Yes, very difficult, and it doesn't stay in place with the bolts that secure the tire in the folded position.
But I don't think I'll be commuting with it, but I do need it folded for storage.
By the way, the bike now weighs 16.6 kg.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cd240f6f1.jpeg
This will be the position of the first battery, with it I will begin to do tests and decide if I will put another one
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f37d42c4f.jpeg
and for those who asked about the position of my front light

FWIW, mine now weighs in at 13.4kg - the hubs, mudguards, rack and lights all adding to the base weight.

If the other engine works well I hope to lower it by 3 kg or keep it at 16 kg with an extra battery. maybe a ti bb could help to fit

Birdy One Rear Rack Attachment
 

I have an early Birdy that uses the nylon blocks to pinch the seat tube, instead of the current method that's used. I'm going to fillet braze a rear rack and want to use the original mounting points. I understand that the rear rack is supposed to attach to the quick release, but it's not clear how. Does anyone have closeup pictures of both sides of the connection with a rack installed? I'm new here, so can't post pics yet. Thank you.

mattdd is yours the one with the clamp in front of the seatpost or behind? I can show you the latter but I suspect yours might be the former.

Interestingly, I see Pacific Cycles are offering a 'New Classic' Birdy (effectively a Mk1) https://www.pacific-cycles.com/birdy/new-classic-birdy

No, even if it looks like a Birdy 1 or a Birdy 2 World, its none of those two old Birdy with a frame made of welded tubes, the geometry of the frame is different, the construction is different (look for instance at the semi-integrated bearings of the fork, the seat tube clamp...).

Its a newly designed frame, a kind of Birdy 3 with a frame made of welded tubes instead of hydroformed.

Birdy One Rear Rack Attachment
 

@Lomaxfairchild, it's the model with the clamp in front. But any pictures could possibly help if you don't mind posting what you have. Thanks.

Not sure what's the version of your Birdy Classic. It could either be version 1 or 2, excluding the World Sports. Hope these pictures help. You can probably forget about fitting a rear rack to version 1.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...579c3784b7.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...39fc71a530.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3da637f55a.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...22846265f.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4576baaf0f.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...efa93702ff.jpg

[QUOTE=BabyCowHK;23344150]Not sure what's the version of your Birdy Classic. It could either be version 1 or 2, excluding the world sport. Hope these pictures help. You can probably forget about fitting a rear rack ......

Mine is essentially the same as the BD-1 you show, but a bit later, I think. Same seatpost clamp. What is confusing to me is how the rack interfaces with the seatpost quick release. On one side there's a black plastic flanged bushing, but on the other side nothing. Thanks for the pics.

Below the expedition rack mounting instructions including how to mount it on a Birdy like yours where the rack is mounted on the seatpost quick release (sorry, its in German but I think with the pictures its understandable)..

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...965145eedb.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d7e62290b2.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...14a7b87383.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0c9d98d0b1.jpg

Suspended Rear Rack vs Low Rider Rack
 

Thanks, @Jipe. Looks like I need to add some hardware and bushings to make it work.

On another note, since I'm starting with nothing and building to suit, what are the pros and cons of the suspended rack, where the luggage load is cushioned by the rear suspension, and a rack that's attached only to the rear swingarm? I'm particularly curious about how a 15 kg load affects ride and handling when suspended vs not. Thanks everyone for your help!

The rack that I showed you is made by Pacific Cycles. The benefit is that it folds with the bike perfectly and stays at the back of the bike. It will touch the ground after the bike is folded and supporting the bike from the back. The down side is that you will need to install the mudguard if you want to use pannier bags. The mounting rod from the original Birdy mudguard will serve as a support for the pannier hooks.

I have been traveling on a Birdy 3 with 15KG pannier bags on the rack. Other than fitting the rack's measurement and dimensions right (since you intend to build one yourself), you will need to change to a stiffer rear suspension. The cargo weight will cause extra force on the PU suspension block. You can get the green suspension for better results.

The additional weight normally doesn't affect the ride and handling of the bike.

I could consider to find one in the second hand market instead. If you can't find one in Europe, you can consider Yahoo Auction Japan. There is a shipping partner that will help you to ship the item to your location.

My experience with the folding rear rack is the same: its excellent, it doesn't increase the folded size, it folds automatically and accept full size rear pannier without heel strike problems.

