TheChosenOne

I'm going to one of those bikes within a week at local bike shops for sure but I'm still undecided. Just need some final opinions on them to help with my decision. The Birdy I'm looking at is an old model but on sale. Looking at the specs below, is it a good deal? I heard the difference between the newest model and the one below are the brakes and a couple other things. Also those who recognize those specs, is it a really old model or a model made within the last couple years?

$1,500 Birdy Standard 9 speed:

Frame: BIRDY Monocoque
Fork: BIRDY spring suspension
Color: Scotch Brite + Coating
Head Sets: AL-2 1-1/8" H:27.5mm A-head type
BB Parts: 68/113mm steel axle
Seat Post: BIRDY AL7075 34.9x570mm black anodized w/ laser scale
Tire: Maxxis BIRDY 18x1.5" 90psi kevlar inside w/reflective sidewall
Rim: Alex DA16 w/ ground side walls & indicator 24H
Hub: F- BIRDY 24H / R: Shimano Alivio 36H
Chainwheel: BIRDY 56T w/ double chainguard
Freewheel: Shimano CS-HG50 9speed 11~32T
Derailleur: Shimano Alivio 9 speed
Shifter: Shimano Alivio 9speed right only
Saddle: Velo VL-3023 black
Pedal: VP-197 silver cage w/BS reflectors
Handlebar: AL2014 520mm black anodized
Stem: BIRDY adjustable stme 10degree
Brake: Avid SD5 V-brake
Brake Lever: Avid FR5 for V-brake
Accessory: Bell
Suspension Unit: Red PU
Dimensions Folded (HxWxL): 23.6" x 15.4" x 28.3" (60cm x 39cm x 72cm)
Weight (w/o pedal): 24 lbs (10.9kg)



I couldn't get the exact specs for the Bike Friday Tikit but it has an IGH, forgot how many speeds the person on the phone told me and it is for around $2,400


And the other bike I'm considering is a 2017 6 speed Brompton for about $1,700



I drive a car to work but I will probably commute to work with my bike once in a while and if I like it I would do it all the time. On workdays, where I also would take public transportation, I would ride my bike for 10 miles. On non work days I'd go 15-30+ miles. I wanted a folding bike so I can easily store it in my small room but size isn't the most important thing. I had thought about getting bike only with IGH and belt for low maintenance but after looking at videos on how to clean the bike, which seems like the most maintenance a bike owner has to do, it doesn't matter any more. That's why I am considering a Brompton or the Tikit for low maintenance but I also heard good things about the Birdy which doesn't have an IGH or belt.

shrooms

Personally Tikit with 8 speed IGH or deraileur and disc brakes. $2400 is too much but with the new BF prices there are less choices to get a better deal, I guess.
I want touch Brompton even for half of the price.

tds101 

I'd go Brompton, as it's the easiest to utilize for public transportation.

Bu11dog

I faced same dilemma two months ago then I ended up with two Bromptons. I mostly commute with FIAT 500 POP which Brompton fits perfectly in its little trunk with a O Bag and bike helmet. I bring my Brompton with me so I can ride during lunch time around waterfront or drop by bike trail on the way home. Once awhile I ride my Brompton to light rail station to take the train to office and place the bike under my desk.

I also considered Bridy and BF but making the decision to go for Brompton. Like many people here said, you buy the Brompton for the fold.

bargainguy

Folding bikes are so idiosyncratic - what works wonders for you might be a dealbreaker for someone else. I always recommend test riding and folding/unfolding a folder several times before a sale, just so you know what you're getting into. Sometimes the ride is great but the fold is clunky or vice versa.

The Birdy has an attractive combination of relatively wide gearing and fairly light weight. Compromise is fairly low-rent parts, but you could always upgrade. I'm not a huge fan of the Birdy suspension but that's just me, I know others like it. The only suspension I've ever enjoyed on a folder is the Moulton Spaceframe and to a more subdued degree, the beam design of the Bike Friday Air Glide in my avatar pic.

The Tikit also has fairly wide gearing in the IGH/Gates configuration. Might be a little heavier than the Birdy, mostly because of the IGH replacing the traditional derailleur drivetrain. I have a Tikit I converted to drop bars and brifters. I don't mind the lack of suspension.

The Brompton wins for the most compact fold, as others here have noted, but the 6 speed drivetrain is a bit of a kludge and not as wide as the Birdy or Tikit. If your commute or other intended uses need a wider gearing range, I would not go for the Brommie. Also, the riding position on the Brommie can be a little funkier than the Birdy or Tikit - another reason to test ride every folder you're considering.

Good luck, and let us know what you finally decide.

Rick Imby

I am personally a fan of 20" wheels. I haven't had a 16" folder yet---I will get one eventually.

