Originally Posted by pm124
The Birdy is a great folder. It provides the best performance to size ratio out there and rides more like a big bike than most (a mountain bike, actually). The price is high, but the bike is stellar. And it folds quickly. I don't own one simply because I'm not rich and wanted something more along the lines of a road bike. But boy did I love taking it for a spin or three.
I had a birdy red for about 5 weeks. I got it quite cheap at ebay and rode it for some time. It is nice to ride in mountainbike-terrain due to the excellent suspension, but not really good for the road or daily urban rides.
folding is a pain! It is so un-smooth and what is left is still ca. 78 x 56 x 28cm. (The Swift is reportet to make 81 x 55 x 28 cm, that is not much of a difference.)
When folding the chain claws the frame and gets everything dirty. And if you are unprecise with the position of the pedals, you will fold and fold and fold....
After a 15km road-ride, my petite female travel-mate was waiting with her simple steel racingbike right behind the goal-line, her caipirinha almost finished... I ride 20-30km daily, she weekly...
bye bye birdy...