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

http://www.pacific-cycles.com/upload/productImg/2006516153759.jpg

Just you, man. :)

http://www.pacific-cycles.com/upload/productImg/2006516153759.jpg

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.

you guys are going to hate me but.... I'm resurrecting a dead post and wanted to see if anyone got a hold of the new birdy "frog"? It's very interesting with it being full suspension and now comes standard with 16" big apples?! You might not even feel the road bumps anymore after this setup. I mainly like it because it's using a more common tire size now and it's hub gears. This one might be an amazing ride with the typical german/taiwan engineering involved.

http://www.pacific-cycles.com/

go to the birdy section and there's the new frog!

you guys are going to hate me but.... I'm resurrecting a dead post and wanted to see if anyone got a hold of the new birdy "frog"?

http://www.pacific-cycles.com/

go to the birdy section and there's the new frog!

I actually think this must be quite a decent folder, having owned a Birdy, having ridden the early Frog and found it was quite nice to ride, stiff frame and very good suspension, even on the smaller size wheels, this version must be a great improvement. Though, I'm not sure how the price compares to the basic Birdy.

cheapest birdy buying direct from pacific cycles is $1580USD and the frog is actually $1730USD. But with the frog you get a internal hub gear Revo Nexus 8 while the birdy is a Alivio 8 speed derailler. Also with 16 inch wheels you get ALOT more variety of tyre/tire choices! The frog is looking starting to look like a winner to me! might have to start saving up now!

There is now a Birdy "Nano" Frog's shorter frame with Birdy large wheels

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_22wzv3bNbj8/TYIjVufANcI/AAAAAAAACIE/CSR6b3ZAtV4/s800/P1060779.JPG


Not sure if its just a one off.

Juan

I live in Taiwan and I still have not seen one of these in any of the bike stores here that actually carry Pacific Cycle products. I think its a bit of a 'vapor-bike'.

I would have ordered one in a heartbeat if they gear range was significantly higher than the paltry 77" top.

the new version is much better it seems. I checked the specs of the chainrings and plugged them into the sheldon gear inch calculator and this is what you get:

this is with a 52t chainring and a 12t sprocket that's in the specs with a shimano 8 hub in the back. That's enough range to climb some hills and go pretty fast with a group at least. I'm seriously thinking of saving up for this over a brompton.
Gear chart using Gear Inches (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_g.html#gearinch)

For 16 x 1.5 / 37-305 tire with 170 mm cranks

With Custom Sprocket(s) Cassette

With Shimano 8-speed Nexus, Alfine Rear Hub

Low------High 30.7, 37.6, 43.6, 49.6, 58.3, 71.3, 82.8, 94.2

cheapest birdy buying direct from pacific cycles is $1580USD and the frog is actually $1730USD. But with the frog you get a internal hub gear Revo Nexus 8 while the birdy is a Alivio 8 speed derailler. Also with 16 inch wheels you get ALOT more variety of tyre/tire choices! The frog is looking starting to look like a winner to me! might have to start saving up now!

Not sure about "ALOT more variety of tyre/tire choices!" In Schwalbe .. for the 305 size, you get 305x40/47/50/54/and57 .. in 355 size, you get 355x28/32/35/40/47/ and 50... so what you don't get in 305 are the premium go fast tires.. the range in 355 is pretty good.. I'm sure the new Frog might work out to be a good choice, but it isn't any lighter or that much smaller folded than a regular Birdy.. I do like the new chaintensioner arrangement and fixing point on the rear stay.. that is much cleaner than the standard approach..in any event, it should be a high quality folder and ride well.