The Aeris is Swinley-based Bird's first crack at a full-suspension bike. It's a brilliant start too, and not just because of the impressive value offered by their online direct sales model.
The frame
The Aeris is long and slack, produced in Taiwan to
Bird's specifications. It's a bike after Mondraker's heart, boasting a lengthy
front centre (BB to front axle measurement) in a bid to improve high-speed
handling and create a better cockpit position for climbing.
Our size large test bike had a 640mm effective top
tube, which was paired with a dinky 35mm stem to keep the cockpit the right
length. There's 150mm (5.9in) of travel up front, while rear travel is
adjustable between 140mm (5.5in) and 150mm (5.9in). In the shorter setting, the
Aeris has a 66.3-degree head angle and a low 333mm BB height (the 150mm setting
adds 0.2 degrees and 2mm).
The kit
Our bike was a custom build, with a dependable
X-Fusion O2 RCX shock taking care of things at the rear and a RockShox Pike
fork - the benchmark in terms of performance and value - up front. A Maxxis
Minion DHF 3C front tyre and Ardent rear tyre were mounted on SUNringle Charger
Pro SL wheels, with the latest Race Face Turbine cranks heading up the 1x10
drivetrain.
Bird sell complete builds ranging from 2260$ to 4815$.
They're easy to customise, but
even the standard bits are a pleasant surprise - all BBs are Shimano XTR and
all cassettes are XT, regardless of price. The bike comes set up tubeless too.
The ride
The plush and well-damped travel of the X-Fusion shock
and Pike fork combine to brilliant effect. The Aeris pumps through berms and
pops off jumps with verve, and on everything from swooping singletrack to black
DH runs it feels stable, lively and incredibly fast.
There's a fair amount of flex across the low rear end,
but it takes a lot of hammer to turn the compliance into inaccuracy. The
progressive rear suspension keeps the bike buoyed up in its travel and the
supple start to the stroke is ideal for taking on rapidfire roots and rocks.
The downside is a relatively active pedalling action, which means
energy-sapping bob when powering out of the saddle, unless you constantly
switch between shock modes.
The Aeris's length gives
masses of stability in highspeed and loose situations. On fast, rocky fireroad
descents you're able to hug the apexes of corners tighter without being slung
out wide on exit. The same is true on singletrack too, regardless of surface
conditions. When the terrain gets steep, you can get your weight behind the
bike by dropping your wrists and heels, pushing it over obstacles with far less
fear of being tipped over the front.
FRAME
6061-T6 aluminium, 140-150mm (5.5-5.9in) travel
FORK
RockShox Pike RCT3, 150mm (5.9in) travel
SHOCK
X-Fusion 02 RCX
DRIVETRAIN Race Face Turbine Cinch cranks, Blackspire Trail X
chain guide, Shimano Zee rear mech, Shimano XT cassette
WHEELSET
SUNringle Charger Pro SL wheels, Maxxis Minion DHF 3C 27.5x2.3in front tyre,
Maxxis Ardent 27.5x2.4in rear tyre
BRAKES
Shimano Deore XT
BAR/STEM
Race Face SIXC, 780mm/Race Face Atlas, 35mm
SEATPOST/SADDLE RockShox Reverb Stealth/Charge Scoop
WEIGHT
13.2kg/29.2lb (L)
PRICE 3795$
(complete bike)
