 9 so still curious to see if they come out with an MX model in the future, as I'm not sure if I'd like full 29 on a FS.
I've a feeling they might have discontinued them - they're not listed on the site any more (though I could be completely wrong there. Hopefully not 'cos they're ace).
It's not quite my only MTB (I have an old 456 as well) but it'll get ridden for pretty much everything from pootling round green trailcentres with MinyMonkey v1.0 to trips to BPW and the Lakes. Thus far it feels like it should cope with everything pretty well...
Before you go down the megNeg route, check the shock for a negative chamber spacer. Mine had 1 fitted, removed it. still firm at the back and not using full travel except casing jumps hard but lovely now.
Good shout. I need to get some miles on it first before I change anything anyway.