Trail bike - Bird or Canyon
Discussion
I know nothing about MTBs but want to get a decent all rounder for around £2k. Done a ton of research and come to the Canyon Spectral 2018 and Bird Aeris 120, both of which have similar spec at £2k. I have multiple road bikes but want one MTB that will do it all pretty well. I also want something that will last a long time. Head says the Canyon is the best steer. Wild card is to pay £3k and get an Orange 5 which will last a lifetime. Anybody know much about the Aeris 120, or seen any good deals for a similar bike?
Not heard of Bird but I do a lot of mountain biking and Canyon Spectral/ Strives etc are pretty common. I’ve ridden a mates Strive and it’s an epic machine.
Not a massive fan of the Orange bikes, seem quite expensive for what they are. Dont really like the single pivot frame design either. Although I can see the appeal of less bearings to replace if you’re planning on riding the bike extensively through mud.
Look up YT if you haven’t already, similar company to Canyon. Their Jeffsey is the Spectral rival.
Not a massive fan of the Orange bikes, seem quite expensive for what they are. Dont really like the single pivot frame design either. Although I can see the appeal of less bearings to replace if you’re planning on riding the bike extensively through mud.
Look up YT if you haven’t already, similar company to Canyon. Their Jeffsey is the Spectral rival.
Those were both on my shortlist, along with the Whyte T130, before I bought my Orange Four.
My main problem with Canyon is that you can't try before you buy. I was able to try the Whyte and the Orange. I hated the Whyte, the small was too small and the medium was too big. When I rode the Orange it felt spot on. I would have liked to also try the Bird, but I found a good deal on an Orange (try Sunset Cycles).
My main problem with Canyon is that you can't try before you buy. I was able to try the Whyte and the Orange. I hated the Whyte, the small was too small and the medium was too big. When I rode the Orange it felt spot on. I would have liked to also try the Bird, but I found a good deal on an Orange (try Sunset Cycles).
Canyon do demo days so there should be no reason you can't get a test ride. The 2019 models are out with an extra 10mm travel front and rear, the AL6.0 at £2250 looks very decent. I rode a CF version last year and it is/was between that and one other bike for what will be my next MTB.
Be aware the spectral is 150/160mm travel bike and the series is a 120/130mm travel bike, the canyon is a bit better specced once you actually do a full spec on the bird website.
Be aware the spectral is 150/160mm travel bike and the series is a 120/130mm travel bike, the canyon is a bit better specced once you actually do a full spec on the bird website.
Why do you assume an orange would last longer than a canyon, or any other brand? Longevity will be determined by you wanting to upgrade the bike or parts, either wanting better parts or you finding the bike isn't suited to the style of riding you're doing.
Any current MTB will last 5+ years without issues so saying one brands bike will last longer than another isn't really a valid point.
Buy on geometry, travel, wheel size, then component spec.
Any current MTB will last 5+ years without issues so saying one brands bike will last longer than another isn't really a valid point.
Buy on geometry, travel, wheel size, then component spec.
Yeah maybe I've read too much into the hard wearing nature of the Orange bikes - in reality I'm not going to be pummelling the bike regularly so I'm sure any of the ones in mind would be up to the job and give years of use.
This is a stupid question but what would the main real world difference be between the travel of the canyon and the bird - they are both described as all round trail bikes but one has greater travel?
I can only seem to find on the Canyon site a demo day in the UK in mid 2019 - i'm looking to buy something before Christmas!
This is a stupid question but what would the main real world difference be between the travel of the canyon and the bird - they are both described as all round trail bikes but one has greater travel?
I can only seem to find on the Canyon site a demo day in the UK in mid 2019 - i'm looking to buy something before Christmas!
All the frames mentioned will out live the parts bolted on.
There's a lot of good stuff said about Bird (threads on Singletrack world). They're also British and aftersales support may be easier.
Suspension Travel - there wont be much in it. They're in the same group. Trail tends to be around 130mm, enduro 160mm, xc, 100.
There's a lot of good stuff said about Bird (threads on Singletrack world). They're also British and aftersales support may be easier.
Suspension Travel - there wont be much in it. They're in the same group. Trail tends to be around 130mm, enduro 160mm, xc, 100.
https://uk.intensecycles.com/collections/enduro/pr...
