Hi everyone,
I’ve been riding a Canyon Nerve AL 9.0 since 2016. It has 110mm travel and 120mm forks, and bike geometry has come a long way since then.
This time last year, I rented a Trek remedy 8 from Bike Park Wales, and ever since I’ve had a hankering for something longer, lower, slacker, and with more travel front and rear. I’m also interested in a bike capable of running a mullet setup as I’m on the shorter side and this would apparently suit me. I haven't had a chance to try it, but feel like it would future-proof whatever frame I go for.
I have an absolute max budget of about £4,500, but only if it’s via C2W.
I think I’ve narrowed it down to three options, with a fourth thrown in as a comparison.
Option 1 — Bird’s new Aeris AM 160mm Carbon – £4,500
This is Bird’s brand new frame (just launched) so it has the most up to date geometry and technology. 160mm rear and 160mm front travel, 29er but with the ability to turn it into a mullet. They’re adverting it as a true “do it all” bike.
Pros
2024 model (effectively)
Mulletable
Carbon
SRAM GX drive train as standard
Cons
To bring this within my budget, I will have to reduce the spec of most of the components compared to the other options in the list. For example, the stock option comes with RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork, I would have to drop this to the Formula Selva R forks and I would also have to downgrade the brakes etc.
Option 2 — Bird Aether 9 or 9C – £4,100
Bird’s “do it all” bike before the new Aeris AM came out. 130mm rear with up to 150mm front travel and 29” wheels.
I’ve test ridden the 9c and enjoyed it, but I wasn't able to really put it through its paces.
Within my budget, I can either go for the aluminium frame and get the SRAM GX drivetrain, or go for the carbon frame and settle for SRAM NX. I’m a bit hesitant with NX because it makes upgrading to GX a bit more complicated in the future (they use different hubs) but it’s not the end of the world.
Pros
I can ramp up the component spec on this within budget: Lyrik Ultimate forks, Super Deluxe Ultimate shock, Hope V4 brakes, Reverb Stealth dropper post, etc.
Cons
Not Mulletable
“Old” (introduced in 2020)
Slightly less travel than the other options
Aluminium if I want SRAM GX
Option 3 — 2022 Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Elite Alloy – £3,500
Leisure Lakes are doing a massive discount on the 2022 Stumpy Evo Elite Alloy at the moment, from £5,200 down to £3,500.
160mm Fox 36 factory fork and 150mm Fox X factory shock, SRAM GX drivetrain, Code RS brakes (I would prefer Hope, but these are decent spec).
I tested a standard Stumpjumper and thought it felt great, so I’m expecting the Evo to be even better.
Pros
Great spec components
Cheapest option in the list
Mulletable
Cons
Alloy
2022 model
Option 4 — 2023 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp — £4,200
I’m not really considering this but thought it was interesting for comparison.
It sits at around the same price point as the Aether 9 but with a much lower spec: Fox Float Rhythm forks, Fox Float X performance Shock, SRAM NX components in the drivetrain etc. but it does have Code RS brakes.
Yes, it’s carbon and it’s the latest model, but everything else to me says “not good value for money”.
==
I’d really love the new Aeris AM, but I’ll be pushing my max budget while also having to compromising on component spec.
With the Aether 9, I can completely max the spec and have it exactly as I want it, but I couldn’t run it as a mullet and is the frame starting to show its age?
The Stumpy Evo Alloy looks like an absolute bargain and it ticks every box except the carbon frame.
My heart is saying Bird, but my head is saying Stumpy…
So what would you do?
I’ve been riding a Canyon Nerve AL 9.0 since 2016. It has 110mm travel and 120mm forks, and bike geometry has come a long way since then.
This time last year, I rented a Trek remedy 8 from Bike Park Wales, and ever since I’ve had a hankering for something longer, lower, slacker, and with more travel front and rear. I’m also interested in a bike capable of running a mullet setup as I’m on the shorter side and this would apparently suit me. I haven't had a chance to try it, but feel like it would future-proof whatever frame I go for.
I have an absolute max budget of about £4,500, but only if it’s via C2W.
I think I’ve narrowed it down to three options, with a fourth thrown in as a comparison.
Option 1 — Bird’s new Aeris AM 160mm Carbon – £4,500
This is Bird’s brand new frame (just launched) so it has the most up to date geometry and technology. 160mm rear and 160mm front travel, 29er but with the ability to turn it into a mullet. They’re adverting it as a true “do it all” bike.
Pros
2024 model (effectively)
Mulletable
Carbon
SRAM GX drive train as standard
Cons
To bring this within my budget, I will have to reduce the spec of most of the components compared to the other options in the list. For example, the stock option comes with RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork, I would have to drop this to the Formula Selva R forks and I would also have to downgrade the brakes etc.
Option 2 — Bird Aether 9 or 9C – £4,100
Bird’s “do it all” bike before the new Aeris AM came out. 130mm rear with up to 150mm front travel and 29” wheels.
I’ve test ridden the 9c and enjoyed it, but I wasn't able to really put it through its paces.
Within my budget, I can either go for the aluminium frame and get the SRAM GX drivetrain, or go for the carbon frame and settle for SRAM NX. I’m a bit hesitant with NX because it makes upgrading to GX a bit more complicated in the future (they use different hubs) but it’s not the end of the world.
Pros
I can ramp up the component spec on this within budget: Lyrik Ultimate forks, Super Deluxe Ultimate shock, Hope V4 brakes, Reverb Stealth dropper post, etc.
Cons
Not Mulletable
“Old” (introduced in 2020)
Slightly less travel than the other options
Aluminium if I want SRAM GX
Option 3 — 2022 Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Elite Alloy – £3,500
Leisure Lakes are doing a massive discount on the 2022 Stumpy Evo Elite Alloy at the moment, from £5,200 down to £3,500.
160mm Fox 36 factory fork and 150mm Fox X factory shock, SRAM GX drivetrain, Code RS brakes (I would prefer Hope, but these are decent spec).
I tested a standard Stumpjumper and thought it felt great, so I’m expecting the Evo to be even better.
Pros
Great spec components
Cheapest option in the list
Mulletable
Cons
Alloy
2022 model
Option 4 — 2023 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp — £4,200
I’m not really considering this but thought it was interesting for comparison.
It sits at around the same price point as the Aether 9 but with a much lower spec: Fox Float Rhythm forks, Fox Float X performance Shock, SRAM NX components in the drivetrain etc. but it does have Code RS brakes.
Yes, it’s carbon and it’s the latest model, but everything else to me says “not good value for money”.
==
I’d really love the new Aeris AM, but I’ll be pushing my max budget while also having to compromising on component spec.
With the Aether 9, I can completely max the spec and have it exactly as I want it, but I couldn’t run it as a mullet and is the frame starting to show its age?
The Stumpy Evo Alloy looks like an absolute bargain and it ticks every box except the carbon frame.
My heart is saying Bird, but my head is saying Stumpy…
So what would you do?
