Bird Forge Review

Many product categories classify models with designations ranging from beginner to professional or use similar skill-based terms like entry-level or advanced. Take cameras, for example. A beginner model aimed at novices might feature simpler settings and controls that cater to a point-and-shoot approach, while more advanced DSLRs often come with manual dials, complex menus, and technical features designed for experienced photographers.

However, mountain bikes don’t usually follow this kind of classification. While you might see “race” models or high-end, blinged-out options that only pros (or deep-pocketed enthusiasts) can afford, it’s rare to find a bike explicitly marketed for beginner or advanced-level riders. The Bird Forge is the latest in a long line of progressive British hardtails I’ve tested, and after riding it on my home trails and in the steep, technical terrain of Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte, I’d describe it as something of an “advanced” model—or at least a bike with a learning curve beyond most I’ve ridden.

• 
• 

About Bird Bikes

I was unfamiliar with the brand before learning about the Forge, which happened to come through a comment on my Pipedream Moxie review from a regular reader. After doing some digging, I discovered that Bird was founded in 2013 by passionate mountain bikers Ben Pinnick and Dan Hodge. Like many successful rider-owned brands, their goal was to create bikes they wanted to ride themselves, prioritizing performance and attention to detail over simply filling out a product lineup. This vision led them to rethink traditional industry practices, including releasing bikes only when they are truly ready, rather than adhering to conventional model years. They also offer custom paint options, which are done directly in the UK.

Forging a New Steel Frame

The Forge is the fourth hardtail in Bird’s lineup, and it follows several iterations of the brand’s Zero alloy hardtail. The name “Forge” was inspired by the Bird’s move to the North East of England during the bike’s development—a region with a rich history of steelmaking. The company’s factory is now located in Consett, a town once dominated by its steel industry and famously known as “Steel Town.” As co-founder Ben Pinnick explained, “Given that the bike is crafted from steel and built and shipped from a place so closely tied to the material, Forge felt like the perfect name.”

The frame itself is the result of over a decade of refinement, with its origins dating back to 2013. According to Ben, the Forge didn’t directly follow any previous model, as it’s Bird’s first steel hardtail. He and co-founder Dan Hodge drew on years of experience from the Zero alloy hardtail and their full-suspension frames, going through several prototype iterations to achieve their vision: a hardtail with a lively steel frame that harkened back to ’90s mountain bikes but features modern geometry capable of handling tough trails.

The final frame design features many thoughtful details, including the removal of the traditional seat tube brace from the top tube, minimalist forged UDH dropouts, and a sharp-looking, now-signature investment cast yoke. This yoke, retooled specifically for steel, provides clearance for 29 x 2.6″ tires and draws inspiration from Bird’s established aluminum designs.

• 
• 

• 
• 

One of the most striking characteristics of the Forge frame is its slimmed-down custom tubeset, which uses thinner-diameter tubing to achieve the desired ’90s MTB aesthetic and improve ride quality from front to rear. Instead of the oversized tubing and 44/44 head tube commonly used by steel frame builders, Bird opted for a narrower tubing profile at the front end paired with a sharp tapered head tube. According to Ben, this combination enhances comfort and delivers the precise ride characteristics they’d been diligently looking for.

A clean, gusset-free look was also a priority, which is an approach I truly appreciate. However, achieving this required careful material selection to handle the additional stress associated with mid-to-long-travel forks. To provide the necessary strength in the down tube without relying on external gussets, Bird used Reynolds 853 DZB tubing for both the top and down tubes. DZB, or Double Zonal Butting, is a technique that reinforces high-stress areas while allowing other sections to be thinner, reducing weight and optimizing the frame’s ride quality.