I do not like IGH because I don't want to have to work on one. Derailleur bikes are so easy to work on and lighter weight. Wide ratio derailleur gearing is easier on 20" wheels than 16".

I have a Dahon Mu i7 and a Xootr Swift. My I7 is not geared high enough and I haven't bothered to buy and install a bigger chainring.

The stock gearing on the Swift is perfect. High gear around 90 gear inches so I never spin out except downhill or huge tailwind. Low gear around 30 inches. I use my swift as my regular commuting and workout bike. They have come down to $600.

I rarely fold my bike. If I did I would probably go with a high end Dahon or Brompton.

Warning, you might not want to stop with one bike---Folders are addicting.

reppans

I'm a Brompton convert - it's not my most expensive bike, but it's the one I would keep if I could only have one. It's superb folding/rolling/luggage integration makes it my favorite touring, utility, and commuter bike. Except for off-road, I don't feel like I'm losing much at all in terms of speed, comfort or gearing, but I'm not a racer or club rider. I don't fold my Dahons much, well because they just don't carry, roll, or stand nicely once folded and so I just prefer to just lock them outside... but they're cheaper. Get into 4-digit cost territory and I don't like leaving my bikes unattended (locked outside, car racks, etc.), so that really limits what I can do with my full sized bikes... except ride them, of course.

The Brompton is a different animal, it's the fastest, smallest, and oddly - funnest - to fold, and it carries, rolls, and stands the best while folded, so I fold it frequently. I've take the Brompton everywhere: grocery stores, malls, restaurants, libraries, museums, zoos, toilets, campground showers, etc. etc. Love shopping cart/baby stroller mode (I did the X-roller mod) for indoors and it carries all my camping gear while I play shopper/tourist. I can even carry the Brompton the farthest (beaches, stealth camping, staircases, trails to hidden swim holes, etc) - stuff I used to bypass with my other bikes.

But we all have different needs/priorities.. good luck in your decision.

foldingdroid

I own the Birdy bike in the Birdy specs you mentioned above. I do not know which year it was built as even the local bike where I bought it does not know as the salesman/technician is newly hired in the store.

My first folder is a Dahon Mariner. I love it for the price and craftmanship. It made me a folder lover. And so I decided to buy another folder if I got some budget for it. I tried first on my friend's Bromptons. He and his wife each has a brompton. I tried and rode them a lot. They are cute and I love the folded appearance. The riding experience is good but less sturdier and slower compared to Mariner/Birdy. It also folds in the frame like the Mariner although in different location. Then I tried the Birdies. The folded appearance and size is not that cute and small as compared to Brommies. Birdy has 18" wheels while Brommies have 16". The Birdy will definitely fit in your car and acceptable in the Metro, so wherever they can take their Bromptons, you can also take your Birdy. The riding experience is much much better and faster than the Brompton and Mariner. In my opinion, the Birdy is much safer and sturdier than Brompton and Mariner as it does not fold in the frame. The front and rear suspensions are plus, good enough for small potholes and uneven cobblestones but you may need to change/upgrade them as per your weight and choice. Do not expect MTB like suspension. Birdies are also expensive and I hope you can get a further discount in your local bike shop. I really recommend that if possible, try to have a test ride with all of them. Good luck.

tudorowen1

I have had both a Tikit and a Brompton..a few Bromptons in fact..Cannot speak for a Birdy..The answer is simple..You buy a Tikit for the ride and a Brompton for the fold..But a couple of other factors to think about..BF after sales service is second to none..superb..Brompton after sales service really depends on your local Brompton dealer....Your Brompton will be a good investment..Tikit will be a reasonable investment..Best thing to do..Buy both..pre loved..second hand..

ttakata73

If the public transportation gets crowded, a Brompton.

bikeclub

I like the speedy folding and ride of my Tikit, which when I think about it, are the only two things I need it to do well. Also, modifications and maintenance are fairly easy with standard parts.

tudorowen1

Lots of opinions....decide if you are regularly going to travel by a bus, train or subway at busy times of the day......If so get a Brompton...If it is only once a week or so...and not on crowded buses or subways ..get the Tikit..Buy the Birdy if you are going to ride offroad...Hard to fold and not very small..Tikit brilliant to ride and quick to fold but folds like a sack of wrenches..(spanners in English)..Keep it simple ...is the way to go...otherwise you will end up with 3 folders..like me...BF NWT..fabulous to ride..awful to fold....Dahon clone....brilliant to ride..awful to fold..Brompton..fabulous fold..reasonable ride..but have toured on it and easily ridden 50 miles..just a bit slow..