Carbon do it all monster of a bike and stupid low price for the foundation build. Winner Winner Chicken dinner!
Carbon do it all monster of a bike and stupid low price for the foundation build. Winner Winner Chicken dinner!
Last year i bought my wife a Bird Aeris 145 (GX Eagle spec).
The guys at Bird were great answering loads of questions and offering build advice. Read loads of positive stuff on Singletrackworld which helped as we weren't able to demo the bike. Needless to say, she is very happy with the bike.
I also looked at an Airdrop Edit and a Whyte T-130s. A bad experience with a Whyte dealer put paid to her having that bike! Airdrop were similar to Bird, lots of emails sent which they answered and spoke to me on the phone about. I fancy an Airdrop myself, but have a SC Blur which keeps on going!
I don't know what Canyon are like if there is an issue, but i cant fault the customer service of Bird and this was very important to me buying online.
Got to say, that Intense Carbine (posted above) looks very nice!
The guys at Bird were great answering loads of questions and offering build advice. Read loads of positive stuff on Singletrackworld which helped as we weren't able to demo the bike. Needless to say, she is very happy with the bike.
I also looked at an Airdrop Edit and a Whyte T-130s. A bad experience with a Whyte dealer put paid to her having that bike! Airdrop were similar to Bird, lots of emails sent which they answered and spoke to me on the phone about. I fancy an Airdrop myself, but have a SC Blur which keeps on going!
I don't know what Canyon are like if there is an issue, but i cant fault the customer service of Bird and this was very important to me buying online.
Got to say, that Intense Carbine (posted above) looks very nice!
RUNAMOK said:
I have seen that I can get a 2018 Orange Four on Sunset Cycles for around £2500 so that is also in the mix - not too sure what the difference is between that and a Five but I assume it would have more longevity than the Canyon.
A Four is less travel, 120mm (like the Bird) rather than 140/150mm. It really depends on what you are riding. I own a MK 1 Bird Aeris which was the first new bike I’d bought for 14 years. Modern shocks and most notably the reverb can be a bit needy. When I’ve had issues with Reverb(s) and the shock, Bird sorted it very quickly. Simply swapping a reverb on one occasion and a loan shock while one went for repair.
Would canyon do that?
Also my Aeris Kinnematics or however you spell it, was good enough to qualify for a front row start in the Megavalanche (challengers) with an asthmatic borderline alcoholic middle aged pilot and equally at home on an all day trail ride.
Would canyon do that?
Also my Aeris Kinnematics or however you spell it, was good enough to qualify for a front row start in the Megavalanche (challengers) with an asthmatic borderline alcoholic middle aged pilot and equally at home on an all day trail ride.
Edited by james0 on Friday 30th November 21:38
Edited by james0 on Friday 30th November 21:40
Newer Reverbs fail too, as do other components regardless of the bike it’s nailed to.
So you're saying I could take a Canyon to a UK HQ and they would loan me parts while waiting for SRAM or whatever warranty?
I thought Canyon and YT were based in Germany and online only? Of course the op may be in Germany.
I have nothing against Canyon or YT they make some nice kit. Couldn’t believe how well my mates Capra accelerates.
So you're saying I could take a Canyon to a UK HQ and they would loan me parts while waiting for SRAM or whatever warranty?
I thought Canyon and YT were based in Germany and online only? Of course the op may be in Germany.
I have nothing against Canyon or YT they make some nice kit. Couldn’t believe how well my mates Capra accelerates.
Edited by james0 on Saturday 1st December 17:57
Edited by james0 on Saturday 1st December 18:01
And Bird have some of the best thought-out frames out there. Properly progressive geometry, really intelligent frame design (self-locking collet pivots, one-piece seatstays, external routing for ease of maintenance, threaded BB), plus a transferable lifetime warranty shows they're prepared to stand by their product. Just because they're small doesn't mean they don't know kinematics either - if you drop in to the Nest (Bird HQ) you'll actually get to speak to the frame designer, who is more than happy to explain every facet of the suspension setup.
I also like that they don't work in model years - new products are released as and when they're ready - not just a new colour and half-a-degree off the head angle each year, thus rendering the outgoing model worthless.. ;-)
I also like that they don't work in model years - new products are released as and when they're ready - not just a new colour and half-a-degree off the head angle each year, thus rendering the outgoing model worthless.. ;-)
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