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1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 56 (from laksa089)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa056.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093","crawl_time":1775471614,"first_indexed_time":1660127042,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"cc,road!\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093 s443","src_root_hash":"13929769512426848856","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Birdy Touring - Cycling News | Bike Reviews | road.cc","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"This review contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent.\nRiese & Müller’s iconic Birdy could be characterised as the over-engineered Germanic answer to a Brompton. However, while the Birdy Touring’s ride experience does exhibit a strange ‘bobbing’ quality, it is also superbly comfortable with surprisingly impressive levels of power delivery and control. It is very, very expensive, though.\nHere at road.cc, we don’t do grouptests, which is a blessing to some extent. Trying to get multiple versions of similar bikes from disparate manufacturers or distributors can feel like herding cats. However, as luck would have it, at the same time as I was testing the Birdy, I also had the\nVello Rocky\non review, so (don’t tell anybody), if you read that review (once it’s published) straight after this, I’ve sort of snuck in a little two-model ’boutique-style’ folding bike grouptest here.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nThe Birdy offers a strangely springy ride quality, far more so than the very, very stiff Vello. Thanks to suspension both front and back, there’s a slightly bizarre sensation of bobbing up and down in the saddle – particularly when pedalling hard – that takes a bit of getting used. I suspect roadies and anybody focused solely on forward momentum will find it frustrating. However, it’s hard to condemn the Birdy’s ride because it’s also very comfortable. Think of it sort of like a folding bike equivalent of an old Citroen 2CV; it’s almost impossible to stop it lolloping and rolling but it’s still quite impressive in its own way.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nJust to check it wasn’t my prodigious weight causing this phenomenon, I gave the Birdy to my wife, who is not a prodigious weight. She also experienced the bobbing, but she also said it was the most comfortable bike she’d ever ridden. I have to concur – it is very comfortable – but that bobbing is still pretty weird.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nWhile some riders might far rather swap at least some of that obviously compliant bump-absorption for a bit more stiffness, pedalling is far from a turgid affair and the Birdy actually gets up to speed well. The Birdy marketing bumf suggests this is because the suspended wheels maintain contact with the ground better, and therefore create better drive.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nControl is also surprisingly good. For a folder, reach is quite long, which provides a slightly more enthusiastic ride and, at speed, the Birdy handles very well. It’s easy to place on the road and its geometry offers just about the most naturally stable riding position – for me at 6ft at least – of any folder I’ve tested. The bobbing motion of the suspension negatively affects the feeling of stability just a tad, but among all the folders I’ve tested, it is – again surprisingly – the easiest for getting out of the saddle.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nIn short, that wallowing suspension might not be to everybody’s tastes, but this is an otherwise fun and capable bike to ride.\nFrame\nIn unfolded form, the Birdy’s geometry and riding position make it feel almost like a ‘normal’ bike. As I mentioned, the reach is good, as is wheelbase length. Stem height can be adjusted to one of five predetermined points, but even at the top one it might be a little low for tall riders wanting an upright position. I thought it was perfect for getting a bit of speed up. Saddle height was good enough to fit my 6ft frame and there was more seatpost available.\nThere’s no getting away from the fact that the Birdy is a pretty funny looking thing. The main frame is effectively a single piece of aluminium engineering – no traditional tubes and joins here, this is monocoque all the way, albeit with a small integrated triangle heading down to the bottom bracket.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nAt the bottom bracket, there’s also the pivot point for the separate hydroformed rear triangle. Like the Brompton and the aforementioned Vello, the Birdy’s fold relies on this rear triangle swinging underneath the main frame when folded.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nAt the front, it’s sort of similar, actually. The fork’s two-arm suspension system effectively splits, with the front wheel folding underneath to sit alongside the main frame. It’s all rather ingenious, although the stem ruins it slightly by utilising an old-school clamp that you have to undo to fold that in half.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nDrop the saddle to lock everything in place, and you’ve got a very compact little folded package.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nThe Birdy has the world record for folding – 4.9 seconds – and despite its engineering complexity, it’s actually fairly intuitive. I unfolded it initially without resorting to any instructions.\nGearset and brakes\nI tested the Touring Birdy here, which comes with a 10-speed derailleur gearset, as opposed to the City model with Shimano Nexus hub gear, or Rohloff model with – you guessed it – a Rohloff Speed Hub. Having a 32-tooth biggest sprocket does look a tad strange inset against an 18in wheel, but a derailleur setup is – normally at least – fine by me.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nGear changes were very positive and allied with the Driveline 52-tooth chainset, the 9-32 cassette offered enough options for just about anything – climbing is particularly easy. It’s a bit of a shame that on a bike costing north of £2,500 you’re ‘only’ getting Microshift XLE componentry at the rear mech – I looked online and the XLE rear mech is available for £29.99 from a well-known online cycle retailer. Call me a snob, but a £30 rear mech on a £2,500+ bike seems a bit cheap. Despite that, I’m actually quite a fan of Microshift kit so, functionally at least, there’s almost nothing to complain about.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nI say ‘almost’ because Birdy does make mention of the fact that, despite its low bottom bracket, it still complies with regulations regarding pedal strike when leaning over into a corner. What it doesn’t say is that having a full size rear mech on an 18in rear wheel means you can get pretty close to striking the road with that, too. I doubt you’ll be knee-down in the corners enough for it to be a problem, but just be aware that it’s a lot closer to the floor than a rear mech normally is.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nFinishing off the important moving parts are the Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes. These offer more than enough power, and after an initial ‘grabby phase’ provide excellent feel to make sure you use exactly the amount of braking that you need.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nOne little quirk about these, though, is that the front calliper is mounted on the right leg of the fork. It makes no difference to performance but does seem just a tad strange.\nWheels and tyres\nThe Birdy runs on 18in wheels, rather than the Vello’s 20in or the Brompton’s 16in. The rims here are made by Alex, which again is another slight disappointment. (Fun game for the comments section – can anybody name a bike that costs more than the Birdy but also runs Alex rims?)\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nThe more interesting part of the wheel build is the Shutter Precision front dynamo hub. We’ll come onto the point of that in a mo. As a package, the wheels seem fine if exceedingly nondescript.\nTyres are a bit better for people looking for brand names. The Schwalbe Marathon Racers offer fantastic grip in the dry and should be good enough for year-round use in all but snow and ice. They’re certainly a sensible out-of-the-box option to get the most out of your Birdy.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nFinishing kit\nFolding bikes are always a bit weird when it comes to finishing kit, and the Birdy is certainly no exception. I’ll start with the obvious stuff first: the Selle Royal Shadow saddle is great; the Satori Horizon handlebar is good; and the Ergon ergonomic grips are excellent.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nWe also get cute little Birdy-specific SKS mudguards, a little kickstand on the rear triangle and custom – although sadly not folding – pedals.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nBest of all, though, the front dynamo hub powers Supernova E3 lights at the front and rear, and our Birdy also came with Riese & Müller’s funky Birdy luggage rack (that’s an extra £94), which cleverly drops down with the rear triangle in folded form.\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\nValue and conclusion\nAccording to Riese and Müller’s website, the Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. Don’t get your hopes up that there’s a budget wonder there, though: the entry-level Birdy City starts at £2,579 and the halo Birdy Rohloff is a whopping £3,979.\nObviously, in that kind of price range, equivalent rival bikes are few and far between.\nI mentioned the Vello Rocky I’ve also been reviewing earlier, which is similar in being almost a boutique folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890 (£2,444.37).\nOr there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of\nBrompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models\n. So in comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive.\n> Best folding bikes 2022 – portable bikes for convenient commuting\nDespite its fairly phenomenal price, though, I have developed a bit of affection for my little Birdy test bike. While I could never imagine spending that kind of money to buy one myself, there is a lot of innovative engineering here. Yes, its ride experience is unusual, but it’s quite fun, very comfortable, and surprisingly fast and secure on the road. If you want something special, and you’ve got the money, certainly give one a test ride.\nVerdict\nUnique folding bike with a lot of positives qualities, but it also has a strange tendency to bob, and that price, well…\nAll the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on\nroad.cc\nclick\nhere\n.\nroad.cc test report\nMake and model:\nBirdy Touring\nSize tested:\nn\/a\nList the components used to build up the bike.\nBirdy lists:\nFrame: Monocoque aluminium with hydroformed aluminium rear triangle\nHeadset: TH No 10, semi-integrated\nCrankset: Driveline 52T, including Hollow Tech bottom bracket\nRear derailleur: Microshift, 10-speed\nShifter: Shimano Deore, 10-speed\nChain: KMC X10 ( 111x )\nCassette: Sunrace 10-speed, 9-32t\nBrakes: Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brake\nRims: Alex 18in\nFront hub: Hub dynamo Shutter Precision\nRear hub: Sunrace, 32 Loch\nTyres: Schwalbe Marathon Racer 40-355 Reflex\nTubes: Schwalbe SV5\nSaddle: Selle Royal Shadow\nSeatpost: JD \/ Riese and Müller, aluminium 34.9 x 565mm\nSeatclamp: TranzX, 40,0 mm, QR\nPedals: VP R&M Custom\nHandlebar: Satori Horizon, 31.8 mm, 10°, B=540 mm\nGrips: Ergon ergonomic\nFront light: Supernova E3 Pure 3S\nTail light: Supernova E3 E-Bike Tail Light 2\nMudguards: SKS Birdy\nKickstand: Minoura for Birdy\nTell us what the bike is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?\nThis is a folding bike aimed at the serious commuter or even longer-distance cyclist. Riese and Müller says: “Whether you’re on holiday or for everyday working, the Birdy takes you safely to any destination, with Riese & Müller Control Technology. Thanks to its unique folding properties and low weight, you can take it with you easily at any time: folded together, it fits onto any form of public transport or into any car boot. And it can also be adjusted to different rider heights just as quickly as it can be folded.”\nWhere does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options\nThe Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. There’s the entry-level Birdy City starting at £2,579 or the halo Birdy Rohloff starting at £3,979.\nOverall rating for frame and fork\n9\/10\nTell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?\nThe frame and fork are essentially the main selling points of the Birdy, and you can see why. They’re very well engineered.\nTell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?\nAluminium monocoque for the main body of the frame, with hydroformed aluminium elsewhere.\nTell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?\nQuite aggressive, almost ‘real’ bike geometry for the Birdy. I felt more head-down than on most other folders.\nHow was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?\nVery good in terms of height and reach. Only potential negative is that some riders might want slightly more handlebar height.\nWas the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.\nVery comfortable to ride – the suspension front and back saw to that!\nDid the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?\nAh, now it gets tricky. Yes, this bike bobs and wallows almost all the time, but especially under pedalling input.\nHow did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?\nIt still felt efficient, though.\nWas there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?\nNo.\nHow would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive?\nNot super lively, but a bit more eager than plain neutral.\nTell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?\nI was impressed by the handling. Aside from the bobbing, it was very surefooted. High speed freewheeling descents, for example, were great fun.\nWhich components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s comfort? would you recommend any changes?\nNo changes needed for comfort.\nWhich components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s stiffness? would you recommend any changes?\nNo component changes would make any difference here.\nWhich components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s efficiency? would you recommend any changes?\nI’d suggest a higher-spec gearset would make things even better.\nRate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:\n7\/10\nPretty good.