12boy

Ride them all and make your choice, but make sure they are set up to mimic your usual positions. I tested a BF companion and a Brompton and went with the Brompton. I also tried a BF Silk but the seating position, the handlebars and the saddle were so far away from my customary setup I could not really get a sense of what it would be like with a narrow leather saddle and lower bars with bar ends or Bull horns. What looks good on paper may not feel that great in person.

fietsbob

Brompton, Alfine IGH, disc brakes, here: Brompton Alfine Kits ? Kinetics


Bike Friday can build to order, then ship it globally to you..





'/,

pinholecam

I got a Tyrell Ive precisely for the ease of packing for travels.

18" wheels as a good compromise between speed, comfort and portability.

I just finished a trip to Perth with it.
Over 400km in 3 days from Perth down to Margaret River on a mix of heavenly nice cycle path and bone jaring chip seal highway with lots of puncture risk on the highway sides.

The 1.5" Marathon Racers proved themselves.
Running at 65psi was essential to keep the ride over poor roads comfortable.
They also withstood the punishment of gravel trails and bad roads.

Folding is similar to the Brompton and Birdy, taking up a little less folded width than the birdy.
I think after almost a year with it, i can conclude that its up to the task I intended it for.


It's the new bike on the block and not common in the US, so seldom gets mentioned.
So I would just like to give it a thumbs up for it here.

foldingdroid

I have read the thread made by pinholecam about the Tyrell Ive, it is a beauty and gorgeous bike. I hope I can try to ride it someday.

foldingdroid

OP, did you decide already which bike?

TheChosenOne

Not yet. I was determined to get one within a week of posting this topic but I am too busy with work and I was lazy on my off days however I added a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket/ PR Pro to the list. Thinking about it more, it just seems like I'll ride the bike for leisure and to get food from take out places or to the store for small things. The folding part would be to make it easier to store at my house.

foldingdroid

Lots of positive reviews on Bike Friday Pocket Pro. Good luck on selecting and Happy purchasing.

Rick Imby

I love the comment that it folds like a bag of spanners. I have a xootr Swift and that is how I would describe it's fold.

I love the simplicity and ride of the Swift.

The addition that really made my Swift a much better ride was bar ends... Huge for me.

mconlonx

I liked my Birdy, especially the suspension and resultant handling. The odd 18" wheel size didn't bother me once I found Schwalbe Marathons come in the correct size. Not a particularly quick/easy fold and not as small folded as a Brompton, but I really enjoyed it.

I converted mine to SACHS DualDrive so best/worst of both worlds -- 8sp derailleur with 3sp IGH. I've done commuting on full size bikes with both 8sp Shimano Nexus IGH and derailleur drivetrains, and am in the six of one, half a dozen of the other camp. FWIW, when considering another folder purchase, I'm rather torn between basic bikes and either an 8 or 9sp derailleur drivetrain and a 3sp IGH.

Personally don't see the benefits of belt drive of worth the cost compared to chains.

desastar

I have all three. If you need one with the most compact fold, Brompton wins, but you are stuck with a bike with huge gaps in the gear ratios. In a windy city like mine, you want close gear ratios to keep spinning, so the Brompton is hard work.
My Tikit is a Dual drive, lots of gears...like 27 ratios, quick folding, not so compact.
The Birdy 9 speed, lighter weight, comfortable ride, enough gears, lousy fold, but best riding.
If I really want to go fast, I'd use the carbon roadbike.

Rick Imby

Having all three---as good as it gets....

I have not figured out why they have not built a Brompton with 20" wheels. Then you aren't stuck with tiny derailleurs and IGH or both. Most seem to really like the fold---make another one just a bit bigger. A wide ratio 8 speed cassette is a lot simpler for riding into the wind or up and down.

bikexpert

I also faced the same question when choosing a Birdy or Brompton, in the end I decided to go with the Birdy.
The reason is because "folding" only takes up 5-10% of mine commuting time (going into metro, office...etc), but most of the time you ride.

ThorUSA

It seems to me that you really want to have fun riding the bike. At least your original post says how many miles you want to use the bike.
You have to choose from ultra compact folding or really much nicer ride. I know there are Brommies who travel thousands of miles. There are also 24 foot sailboats who have sailed around the world. ( you only read about the ones who make it, the ones who sink or failed, you never read about )


Weight. As much as I love IGH they are heavy, if broken much luck to find anybody who can fix them.


Tire size... yes there are tires available in non 20 inch sizes. But there literally hundreds of different tires in 20 inch ( 406 ) I carry 17 different ones ! Tires are important... you want to go fast and light ? get a narrow high pressure racing tire... you want to go through glass and muck ? get a marathon plus ... comfortable ? a big fat apple will do the trick... winter and ice... The Winter edition with spikes.


Its a lot of money you are willing to part with... Make the effort and ride at least something comparable to what you want to buy.