Folding Bikes - Birdy Frog - new or is it just me?

Just you, man. :)

I'm glad they got the spoke count down on that front wheel.

I thought that was discontinued...

Smaller wheels than a brompton. Yet larger folder size. What is supposed to be the application for this bike?

It's still available in Japan, but i can't really see the point of it. Compared to a standard Birdy it has smaller wheels, less gears, costs the same and weighs more but only has a slighty smaller fold. Ever since i saw this bike I've been interested to find out why anyone would buy this bike.

It's still available in Japan, but i can't really see the point of it. Compared to a standard Birdy it has smaller wheels, less gears, costs the same and weighs more but only has a slighty smaller fold. Ever since i saw this bike I've been interested to find out why anyone would buy this bike.



Ah yes, but you must realise that to "someone", it is a thing of sheer beauty, a marvel of engineering ingenuity, the pinnacle of the euphoric cycling excellence......to the rest of us, it's a wart....ugly to look at and painful to own :rolleyes:

I thought that was discontinued...
Yeah they took it out of the 2007 R&M catalog.


Smaller wheels than a brompton. Yet larger folder size. What is supposed to be the application for this bike?
Well, depends how you define smaller. The Brompton's 28x56x58cm for a total volume of 90944 cubic cm, while the Frog is 29x48x63cm for a total volume of 87696 cubic cm. So I guess one could argue that the Frog's smaller. They're definitely very close though.

Besides, wheel size isn't everything. The Frog is full suspension. Perhaps it rides better than the Brompton? It might be lighter too.


It's still available in Japan, but i can't really see the point of it. Compared to a standard Birdy it has smaller wheels, less gears, costs the same and weighs more but only has a slighty smaller fold. Ever since i saw this bike I've been interested to find out why anyone would buy this bike.
Does it weigh the same? The Taiwanese distributor has the Frog listed as 9kg though I've seen it listed as over 11kg elsewhere.

Ah yes, but you must realise that to "someone", it is a thing of sheer beauty, a marvel of engineering ingenuity, the pinnacle of the euphoric cycling excellence......to the rest of us, it's a wart....ugly to look at and painful to own :rolleyes:

Even bikes like this would be interesting to test ride, once, just to verify that my expectations for them are correct. ;) Pity that there aren't vast, car-lot sized folder dealerships, where you can spend a day trying out a dozen different models.

Well, depends how you define smaller. The Brompton's 28x56x58cm for a total volume of 90944 cubic cm, while the Frog is 29x48x63cm for a total volume of 87696 cubic cm. So I guess one could argue that the Frog's smaller. They're definitely very close though.

Besides, wheel size isn't everything. The Frog is full suspension. Perhaps it rides better than the Brompton? It might be lighter too.


The brompton folded size from the literature i've seen is 27x54.5x56.5 = 82698.3 cubic cm.
I think the frog's 12" wheels would need suspension to match 16" performance, no? But in anycase the brompton has rear suspension anyway, so 1/2 the suspension (more if you consider the rider weight distribution).

Does it weigh the same? The Taiwanese distributor has the Frog listed as 9kg though I've seen it listed as over 11kg elsewhere.

I've just checked and it's listed as between 9.9kg and 11kg in Japan, depending on where you look.http://www.mizutanibike.co.jp/bd-1_07/bike_06.html

Even bikes like this would be interesting to test ride, once, just to verify that my expectations for them are correct. ;) Pity that there aren't vast, car-lot sized folder dealerships, where you can spend a day trying out a dozen different models.


True, just once........ and the dealership thing would be a great idea, but there are bicycle expos every now and again, where one can do just that. Here in Australia folders aren't really that popular but little by little they're catching on, I hope to continue the 20" wheel revolution here in my own little way, I'm getting surprised responses by people who are amazed at how quick they can be when geared properly.

Perhaps it rides better than the Brompton?
Not the one I rode, there is a lot of tiller effect going on.

Not the one I rode, there is a lot of tiller effect going on.

How was the size and weight?

Short wheelbase for a tall bloke but didn't notice the weight (as good or bad).

I tried one @ Avon Valley Cycles in Bath when they first came out, & thought it was quite a good ride given the wheel size, should have asked for a try out of their A-bike when I went there recently.