\nRate the bike for acceleration:\n7\/10\nRate the bike for sprinting:\n6\/10\nIt’s a folder, so its sprinting capacity is limited. But the Birdy is good for a folder.\nRate the bike for high speed stability:\n8\/10\nRate the bike for cruising speed stability:\n8\/10\nRate the bike for low speed stability:\n6\/10\nRate the bike for flat cornering:\n6\/10\nRate the bike for cornering on descents:\n8\/10\nRate the bike for climbing:\n7\/10\nIt’s efficient, but that bobbing really makes itself known on climbs.\nRate the drivetrain for performance:\n6\/10\nRate the drivetrain for durability:\n5\/10\nRate the drivetrain for weight:\n5\/10\nRate the drivetrain for value:\n2\/10\nOn a £2,500+ bike, you really expect better.\nTell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn’t like? Any components which didn’t work well together?\nBrompton has made its own gearset and I would suggest Riese & Müller would probably benefit from doing the same. Fitting budget drivetrain componentry to bike at this price point doesn’t look good.\nRate the wheels for performance:\n5\/10\nRate the wheels for durability:\n7\/10\nRate the wheels for weight:\n4\/10\nRate the wheels for comfort:\n5\/10\nRate the wheels for value:\n2\/10\nAgain, R&M branded kit, even if it was still produced by Alex, would at least look better.\nRate the tyres for performance:\n8\/10\nRate the tyres for durability:\n7\/10\nRate the tyres for weight:\n7\/10\nRate the tyres for comfort:\n7\/10\nRate the tyres for value:\n6\/10\nRate the controls for performance:\n8\/10\nRate the controls for durability:\n7\/10\nRate the controls for weight:\n7\/10\nRate the controls for comfort:\n8\/10\nRate the controls for value:\n6\/10\nAnything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad)\nThe Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes are probably the highlight of the package – they work well.\nDid you enjoy riding the bike?\nYes\nWould you consider buying the bike?\nAbsolutely not.\nWould you recommend the bike to a friend?\nTo test, yes. To buy unseen, no.\nHow does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?\nThe Vello Rocky (review to come) is similar in being almost a boutique-style folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter weight Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890. Or there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of\nBrompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models\n. In comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive.\nRate the bike overall for performance:\n7\/10\nRate the bike overall for value:\n4\/10\nUse this box to explain your overall score\nFolders are so tricky to score because they often feature so much innovation and engineering yet, ultimately, they still have to be judged on the basics: ride quality, performance and value. Here, the Birdy does well on the first two criteria, even if that bobbing sensation is a bit off-putting. But even despite all the positive qualities of its unique design, the Birdy’s price is just too much for most people.\nOverall rating:\n6\n\/10\nAge:\n39  Height: 6’0  \nWeight:\n16 stone\nI usually ride:\nIslabikes Beinn 29  \nMy best bike is:\n25-year-old Dawes Galaxy\nI’ve been riding for:\nOver 20 years  \nI ride:\nMost days  \nI would class myself as:\nExperienced\nI regularly do the following types of riding:\ncommuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, Leisure","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#content \"Skip to content\")\n\n- [road.cc](https:\/\/road.cc\/)\n- [off.road.cc](https:\/\/road.cc\/offroad)\n- [ebiketips](https:\/\/road.cc\/ebiketips)\n- [Shop](https:\/\/shop.road.cc\/)\n- [About us](https:\/\/road.cc\/about-us)\n- [Subscribe to the road.cc newsletter here](https:\/\/forms.aweber.com\/form\/14\/939269414.htm)\n\n[Log In](https:\/\/road.cc\/roadcc-login) [Register](https:\/\/road.cc\/register)\n\n## Support road.cc\nLike this site? 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[Underwear](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/clothing\/underwear)\n  \n  [Trousers](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/trousers)\n  \n  [Bar tape & grips](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/bar-tape-grips)\n  \n  [Bottom brackets](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/bottom-brackets)\n  \n  [Brake & gear cables](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/brake-cables)\n  \n  [Brake & STI levers](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/brake-sti-levers)\n  \n  [Brake pads & spares](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/brake-pads-spares)\n  \n  [Brakes](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/brakes)\n  \n  [Cassettes & freewheels](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/cassettes-freewheels)\n  \n  [Chains](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/chains)\n  \n  [Chainsets & chainrings](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/chainsets-chainrings)\n  \n  [Derailleurs – front](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/derailleurs-front)\n  \n  [Derailleurs – rear](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/derailleurs-rear)\n  \n  [Forks](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/forks)\n  \n  [Gear levers & shifters](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/levers-shifters)\n  \n  [Groupsets](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/groupsets)\n  \n  [Handlebars & extensions](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/handlebars-extensions)\n  \n  [Headsets](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/headsets)\n  \n  [Hubs](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/hubs)\n  \n  [Inner tubes](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/inner-tubes)\n  \n  [Pedals](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/pedals)\n  \n  [Quick releases & skewers](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/quick-releases-skewers)\n  \n  [Saddles](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/saddles)\n  \n  [Seatposts](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/seatposts)\n  \n  [Stems](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/stems)\n  \n  [Wheels](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/components\/wheels)\n  \n  [Tyres](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/tyres)\n  \n  [Energy & recovery bars](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/energy-recovery-bars)\n  \n  [Energy & recovery drinks](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/energy-recovery-drinks)\n  \n  [Energy & recovery gels](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/energy-recovery-gels)\n  \n  [Heart rate monitors](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/heart-rate-monitors)\n  \n  [Hydration products](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/hydration-products)\n  \n  [Hydration systems](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/hydration-systems)\n  \n  [Indoor trainers](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/indoor-trainers)\n  \n  [Power measurement](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/power-measurement)\n  \n  [Skincare & embrocation](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/skincare-embrocation)\n  \n  [Sun care](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/sun-care)\n  \n  [Training – misc](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/nutrition-and-health\/training-misc)\n  \n  [Cleaning products](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/tools-and-workshop\/cleaning-products)\n  \n  [Lubrication](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/tools-and-workshop\/lubrication)\n  \n  [Tools – multitools](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/tools-and-workshop\/tools-multitools)\n  \n  [Tools – Portable](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/tools-and-workshop\/tools-portable)\n  \n  [Tools – workshop](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/tools-and-workshop\/tools-workshop)\n  \n  [Workstands](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/product-type\/workstands)\n  \n  [Apps](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/product-type\/apps)\n  \n  [Books, Maps & DVDs](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/miscellaneous\/books-maps-dvds)\n  \n  [Camping and outdoor equipment](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/miscellaneous\/camping-and-outdoor-equipment)\n  \n  [Family](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/miscellaneous\/family)\n  \n  [Gifts & misc](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/miscellaneous\/gifts-misc)\n- [Buyers Guides](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide)\n  \n  Close Buyers Guides\n  \n  Open Buyers Guides\n  [Bike](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/bikes)\n  \n  [Components](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/components)\n  \n  [Accessories](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/accessories)\n  \n  [Clothing](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/clothing)\n  \n  [Health, fitness and nutrition](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/health-fitness-and-nutrition)\n  \n  [Tools and workshop](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/tools-and-workshop)\n  \n  [Miscellaneous](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/miscellaneous)\n  \n  [Road bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/road-bikes)\n  \n  [Sportive and endurance bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/sportive-and-endurance-bikes)\n  \n  [Gravel and adventure bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/gravel-and-adventure-bikes)\n  \n  [Urban and hybrid bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/urban-and-hybrid-bikes)\n  \n  [Touring bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/touring-bikes)\n  \n  [Cyclocross bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/cyclocross-bikes)\n  \n  [Electric bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/electric-bikes)\n  \n  [Folding bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/folding-bikes)\n  \n  [Fixed & singlespeed bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/fixed-singlespeed-bikes)\n  \n  [Children’s bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/childrens-bikes)\n  \n  [Tandems](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/tandems)\n  \n  [Frames](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/frames)\n  \n  [Accessories – misc](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/accessories-misc)\n  \n  [Bags](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/bags)\n  \n  [Bike bags & cases](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/bike-bags-cases)\n  \n  [Cameras](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/cameras)\n  \n  [Car racks](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/car-racks)\n  \n  [Child seats](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/child-seats)\n  \n  [Computers](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/computers)\n  \n  [Glasses](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/glasses)\n  \n  [GPS units](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/gps-units)\n  \n  [Helmets](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/helmets)\n  \n  [Lights – front](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/lights-front)\n  \n  [Lights – rear](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/lights-rear)\n  \n  [Locks](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/locks)\n  \n  [Mudguards](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/mudguards)\n  \n  [Racks](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/racks)\n  \n  [Pumps & CO2 inflators](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/pumps-co2-inflators)\n  \n  [Puncture kits](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/puncture-kits)\n  \n  [Reflectives](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/reflectives)\n  \n  [Stands and racks](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/stands-and-racks)\n  \n  [Trailers](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/trailers)\n  \n  [Arm & leg warmers](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/arm-leg-warmers)\n  \n  [Base layers](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/base-layers)\n  \n  [Gilets](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/gilets)\n  \n  [Gloves – full finger](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/gloves-full-finger)\n  \n  [Gloves – mitts](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/gloves-mitts)\n  \n  [Headwear](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/headwear)\n  \n  [Jackets](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/jackets)\n  \n  [Jerseys – casual](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/jerseys-casual)\n  \n  [Jerseys – long sleeve](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/jerseys-long-sleeve)\n  \n  [Jerseys – short sleeve](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/jerseys-short-sleeve)\n  \n  [Overshoes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/overshoes)\n  \n  [Shoes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/shoes)\n  \n  [Shorts & 3\/4s](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/shorts-3-4s)\n  \n  [Socks](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/socks)\n  \n  [Tights & longs](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/tights-longs)\n  \n  [Trousers](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/trousers)\n  \n  [Bar tape & grips](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/bar-tape-grips)\n  \n  [Brake & STI levers](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/brake-sti-levers)\n  \n  [Brakes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/brakes)\n  \n  [Chainsets & chainrings](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/chainsets-chainrings)\n  \n  [Derailleurs – front](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/derailleurs-front)\n  \n  [Derailleurs – rear](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/derailleurs-rear)\n  \n  [Groupsets](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/groupsets)\n  \n  [Handlebars & extensions](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/handlebars-extensions)\n  \n  [Inner tubes](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/inner-tubes)\n  \n  [Pedals](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/pedals)\n  \n  [Saddles](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/saddles)\n  \n  [Seatposts](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/seatposts)\n  \n  [Wheels](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/wheels)\n  \n  [Tyres](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/tyres)\n  \n  [Heart rate monitors](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/heart-rate-monitors)\n  \n  [Indoor trainers](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/indoor-trainers)\n  \n  [Power measurement](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/power-measurement)\n  \n  [Skincare & embrocation](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/skincare-embrocation)\n  \n  [Training – misc](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/training-misc)\n  \n  [Lubrication](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/lubrication)\n  \n  [Tools – multitools](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/tools-multitools)\n  \n  [Tools – workshop](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/tools-workshops)\n  \n  [Tools – Portable](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/tools-portable)\n  \n  [Books, Maps & DVDs](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/books-maps-dvds)\n  \n  [Gifts & misc](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide\/gifts-misc)\n- [Features](https:\/\/road.cc\/features)\n  \n  Close Features\n  \n  Open Features\n  [All](https:\/\/road.cc\/features)\n  \n  [How To](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/feature-sections\/how)\n  \n  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[Tandems](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/tandems)\n  \n  [Frames](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/frames)\n  \n  ![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/arrow-right.png)\n  \n  Back\n  \n  [Accessories – misc](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/accessories-misc)\n  \n  [Computer mounts](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/computer-mounts\/)\n  \n  [Bags](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/bags\/)\n  \n  [Bar ends](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/bar-ends\/)\n  \n  [Bike bags & cases](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/bike-bags-cases\/)\n  \n  [Bottle cages](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/bottle-cages\/)\n  \n  [Bottles](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/bottle)\n  \n  [Cameras](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/cameras\/)\n  \n  [Car racks](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/car-racks\/)\n  \n  [Child seats](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/child-seats\/)\n  \n  [Computers](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/computers\/)\n  \n  [Glasses](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/glasses\/)\n  \n  [GPS units](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/gps-units)\n  \n  [Helmets](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/helmets)\n  \n  [Lights – front](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/lights-front)\n  \n  [Lights – rear](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/lights-rear)\n  \n  [Light – sets](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/lights-sets)\n  \n  [Locks](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/locks)\n  \n  [Mirrors](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/mirrors)\n  \n  [Mudguards](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/mudguards)\n  \n  [Racks](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/racks)\n  \n  [Pumps & CO2 inflators](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/pumps-co2-inflators)\n  \n  [Puncture kits](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/puncture-kits)\n  \n  [Reflectives](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/reflectives)\n  \n  [Smart watches](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/smart-watches)\n  \n  [Stands and racks](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/stands-and-racks)\n  \n  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& 3\/4s](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/shorts-3-4s)\n  \n  [Skin](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/skin)\n  \n  [Socks](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/socks)\n  \n  [Tights & longs](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/tights-longs)\n  \n  [Underwear](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/underwear)\n  \n  [Trousers](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/trousers)\n  \n  ![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/arrow-right.png)\n  \n  Back\n  \n  [Bar tape & grips](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/bar-tape-grips)\n  \n  [Bottom brackets](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/bottom-brackets)\n  \n  [Brake & gear cables](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/brake-gear-cables)\n  \n  [Brake & STI levers](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/brake-sti-levers)\n  \n  [Brake pads & spares](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/brake-pads-spares)\n  \n  [Brakes](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/brakes)\n  \n  [Cassettes & freewheels](https:\/\/road.cc\/product_type\/cassettes-freewheels)\n  \n  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chainrings](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Derailleurs – rear](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Forks](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Gear levers and shifters](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Groupsets](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Handlebars](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Headsets](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Brakes](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Inner tubes](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Pedals](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Rear shocks](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - [Rotors](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093)\n    - 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[Ebiketips](https:\/\/road.cc\/ebiketips)\n\n[log in](https:\/\/road.cc\/roadcc-login)\n\n[register](https:\/\/road.cc\/register)\n\n[Back to Reviews](https:\/\/road.cc\/reviews)\n\n- Reviews\n- [Folding bikes](https:\/\/road.cc\/category\/review-section\/bikes\/folding-bikes)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-3-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - riding 3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n# Birdy Touring\n- [by Matt Lamy](https:\/\/road.cc\/author\/matt-lamy)\n\nWed, Aug 10, 2022 08:45\n\n[21](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comments)\n\n£2669.00\n\n#### VERDICT:\n6\/\n\n10\n\nUnique folding bike with a lot of positives qualities, but it also has a strange tendency to bob, and that price, well...\n\nComfort\n\nControl\n\nPower delivery\n\nSuper expensive\n\nLiable to bobbing\n\nLow-rent components in parts\n\nWeight:\n\n12100g\n\nContact:\n\n[www.r-m.de](https:\/\/www.r-m.de\/en-gb\/bikes\/birdy\/birdy-touring\/#F00760_0602)\n\nHow we test\n\nWe thoroughly test every product we review for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced riders that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don’t intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product’s function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.\n\n**What the scores mean**\n\nGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.\n\n- Exceptional\n- Excellent\n- Very Good\n- Good\n- Quite good\n- Average\n- Not so good\n- Poor\n- Bad\n- Appalling\n\n*This review contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent.*\n\n**Riese & Müller’s iconic Birdy could be characterised as the over-engineered Germanic answer to a Brompton. However, while the Birdy Touring’s ride experience does exhibit a strange ‘bobbing’ quality, it is also superbly comfortable with surprisingly impressive levels of power delivery and control. It is very, very expensive, though.**\n\nHere at road.cc, we don’t do grouptests, which is a blessing to some extent. Trying to get multiple versions of similar bikes from disparate manufacturers or distributors can feel like herding cats. However, as luck would have it, at the same time as I was testing the Birdy, I also had the [Vello Rocky](https:\/\/en.vello.bike\/products\/vello-rocky) on review, so (don’t tell anybody), if you read that review (once it’s published) straight after this, I’ve sort of snuck in a little two-model ’boutique-style’ folding bike grouptest here.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-2-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nThe Birdy offers a strangely springy ride quality, far more so than the very, very stiff Vello. Thanks to suspension both front and back, there’s a slightly bizarre sensation of bobbing up and down in the saddle – particularly when pedalling hard – that takes a bit of getting used. I suspect roadies and anybody focused solely on forward momentum will find it frustrating. However, it’s hard to condemn the Birdy’s ride because it’s also very comfortable. Think of it sort of like a folding bike equivalent of an old Citroen 2CV; it’s almost impossible to stop it lolloping and rolling but it’s still quite impressive in its own way.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-suspension-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-damper-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nJust to check it wasn’t my prodigious weight causing this phenomenon, I gave the Birdy to my wife, who is not a prodigious weight. She also experienced the bobbing, but she also said it was the most comfortable bike she’d ever ridden. I have to concur – it is very comfortable – but that bobbing is still pretty weird.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-3-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nWhile some riders might far rather swap at least some of that obviously compliant bump-absorption for a bit more stiffness, pedalling is far from a turgid affair and the Birdy actually gets up to speed well. The Birdy marketing bumf suggests this is because the suspended wheels maintain contact with the ground better, and therefore create better drive.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-fork-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nControl is also surprisingly good. For a folder, reach is quite long, which provides a slightly more enthusiastic ride and, at speed, the Birdy handles very well. It’s easy to place on the road and its geometry offers just about the most naturally stable riding position – for me at 6ft at least – of any folder I’ve tested. The bobbing motion of the suspension negatively affects the feeling of stability just a tad, but among all the folders I’ve tested, it is – again surprisingly – the easiest for getting out of the saddle.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-4-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nIn short, that wallowing suspension might not be to everybody’s tastes, but this is an otherwise fun and capable bike to ride.\n\n### Frame\nIn unfolded form, the Birdy’s geometry and riding position make it feel almost like a ‘normal’ bike. As I mentioned, the reach is good, as is wheelbase length. Stem height can be adjusted to one of five predetermined points, but even at the top one it might be a little low for tall riders wanting an upright position. I thought it was perfect for getting a bit of speed up. Saddle height was good enough to fit my 6ft frame and there was more seatpost available.\n\n![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-bar-height-adjustment-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-bars-quick-release-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-bars-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-brak-elever-and-bell-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-cable-routing-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-chain-detail-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-crank-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-crank-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-1-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folding-hinge-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-frame-bag-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-frame-logo-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-disc-brake-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-fork-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-light-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-suspension-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-head-tube-badge-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-kick-stand-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-lever-and-shifter-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-mudguard-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-damper-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-disc-brake-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mech-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mudguard-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-rack-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-rack-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-reflectors-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-saddle-rear-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-saddle-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-seat-post-quick-release-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-seat-post-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-dynamo-hub-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-1-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-3-1024x683.jpg)![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-4-1024x683.jpg)\n\nThere’s no getting away from the fact that the Birdy is a pretty funny looking thing. The main frame is effectively a single piece of aluminium engineering – no traditional tubes and joins here, this is monocoque all the way, albeit with a small integrated triangle heading down to the bottom bracket.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-2.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nAt the bottom bracket, there’s also the pivot point for the separate hydroformed rear triangle. Like the Brompton and the aforementioned Vello, the Birdy’s fold relies on this rear triangle swinging underneath the main frame when folded.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folding-hinge.