It can be loaded to 15kg without any issue on the bike ride.

Indeed, the bottom hook of the rear pannier like there are on Ortlieb and Vaude rear pannier hook into the rear mudguard mounting rod.

I use Vaude rear pannier and I have mounted two thin easy wheels for Brompton that still allow to mount the two pannier (the easy wheels foreseen by Riese & Müller are much too thick to be compatible with rear pannier) with those wheels, the folded Birdy roll on these wheels when pulled with its front part lift from the ground.

H&H has a lightweight titanium folding rear rack that mounts like the original one from Riese & Müller, its a very bad design, the titanium bolt delivered with this rack (with M3 very short thread !) aren't reliable and the plastic bushing of the rack wear pretty fast. Funny enough, H&H gives a max load of 20kg for this rack, more than what the Birdy bike manufacturer specifies for the rear rack on the bike he designed!

mattdd - mine attaches to the seatpost quick release using two stainless plates and is suspended by a brake cable from the top of the seatpost! I assume it's a genuine R&M rack but I've never seen another one like it.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...853c8d2d65.jpg


I've gone for panniers on the front and a trunk bag on the rack on mine, as I don't think my rack is up to carrying much weight:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...068332ffef.jpg

​​​​​"I could consider to find one in the second hand market instead. If you can't find one in Europe, you can consider Yahoo Auction Japan. There is a shipping partner that will help you to ship the item to your location."

You are probably right that I should look for a used rack as figuring the geometry will be difficult.

In the short term, what is the group's opinion of a beam rack that clamps to the seatpost? Any experience with those? Any problems to watch out for?

​​​​Thanks

mattdd I think a beam rack would be fine - particularly mounted lower down the seat post. It would make the fold a bit fiddly but some of them have quick release clamps, so certainly workable.

The only problem I envisage is finding one that fits the oversized seat post diameter of the Birdy.

Such a beam rack on the seatpost puts a lot of flex stress on the seatpost and frame seatpost tube on top of the one put by the cyclist. I think it is only safe if the transported weight on it is small.

Buying parts from Japan for older Birdy bikes
 

For those of you who are desperate to get the parts for Birdy that aren't available in your location, you can consider buying from Japan directly with the help of a proxy bidder.

I used to use Tenso's service. It isn't the cheapest but it's easy enough and works. It can do proxy bids and also can purchase directly from a shop, and then send the item to your location.

https://www.tensojapan.com/en/auction

Yahoo Auction Japan often has some interesting and hard-to-find parts for older Birdy bikes.

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/search/...BC%E3%83%84/0/
https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/closeds...=bd-1&b=1&n=50
https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/closeds...=birdy&x=0&y=0

I found this Japanese shop selling a lot of items for older Classic Birdy and Birdy 2. (In the Japanese market, Birdy Classic V1/2, Birdy 2, and some New Classic Birdy are called BD-1. In general, nowadays New Classic and Birdy 3's are named as Birdy.) I will update the link(s) below if I happen to see any more online shops that are worth mentioning. You may consider using Tenso to buy the item or using your favorite proxy bidder.

https://www.cso.co.jp/partsshop/bd1.html

Pacific Cycles has an online shop with many Birdy accessories available.

Riese & Müller resellers can, even if they only sell ebikes and do not sell the Birdy, order and sell any spare part for the Birdy.

If you are located in Europe, the German Ebay Kleinanzeigen offer many Birdy bikes and parts: https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-birdy/k0

Update: They still have 3 kilos difference

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...427c265d8.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...55cb79bad.jpeg

Is that an 18" motor? It's so hard to find 18". I want to convert my birdy gen 2 disc brake to ebike too but I couldn't find an 18" wheel with disc brake. Any idea where I can find one? Thanks.

I've just been restoring a mk1 Birdy with this exact rack and happen to have the manual. It's a genuine R&M rack and the manual says it's rated to 12kg.

I'm going to sell the crystalyte motor with everything I bought.
If it suits you, I'll give you a good offer.
I assembled the other motor, bought a ring on Aliexpress and then assembled it.

Sounds like you're in the UK and I'm in the state. I'm actually prefer to do a rear wheel conversion. What makes you decide to do front wheel rather than rear wheel? Where do you source your wheel for the build? Thanks.