Birdy thread
#826
Senior Member
One more question before I feel confident in buying the 9 speed MK3, for riders 5'5" or shorter, do you struggle to reach the bar? Do you have to extend your arm 100% out and lean to get a good handle on the bar which makes it very uncomfortable to ride? Or are you able to ride comfortable and don't need to extend your arms all the way out?
#828
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 117
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I get thirsty when I ride (mouth breather ). How does one mount a water bottle to a birdy monocoque without making the fold more difficult of more bulky yet keeping the bottle conveniently at hand?
#829
Senior Member
Your angle of riding position will change. The birdy has a selection of 10 degree and 25 degree stems. The 25 degree will of course give you a longer distance between the saddle and the handlebar. Go to the bike store and have a test ride if you can.
#831
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Albany, WA
Posts: 7,393
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
One more question before I feel confident in buying the 9 speed MK3, for riders 5'5" or shorter, do you struggle to reach the bar? Do you have to extend your arm 100% out and lean to get a good handle on the bar which makes it very uncomfortable to ride? Or are you able to ride comfortable and don't need to extend your arms all the way out?
#832
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 102
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 88 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Owner said the degree of the stem is 21 degrees. Are the stems adjustable or does the bike just use a different stem?
Last edited by TheChosenOne; 12-13-16 at 11:24 PM.
#833
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 102
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 88 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
There was someone who posted about their Birdies, his and his wife's, and how short she is opposite to him. To improve the reach for his wife's Birdy, he installed a stem backwards, ie pointing backwards, bringing the handlebars closer. So that tells me there is a point where "one size fits most" won't work. Just not sure what that point is; however, simple solutions exist.
Did he ever say how tall his wife was?
#834
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Albany, WA
Posts: 7,393
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 321 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
I think so; a search on this forum may turn up that thread. He doesn't post here any more for years. I can't think of helpful search terms except birdy.
#836
Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
what is your opinion of Colorplus Birdies? birdy x COLORPLUS rainbow red limited edition | COLORPLUS, colorful your life!
A stock Birdy -> $2000, the same Birdy as "Colorplus" -> $5000
I do not think they make so many improvements to justify that price
A stock Birdy -> $2000, the same Birdy as "Colorplus" -> $5000
I do not think they make so many improvements to justify that price
#837
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 88
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
what is your opinion of Colorplus Birdies? birdy x COLORPLUS rainbow red limited edition | COLORPLUS, colorful your life!
A stock Birdy -> $2000, the same Birdy as "Colorplus" -> $5000
I do not think they make so many improvements to justify that price
A stock Birdy -> $2000, the same Birdy as "Colorplus" -> $5000
I do not think they make so many improvements to justify that price
#838
Senior Member
Maybe someone can help to explain or give some insights about the front and rear suspensions of the Birdy made by Colorplus and Multi-S in comparison to the original stock front and rear suspensions of the Birdy. What are the advantages of these custom-made suspensions over the stock ones?
#839
Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
in overall peformance, it is better in a Birdy to have 20" wheels with light tires or the standard 18" wheels with more thick "baloon" tires?
#842
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Compression & rebound are important to me too, but lockout feature isn't a great complication to producer that will help a lot pedaling in long trip on flat streets. I'm I wrong?
#843
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 1,498
Bikes: Many Downtube Folders :)
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 282 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
17 Posts
I'm 6' 200ish lbs and I prefer suspension all the time.
Thanks
Yan
#844
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
Posts: 564
Bikes: Brompton H6, Schwinn Mirada, Cruzbike Sofrider. Used to own: ICE B1, 2 F-frame Moultons, Koga Myata Elevation 5000 mtb, Challenge Hurricane, Riese & Mueller Birdy Silver, Actionbent Tidalwave 3
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The only scenario where I could see lockout being useful is if you like to stand and hammer a lot - any suspension bike will bob in that scenario because your whole body weight is bouncing up and down. I guess standing vs. sitting is a matter of personal preference, but if you look at professional racers they tend to sit most of the time (except for sprints) so standing is clearly not needed for performance.
#845
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 1,498
Bikes: Many Downtube Folders :)
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 282 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
17 Posts
I raced MTB's and I was taught to never stand. Once you stand your rear wheel is likely to loose traction and spin freely in the trails.
Thanks
Yan
Thanks
Yan
#846
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 663
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 239 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
suspension compression where the suspension pivot is close to the upper chain line do not need to be locked out. The Birdy and Downtube FS9 address this by moving the pivot up toward the chainline, the Brompton, Moulton do not.
The benefit of suspension on small wheels is to cut down on the harshness of small stiff frames and wheels. Putting a lockout on defeats the whole purpose, may as well go rigid.
#847
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yeah you guys have convinced me with great arguments. So I come back to foldingdroid question: are custom made suspensions better than the original ones? Which are to be preferred?
P.S.: next week I would like to deal with a vendor for a test BD3 speed at €1.770 than I'll start the tuning time concerning weight and other stuffs like maybe a Gates carbon drive (I know this would mean to change the great Ultegra).
P.S.: next week I would like to deal with a vendor for a test BD3 speed at €1.770 than I'll start the tuning time concerning weight and other stuffs like maybe a Gates carbon drive (I know this would mean to change the great Ultegra).
#848
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London
Posts: 1,040
Bikes: 2011 Jetstream P11 Alfine; 3sp Presto-Lite; Occasional Access to 6sp Brompton
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 97 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Yeah you guys have convinced me with great arguments. So I come back to foldingdroid question: are custom made suspensions better than the original ones? Which are to be preferred?
P.S.: next week I would like to deal with a vendor for a test BD3 speed at €1.770 than I'll start the tuning time concerning weight and other stuffs like maybe a Gates carbon drive (I know this would mean to change the great Ultegra).
P.S.: next week I would like to deal with a vendor for a test BD3 speed at €1.770 than I'll start the tuning time concerning weight and other stuffs like maybe a Gates carbon drive (I know this would mean to change the great Ultegra).
#849
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#850
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London
Posts: 1,040
Bikes: 2011 Jetstream P11 Alfine; 3sp Presto-Lite; Occasional Access to 6sp Brompton
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 97 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
About 10 years ago the was a Birdy Green available in Europe that had belt drive but it was discontinued fairly quickly- might be worth investigating why before you commit to any expenditures.