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nAt the front, it’s sort of similar, actually. The fork’s two-arm suspension system effectively splits, with the front wheel folding underneath to sit alongside the main frame. It’s all rather ingenious, although the stem ruins it slightly by utilising an old-school clamp that you have to undo to fold that in half.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-head-tube-badge.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nDrop the saddle to lock everything in place, and you’ve got a very compact little folded package.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-2.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nThe Birdy has the world record for folding – 4.9 seconds – and despite its engineering complexity, it’s actually fairly intuitive. I unfolded it initially without resorting to any instructions.\n\n### Gearset and brakes\nI tested the Touring Birdy here, which comes with a 10-speed derailleur gearset, as opposed to the City model with Shimano Nexus hub gear, or Rohloff model with – you guessed it – a Rohloff Speed Hub. Having a 32-tooth biggest sprocket does look a tad strange inset against an 18in wheel, but a derailleur setup is – normally at least – fine by me.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nGear changes were very positive and allied with the Driveline 52-tooth chainset, the 9-32 cassette offered enough options for just about anything – climbing is particularly easy. It’s a bit of a shame that on a bike costing north of £2,500 you’re ‘only’ getting Microshift XLE componentry at the rear mech – I looked online and the XLE rear mech is available for £29.99 from a well-known online cycle retailer. Call me a snob, but a £30 rear mech on a £2,500+ bike seems a bit cheap. Despite that, I’m actually quite a fan of Microshift kit so, functionally at least, there’s almost nothing to complain about.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-crank.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nI say ‘almost’ because Birdy does make mention of the fact that, despite its low bottom bracket, it still complies with regulations regarding pedal strike when leaning over into a corner. What it doesn’t say is that having a full size rear mech on an 18in rear wheel means you can get pretty close to striking the road with that, too. I doubt you’ll be knee-down in the corners enough for it to be a problem, but just be aware that it’s a lot closer to the floor than a rear mech normally is.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mech.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nFinishing off the important moving parts are the Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes. These offer more than enough power, and after an initial ‘grabby phase’ provide excellent feel to make sure you use exactly the amount of braking that you need.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-disc-brake.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nOne little quirk about these, though, is that the front calliper is mounted on the right leg of the fork. It makes no difference to performance but does seem just a tad strange.\n\n### Wheels and tyres\nThe Birdy runs on 18in wheels, rather than the Vello’s 20in or the Brompton’s 16in. The rims here are made by Alex, which again is another slight disappointment. (Fun game for the comments section – can anybody name a bike that costs more than the Birdy but also runs Alex rims?)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-1.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nThe more interesting part of the wheel build is the Shutter Precision front dynamo hub. We’ll come onto the point of that in a mo. As a package, the wheels seem fine if exceedingly nondescript.\n\nTyres are a bit better for people looking for brand names. The Schwalbe Marathon Racers offer fantastic grip in the dry and should be good enough for year-round use in all but snow and ice. They’re certainly a sensible out-of-the-box option to get the most out of your Birdy.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-mudguard.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n### Finishing kit\nFolding bikes are always a bit weird when it comes to finishing kit, and the Birdy is certainly no exception. I’ll start with the obvious stuff first: the Selle Royal Shadow saddle is great; the Satori Horizon handlebar is good; and the Ergon ergonomic grips are excellent.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-saddle-rear.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-lever-and-shifter.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nWe also get cute little Birdy-specific SKS mudguards, a little kickstand on the rear triangle and custom – although sadly not folding – pedals.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mudguard.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-kick-stand.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nBest of all, though, the front dynamo hub powers Supernova E3 lights at the front and rear, and our Birdy also came with Riese & Müller’s funky Birdy luggage rack (that’s an extra £94), which cleverly drops down with the rear triangle in folded form.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-dynamo-hub.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-rack-2.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n### Value and conclusion\nAccording to Riese and Müller’s website, the Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. Don’t get your hopes up that there’s a budget wonder there, though: the entry-level Birdy City starts at £2,579 and the halo Birdy Rohloff is a whopping £3,979.\n\nObviously, in that kind of price range, equivalent rival bikes are few and far between.\n\nI mentioned the Vello Rocky I’ve also been reviewing earlier, which is similar in being almost a boutique folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890 (£2,444.37).\n\nOr there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of [Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models](https:\/\/knl.mntzrlt.net\/shop-rest\/api\/link\/wrapper\/660\/12?mk=GBP_EN&su=chrome-extension%3A%2F%2Fkcldccohmbodnkjokmlfpdhmdoogaadf&tu=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tredz.co.uk%2F.Brompton-P-Line-Urban-Low-Bar-Increased-Gearing-Midnight-Black-2022-Folding-Bike_244946.htm). So in comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive.\n\n[\\> Best folding bikes 2022 – portable bikes for convenient commuting](https:\/\/road.cc\/index.php\/buyers_guide\/6-best-folding-bikes-2022-195485\/)\n\nDespite its fairly phenomenal price, though, I have developed a bit of affection for my little Birdy test bike. While I could never imagine spending that kind of money to buy one myself, there is a lot of innovative engineering here. Yes, its ride experience is unusual, but it’s quite fun, very comfortable, and surprisingly fast and secure on the road. If you want something special, and you’ve got the money, certainly give one a test ride.\n\n### Verdict\nUnique folding bike with a lot of positives qualities, but it also has a strange tendency to bob, and that price, well…\n\nAll the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click [here](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/blog\/how-does-roadcc-makes-money-300903\/).\n\nroad.cc test report\n\n**Make and model:** Birdy Touring\n\n**Size tested:** n\/a\n\nAbout the bike\n\n**List the components used to build up the bike.**\n\nBirdy lists:\n\nFrame: Monocoque aluminium with hydroformed aluminium rear triangle\n\nHeadset: TH No 10, semi-integrated\n\nCrankset: Driveline 52T, including Hollow Tech bottom bracket\n\nRear derailleur: Microshift, 10-speed\n\nShifter: Shimano Deore, 10-speed\n\nChain: KMC X10 ( 111x )\n\nCassette: Sunrace 10-speed, 9-32t\n\nBrakes: Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brake\n\nRims: Alex 18in\n\nFront hub: Hub dynamo Shutter Precision\n\nRear hub: Sunrace, 32 Loch\n\nTyres: Schwalbe Marathon Racer 40-355 Reflex\n\nTubes: Schwalbe SV5\n\nSaddle: Selle Royal Shadow\n\nSeatpost: JD \/ Riese and Müller, aluminium 34.9 x 565mm\n\nSeatclamp: TranzX, 40,0 mm, QR\n\nPedals: VP R\\&M Custom\n\nHandlebar: Satori Horizon, 31.8 mm, 10°, B=540 mm\n\nGrips: Ergon ergonomic\n\nFront light: Supernova E3 Pure 3S\n\nTail light: Supernova E3 E-Bike Tail Light 2\n\nMudguards: SKS Birdy\n\nKickstand: Minoura for Birdy\n\n**Tell us what the bike is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?**\n\nThis is a folding bike aimed at the serious commuter or even longer-distance cyclist. Riese and Müller says: “Whether you’re on holiday or for everyday working, the Birdy takes you safely to any destination, with Riese & Müller Control Technology. Thanks to its unique folding properties and low weight, you can take it with you easily at any time: folded together, it fits onto any form of public transport or into any car boot. And it can also be adjusted to different rider heights just as quickly as it can be folded.”\n\n**Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options**\n\nThe Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. There’s the entry-level Birdy City starting at £2,579 or the halo Birdy Rohloff starting at £3,979.\n\nFrame and fork\n\n**Overall rating for frame and fork**\n\n9\/10\n\n**Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?**\n\nThe frame and fork are essentially the main selling points of the Birdy, and you can see why. They’re very well engineered.\n\n**Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?**\n\nAluminium monocoque for the main body of the frame, with hydroformed aluminium elsewhere.\n\n**Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?**\n\nQuite aggressive, almost ‘real’ bike geometry for the Birdy. I felt more head-down than on most other folders.\n\n**How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?**\n\nVery good in terms of height and reach. Only potential negative is that some riders might want slightly more handlebar height.\n\nRiding the bike\n\n**Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.**\n\nVery comfortable to ride – the suspension front and back saw to that\\!\n\n**Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?**\n\nAh, now it gets tricky. Yes, this bike bobs and wallows almost all the time, but especially under pedalling input.\n\n**How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?**\n\nIt still felt efficient, though.\n\n**Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?**\n\nNo.\n\n**How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive?** Not super lively, but a bit more eager than plain neutral.\n\n**Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?**\n\nI was impressed by the handling. Aside from the bobbing, it was very surefooted. High speed freewheeling descents, for example, were great fun.\n\n**Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s comfort? would you recommend any changes?**\n\nNo changes needed for comfort.\n\n**Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s stiffness? would you recommend any changes?**\n\nNo component changes would make any difference here.\n\n**Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s efficiency? would you recommend any changes?**\n\nI’d suggest a higher-spec gearset would make things even better.\n\n**Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:**\n\n7\/10\n\nPretty good.\n\n**Rate the bike for acceleration:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for sprinting:**\n\n6\/10\n\nIt’s a folder, so its sprinting capacity is limited. But the Birdy is good for a folder.\n\n**Rate the bike for high speed stability:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for low speed stability:**\n\n6\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for flat cornering:**\n\n6\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for cornering on descents:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for climbing:**\n\n7\/10\n\nIt’s efficient, but that bobbing really makes itself known on climbs.\n\nThe drivetrain\n\n**Rate the drivetrain for performance:**\n\n6\/10\n\n**Rate the drivetrain for durability:**\n\n5\/10\n\n**Rate the drivetrain for weight:**\n\n5\/10\n\n**Rate the drivetrain for value:**\n\n2\/10\n\nOn a £2,500+ bike, you really expect better.\n\n**Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn’t like? Any components which didn’t work well together?**\n\nBrompton has made its own gearset and I would suggest Riese & Müller would probably benefit from doing the same. Fitting budget drivetrain componentry to bike at this price point doesn’t look good.\n\nWheels and tyres\n\n**Rate the wheels for performance:**\n\n5\/10\n\n**Rate the wheels for durability:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the wheels for weight:**\n\n4\/10\n\n**Rate the wheels for comfort:**\n\n5\/10\n\n**Rate the wheels for value:**\n\n2\/10\n\nAgain, R\\&M branded kit, even if it was still produced by Alex, would at least look better.\n\n**Rate the tyres for performance:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the tyres for durability:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the tyres for weight:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the tyres for comfort:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the tyres for value:**\n\n6\/10\n\nControls\n\n**Rate the controls for performance:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the controls for durability:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the controls for weight:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the controls for comfort:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the controls for value:**\n\n6\/10\n\n**Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad)**\n\nThe Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes are probably the highlight of the package – they work well.\n\nYour summary\n\n**Did you enjoy riding the bike?** Yes\n\n**Would you consider buying the bike?** Absolutely not.\n\n**Would you recommend the bike to a friend?** To test, yes. To buy unseen, no.\n\n**How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?**\n\nThe Vello Rocky (review to come) is similar in being almost a boutique-style folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter weight Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890. Or there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of [Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models](https:\/\/road.cc\/index.php\/review\/brompton-p-line-urban-2022-290711\/). In comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive.\n\n**Rate the bike overall for performance:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the bike overall for value:**\n\n4\/10\n\n**Use this box to explain your overall score**\n\nFolders are so tricky to score because they often feature so much innovation and engineering yet, ultimately, they still have to be judged on the basics: ride quality, performance and value. Here, the Birdy does well on the first two criteria, even if that bobbing sensation is a bit off-putting. But even despite all the positive qualities of its unique design, the Birdy’s price is just too much for most people.