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noob question - anyone manage to fit front and rear disc brakes to a birdy?

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noob question - anyone manage to fit front and rear disc brakes to a birdy?

Old 11-03-06, 01:55 PM
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noob question - anyone manage to fit front and rear disc brakes to a birdy?

I tried to get hold of R&M but don't think I managed to get past the marketing people who didn't have a.... suggested that no-one in their right mind would use disc brakes.

Anyway, google found "long john" who had a birdy with a rohloff disc brake and front drum brake in what looks like a custom job. Apart from that single example no-one else seems to have done anything similar.

So.......anyone here done it or know if there are after market parts/frame builders/machinists that can solve the problem? Front AND rear disc brakes, that is.
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Old 11-03-06, 02:27 PM
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You're looking for Chop!, who's also from the UK and checks in here regularly in-between his travels. That was his (very useful) site you were looking at. Not only is is chock-full of good information on folders, it also tends to turn up fairly high in the google search results for folding bike info.

If no one else answers your question, I have a feeling that he'll find his way to this thread, now that his name's been put out. Be patient, and he'll probably check in here within a few days.
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Old 11-03-06, 03:03 PM
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Try yahoo Birdy forum
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Old 11-03-06, 03:04 PM
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thanks folks - will try there too
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Old 11-03-06, 04:05 PM
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The issue has been discussed a few times on the Birdy Yahoo forum (I contributed to the debate - but never actually bothered with the conversion in the end). My own opinion is that it is not worth the considerable effort.

The Birdy Ti model in Asia comes with disc tabs that makes things a lot easier!
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Old 11-03-06, 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Fear&Trembling
...The Birdy Ti model in Asia comes with disc tabs that makes things a lot easier!
birdy Ti? - didn't see that one on the R&M website
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Old 11-03-06, 05:24 PM
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birdy Ti? - didn't see that one on the R&M website
You won't - it's only available in the Far East via Pacific Cycles.

This particular modded version should give you something to think about...

https://www.ikd21.co.jp/ikd/studio/bd/bdsig.html
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Old 11-03-06, 05:50 PM
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thanks for the link

almost perfect

A few questions - is it still available, does it have a rear shock and can I get a frame only version?

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Old 11-03-06, 06:01 PM
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1. Pretty sure that particular model was a one-off; but you can still buy the lower specced Ti models in Japan etc

2.Yes

3.Not sure.
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Old 11-03-06, 06:26 PM
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2006 birdy BD-1 Ti model - change the rear hub for a rohloff disc, the saddle and the cranks for some powercranks and woohoo! - now I just need to try and get one to the UK

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Old 11-04-06, 05:15 PM
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Nice! Were I a rich man...

The Aussies publish all the specs, for what it's worth: https://www.birdy.com.au/technical.htm.
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Old 11-04-06, 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by pm124
Nice! Were I a rich man...

The Aussies publish all the specs, for what it's worth: [.url]https://www.birdy.com.au/technical.htm[/url].
thanks for the specs sheets

wish I were a rich man too - I need to find out if I can get the thing to the UK and then if I've got enough stuff to sell to actually buy the bike
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Old 11-06-06, 01:00 PM
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I need to find out if I can get the thing to the UK and then if I've got enough stuff to sell to actually buy the bike
It might work out cheaper to fly out there and bring it back...
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Old 11-06-06, 08:35 PM
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F&T, very true! (You always have the best comments here.) The Birdy Monocoque runs for $1,100 US (about 600 GBP) in Japan. You could probably pick that bike up for 1500 GBP in Japan and get a nice vacation out of it to boot for the same price. Try finding it on Google, translate the page, and contact the shop using Babelfish to make sure you can get it first. Or have a Japanese friend help out.

Of course, that leaves us Americans out with the crumbling dollar, huge deficit, and no social programs to show for it.

Last edited by pm124; 11-28-06 at 07:14 PM.
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