A sublime riding, pocket friendly trail and enduro slayer… 4.5/5* – Read the full review. In its mid-stroke there’s a fair bit of support, which helps that agile, almost poppy feel the bike has. When you just want to rattle over anything in the way, the 150mm of travel just lets you point the bike and let go of the brakes. The bike is sensitive in its early stroke, taking care of smaller trail chatter easily, yet it ramps up considerably towards the end of the stroke, so I rarely bottomed the bike out regardless of how ham-fisted my riding was. The frame is hydroformed 6066 alloy, with big, obvious welds and reinforcement where necessary. Quite simply the fastest bike available for fast, steep and rough enduro courses. What does “enduro” mean though? While it’s the geometry that helps the AM9 feel so easy going on the climbs, the wide range GX Eagle gearing from SRAM certainly helps when you start to flag on big days out. Bird Aeris AM9 GX custom frame review The AM9 offers up 150mm / 5.9in of rear wheel travel, delivered using a four-bar linkage design all controlled via …

The reason for Bird introducing a 29er is that it finally felt that the wheel rim and tyre combos are now available to give the roll-over advantages of the bigger wheel, without the strength and weight issues 29ers arguably had. It’s been bold with its geometry numbers and its malleable direct buying model allows you to chop and change parts to your heart’s (and wallet’s) content.

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OUR ASSEMBLY/SHIPPING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REMAINS UNAFFECTED. Bird’s first big wheeler isn’t afraid of big speeds. When it comes to the geometry, Bird has definitely pushed things a little further than most. Despite bigger wheels, it’s an easy bike to pick up and place where you want it on the trail. On the hill it doesn’t take long to notice how supple and well-controlled both the fork and shock are as you start tackling more engaging sections of trail. Still, the 475mm reach is probably around what I would spec myself, were I building my own frame. The steeper seat angle puts your hips nicely over the bottom bracket, so on steep climbs it’s easy to regulate where your body weight is in relation to the wheels. While it was in my garage it was without doubt my go-to bike and it’s not an empty garage either. Cables are all routed externally to keep working on the bike that bit easier and the British brand has opted for a threaded rather than press-fit bottom bracket, which many will appreciate. For the really tall guys and gals out there, there’s also a size large and extra-large which boast reach measurements of 500mm and a whopping 522mm respectively. That’s because the AM9 feels energetic and lively no matter what the gradient or speed might be. Aeris AM9 V3 – SRAM Eagle 12 Speed GX / X01, Aeris AM9 V2 – SRAM Eagle 12 Speed GX / X01, 6066 tube-set, designed to give the best stiffness to weight ratio, 148 Boost rear end for maximum tyre clearance and stiffness, One piece brake/axle assembly for maximum precision and minimum squeal, 1x specific rear end for maximum stiffness, Fantastic pedalling performance combined with a progressive shock curve, External cable routing, because we live in the UK, Max complement sealed cartridge bearings on all pivots, 4 sizes, 3 colours and complete configuration control on all models. Where Bird differs here slightly is that pretty much every part on its bikes can be swapped or altered to suit your needs and budget. Already have an account with us? If you like to crank up a hill and then blast down again as fast as possible then I think that we’ll get along just fine. That’s why this bike sports quality dampers in the shape of the RockShox Lyrik RCT3 fork and Super Deluxe RCT rear shock, SRAM’s powerful Guide RE brakes and I switched the tyres around a little to suit the rather damp British conditions.

Our bikes are class leading when it comes to downhill performance. Bird Aeris Am9 Gx Custom Review.

While the Aeris 145 felt like a much ‘bigger’ bike thant it was, and on flatter, pedally trails actually felt a little sluggish, it seems that Bird has nailed the AM9 in this respect. At 14.3kg the AM9 isn’t super light, but this didn’t hold it back too much on the climbs. Thanks! This is the bike that changed my mind about 29 inch wheels!