\n\nOverall rating: 6\/10\n\nAbout the tester\n\n**Age:** 39 Height: 6’0 **Weight:** 16 stone\n\n**I usually ride:** Islabikes Beinn 29 **My best bike is:** 25-year-old Dawes Galaxy\n\n**I’ve been riding for:** Over 20 years **I ride:** Most days **I would class myself as:** Experienced\n\n**I regularly do the following types of riding:** commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, Leisure\n\n#### Help us to bring you the best cycling content\nIf you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.\n\n[Subscribe](https:\/\/road.cc\/register)\n\n- [Birdy](https:\/\/road.cc\/tags\/birdy), [Birdy 2022](https:\/\/road.cc\/show\/tags\/birdy-2022\/206869), [Birdy Touring](https:\/\/road.cc\/show\/tags\/birdy-touring\/206867), [Birdy Touring 2022](https:\/\/road.cc\/show\/tags\/birdy-touring-2022\/206865), [Riese & Muller](https:\/\/road.cc\/show\/tags\/riese-muller\/172621)\n\n![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/807932bd8f5171bf30952f9ba93f199e7e7e4b05051a69271594e13c5de167f7?s=96&d=mm&r=g)\n\n##### [Matt Lamy](https:\/\/road.cc\/author\/matt-lamy)\n[![twitter](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/import\/twitter-black.svg)](https:\/\/twitter.com\/)\n\n## 21 Comments\n## 21 thoughts on “Birdy Touring”\n1. ![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/pictures\/picture-769249-1631883907.jpg)\n   \n   Secret\\_squirrel\n   \n   [August 10, 2022 at 10:34 am](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727212)\n   \n   0\n   \n   **This review is a little**\n   \n   This review is a little unfair imo.\n   \n   I owned the 2019 version of the Birdy touring also an older Birdy Blue (24 speed!).\n   \n   Firstly I never ever noticed any bobbing on my 2 models – its worth noting that rear elastomer is replaceable at purchase for a harder or softer one. I was 75kg on the Medium. YMMV of course.\n   \n   Doing a proper price comparison to the Vello (which wouldnt exist without the Birdy) makes it slghtly more equal – though you are paying a premium for a smaller, faster fold, that monocoque hydroformed frame and a lighter base weight (closer to 11kg without the Dynamo & rear rack and lighter than the non-Ti Brompton)\n   \n   Its also worth noting that the Vello doesnt even appear to be available in the UK – so the Birdy has a Brexit\/Import Tax AND a LBS retail tax on it which the Vello doesn’t.\n   \n   If you spec the Vello up to the same level it comes to € 2.496.00 (Birdy €2,799) without an equivalent of that funny frame box and alegedly you get an Abus lock too (in Germany at least) – so dont think its that much worse.\n   \n   Agree the rear mech is low rent. It was bad enough when it was 10 sp Deore rear mech. Also the mech is worryly low but you can go lower. I replaced mine with an 11sp Long cage XT Shadow Rear Mech which was even lower – but worth bearing in mind that you’re rarely in the bigger cogs where the jockeys are so low. I never had a surface strike either – I did long 15-20 mile commutes on mine and it was barely any slower than my road bike.\n   \n   Also check out the 32-9t rear cassette 😉\n   \n   (Obviously a Birdy fanboi here – its not perfect but I did like my 2)\n   \n   Also if you think this is pricey you should see the Rohloff version 😉\n   - ![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/BSReTVSCMAI-cxc.jpg_large.jpg)\n     \n     Simon\\_MacMichael\n     \n     [August 10, 2022 at 10:29 am](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727213)\n     \n     0\n     \n     **Thanks for the comment, I’ve**\n     \n     Thanks for the comment, I’ve flagged it to our tech team to look at.\n     - ![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/BSReTVSCMAI-cxc.jpg_large.jpg)\n       \n       Simon\\_MacMichael\n       \n       [August 10, 2022 at 2:30 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727316)\n       \n       0\n       \n       **After a bit of research,**\n       \n       After a bit of research, Vello does in fact have a distributor in the UK, based in east London, so other issues pointed out in comments apart (ie cost of speccing extras) there’s no issues with import duty etc.\n       \n       <https:\/\/www.aboutthebike.co.uk\/vello-bike>\n   - ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/807932bd8f5171bf30952f9ba93f199e7e7e4b05051a69271594e13c5de167f7?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n     \n     Matt Lamy\n     \n     [August 10, 2022 at 4:24 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727353)\n     \n     0\n     \n     **Hi there, thanks for your**  \n     Hi there, thanks for your comment. The rear rack doesn’t come as standard on the Birdy – not even on the ‘Touring’ model – add the carrier and it’s £2763. As you say, an equivalent VELLO would be €2469 which at current exchange rates would be £2110 – £650 less than the Birdy. (However, in the Birdy’s favour, the price for a UK-sourced VELLO seems to be a bit more than a direct price conversion.) So it’s complicated. However, as a package, I still believe the VELLO is better value. I mean, a £30 rear mech on a £2.5k+ bike just looks like a ridiculous speccing decision\\!  \n      I stand by the bobbing issue I had – it was bizarre. Because the Riese and Muller website has UK prices, I used that as my reference and I couldn’t find any mention of alternative suspension parts there. However, following your comment, I see they are available on the US Birdy website – thank you for letting us know. All that said, and without wishing to pre-empt the VELLO review, even with the bobbing, I’d still rather ride the Birdy…\n2. ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/76eedafcfd55aa8553fa53546d245d76a29bca2737cb5ac329743632e1d4cd54?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n   \n   Doctor Fegg\n   \n   [August 10, 2022 at 12:04 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727245)\n   \n   0\n   \n   **For a touring folder my first**\n   \n   For a touring folder my first stop would always be a Bike Friday New World Tourist (20in wheels): I’ve had one for some seven years now and remain delighted with it. I suspect the Birdy folds a bit smaller, but the NWT is small enough for a suitcase or a train luggage rack, which is surely enough unless you’re doing the whole Brompton commuter thing.\n   \n   Bike Friday don’t currently have a UK dealer (sigh) but it’d still come out at less than the Birdy price.\n   \n   The Airnimal Joey is worth considering, too.\n3. ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6efa5ad34fdce4f0c3b5bcfc9a3d9f5d14b023f6b4d17aaa146334ac5e161ab9?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n   \n   SimonS\n   \n   [August 10, 2022 at 3:45 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727344)\n   \n   0\n   \n   **I’ve always wanted a Birdy**\n   \n   I’ve always wanted a Birdy since I first rode one nearly 20 years ago. I’m on my second Brompton since then and, while they’re a load of fun and massively convenient i still think the Birdy would be better for longer rides while still having the security off Folding and storing indoors.\n   \n   At first glance the Vello looks like it’s got a decent riding position but it’s useless as a utility bike without mudguards and luggage carrying. And I can’t find any images of it with either fitted. (I’d want a dynamo too for full convenience)\n4. ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n   \n   wtjs\n   \n   [August 10, 2022 at 4:51 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727357)\n   \n   0\n   \n   **The bobbing problem: I’ve had**  \n   The bobbing problem: I’ve had a Birdy for over 20 years – a previous model with more boxy aluminium frame. I have never toured with it carrying heavy loads, and its main use was being hidden in obscure locations at the end of mountain tours so we could start from the car in one place and end at another. I would then ride a couple of hours at most to retrieve the car. I never experienced bobbing. I bought the green ‘hard’ elastomer at the outset, with a spare medium ‘red’. This summer the 20+ year old green just fractured, making the bike unrideable. A quick replacement with the completely unused red didn’t work because that promptly broke too- clearly it’s age not use that finishes them off. A quick look online got me another green with no choice about which model it would fit. Well done R\\&M, because it fitted instantly and it rode better than before – maybe the elastomer is only good for 10 years! I also changed the front, which is just a damper with the work being done by the front suspension spring. It has been ridden on fairly rough roads and even Pyrenean ‘gravel’ and works well. I’m about 75kg, so I suspect that green is best for most people\n   - ![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/pictures\/picture-769249-1631883907.jpg)\n     \n     Secret\\_squirrel\n     \n     [August 10, 2022 at 5:07 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727359)\n     \n     0\n     \n     **Deffo not the green for me**\n     \n     Deffo not the green for me even Red was a touch hard.\n     \n     If anyone wants a yellow (soft) one I think I have a spare in the shed for postage. No guarantees it wont crumble – thats just Age and Elastomers.\n     \n     I have a sizable bundle of odd bits for the Mark 1 non-hydroformed Birdy that I got from a bike shop closing down sale on Ebay – if anyone wants some bits ping me on the below and I’ll send a photo. From memory its mostly partial pannier racks, plastic mud guards, loads of trolley wheels for some reason.\n     \n     I also have lightly used 32-9 Sunrace cassette from this model from my 10 to 11 speed conversion project. Which are like hens teeth outside of the dealers.\n     \n     [decline-gigabit01@icloud.com](mailto:decline-gigabit01@icloud.com)\n     \n     Happy to have a conversation if someone wants to inherit this lot.\n     - ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n       \n       wtjs\n       \n       [August 10, 2022 at 5:18 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727363)\n       \n       0\n       \n       **Mine sounds even more**  \n       Mine sounds even more original than yours, with an 8-speed and a GripShift. I’ve only changed the chain once, whereas I’ve done for 4 on my trailer towing Vitus gravel in 3 years- this shows that the Birdy is underused, but that’s only because I’m lucky enough to have several bikes. Over hilly unladen rides of up to a couple of hours the Birdy does about the same as the steel Vitus, which is not bad for 18″ v 700C\\!\n5. ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/09d6e4c1c6c20a087f04657b5bf1c3a0e94a97a88af9061ce8a844298d49d3eb?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n   \n   eburtthebike\n   \n   [August 10, 2022 at 5:34 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727369)\n   \n   0\n   \n   **I’ve done a few tours on my**\n   \n   I’ve done a few tours on my Birdy, 3×8 gears, and it was excellent, so much better than the hire bikes some of my companions were saddled with, and never had any bobbing problems either.\n   - ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n     \n     wtjs\n     \n     [August 10, 2022 at 6:37 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727377)\n     \n     0\n     \n     **3×8 gears**  \n     3×8 gears  \n      Is that a 3 speed hub? Was it from R\\&M or a mod of your own?\n     - ![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/pictures\/picture-769249-1631883907.jpg)\n       \n       Secret\\_squirrel\n       \n       [August 10, 2022 at 7:55 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727389)\n       \n       0\n       \n       **Sram Dual drive (ex Sachs**\n       \n       Sram Dual drive (ex Sachs Dual Drive). 3 speed Hub with 8 Speed freehub body on outside. I had one too.\n       \n       Same as wtjs’s but painted blue. Orginally the colour = the spec. So Birdy blues were always 24 speed, 8 Speed was Birdy Red. Rohloff was Birdy Black.\n       \n       <https:\/\/www.sheldonbrown.com\/sachs-internal.html>\n       \n       SRAM briefly made a 3×10 speed version\\!\n6. ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n   \n   wtjs\n   \n   [August 10, 2022 at 7:09 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727380)\n   \n   0\n   \n   **I thought I’d better put my**  \n   I thought I’d better put my legs where my mouth is, and brought the Birdy out from its bag. There’s a fairly steep hill near me which I can just get up with my limited 1 x 8 gearing. No bobbing, which is why I have never noticed it over the years. It’s a very useful bike, although I’m glad I don’t have to buy one now\\!  \n    I remember now – won’t go the right way up on Android\n   - ![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/pictures\/picture-769249-1631883907.jpg)\n     \n     Secret\\_squirrel\n     \n     [August 10, 2022 at 8:04 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727387)\n     \n     0\n     \n     **Ohh polished Alu version –**\n     \n     Ohh polished Alu version – Nice! Just keep an eye out for fatigue in the seat post.\n     \n     TRIGGER WARNING – the following picture is real – Japanese only licensed version. I’ve always fancied one.\n     \n     Scroll\n     \n     Scroll some more\n     \n     And more……\n     \n     And more\n     \n     And More\n     \n     And more\n     \n     And more\n     \n     And more\n     \n     Cue the weeping of the entire Italian Nation………\n     - ![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/pictures\/picture-364802-1479517623.jpg)\n       \n       ktache\n       \n       [August 10, 2022 at 9:08 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727398)\n       \n       0\n       \n       **It’s so wrong, but in Celeste**\n       \n       It’s so wrong, but in Celeste, so right…\n7. ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f77d174b4d38fd7de8ca1ac6c4a445fd23bd9b8e1f6a1b8872ea8512ef10377c?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n   \n   a1white\n   \n   [August 11, 2022 at 10:07 am](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727443)\n   \n   0\n   \n   **Crikey that rear derailleur**\n   \n   Crikey that rear derailleur looks so close to the ground. So odd looking. Good job it only costs £30, It looks like you”ll easilly catch it on a kerb or comething.