Tom W

Dear People,

My much loved brompton was stolen in feb from the courtyard of the RA.

I have now come to terms with the loss and need to replace it.

Have been looking at birdy (s) and wondered where I could test ride - or get the cheapest.

I also have a raleigh twenty stowaway pub bike, a Dahon HH 7.0, a couple of old racers etc.

Yours collective wisdom on birdy much appreciated

Tom

Sammyboy

This place does them, but they're in Bath

https://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/

I can't find anywhere in London. There's always a LOT of people milling around the Academy - you'd hope it would've been safe there.

nigelme

There's a Grey Rohloff Birdy on Gumtree at the moment, in London.

https://www.gumtree.com/london/89/26294689.html

Sammyboy

Damn, at £900, that's actually a bargain....

Diode100

Velorution in Gt Tichfield St have Birdy, in london, as do Condor in Grays Inn Rd

markhr

AFAIK Condor cycles had/has some in stock. Phone to check though.

https://www.condorcycles.com/store.html

origami cyclist

I tried out the Birdy a couple of years ago -- and didn't like it.

I wanted to like it. I really, really did. I went there thinking I'd buy it. But the front end was just kind of skittery in an uncomfortable way and it didn't get better after riding it for a while. And folding it? Not too bad, just takes practice but it's ultimately a PITA compared to the Brompton.

So my Brompton is still the only folder in the house.

mulleady

Hi Tom.
Have you considered the Dahon range? i am very impressed with the Dahon Mu SL 2008. it is only 8.7kg, folds nice enough but would make an excellent road bike. It really flies too. Fudges Cycles on the Harrow Road just up from Marylebone Rd. and Paddington do a great range of Dahons and are very obliging on test rides. Just worth looking at a serious alternative to the Birdy. i alos think the Dahon Jestream is a wonderful all-rounder. See:
https://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1284/2870.php

pm124

There is a huge amount of subjectivity to this. But a Brompton trumping a Birdy on ride?

That's like saying a Birdy trumps a Brompton on folded size.

what bike?

its the way you ride, what you like when you ride a bike, some people prefere bromptons for riding than birdy's it depends on what YOUR like.

snafu21

Twenty-odd percent off last year's Mu's here at Winstanleys bikes.

Get thee behind me, Satan...

yangmusa

bikefix.co.uk have Birdy's - they are near King's Cross. It seems to be a requirement to be grumpy on the outside, soft on the inside to work there After I got to know them I realized they are nice guys.

Otherwise, there's kinetics.org.uk - they are up in Scotland somewhere.

mulleady

Depends what you mean by ride. You can laugh away with your smug icon lol. I believe the Brompton is a more agile ride in urban traffic than the Birdy for sure and very capable in its 6 speed form wit well spaced and efficient gears.

On longer touring and off-road trails the Birdy would prevail as a better ride. 'Horses for courses'

I believe a Dahon Speed Pro 2008 or Mu SL would trump a Birdy on the road actually. The Dahon Jetstream is also cheaper and just as good as the Birdy. I'm not saying the Birdy isn't a lovely high quality bike it's just overpriced, but so are Bromptons.

mulleady

I cancelled my order from Bikefix for a Brompton because they did not follow up on things and were rude a few times. Not being vindictive just giving my view. They are obliging with test rides though. IMHO it is worth a trip to Bath to test out the huge variety of bikes at Avon Valley Cycles (www.foldingbikes.co.uk) and to cross-compare the Birdy to say the Xootr Swift & some Dahons etc.

Clownbike

John at Walton Street did his best to get a set of Birdy fenders to me. Seems like a nice guy and they have an assortment of folders. https://www.spoke.co.uk/shop.htm