On the Trail vs. Expectations

I had a lot of preconceptions about the Bird Forge, and I can confidently say that my assumption about how the frame would feel was the only one I got right. All those tubing details mentioned earlier delivered exactly as intended. In full disclosure, I had a bit of a heads-up on this; the person who recommended the bike pointed out that it offers a more supple frame than the Pipedream Moxie I reviewed. Sure enough, the Forge feels lively and notably supple when pounding down chunky descents yet still stiff enough to feel quick and responsive when pedaling and charging up climbs. Early in my testing, I mentioned to a friend that with a chain tensioner and a singlespeed conversion, this might be my next choice for a PMBAR (Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race) bike—a ride that demands a very long day on rough singletrack. The frame reminds me of the Cotic SolarisMax I tested, which is also built with Reynolds 853 steel, and it delivers comfort and speed. For reference, here is the the Bird Forge Geometry with a 140mm Fork (30% sag).

• 
• 

On the other hand, I completely misjudged some expectations. I assumed the Forge and my regular rotation hardtail, the Pipedream Moxie, would be birds of a very similar feather. After all, when factoring in fork length and sag, the two share a comparable geometry. Both work well with a 140mm fork (my ideal setup) and feature long front centers with slack/steep angles. The Moxie’s head tube/seat tube angles are 64.7°/76.6°, and the Bird Forge measures 65.5°/76.7° with a 140mm fork sagged to about 25%. The key differences are the Forge’s lower bottom bracket, slightly higher stack, and somewhat shorter stature compared to the “Longer” size Moxie. Despite these distinctions, the two bikes have a relatively homogenous stature.

• 
• 

• 
• 

I expected to hop on the Forge and experience some degree of continuity after riding the Moxie. That continuity and comparison was one reason I wanted to test it. However, that wasn’t the case. The Moxie has an unshakeable poise, while the Forge initially left me feeling a bit weak-kneed. I often found myself slowing down or backing off for fear of losing composure. It took a couple of weeks of regular riding it to find my legs and truly get comfortable on it. Returning to the premise of this review, there was an unmistakable learning curve with this bike. This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered a more complex bike that required overcoming a specific set of hurdles before I could fully appreciate it. My experience with the Pipedream Sirius S5 followed a similar trajectory.

• 
• 
• 

The Forge required a bit more fore and aft body English than other bikes I’ve ridden in this category. I had to be extra mindful about keeping my weight positioned over the front of the bike, essentially “riding the fork” when descending, climbing, and even on gravel. I’ve encountered other bikes that demand a modern riding posture, but this was the most unwavering and unforgiving. It reminded me of an indirect lesson I learned years ago from bike coach Shanna Powell, who emphasized that with modern long and slack trail bikes, you should never shift your weight over the rear wheel. Even when tackling a super-steep chute, you keep your chin over the stem and trust the bike’s geometry to do the work.

The long and slack geometry helps prevent going over the bars; sitting back in the cockpit only negates front-end traction. Staying forward also allows you to prioritize the front brake, keeping the rear end loose, which maximizes braking power and maintains front traction while letting the rear wheel follow naturally. Of course, every bike is different, and this technique isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. In my opinion, bikes with a shorter front center and a head tube angle under 66 or 67 degrees are slightly different animals.

• 
• 

• 
• 

When I slacked off this riding position, the Forge let me know by feeling a bit skittish in loose corners. It’s hard to pin down the culprit. It could’ve been a higher stack than I was used to, the lighter frame, or just sloppy riding on my part. Coming recently from a rigid 29+ bike may have led to a fallback on bad ass-off-the-saddle habits. As mentioned, this feeling/issue went away, but some might wonder whether this trait makes the Forge an “advanced” bike or if that’s just in its nature. What’s clear is that it rewards thoughtful posture, a solid grasp of modern riding technique, and strong bike handling skills. I can’t claim to be a master of any of those, but I will say the Bird Forge taught me a thing or two. I might even suggest it could be a good bike for beginner mountain bikers to adapt to a more modern riding style and avoid developing bad habits.