\n   - ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n     \n     wtjs\n     \n     [August 11, 2022 at 11:47 am](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727459)\n     \n     0\n     \n     **Crikey that rear derailleur**\n     \n     *Crikey that rear derailleur looks so close to the ground…It looks like you”ll easilly catch it on a kerb or comething*\n     \n     Depends how you define ‘easily’ and how long-term you want your assurance. Over 20 years of using the bike in Enland, Scotland, Wales, France and Spain without an incident leads me to suspect it’s not that easy\n8. ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/807932bd8f5171bf30952f9ba93f199e7e7e4b05051a69271594e13c5de167f7?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n   \n   Matt Lamy\n   \n   [September 5, 2022 at 11:25 am](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-731315)\n   \n   0\n   \n   **Re: bobbing. As I was finally**  \n   Re: bobbing. As I was finally packing the Birdy to send back today, just thought I’d take a video of its rear elastomer under load. And this is fairly minimal load – just one hand on the saddle and a bit of downward pressure whilst holding an iPhone with the other hand. I suspect, as commenters here have said, a stiffer green elastomer would have been better for me.\n   - ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/807932bd8f5171bf30952f9ba93f199e7e7e4b05051a69271594e13c5de167f7?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n     \n     Matt Lamy\n     \n     [September 5, 2022 at 11:29 am](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-731316)\n     \n     0\n     \n     **Sorry, scuppered by**  \n     Sorry, scuppered by technology – I was hoping as a GIF I’d be able to show moving footage of the rear elastomer squidging up easily.\n   - ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n     \n     wtjs\n     \n     [September 5, 2022 at 11:39 am](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-731318)\n     \n     0\n     \n     **I suspect a stiffer green**\n     \n     *I suspect a stiffer green elastomer would have been better for me*\n     \n     I agree once again\n9. ![](https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1408de1a73197c2150ccb7f681ae9443d6fbcb5b18f05b60aabf791c0b3b3a41?s=50&d=mm&r=g)\n   \n   Philip\\_Rogers\n   \n   [September 29, 2022 at 3:53 pm](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/birdy-touring-295093#comment-734700)\n   \n   0\n   \n   **I have the same model and am**\n   \n   I have the same model and am roughly the same height as you at 184cm. Some further comments:\n   \n   \\+1 for the green rear elastomer and harder front elatomer. I use these in the summer but switch back to red and soft in the winter. The dealer advised this.\n   \n   You look to be on the more upright comfort stem. The sport stem may give a more comfortable and stable ride for taller riders.\n   \n   The dynamo lighting is set for cycling on the right, i.e. as in Germany. This is a nuisance as the front light can dazzle if on unlit cycle paths and not angled down. To my mind the rear light is also wrong and angles too much the left.\n   \n   I had a test ride on the Tourning, which I bought on Cyclescheme, and the Rohloff. The Rohloff felt heavier and slower, which it is, but given steep hills near Bath I would now appreciate the wider gear range.\n\nComments are closed.\n\n## Latest Comments\nRendel Harris 2 hours ago\n\n2028 will be an interesting choice for him (if he's still racing, who's to say that with potentially the most Tour wins, most WC wins and most Monument wins by then he might not have quit?) as although the rumoured road race course would suit him very well even with the Tour being moved to June as planned there will only be about five days between the end of the Tour and the road race to get to the west coast of the USA and acclimatise to the eight hour time difference with France, and the winner will surely be someone who didn't ride the Tour.\n\n[in: Dominant Tadej Pogačar equals Tour of Flanders record to continue perfect season](https:\/\/road.cc\/news\/tadej-pogacar-continues-perfect-season-to-equal-tour-of-flanders-record#comments)\n\nFursty Ferret 2 hours ago\n\nI don't think you could highlight the issues with Garmin's UI more than the fact that the senior editor of Road.cc (and a PhD to boot) can't quickly mute the navigation sounds or stop the guidance on their flagship GPS unit...\n\n[in: The relentless ring of the Garmin: I cycled the roads of the Tour of Flanders… and nearly lost my mind](https:\/\/road.cc\/blog\/i-cycled-the-roads-of-the-tour-of-flanders-and-nearly-lost-my-mind#comments)\n\nRendel Harris 2 hours ago\n\nSincere condolences to David's family for the loss of their husband and father and to you and our local cycling community on the loss of a friend.\n\n[in: British cyclist dies during Tour of Flanders sportive](https:\/\/road.cc\/news\/british-cyclist-dies-during-tour-of-flanders-sportive#comments)\n\nMr Blackbird 4 hours ago\n\nParis Roubaix will be interesting. Potentially the hardest one for Pogacar to win. But who would bet against him? If he wins what will be his next target apart from the TDF and World Champs? The Vuelta? Cavendish's TDF stage record? 2028 Olympic Road Race?\n\n[in: Dominant Tadej Pogačar equals Tour of Flanders record to continue perfect season](https:\/\/road.cc\/news\/tadej-pogacar-continues-perfect-season-to-equal-tour-of-flanders-record#comments)\n\nOldRidgeback 12 hours ago\n\nI was shocked when I went to training this morning to be told by another coach that David had died. He was doing the sportive with his sons. One had ridden ahead and the other was with him when he had the heart attack. I can't imagine the traumatic experience this would've been for his son. I've known David for several years and the boys were both very keen racing cyclists (BMX, cyclocross, road and track), with some good results under their belts from a young age. David took them to so many races, a hands-on dad. He was very fit himself, a keen cyclist too. My deepest condolences go to his wife and sons. I've not named them to give them some privacy. David will be much missed by the many friends he had in South London's cycling community, with his irrepressible smile and humour.\n\n[in: British cyclist dies during Tour of Flanders sportive](https:\/\/road.cc\/news\/british-cyclist-dies-during-tour-of-flanders-sportive#comments)\n\nRendel Harris 15 hours ago\n\nExcellent race and another extraordinary performance from the GOAT. On to important questions though, what was going on with the collar of Tadej's jersey? For many kilometres it looked as though he was wearing a white neckerchief with a bit of material hanging down from his collar, then at some point he presumably tore or had it cut off, hence in the photo above most of the A in UAE is missing. What happened? He didn't crash (that I know of, started watching from 120km to go), was MVDP or one of the other mere mortals trying to pull him back by the collar?\n\n[in: Dominant Tadej Pogačar equals Tour of Flanders record to continue perfect season](https:\/\/road.cc\/news\/tadej-pogacar-continues-perfect-season-to-equal-tour-of-flanders-record#comments)\n\nhawkinspeter 16 hours ago\n\nNice idea, but Raspberry PIs are getting more expensive at the moment, so it's not going to be cost effective, though still a cool and fun project. There's better alternatives for reducing cost or power usage, but Raspberry PIs are going to have the best support available. I like the NanoPI range (https:\/\/www.friendlyelec.com\/index.php?route=product\/category\\&path=69) though I bought more expensive models (e.g. M5) for use as a router (they have OpenWRT support along with docker) which can use and boot from NVMe. I've got a bunch of RPi4s that I'm considering whether it's worth selling them due to the big price increases.\n\n[in: “Flag me”: Tadej Pogačar uses tailwind for latest incredible Strava KOM hunt (after helping out fan trying to convince wife to let him get a Y1Rs); When you haven’t ridden your bike in a while; Was Ganna win aided by sticky bottle? + more on the live blog](https:\/\/road.cc\/news\/cycling-live-blog-2-april-2026#comments)\n\nBroomBroomBroom 18 hours ago\n\nReally sorry to hear this. Had great service from Pedal Heaven last year – fantastic bike shop.\n\n[in: “If you let it get you down, they win”: Bike shop owner hails “amazing” staff and community as business reopens after £40,000 of stock stolen in ram raid](https:\/\/road.cc\/news\/bike-shop-owner-hails-amazing-staff-after-40000-of-stock-stolen-in-ram-raid#comments)\n\nFreddy56 20 hours ago\n\nsuper race\n\n[in: Dominant Tadej Pogačar equals Tour of Flanders record to continue perfect season](https:\/\/road.cc\/news\/tadej-pogacar-continues-perfect-season-to-equal-tour-of-flanders-record#comments)\n\nthrawed 20 hours ago\n\nOn my wahoo I've always turned off the turn by turn notifications because it gets confused by the British tendency to have staggered T junctions rather than crossroads. Using the map page with a couple data important data fields above it is my preference.\n\n[in: The relentless ring of the Garmin: I cycled the roads of the Tour of Flanders… and nearly lost my mind](https:\/\/road.cc\/blog\/i-cycled-the-roads-of-the-tour-of-flanders-and-nearly-lost-my-mind#comments)\n\n## Related Reviews\n[![Velo de Ville E-Foldy (9).JPG](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/velo-de-ville-e-foldy-9-300x200.jpg) Velo de Ville E-Foldy Folds pretty well, rides very well and carries a premium quality price tag](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/velo-de-ville-e-foldy-316401)\n\n£3338.80\n\n0\n\n[![Brompton G Line with Roller Frame 8-speed](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2025-bromton-g-line-riding-1-300x200.jpg) Brompton G Line with Roller Frame 8-speed A bigger Brompton that's great for anything from commuting to multi-day adventures](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/brompton-g-line-roller-frame-8-speed-315835)\n\n£2499.00\n\n2\n\n[![MiRider 20](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/mirider-20-1-300x200.jpg) MiRider 20 More single speed throttle-powered fun. Highly recommended](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/mirider-20-313985)\n\n£1795.00\n\n0\n\n[![Ampere Alter Review](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/ampere-alter-review-5-300x200.jpg) Ampere Alter A decent offering from a British brand but a bit on the heavy side](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/ampere-alter-312317)\n\n£1299.00\n\n0\n\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/roadcc-black.svg)](https:\/\/road.cc\/)\n\nAward-winning cycling news, reviews and buying advice\n\n## QUICK LINKS\n- [About us](https:\/\/road.cc\/about-us)\n- [News](https:\/\/road.cc\/news)\n- [Reviews](https:\/\/road.cc\/reviews)\n- [Buyers Guides](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyers-guide)\n- [Features](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/features)\n- [Tech](https:\/\/road.cc\/tech-news)\n- [Forum](https:\/\/road.cc\/forum)\n- [Opinion](https:\/\/road.cc\/blogs)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/road.cc\/podcast)\n- [Recommends](https:\/\/road.cc\/recommends)\n- [Shop](https:\/\/shop.road.cc\/)\n- [Bicycle Insurance](https:\/\/road.cc\/buyer_s_guide\/best-bicycle-insurance)\n\n## FOLLOW US ON\n[![rcc-facebook](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rcc-facebook.svg)](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/roadcc)\n\n[![rcc-youtube](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rcc-youtube.svg)](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/roadcc)\n\n[![rcc-insta](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rcc-insta.svg)](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/road.cc\/)\n\n[![rcc-threads](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rcc-threads.svg)](https:\/\/www.threads.net\/@road.cc)\n\n[![rcc-bluesky](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rcc-bluesky.svg)](https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/roadcc.bsky.social)\n\n[![rcc-whatsapp](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rcc-whatsapp.svg)](https:\/\/whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029VaR1ZzeFMqrTbrYlva1W)\n\n[![rcc-rss](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rcc-rss.svg)](https:\/\/road.cc\/rss)\n\n## Our Websites\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/off-road.png)](https:\/\/off.road.cc\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ebiketips.png)](https:\/\/ebiketips.road.cc\/)\n\n## GET IN TOUCH\nEditorial, general: **[info@road.cc](mailto:info@road.cc)**  \nTech, reviews: **[tech@road.cc](mailto:tech@road.cc)**  \nAdvertising, commercial: **[sales@fat.digital](mailto:sales@fat.digital)**  \n[**View our media pack**](https:\/\/fat.digital\/roadcc)\n\n[**Privacy policy**](https:\/\/fat.digital\/privacy)\n\n## Support us\n[Subscribe](https:\/\/road.cc\/register)\n\nAll material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. 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Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. [Terms and conditions of use](https:\/\/fat.digital\/privacy)","attrs_readable_markdown":"*This review contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent.*\n\n**Riese & Müller’s iconic Birdy could be characterised as the over-engineered Germanic answer to a Brompton. However, while the Birdy Touring’s ride experience does exhibit a strange ‘bobbing’ quality, it is also superbly comfortable with surprisingly impressive levels of power delivery and control. It is very, very expensive, though.**\n\nHere at road.cc, we don’t do grouptests, which is a blessing to some extent. Trying to get multiple versions of similar bikes from disparate manufacturers or distributors can feel like herding cats. However, as luck would have it, at the same time as I was testing the Birdy, I also had the [Vello Rocky](https:\/\/en.vello.bike\/products\/vello-rocky) on review, so (don’t tell anybody), if you read that review (once it’s published) straight after this, I’ve sort of snuck in a little two-model ’boutique-style’ folding bike grouptest here.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-2-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nThe Birdy offers a strangely springy ride quality, far more so than the very, very stiff Vello. Thanks to suspension both front and back, there’s a slightly bizarre sensation of bobbing up and down in the saddle – particularly when pedalling hard – that takes a bit of getting used. I suspect roadies and anybody focused solely on forward momentum will find it frustrating. However, it’s hard to condemn the Birdy’s ride because it’s also very comfortable. Think of it sort of like a folding bike equivalent of an old Citroen 2CV; it’s almost impossible to stop it lolloping and rolling but it’s still quite impressive in its own way.