INCOMING !! New frame day... Bird Aether 7

[weeksy]

As you'll have seen, the Whyte G160 was getting on my nerves with issues of shock problems. So to resolve the issue, i bought a Bird Aether 7 frame... Yup, that'll fix the Bird issues without discussion

Couple of things it'll need before i can get out and riding it.
30.9 > 31.6 Seatpost shim.
160mm > 150mm fork travel reduction.
Invisiframe kit fitting.

Frame should be with me early next week, unless i collect it myself before then that is... but will take either me or Mrs Weeksy a few hours to fit the Invisiframe kit, then a few hours for me to build it up. However i can't see any reason it won't be rolling by next weekend.

Plum-Side-3k-scaled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[Couchy]

That's lovely, I don't get the invisiframe kits as all you are doing is protecting it for the next owner ?

[v8-powered]

Looks tidy.

Is it me or is it really long?

[weeksy]

Looks tidy.

Is it me or is it really long?

Distinctly similar in length to the G160... so may be long, but so is the current frame anyway.

[Mr Moofo]

They are lovely looking bikes - and Ben and Dan are easy to deal with ...
Let’s hope it doesn’t mash a shock within 30 mins

[MingtheMerciless]

Not sure they do seat post shims for 30.9 to 31.6mm, that's only 0.35mm wall thickness for the shim and last time I looked (though it was a good few years ago) you couldn't get one.

xxx edit xxx it seems you can now get a seat post shim in that size, I'll shut up and crawl back under my stone.

[weeksy]

They are lovely looking bikes - and Ben and Dan are easy to deal with ...
Let’s hope it doesn’t mash a shock within 30 mins

LOL it's a very different fitting system. It's also got a LOT more options if something goes wrong with the shock in terms of buying, the G160 was very particular in terms of what would or wouldn't fit, the Bird being a 210 x 55 is a far more common one to get these day.

Ben was incredibly good, instant comms and they had it on the workstand fitting the headset 15 minutes after i'd placed the order.

I've also ordered a Yari debonair kit for the forks in 150mm (which is OK with Bird to go 10mm more) and that'll get fitted by Rotec Cycles as soon as the kit arrives.

The seatpost shim is on it's way.... So just a case of putting it all together really.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Looks nice, I'm trying to work out how the rear suspension linkage works

[weeksy]

Looks nice, I'm trying to work out how the rear suspension linkage works

https://www.bird.bike/product/aether-7- ... figuration

[weeksy]

SO i do believe i have everything needed on the way and ordered.

Frame
Invisikit
seatpost shim
Fork internals

There's a couple of minor things i need to think about, but i'll do that in advance of building.
1. Fork steerer length. The G-160 comes with a massive spacer on top of the frame, plus 3 spacers, so the steerer may need a trim and a new SFN
2. Gear outer, not sure at the quality of the gear outer i've got in the spares box, so may need to collect 2m when i go to the LBS for fork internals.

Unless i'm missing something, i think we're all good.

[Mr Moofo]

I found decent quality gear outer hard to fine a week or so ago ...
When does it arrive?

It’s going to be shorter travel than your last mount. Any concerns?

[weeksy]

Arrives... errrrm about now !

2021-05-14_09-26-51 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

2021-05-14_09-26-43 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

2021-05-14_09-26-25 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Concerns, Mmmmm yes and no... It'll be 150mm on the front which is only 10mm less than i had... but yes only 130mm on the rear, which is 30mm less.. But it's also a slacker head angle and geometry which should mean it goes downhill well and seems to bring confidence according to owners. I think it'll be 'different' but arguably for 90% of my riding it could and should suit more... But that 10% is of course quite an important 10%.

I should find out next Saturday when i hit the same jumps and drops i usually ride.

[lostboy]

Arrives... errrrm about now !


Concerns, Mmmmm yes and no... It'll be 150mm on the front which is only 10mm less than i had... but yes only 130mm on the rear, which is 30mm less.. But it's also a slacker head angle and geometry which should mean it goes downhill well and seems to bring confidence according to owners. I think it'll be 'different' but arguably for 90% of my riding it could and should suit more... But that 10% is of course quite an important 10%.

I should find out next Saturday when i hit the same jumps and drops i usually ride.

Nice !!

[weeksy]

2021-05-14_09-59-49 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Nice, I think the linkage on the rear suspension is odd, but I'm not a bicycle designer, whoever designed it knows more than me about cycle suspension

Looking at Weeksy's picture I think the idea is to give a more linear compression of the rear shock compared with connecting the swingarm directly to the shock, but it could equally be to give rising rate, like a motorcycle linkage.

[weeksy]

Nice, I think the linkage on the rear suspension is odd, but I'm not a bicycle designer, whoever designed it knows more than me about cycle suspension

Looking at Weeksy's picture I think the idea is to give a more linear compression of the rear shock compared with connecting the swingarm directly to the shock, but it could equally be to give rising rate, like a motorcycle linkage.

I've pinged the frame designer a link to your question, i wouldn't be too shocked if he registers and answers. It's way beyond my knowledge to even begin to answer, so thought i'd ask him for his thoughts/logic.

[danbird]

Hey, Dan here - I design all of our (Bird's) frames.

All our frames have some rising rate designed in to them. Aether 7 runs at around 35% rising rate which is nicely poppy and you'll only bottom out the suspension when pushing pretty hard. It's actually quite difficult to judge the rising rate just by looking at the linkage - moving a pivot point by a few mm in a specific direction can have a dramatic effect on the suspension performance.

If you have any more questions please let me know!

Cheers

[Mr Moofo]

Hey, Dan here - I design all of our (Bird's) frames.

All our frames have some rising rate designed in to them. Aether 7 runs at around 35% rising rate which is nicely poppy and you'll only bottom out the suspension when pushing pretty hard. It's actually quite difficult to judge the rising rate just by looking at the linkage - moving a pivot point by a few mm in a specific direction can have a dramatic effect on the suspension performance.

If you have any more questions please let me know!

Cheers

Welcome Dan,
As a "nearly" Bird purchaser of a few years ago - but encouraging others to buy them these days, a question for you. (I know you will have been asked this a million times)
I have a Cotic FlareMax - there are various synergies between the brands - and similarities - both being linkage driven single pivots. Buy yours being ally, theirs being steel ( and getting very expensive !)
In terms of the way the rear suspension rides I find my FlareMax very progressive - and find it really difficult to get full travel ever on the rear (but I am not dropping in of house size drop offs).
How does thw Bird rear linkage compare to that of Cotic's in terms of ride?
When will the steel hard tail be available?

South Downs riding mostly BTW ...

Cheers

[Mr Moofo]

2021-05-14_09-59-49 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Did they only have it is the girl's colour ?

[weeksy]

2021-05-14_09-59-49 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Did they only have it is the girl's colour ?

Nope, but i don't do subtle.... i could have got in blue or raw... but i like a bit 'different'