Originally Posted by
fredfriday
maybe it has to do with my geometry. i have very long legs and long arms. i bought from a high value dealer in zurich. he seemed to be knowledgeable about bikes.
when i rode the uetlibergstrasse downwards from uetliberg to zurich center the bike took up speed to 80 or 90. i had to hit the brakes because the front wheel was shaking and vibrating like crazy. it was extremely dangerous. when hitting the front brake at 90 the shaking got worse. i almost fell from the bike.
i think it is a construction flaw that does not get noticed until you reach very high speed and you need to hit the brakes. in my opinion the front suspension system is dangerous.
that was the reason why i sold the bike. the good thing is that i did not loose much.
today i ride the bikefriday nwt. i can ride it freehandedly and i have ridden at very high speed without shaking or vibrating. the brakes are excellent even from 90-0. i feel very secure.
i do not have extensive experience with bromies. i think they are good bikes.
can you ride them freehandedly and how about high speed ?
I have studied the phenomenon you describe; it can be experienced by all bikes,
AFAIK. Some are more prone to do it than others. The Birdy is one of those which is more prone. It has to do with the way the front susoension compresses when turned sideways a bit; however this is not the only condition which will cause it. I have had it on a Raleigh Chopper bike in the 70s, and that was a fairly rigid bike. Motor bikes can also get it; they call it tank slappers.
So The Birdy is not alone in this phenomenon.