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-suspension-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-damper-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nJust to check it wasn’t my prodigious weight causing this phenomenon, I gave the Birdy to my wife, who is not a prodigious weight. She also experienced the bobbing, but she also said it was the most comfortable bike she’d ever ridden. I have to concur – it is very comfortable – but that bobbing is still pretty weird.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-3-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nWhile some riders might far rather swap at least some of that obviously compliant bump-absorption for a bit more stiffness, pedalling is far from a turgid affair and the Birdy actually gets up to speed well. The Birdy marketing bumf suggests this is because the suspended wheels maintain contact with the ground better, and therefore create better drive.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-fork-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nControl is also surprisingly good. For a folder, reach is quite long, which provides a slightly more enthusiastic ride and, at speed, the Birdy handles very well. It’s easy to place on the road and its geometry offers just about the most naturally stable riding position – for me at 6ft at least – of any folder I’ve tested. The bobbing motion of the suspension negatively affects the feeling of stability just a tad, but among all the folders I’ve tested, it is – again surprisingly – the easiest for getting out of the saddle.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-4-1024x683.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nIn short, that wallowing suspension might not be to everybody’s tastes, but this is an otherwise fun and capable bike to ride.\n\n### Frame\nIn unfolded form, the Birdy’s geometry and riding position make it feel almost like a ‘normal’ bike. As I mentioned, the reach is good, as is wheelbase length. Stem height can be adjusted to one of five predetermined points, but even at the top one it might be a little low for tall riders wanting an upright position. I thought it was perfect for getting a bit of speed up. Saddle height was good enough to fit my 6ft frame and there was more seatpost available.\n\nThere’s no getting away from the fact that the Birdy is a pretty funny looking thing. The main frame is effectively a single piece of aluminium engineering – no traditional tubes and joins here, this is monocoque all the way, albeit with a small integrated triangle heading down to the bottom bracket.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-2.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nAt the bottom bracket, there’s also the pivot point for the separate hydroformed rear triangle. Like the Brompton and the aforementioned Vello, the Birdy’s fold relies on this rear triangle swinging underneath the main frame when folded.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folding-hinge.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nAt the front, it’s sort of similar, actually. The fork’s two-arm suspension system effectively splits, with the front wheel folding underneath to sit alongside the main frame. It’s all rather ingenious, although the stem ruins it slightly by utilising an old-school clamp that you have to undo to fold that in half.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-head-tube-badge.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nDrop the saddle to lock everything in place, and you’ve got a very compact little folded package.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-2.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nThe Birdy has the world record for folding – 4.9 seconds – and despite its engineering complexity, it’s actually fairly intuitive. I unfolded it initially without resorting to any instructions.\n\n### Gearset and brakes\nI tested the Touring Birdy here, which comes with a 10-speed derailleur gearset, as opposed to the City model with Shimano Nexus hub gear, or Rohloff model with – you guessed it – a Rohloff Speed Hub. Having a 32-tooth biggest sprocket does look a tad strange inset against an 18in wheel, but a derailleur setup is – normally at least – fine by me.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nGear changes were very positive and allied with the Driveline 52-tooth chainset, the 9-32 cassette offered enough options for just about anything – climbing is particularly easy. It’s a bit of a shame that on a bike costing north of £2,500 you’re ‘only’ getting Microshift XLE componentry at the rear mech – I looked online and the XLE rear mech is available for £29.99 from a well-known online cycle retailer. Call me a snob, but a £30 rear mech on a £2,500+ bike seems a bit cheap. Despite that, I’m actually quite a fan of Microshift kit so, functionally at least, there’s almost nothing to complain about.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-crank.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nI say ‘almost’ because Birdy does make mention of the fact that, despite its low bottom bracket, it still complies with regulations regarding pedal strike when leaning over into a corner. What it doesn’t say is that having a full size rear mech on an 18in rear wheel means you can get pretty close to striking the road with that, too. I doubt you’ll be knee-down in the corners enough for it to be a problem, but just be aware that it’s a lot closer to the floor than a rear mech normally is.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mech.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nFinishing off the important moving parts are the Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes. These offer more than enough power, and after an initial ‘grabby phase’ provide excellent feel to make sure you use exactly the amount of braking that you need.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-disc-brake.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nOne little quirk about these, though, is that the front calliper is mounted on the right leg of the fork. It makes no difference to performance but does seem just a tad strange.\n\n### Wheels and tyres\nThe Birdy runs on 18in wheels, rather than the Vello’s 20in or the Brompton’s 16in. The rims here are made by Alex, which again is another slight disappointment. (Fun game for the comments section – can anybody name a bike that costs more than the Birdy but also runs Alex rims?)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-1.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nThe more interesting part of the wheel build is the Shutter Precision front dynamo hub. We’ll come onto the point of that in a mo. As a package, the wheels seem fine if exceedingly nondescript.\n\nTyres are a bit better for people looking for brand names. The Schwalbe Marathon Racers offer fantastic grip in the dry and should be good enough for year-round use in all but snow and ice. They’re certainly a sensible out-of-the-box option to get the most out of your Birdy.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-mudguard.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n### Finishing kit\nFolding bikes are always a bit weird when it comes to finishing kit, and the Birdy is certainly no exception. I’ll start with the obvious stuff first: the Selle Royal Shadow saddle is great; the Satori Horizon handlebar is good; and the Ergon ergonomic grips are excellent.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-saddle-rear.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-lever-and-shifter.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nWe also get cute little Birdy-specific SKS mudguards, a little kickstand on the rear triangle and custom – although sadly not folding – pedals.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mudguard.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-kick-stand.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\nBest of all, though, the front dynamo hub powers Supernova E3 lights at the front and rear, and our Birdy also came with Riese & Müller’s funky Birdy luggage rack (that’s an extra £94), which cleverly drops down with the rear triangle in folded form.\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-dynamo-hub.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n\n![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2.jpg](https:\/\/cdn.road.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/roadcc\/styles\/main_width\/public\/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-rack-2.jpg)\n\n2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)\n### Value and conclusion\nAccording to Riese and Müller’s website, the Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. Don’t get your hopes up that there’s a budget wonder there, though: the entry-level Birdy City starts at £2,579 and the halo Birdy Rohloff is a whopping £3,979.\n\nObviously, in that kind of price range, equivalent rival bikes are few and far between.\n\nI mentioned the Vello Rocky I’ve also been reviewing earlier, which is similar in being almost a boutique folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890 (£2,444.37).\n\nOr there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of [Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models](https:\/\/knl.mntzrlt.net\/shop-rest\/api\/link\/wrapper\/660\/12?mk=GBP_EN&su=chrome-extension%3A%2F%2Fkcldccohmbodnkjokmlfpdhmdoogaadf&tu=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tredz.co.uk%2F.Brompton-P-Line-Urban-Low-Bar-Increased-Gearing-Midnight-Black-2022-Folding-Bike_244946.htm). So in comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive.\n\n[\\> Best folding bikes 2022 – portable bikes for convenient commuting](https:\/\/road.cc\/index.php\/buyers_guide\/6-best-folding-bikes-2022-195485\/)\n\nDespite its fairly phenomenal price, though, I have developed a bit of affection for my little Birdy test bike. While I could never imagine spending that kind of money to buy one myself, there is a lot of innovative engineering here. Yes, its ride experience is unusual, but it’s quite fun, very comfortable, and surprisingly fast and secure on the road. If you want something special, and you’ve got the money, certainly give one a test ride.\n\n### Verdict\nUnique folding bike with a lot of positives qualities, but it also has a strange tendency to bob, and that price, well…\n\nAll the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click [here](https:\/\/road.cc\/content\/review\/blog\/how-does-roadcc-makes-money-300903\/).\n\nroad.cc test report\n\n**Make and model:** Birdy Touring\n\n**Size tested:** n\/a\n\n**List the components used to build up the bike.**\n\nBirdy lists:\n\nFrame: Monocoque aluminium with hydroformed aluminium rear triangle\n\nHeadset: TH No 10, semi-integrated\n\nCrankset: Driveline 52T, including Hollow Tech bottom bracket\n\nRear derailleur: Microshift, 10-speed\n\nShifter: Shimano Deore, 10-speed\n\nChain: KMC X10 ( 111x )\n\nCassette: Sunrace 10-speed, 9-32t\n\nBrakes: Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brake\n\nRims: Alex 18in\n\nFront hub: Hub dynamo Shutter Precision\n\nRear hub: Sunrace, 32 Loch\n\nTyres: Schwalbe Marathon Racer 40-355 Reflex\n\nTubes: Schwalbe SV5\n\nSaddle: Selle Royal Shadow\n\nSeatpost: JD \/ Riese and Müller, aluminium 34.9 x 565mm\n\nSeatclamp: TranzX, 40,0 mm, QR\n\nPedals: VP R\\&M Custom\n\nHandlebar: Satori Horizon, 31.8 mm, 10°, B=540 mm\n\nGrips: Ergon ergonomic\n\nFront light: Supernova E3 Pure 3S\n\nTail light: Supernova E3 E-Bike Tail Light 2\n\nMudguards: SKS Birdy\n\nKickstand: Minoura for Birdy\n\n**Tell us what the bike is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?**\n\nThis is a folding bike aimed at the serious commuter or even longer-distance cyclist. Riese and Müller says: “Whether you’re on holiday or for everyday working, the Birdy takes you safely to any destination, with Riese & Müller Control Technology. Thanks to its unique folding properties and low weight, you can take it with you easily at any time: folded together, it fits onto any form of public transport or into any car boot. And it can also be adjusted to different rider heights just as quickly as it can be folded.”\n\n**Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options**\n\nThe Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. There’s the entry-level Birdy City starting at £2,579 or the halo Birdy Rohloff starting at £3,979.\n\n**Overall rating for frame and fork**\n\n9\/10\n\n**Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?**\n\nThe frame and fork are essentially the main selling points of the Birdy, and you can see why. They’re very well engineered.\n\n**Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?**\n\nAluminium monocoque for the main body of the frame, with hydroformed aluminium elsewhere.\n\n**Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?**\n\nQuite aggressive, almost ‘real’ bike geometry for the Birdy. I felt more head-down than on most other folders.\n\n**How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?**\n\nVery good in terms of height and reach. Only potential negative is that some riders might want slightly more handlebar height.\n\n**Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.**\n\nVery comfortable to ride – the suspension front and back saw to that\\!\n\n**Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?**\n\nAh, now it gets tricky. Yes, this bike bobs and wallows almost all the time, but especially under pedalling input.\n\n**How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?**\n\nIt still felt efficient, though.\n\n**Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?**\n\nNo.\n\n**How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive?** Not super lively, but a bit more eager than plain neutral.\n\n**Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?**\n\nI was impressed by the handling. Aside from the bobbing, it was very surefooted. High speed freewheeling descents, for example, were great fun.\n\n**Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s comfort? would you recommend any changes?**\n\nNo changes needed for comfort.\n\n**Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s stiffness? would you recommend any changes?**\n\nNo component changes would make any difference here.\n\n**Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s efficiency? would you recommend any changes?**\n\nI’d suggest a higher-spec gearset would make things even better.\n\n**Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:**\n\n7\/10\n\nPretty good.\n\n**Rate the bike for acceleration:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for sprinting:**\n\n6\/10\n\nIt’s a folder, so its sprinting capacity is limited. But the Birdy is good for a folder.