Build Kit

To preface, this is one hell of a build. I was fortunate enough to try a few new—and very high-end—components on this one, some of which will be getting more extensive reviews soon. That said, since I bought the frame from Bird, this review is clearly focused on the frame and how it rides, not so much the build or parts. Still, there are a few components in this list that I was very impressed with, including the brakes and Vivo’s new Enduro Derailleur and F6 shifter, which we awarded at the end of 2024. The latest Fox 34/GripX damper was also very admirable. Here’s the full build list, which weighed just under 30 pounds (13.6 kg) without pedals.

• Frame: Bird Forge, size Large
• Fork: Fox 34 Factory, Grip X, 140mm
• Front Hub: DT Swiss DT240
• Rear Hub: DT Swiss DT240, Ratchet DEG
• Rims/Spokes: XMC 1501 Spline, 30mm IW, DT Competition
• Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF, 29 x 2.6″
• Rear Tire: Maxxis Aggressor, 29 x 2.5″
• Crankset: Cane Creek eeWings, 165mm
• Chainring: Wolf Tooth DropStop ST, 32T
• Derailleur: Vivo Enduro, 12-speed
• Shifter: Vivo F6
• Cassette: Shimano XT, 10-51T
• Bottom Bracket: Enduro
• Handlebar: Stooge Moto, 800mm
• Grips: PNW Loam Grips
• Headset: Enduro
• Brakes: Trickstuff Maxima
• Saddle: Bike Yoke Sagma
• Seatpost: Wolf Tooth Resolve 242mm
• Seatpost Clamp: Hope

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

A Bikepacking Bike?

When publishing a review of a bike like the Bird Forge, I expect to see at least one comment asking, “Why?” After all, this is a site about bikepacking, and the Forge isn’t exactly a bike someone would buy specifically for multi-day pursuits. Not to beat a dead horse, but the short answer is that we cover a broad variety of bikes—any of which can be used for bikepacking.

• 
• 

The longer and more nuanced answer is that I wanted to try this bike for a particular style of trip that’s not too uncommon these days: visiting a place to ride a lot of technical singletrack unloaded and tackle a few bikepacking trips. Oaxaca, Mexico, where riding conditions range from scary-steep technical singletrack to mellow dirt roads in the countryside, is one such scenario. Steep climbs are ever-present, as is the need to cover large distances. I’ve experimented with hardtails of various degrees of progressive geometry over the last few years here, and bikes like the Forge, Moxie, Sirius, and SolarisMax are a unique breed that I find fitting for trips and scenarios with tough, steep, and challenging trails. The real question is usually how well they balance out on everything else.

• 
• 

• 
• 

The Forge has a couple of pedaling-friendly characteristics hidden in plain sight. Though it’s still quite slack, its head tube angle isn’t as aggressive as the Pipedream Moxie I rode in Oaxaca last year, but it’s more aggressive than the Cotic SolarisMax I pedaled in the Sierra Norte two years ago. I’d say it strikes a nice balance between the two, offering a similarly supple frame to the Cotic and a more technical, trail-apt geometry like the Moxie. It also has a very low bottom bracket, which generally provides a nice planted feel when climbing or pedaling, though it can be tricky to navigate deep ruts on the infamous “Long Trails.” I opted for 165mm cranks to help with this.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

I paired the moderate-sized frame triangle with a custom Rockgeist frame bag, which offered plenty of storage. The only other gear-carrying features are two pairs of bottle cage mounts on the down tube, which might leave some folks scratching their heads. However, with plenty of mountless racks and carrying solutions available—such as the MICA rack shown here—it worked perfectly for my trips around Oaxaca. While it’s undeniably a trail bike through and through and may not have all the bikepacking-specific features everyone needs, as someone who can pack relatively light, I found it to be a great fit for this multi-modal trip.

• Model/Size Tested: Bird Forge, Large
• Weight (frame/headset/BB/seatpost clamp): 7.07 pounds (3.2 kg)
• Place of Manufacture: Taiwan
• Price: $821 (frame only)
• Manufacturer’s Details: Bird.bike

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...