Just in time for Black Friday, semi-custom direct sales outfit Bird Cycleworks has released an updated version of the first hardtail it made, the Zero AM - and fittingly, it does come in black.

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Now called the Zero AM Boost, the aluminium frame still runs a 150-160mm travel fork, but there's revised geometry and new CNC detailing as well as Boost hub spacing. Reach is up to 451mm on a medium-long, head angle is now 64.1 degrees with a 160mm fork and they've kept the stays super short for playful handling. You can squeeze in a 27.5" tyre up to a chunky 2.8" wide and as ever, the builds are customisable so you can get the bike you want at a price that's right.

You get to choose from Rockshox Revelation, Yari, Pike and Lyrik forks, SRAM NX, GX Eagle, X01 and XX1 or Shimano Deore, SLX and XT drive options, DT Swiss or Hope wheels and
a range of finishing parts from RaceFace, Hope and Bird. Oh, and if black isn't your scene you can opt for acid yellow, hot pink or atomic yellow and orange colour schemes.

Builds start from £1375 and for that you get:

• DT Swiss M1900 wheels (30mm Internal)
• 2018 RockShox Revelation RC fork
• SRAM 11 speed NX Groupset
• SRAM Level T brakes
• RaceFace Ride seatpost, bars and stem & Half Nelson Grips
• Fabric Scoop Saddle
• Cane Creek 40 headset
• Choice of Maxxis Tyres, shipped tubeless set up

Ben from Bird had this to say about the new machine: “With the Zero AM boost update we’ve brought in additional quality and refinements to the already popular design, without compromising it. The new boost spacing and revised geo brings it up to date with our Aeris full suspension bikes but doesn’t loose any of the easy to live with, great to ride characteristics of the original.

Zero AM AB-O TT Detail.jpg, by Bird Cycleworks

I think for sometime its been our signature hardtail, and the fans of the original will be happy to see the lineage continue, only even better. Dave liked the 2nd generation prototype of this new version so much he’s kept it as his own and has been riding it round our local trails for months. So much for keeping things under wraps!”

You can find out more by heading to www.bird.bike