Mint Parrot vs Birdy
05-01-24, 03:04 AM
#1
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Mint Parrot vs Birdy
Does anyone have any experience with the Birdy knock off - Mint Parrot?
It looks like a Birdy but there are differences in how some aspects of the bike works and with the hardware. It looks like a China knock off but that doesn't mean the quality is bad. I just want to know what anyone's experience with the bike has been. At half or more the price of a regular Birdy City, it's compelling and it's easier to purchase through Alibaba instead of trying to find non-existing Birdy dealers in the US.
There's a Youtube video by what looks like a bike shop in Singapore that shows how the bike folds. It's similar to a Birdy fold but the handlebar doesn't fold all the way in like a Birdy.
It seems to have 18" wheels like a Birdy and I have not found a 20" version of it.
It looks like a Birdy but there are differences in how some aspects of the bike works and with the hardware. It looks like a China knock off but that doesn't mean the quality is bad. I just want to know what anyone's experience with the bike has been. At half or more the price of a regular Birdy City, it's compelling and it's easier to purchase through Alibaba instead of trying to find non-existing Birdy dealers in the US.
There's a Youtube video by what looks like a bike shop in Singapore that shows how the bike folds. It's similar to a Birdy fold but the handlebar doesn't fold all the way in like a Birdy.
It seems to have 18" wheels like a Birdy and I have not found a 20" version of it.
05-01-24, 04:46 AM
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The frame looks like a copy of the Birdy 2, not the current Birdy 3.
The folding is similar to the Birdy 2 folding.
Even if the Birdy 2 and Birdy 3 seem very similar, its not the case, the two frames are totally different, the construction is different and the geometry is different too.
The stem and stem hinge are totally different from any Birdy stem, the hinge is similar to the Brompton hinge.
Its not the first Birdy clone, there were others in the past, none was commercially successful like it is the case for the Brompton clones.
The folding is similar to the Birdy 2 folding.
Even if the Birdy 2 and Birdy 3 seem very similar, its not the case, the two frames are totally different, the construction is different and the geometry is different too.
The stem and stem hinge are totally different from any Birdy stem, the hinge is similar to the Brompton hinge.
Its not the first Birdy clone, there were others in the past, none was commercially successful like it is the case for the Brompton clones.
05-03-24, 12:33 AM
#3
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Thread Starter
Thanks for your observations, it's appreciated.
I'm hoping someone has specific experience with the Mint Parrot and can tell me what their opinions are related to the bike. I already have a customized Birdy and want to know more about this specific clone. I'm trying to ascertain if in general it's closed enough of a clone that I can buy Birdy specific third party custom parts to modify the bike with.
I.e. buy Birdy 3rd party 20" wheelsets to install on this bike. Are the hubs similar? Would the rear and front racks work on this bike? Would any of the Litepro Birdy custom parts fit the Parrot? Basically someone who actually owns this bike and has tried to modify/ customize it.
I'm hoping someone has specific experience with the Mint Parrot and can tell me what their opinions are related to the bike. I already have a customized Birdy and want to know more about this specific clone. I'm trying to ascertain if in general it's closed enough of a clone that I can buy Birdy specific third party custom parts to modify the bike with.
I.e. buy Birdy 3rd party 20" wheelsets to install on this bike. Are the hubs similar? Would the rear and front racks work on this bike? Would any of the Litepro Birdy custom parts fit the Parrot? Basically someone who actually owns this bike and has tried to modify/ customize it.
Last edited by gleearch; 05-03-24 at 12:39 AM.
05-03-24, 01:41 AM
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Its almost impossible to answer your questions without having this bike!
For the rear folding rack, the two required mounting points are present (hole on the main frame in front of the seatpost, mounting tube on the rear suspension arm).
Now, there is a major difference in building a Brompton frame clone and a Birdy 2 or 3 clone: the Birdy 2 and 3 (with exception for the Birdy World) frame are not made of tubes, they have an hydro-formed frame which requires a special tooling to be build. This tooling is quite expensive, its cost must be amortized in the price of the bike and a relatively big amount of bikes is required to amortize it without increasing too much the bike price.
I wonder how they solved this problem, could it be that they could reuse the Pacific Cycles tooling of the old Birdy 2?
For the rear folding rack, the two required mounting points are present (hole on the main frame in front of the seatpost, mounting tube on the rear suspension arm).
Now, there is a major difference in building a Brompton frame clone and a Birdy 2 or 3 clone: the Birdy 2 and 3 (with exception for the Birdy World) frame are not made of tubes, they have an hydro-formed frame which requires a special tooling to be build. This tooling is quite expensive, its cost must be amortized in the price of the bike and a relatively big amount of bikes is required to amortize it without increasing too much the bike price.
I wonder how they solved this problem, could it be that they could reuse the Pacific Cycles tooling of the old Birdy 2?
