https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...710a52295.jpeg

Donno about chain length

The derailleur cage is completely folded which is OK.

I really think that the chain is too long for the Birdy.

If you still have the original chain, you can count the number of links of both chains.

Since, if I understand well, you now have a 11-32t cassette, the new chain doesn't need to be longer than the old one made for the original 9-32t cassette (for the first tested 11-36t cassette, it was probably 2 links longer).

Millennium pink
 

I have a millennium pink bd-1 and need a headset for it. Can’t find any information or numbers or sizes from searching and the local folding bike shop proved clueless too. Any got answers?

If that brings you nowhere, you could contact R&M (or Pacific) directly.
https://www.r-m.de/en-gb/contact/

It’s normal.

5nm according to an old official manual. New manual didn't include the torque specification for these two screws. There is a picture circulating among the community that says 6 to 8 nm, which isn't correct. Becarefull not to over torque these two screws.

Thanks for the info BabyCowHK , appreciate it.

Ok guys, chainrings received and installed. 53/39. On direct swap when on 39 chainring and biggest cog (32t) chain was rubbing against the fork, so had to add spacer taken from left side to drive side of the crank, so Q factor hasn’t changed. This way it’s now two spacers on the right side of the crank. While chain is not rubbing, when on 39 and 32t cog rear derailleur cage was slightly touching Big Apple tires. Those are wider than standard so I guess it’s normal. My mechanic adjusted the wheel spokes a little so the wheel was offset left for a mm or so, now derailleur cage while very close is not rubbing against the tire. Drive tested the bike and everything seems to be normal. 39 chainring on 32t cog is insane, bike can climb walls. Now will need to wait for derailleur adaptor and my drivetrain upgrade will be complete.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eb22d114d.jpeg

On my Birdy also with Big Apple, the Shimano Ultegra RD-R8000GS is very close to the tire on the biggest cog but doesn't rub.

The difference with your Birdy is as you know that I have an 11s XD cassette on a XDR rear hub with the needed spacer to mount a XD cassette on it.

Jipe it was really really close to the tire and was touching it. Would probably be solved by increasing tire pressure a little but my mechanic decided to be safe and shifted the rim a little.

Do you think Saint derailleur will be a good idea for my setup and avoid the cage being so close to the tire and ground? Hope it will not affect the fold much.

Saint is made for single chainrings, it will be too short for 2x. It has listed capacity of 25t. With 11-32 cassette that's 21t capacity consumed, leaving you only 4t left for the front. But you have 14t difference on the front, for a total of 35t. Shimano is very conservative in their numbers, but going 10t above what they recommend doesn't sound good.

Of course if you never crosschain it can work. But if you for example can only use 5 cassette cogs with each front chainring, that means shifting the front more often. That gets annoying pretty quick. I have experience with this, on a 3x setup where a medium derailer was the only possible option due to major tire rub. Front shifts must be done very often.

Well I noticed that when the chain is on 53 chainring and 32t cog the chain will rub the fork ever so slightly. The shiny cover to be precise. Barely audible/noticeable. I think it’s because there are two spacers on the drive side so chain light is shifted. It’s actually fine as the idea would be to not use any of 2 chainrings all the way but say for 8 speeds avoiding last two. But still, bike was perfectly fine on 39t chainring throughout full range on the cassette and was also fine on 53. So I’m happy with results, I can skip using last two biggest cogs with 53t and switch to 39t instead.

I do not think that any derailleur will have a cage so short that it doesn't come besides the tire with ETRTO355 wheels.

With the Shimano RD-R8000GS that according to Shimano goes up to 34t and from testes goes up to 36t, there is no problem of rubbing.

But it also depend of the chain length. The chain must be adjusted to be just long enough to accept the combination biggest chainring+biggest cog, in my case its 50x34. The critical condition for rubbing is the chain on the biggest cog, as soon as its on another cog, the chain moves outward the derailleur cage isn't close to the tire anymore.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ee115ca088.jpg
AS can be seen with my chain length adjustment and this mid cage derailleur, when the chain is on the biggest cogs, the derailleur cage comes just above the place where the tire is the widest.

Have just received Trigo adaptor for Brompton carrier block. There were no indications on what max torque to apply so I went for 5nm max. It didn’t make the ends meet but is pretty snug. Maybe I should keep screwing it in till both ends meet?

Fits fine, doesn’t interfere with front wheel release while full turn. Also fine with my comfort stem. For 20 degrees sports stem I’d suggest to go with inclined version which I think Jipe uses as it would definitely interfere with any big bags used. I had to push front light forward as it did interfere in it’s current position.


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So you were right about the chain length. I replaced the old one which was under heavy load the whole time while I was on tours. I tried 50KM with a new chain and the shifting has improved.

I wander what’s this thing?


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I have strange situation I can not solve. My bike mechanic adjusted rear (hydraulic) brake caliper several times. Rotor is fine, pads are fine. No side play in rear hub. When start riding- no noise. After some 5-10 min I start hearing noise as rotor slightly touching pads, but only when I pedal. When I stop pedaling - noise is gone. Sometimes it’s gone even during pedaling as I keep riding. Is this normal?

Its an aluminum disc on a steel cable that prevent to easily take the seatpost+saddle out of the bike to steal it.

For your noise, this kind of noise is the typical problem that happens with Shimano Icetech discs !

Hi, I'm considering getting a birdy for daily commuting and shopping. I want to ask would installing pannier bags get in the way of folding?

definitely yes, both front and rear

Too bad. Are the bags easy to install then?

depends on panniers you will use. Ortlieb have models with quick release which takes less than a second to remove. If you will have small enough rack bag mounted on R&M Birdy rear rack which will not protrude from the rack rear, it will allow you to fold without removing the bag.

aight, thanks for the info!

The rear rack is folding while folding the rear wheel, so pannier installed on it must be dismounted but with Ortlieb or Vaude (I prefer Vaude) pannier, its done instantly.

Now, its also possible to mount a Brompton front bag adapter on the Birdy and then the bag can remain.

But it is not a useful on the Brompton where the bag is on top when folded.

This is how it looks with/without the panniers. The front and rear rack I use are the official Pacific Cycles racks.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5220476f4c.jpg

The front low rider folding rack is also used as a handle to pull the bike when folded that rolls on its rear rack easy wheels.

With a Brompton front block adapter and a compatible front bag with handle, this handle can also be used to pull the folded bike rolling on the rear rack easy wheels (but its not very comfortable to do).

I found it somewhat easier to extend the seat post, push it back and roll the bike in front of me using the saddle to steer.

That's what I experienced in using the front rack as a handle to pull the bike. Eventually, I realized that extending the Seatpost and pulling the bike in reverse on the saddle is a better way to pull the bike.

Honestly, I do not make the Birdy nor the Brompton often roll on their easy wheels.

The reason is that, due to the small diameter of the easy wheel and the very low ground clearance of the easy wheels, it only work well on a very good quality surface.

Any ideas about bottle cage location/installation? Seatpost location will not work for me, so it’s handlebar stem. Shouldn’t effect the fold. Frame will probably not work as I have R&M frame bag installed. Which adaptors would be the best choice?