Bird bikes are ready to fly into the lightweight carbon trail bike market.
The Hampshire brand has built a loyal following with its range of aluminium full-suspension mountain bikes, such as the new Aether 7, combining very daring geometry with extremely keen pricing.
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A carbon-fibre frame was inevitable and Bird’s debut composite bike is the Aether 9C. Configured as a 130mm dual-suspension 29er, Bird is clearly targeting this new model at aggressive-trail and light-enduro users.
Rated to run with forks up to 150mm, the Aether 9C is optimized for 140mm of front suspension and features the calibre of progressive geometry which has typified Bird’s mountain bikes.
All the reach you could possibly want
A 65-degree head angle ensures ideal rider position and steering confidence on steep and technical descents, whilst the reach values are radical.
Bird’s Aether 9C will certainly appeal to those mountain bikers who ardently believe in the ‘longer-is-better’ front triangle frame geometry theory. The size L frame has a massive 512mm of reach and an XL stretches that to 541mm. Balancing the long front centre numbers are compact chainstays, which measure only 430mm.
Recognizing the desire of riders to run longer dropper seatposts, Bird offers size-specific seat tube lengths and angles with its Aether 9C range. Seat tube angles become steeper as frame size increases, with the smallest Aether 9C shaping to 76.5 degrees and an XL’s seat tube built to 78 degrees.
Aside from the radical geometry, Bird’s industrial designers have been mindful to include all those frame details which make your riding and maintenance experience easier. The Aether 9C has sufficient front triangle space for a larger 750ml hydration bottle, even if you decided to run a large-volume shock with a piggyback reservoir.
A threaded bottom bracket should reduce creaking in summer, usually caused by dust ingress, and the frame’s internal frame routing allows for a Y-connector, which can accommodate clean rear brake routing to either side.
Bird is marketing its new Aether 9C as a frame only option, at £1700, with both SRAM and Shimano 12-speed builds, starting at £3463.50 and £3786.50.