All Images and Text Copyright Bird Cycleworks unless otherwise stated. If I’d been testing the bike in the summer, there’s very little I would have changed about the bike, perhaps a more powerful set of brakes (and/or bigger rotors). Still, its business model means that while you don’t get quite the same back-up support as you would when buying from your local bike shop, you do get a lot of bang for your buck.

Don't miss out on MBUK – get your next 3 issues for just £5, Get the next 3 issues of the UK's number one cycling magazine for just £5, A sublime riding, pocket friendly trail and enduro slayer, Spot-on geometry, great suspension, killer price, Rear suspension rebound might not be fast enough for everyone, One to watch in 2018: Bird Aeris AM9 GX12, Longer travel 29ers really suit the rugged, rocky terrain around Peille, France, The Maxxis Aggressor is the stock tyre at the back, but you can swap this for other Maxxis rubber when you purchase, SRAM’s 10-50t GX Eagle drivetrain is a great match for the bike, SRAM Guide RS brakes haul the bike to a stop, The RockShox Super Deluxe shock provides ample control for the back end, How to get a perfect fit on your mountain bike, La Maison des Activities de Pleine Nature de Peille, Best mountain bike shoes 2020 | 16 tried and tested recommendations, How maintaining bikes helped me fix my washing machine – and why it matters, Rocky Mountain Pipeline 750 MSL first ride review, Rocky Mountain Slayer 750 MSL first ride review, YT Jeffsy 29 CF Pro Race First Ride review.

I really liked the 27.5in Aeris 145, so expected good things from the AM9, especially as my preference for bikes is those with larger wheels.

It's been bold with its geometry numbers and its malleable direct buying model allows you to chop and change parts to your heart's (and wallet's) content.

Our bikes are long and roomy without feeling stretched out. There’s a Maxle boost spaced back end and a full complement of bearings throughout the frame. You can unsubscribe at any time.

While Bird might not be the biggest or boldest brand out there, its bikes certainly stand out. I also developed a creak around the bottom bracket area after a few days pummelling the AM9 out in San Remo, Italy, though it was already in need of some TLC before we left the country so it was no huge surprise. Speed comes easy too and momentum is preserved with very little effort. The shape of the frame is where Bird really stands out though. So long as they have a relatively steep seat angle, there are no issues. It’s no slouch in the turns either and although not as calm through the bar as the likes of Whyte’s S-150 on really high-speed, chattery turns, still carves a mean line at pace — I’d certainly be intrigued to try the AM9 with a fork with shorter offset just as Whyte spec. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. That said, in order to get the back end of the AM9 feeling as I wanted, it did mean leaving the rebound adjuster fully open, so lighter riders might struggle getting the feel just right. April 26, 2018, 10 a.m. on Bike Radar. The steep seat tube angle helps to position you over the bottom bracket for more efficient pedalling and combined with the the relatively long 440mm chainstays, which help to support your weight, there’s no front wheel lift when tackling steep pitches. While I really liked the Aeris 145, I’d go so far as to say that the AM9 is a better bike. To keep mechanics happy, cables are routed externally and there’s an external bottom bracket too for ease. It also has a number of permanent demo fleets dotted about the UK. Overall, the AM9 offers a seriously well-rounded ride.

It sells bikes direct, which helps keep its pricing incredibly competitive. Thankfully, any worries that the AM9 might feel a little dull or less fun due to all of that inherent stability were quickly put to rest. The big wheels help move the bike over obstacles where they can’t be avoided.

In fact, I may have over indulged a little through the corners, loosening many of the spokes off in the rear wheel after a good few days in the hills and leaving it feeling a touch flexy when really pushing the bike hard. While super short chainstays can make a bike feel playful and easy to wheelie, they also shift your weight towards the rear axle, meaning you have to work harder to load up the front wheel during corners. The standard fork for this build is the Yari. The 150mm of rear wheel suspension is controlled by a regular four-bar linkage, with a Metric length shock in there. Though a relatively small brand based out of the UK, Bird’s approach to bike design and commerce means it’s starting to get noticed abroad (and, yes … By entering your details, you are agreeing to BikeRadar terms and conditions.

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