Key points

• Zero range splits into two.
• Zero.AM is a 150mm hardcore model.
• Zero.TR is 130mm and 200 grams lighter than 2014 Zero.

What is Bird?

Bird is still a relatively new player in the mountain bike market. The British manufacturer launched in 2013 with the Zero hardtail and followed it up shortly after with the Aeris full-suss. We’ve always reviewed Bird’s bikes positively as their direct sales business model means the frames can be stuffed with top components to let them sing.

Will the Zeroes be better than our £1,000 Hardtail of the Year winning Vitus Sentier?

What’s new about these hardtails?

The original Zero hardtail has now evolved into two separate models. The Zero.AM and the Zero.TR. By splitting the range in two Bird is hoping to provide two specialised bikes rather than one do-it-all hardtail.

The original Zero came specced with 130mm or 140mm forks but now you have the Zero.AM, a more hardcore model optimised for a 140/150mm fork, or the Zero.TR, a 130mm trail centre focussed machine.

Bird has also added an XS size to both models.

Tell me about the Zero.AM

It’s no fluke that the Zero.AM takes a 140 or 150mm fork as this aligns it with Bird’s full suspension bike – the Aeris. The Zero.AM also imitates the specs of the Aeris with updated geometry and sizing.

>>> Click here to find the best trail hardtails

The bottom bracket has been dropped by 5mm, the head angle slackened from 67° to 65.4° and the wheel base increased by 60mm on a large. Bird claims that this will make for a bike that can “shred the roughest of trails, tackle the big jumps, and generally hoon around”.

There are five different build kits available starting at £1,225. The bike is available in yellow and pink (for the kidz) or a stealthy black thanks to popular demand. For more information click here.

Tell me about the Zero.TR

Boasting 130mm of travel,  Zero.TR is aimed firmly at trail centre riders.

It has also benefitted from a geometry makeover but far less drastically than the Zero.AM. The head angle is slightly slacker than the 2014 Zero and the reach slightly longer but the most significant change is the shaving of 200 (0.4lb) grams from the frame. This leaves it at about 1.8kg (4lb) meaning a full build will come in as low as a claimed 10.4kg (23lb).

Dan Hodge, the bike’s designer, said: “When designing the Zero TR we wanted to create the perfect trail centre hardtail. Modern riding is very different to even 10 years ago, with trail centre riding now dominating the calendars of many bikers. We wanted the TR to reflect that shift, and worked towards making a bike designed for the style of trails you’re likely to find at the UK’s most popular riding sites.“

Builds start at £999.99 and top out at £1,620, the bike is available in gun metal grey or candy blue. For more information, click here.

Will they be any good?

The geometry changes bring the new Zeroes in line with the “longer, lower, slacker” mantra we’re seeing in the industry and losing a bit of weight can never hurt. Hopefully we’ll get one in to test in the near future to find out for ourselves.

For more information visit the Bird website.