Not sure, I would check/post on the Dahon forum for availability.

To be honsest, I doubt that you would be able to tell much difference. I know some people prefer the SRAM 1:1 actuation ratio, but YMMV. I swopped out all of the Shimano drivetrain components on my Birdy and replaced them with SRAM X-9 and X-0. Whilst the SRAM mech/shifter etc were lighter, the performance was only marginally better (more positive feeling shifts). However, the cable routing with a Sram derailleur is different to that of Shimano (it protrudes more to the side) and after repeated folding, I found it harder to maintain the crispness when shifting to 7th/8th/9th gears on my Birdy. I attributed this problem to the additional strain placed on the obtruded cable when the bike was folded.

Interesting. Many thanks! I found new 2005 Red and Yellow Birdies with Alivio for $900 in the box, so perhaps I'll go for one of them.

Just in case you were unaware, there are new models (slowly) being released in the US. They claim that the frame is stronger and lighter. Moreover, the bikes themselves are more customizable.

http://www.r-m.de/index.pl/birdy_e

Had a good look at a new model grey Birdy Speed parked outside our local newsagent this morning in Hampstead. Have to say that it is not a pretty bike in the flesh - in fact rather ugly I'd venture. Far prefer the look of the Mezzo or indeed the Bromptons that seem to make up most of the North London folding bike fleet. <stands back to await a flaming from Birdy lovers world-wide>

I don't like the look of Birdys either. Well the old ones (Ducks!)
It's the fork that makes them look like agricultural machinery I dislike and they need to do something new with that awful Crillee font... (Vodafone used to use it but wisely switched to Futura many moons ago font fact fans)

http://image.linotype.com/samples/text/14614.gif

When I had a Birdy, the first thing to go was the sticker which read "Birdy."

I test rode a high end Birdy at a bike show and it was a very nice bicycle. The bike shifted like a $1,500.00 dollars bicycle should with quality components. If you join the Birdy Groups at Yahoo, there seems to be problems with agressive users with regards to the suspension.

I agree, with the comments regarding a custom made Bike Friday for the price of a Birdy. The high price of the Birdy in large part due to the poor exchange rate of the U.S. dollar.

Go on then, as you've goaded me...!

@matt52 - Mezzo = Disability scooter.

@Littlepixel - Modded Twenty = Mk I Ford Fiesta with "Go Faster Stripes".

Which problems are these - do you mean the shimmy?

haha - I've always likened it to an Austin Princess ;)

Not to scare you hysterically, but.... I wouldn't EVER ride a damaged fork and I'd be even more reticent if said fork were aluminum or carbon. When the fork goes, if you live, it's your face that'll take most of the force of the intial impact.

DG1

Thanks everyone, and thanks DG1 for the safety advice. I'm working on getting a credit card purchase protection rebate to cover the forks. Invisiblehand (is your actual name Adam Smith?), thanks for the info on the new bikes. I see that they are cheap in Japan, so I might work on getting one there. I don't know anything about the Capreo set up, but it looks like many feel that it is close to the 105 group.

Littlepixel, I've always wondered why you Raleigh 20 folks don't throw dura ace on a cast iron Schwin Varsity so you can get it down to 30 pounds ;-)

Oh, one more thing ... Sante Fe Bikes was a bike shop specializing in folding bikes. When they decided to close shop, they had two Birdys in stock (a red and silver). I recall that they packed the bikes away and intend to EBay them off in the spring. But if you drop them a line, they might be able to do something for you.

No, my name is not Adam Smith. But it is just my profession and I find Smith an interesting fellow.

Are you one of the growing band of bewigged 18th century re-enactors?!

Thought I'd make a few comments as I saw the new Birdy at a cycleshow this weekend.

I used a birdy for about six months on a commute involving about 5 miles each way and a train ride (see pic).
I found a lot of the problem areas of the bike when I had it have now been addressed.

The new monocoque frame seems to be less of a sound box and the cables are routed differently (a lot of sound came from the cables jumping around in loose guides and hitting the frame).
Schwalbe marathons are an excellent tire and one of the bikes at the show had big apples fitted without clearance issues as far as I could see. The seatpost now has offset and the standard stem is now adjustable for height. The hinges are re-designed and the front fork has a little more rake at the dropout which I believe may help with shimmy.
The bike can still eat itself, but I had some success with glueing small squares of innertube rubber to the areas where contact is made.

The standard gearing is still too low and I would only consider the dual drive model if you plan to ride the bike regularly.
I now ride a dahon jetstream which I feel is more robust but I found the suspension superior on the birdy.

Hope this is helpful to someone.

Thanks Invisiblehand and Samb76! I'll try Santa Fe, but it sounds like the new models may be worth the wait.

Cheers

Curious chainguide atrached to the bottom of the RD cage in the tour_lg pix. what problem does it solve?

It seems like they changed the geometry of the seating position to one more straight up. I'm glad they finally addressed the issue of the handlebar because that one size fits all does not work.

The standard gearing maybe low but the Birdy was never really a fast road bike to begin with. The suspension on the Birdy works well enough not to require a seat post (suspension) but you'll take a performance hit regardless.

It stops the chain from unshipping when you tuck the wheel under during folding.

They always had the comfort stem option which was height adjustable (the all-round stem was not adjustable), but as it was angled backwards, it brought the bars closer to the saddle by approx. 70mm. I did not like this compromise, so I opted for a riser bar on the all-round stem. Also the saddle sits further forward on the seatpost.

When the roads are bad, the suspension allows me to go faster than on my non-suspended folders. On mirror-like tarmac, the performance of the Birdy is only slightly compromised.

Yes, the thing that makes the Birdy so attractive is that it doesn't have a frame hinge and offers full suspension with a light weight bike. In my mind, the smaller fold and sturdier frame are big selling points. I like the fact that it places all the vectors of force on two rubber elastomers rather than on a weak hinge. Presumably, the Jetsream is just as inefficient, no?

No, I don't think the Birdy is slower than the Dahon at least: the stiffer frame and in particular handlebar/stem setup of the Birdy compensates for the slight increase on rolling resistance. I would spin out in top on the birdy 8 speed on the flat so it does have some speed potential. The elastomer based rear suspension setup of the Birdy has been proven by the various race adventures of the moulton and the front is an anti-dive system that is pretty stiff.

The Dahon Jetsteam P8 gets around the problem of suspension losses by setting the suspension very hard with no sag or float, which means the suspension is only useful for medium size bumps and still transmits a lot of vibrations. In practice both bikes have slightly iffy steering compared to un-suspended models.

I wonder how the latest incarnation of the Birdy 20" fares?
http://dev.juppo.co.jp/2plus4/Moku_K/n104.html

On the question of speed, I think folding bikes should have the potential. I've been very impressed at the number of 20mph+ athletic brompton riders in London this summer.

That is a sweet looking bike. The Campag drivetrain is particularly bling. The monocoque frame is just a normal 18" Birdy frame, but with Stelvios and Paul Moto brakes you can squeeze in 20"wheels. The BB is very high though.