\n\n**Rate the bike for high speed stability:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for low speed stability:**\n\n6\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for flat cornering:**\n\n6\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for cornering on descents:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the bike for climbing:**\n\n7\/10\n\nIt’s efficient, but that bobbing really makes itself known on climbs.\n\n**Rate the drivetrain for performance:**\n\n6\/10\n\n**Rate the drivetrain for durability:**\n\n5\/10\n\n**Rate the drivetrain for weight:**\n\n5\/10\n\n**Rate the drivetrain for value:**\n\n2\/10\n\nOn a £2,500+ bike, you really expect better.\n\n**Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn’t like? Any components which didn’t work well together?**\n\nBrompton has made its own gearset and I would suggest Riese & Müller would probably benefit from doing the same. Fitting budget drivetrain componentry to bike at this price point doesn’t look good.\n\n**Rate the wheels for performance:**\n\n5\/10\n\n**Rate the wheels for durability:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the wheels for weight:**\n\n4\/10\n\n**Rate the wheels for comfort:**\n\n5\/10\n\n**Rate the wheels for value:**\n\n2\/10\n\nAgain, R\\&M branded kit, even if it was still produced by Alex, would at least look better.\n\n**Rate the tyres for performance:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the tyres for durability:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the tyres for weight:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the tyres for comfort:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the tyres for value:**\n\n6\/10\n\n**Rate the controls for performance:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the controls for durability:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the controls for weight:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the controls for comfort:**\n\n8\/10\n\n**Rate the controls for value:**\n\n6\/10\n\n**Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad)**\n\nThe Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes are probably the highlight of the package – they work well.\n\n**Did you enjoy riding the bike?** Yes\n\n**Would you consider buying the bike?** Absolutely not.\n\n**Would you recommend the bike to a friend?** To test, yes. To buy unseen, no.\n\n**How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?**\n\nThe Vello Rocky (review to come) is similar in being almost a boutique-style folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter weight Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890. Or there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of [Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models](https:\/\/road.cc\/index.php\/review\/brompton-p-line-urban-2022-290711\/). In comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive.\n\n**Rate the bike overall for performance:**\n\n7\/10\n\n**Rate the bike overall for value:**\n\n4\/10\n\n**Use this box to explain your overall score**\n\nFolders are so tricky to score because they often feature so much innovation and engineering yet, ultimately, they still have to be judged on the basics: ride quality, performance and value. Here, the Birdy does well on the first two criteria, even if that bobbing sensation is a bit off-putting. But even despite all the positive qualities of its unique design, the Birdy’s price is just too much for most people.\n\nOverall rating: 6\/10\n\n**Age:** 39 Height: 6’0 **Weight:** 16 stone\n\n**I usually ride:** Islabikes Beinn 29 **My best bike is:** 25-year-old Dawes Galaxy\n\n**I’ve been riding for:** Over 20 years **I ride:** Most days **I would class myself as:** Experienced\n\n**I regularly do the following types of riding:** commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, Leisure","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	This review contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent. Riese & Müller’s iconic Birdy could be characterised as the over-engineered Germanic answer to a Brompton. However, while the Birdy Touring’s ride experience does exhibit a strange ‘bobbing’ quality, it is also superbly comfortable with surprisingly impressive levels of power delivery and control. It is very, very expensive, though. Here at road.cc, we don’t do grouptests, which is a blessing to some extent. Trying to get multiple versions of similar bikes from disparate manufacturers or distributors can feel like herding cats. However, as luck would have it, at the same time as I was testing the Birdy, I also had the Vello Rocky on review, so (don’t tell anybody), if you read that review (once it’s published) straight after this, I’ve sort of snuck in a little two-model ’boutique-style’ folding bike grouptest here. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) The Birdy offers a strangely springy ride quality, far more so than the very, very stiff Vello. Thanks to suspension both front and back, there’s a slightly bizarre sensation of bobbing up and down in the saddle – particularly when pedalling hard – that takes a bit of getting used. I suspect roadies and anybody focused solely on forward momentum will find it frustrating. However, it’s hard to condemn the Birdy’s ride because it’s also very comfortable. Think of it sort of like a folding bike equivalent of an old Citroen 2CV; it’s almost impossible to stop it lolloping and rolling but it’s still quite impressive in its own way. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Just to check it wasn’t my prodigious weight causing this phenomenon, I gave the Birdy to my wife, who is not a prodigious weight. She also experienced the bobbing, but she also said it was the most comfortable bike she’d ever ridden. I have to concur – it is very comfortable – but that bobbing is still pretty weird. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) While some riders might far rather swap at least some of that obviously compliant bump-absorption for a bit more stiffness, pedalling is far from a turgid affair and the Birdy actually gets up to speed well. The Birdy marketing bumf suggests this is because the suspended wheels maintain contact with the ground better, and therefore create better drive. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Control is also surprisingly good. For a folder, reach is quite long, which provides a slightly more enthusiastic ride and, at speed, the Birdy handles very well. It’s easy to place on the road and its geometry offers just about the most naturally stable riding position – for me at 6ft at least – of any folder I’ve tested. The bobbing motion of the suspension negatively affects the feeling of stability just a tad, but among all the folders I’ve tested, it is – again surprisingly – the easiest for getting out of the saddle. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) In short, that wallowing suspension might not be to everybody’s tastes, but this is an otherwise fun and capable bike to ride. Frame In unfolded form, the Birdy’s geometry and riding position make it feel almost like a ‘normal’ bike. As I mentioned, the reach is good, as is wheelbase length. Stem height can be adjusted to one of five predetermined points, but even at the top one it might be a little low for tall riders wanting an upright position. I thought it was perfect for getting a bit of speed up. Saddle height was good enough to fit my 6ft frame and there was more seatpost available. There’s no getting away from the fact that the Birdy is a pretty funny looking thing. The main frame is effectively a single piece of aluminium engineering – no traditional tubes and joins here, this is monocoque all the way, albeit with a small integrated triangle heading down to the bottom bracket. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) At the bottom bracket, there’s also the pivot point for the separate hydroformed rear triangle. Like the Brompton and the aforementioned Vello, the Birdy’s fold relies on this rear triangle swinging underneath the main frame when folded. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) At the front, it’s sort of similar, actually. The fork’s two-arm suspension system effectively splits, with the front wheel folding underneath to sit alongside the main frame. It’s all rather ingenious, although the stem ruins it slightly by utilising an old-school clamp that you have to undo to fold that in half. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Drop the saddle to lock everything in place, and you’ve got a very compact little folded package. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) The Birdy has the world record for folding – 4.9 seconds – and despite its engineering complexity, it’s actually fairly intuitive. I unfolded it initially without resorting to any instructions. Gearset and brakes I tested the Touring Birdy here, which comes with a 10-speed derailleur gearset, as opposed to the City model with Shimano Nexus hub gear, or Rohloff model with – you guessed it – a Rohloff Speed Hub. Having a 32-tooth biggest sprocket does look a tad strange inset against an 18in wheel, but a derailleur setup is – normally at least – fine by me. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Gear changes were very positive and allied with the Driveline 52-tooth chainset, the 9-32 cassette offered enough options for just about anything – climbing is particularly easy. It’s a bit of a shame that on a bike costing north of £2,500 you’re ‘only’ getting Microshift XLE componentry at the rear mech – I looked online and the XLE rear mech is available for £29.99 from a well-known online cycle retailer. Call me a snob, but a £30 rear mech on a £2,500+ bike seems a bit cheap. Despite that, I’m actually quite a fan of Microshift kit so, functionally at least, there’s almost nothing to complain about. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) I say ‘almost’ because Birdy does make mention of the fact that, despite its low bottom bracket, it still complies with regulations regarding pedal strike when leaning over into a corner. What it doesn’t say is that having a full size rear mech on an 18in rear wheel means you can get pretty close to striking the road with that, too. I doubt you’ll be knee-down in the corners enough for it to be a problem, but just be aware that it’s a lot closer to the floor than a rear mech normally is. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Finishing off the important moving parts are the Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes. These offer more than enough power, and after an initial ‘grabby phase’ provide excellent feel to make sure you use exactly the amount of braking that you need. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) One little quirk about these, though, is that the front calliper is mounted on the right leg of the fork. It makes no difference to performance but does seem just a tad strange. Wheels and tyres The Birdy runs on 18in wheels, rather than the Vello’s 20in or the Brompton’s 16in. The rims here are made by Alex, which again is another slight disappointment. (Fun game for the comments section – can anybody name a bike that costs more than the Birdy but also runs Alex rims?) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) The more interesting part of the wheel build is the Shutter Precision front dynamo hub. We’ll come onto the point of that in a mo. As a package, the wheels seem fine if exceedingly nondescript. Tyres are a bit better for people looking for brand names. The Schwalbe Marathon Racers offer fantastic grip in the dry and should be good enough for year-round use in all but snow and ice. They’re certainly a sensible out-of-the-box option to get the most out of your Birdy. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Finishing kit Folding bikes are always a bit weird when it comes to finishing kit, and the Birdy is certainly no exception. I’ll start with the obvious stuff first: the Selle Royal Shadow saddle is great; the Satori Horizon handlebar is good; and the Ergon ergonomic grips are excellent. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) We also get cute little Birdy-specific SKS mudguards, a little kickstand on the rear triangle and custom – although sadly not folding – pedals. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Best of all, though, the front dynamo hub powers Supernova E3 lights at the front and rear, and our Birdy also came with Riese & Müller’s funky Birdy luggage rack (that’s an extra £94), which cleverly drops down with the rear triangle in folded form. 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Value and conclusion According to Riese and Müller’s website, the Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. Don’t get your hopes up that there’s a budget wonder there, though: the entry-level Birdy City starts at £2,579 and the halo Birdy Rohloff is a whopping £3,979. Obviously, in that kind of price range, equivalent rival bikes are few and far between. I mentioned the Vello Rocky I’ve also been reviewing earlier, which is similar in being almost a boutique folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890 (£2,444.37). Or there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models . So in comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive. > Best folding bikes 2022 – portable bikes for convenient commuting Despite its fairly phenomenal price, though, I have developed a bit of affection for my little Birdy test bike. While I could never imagine spending that kind of money to buy one myself, there is a lot of innovative engineering here. Yes, its ride experience is unusual, but it’s quite fun, very comfortable, and surprisingly fast and secure on the road. If you want something special, and you’ve got the money, certainly give one a test ride. Verdict Unique folding bike with a lot of positives qualities, but it also has a strange tendency to bob, and that price, well… All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here . road.cc test report Make and model: Birdy Touring Size tested: n/a List the components used to build up the bike. Birdy lists: Frame: Monocoque aluminium with hydroformed aluminium rear triangle Headset: TH No 10, semi-integrated Crankset: Driveline 52T, including Hollow Tech bottom bracket Rear derailleur: Microshift, 10-speed Shifter: Shimano Deore, 10-speed Chain: KMC X10 ( 111x ) Cassette: Sunrace 10-speed, 9-32t Brakes: Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brake Rims: Alex 18in Front hub: Hub dynamo Shutter Precision Rear hub: Sunrace, 32 Loch Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Racer 40-355 Reflex Tubes: Schwalbe SV5 Saddle: Selle Royal Shadow Seatpost: JD / Riese and Müller, aluminium 34.9 x 565mm Seatclamp: TranzX, 40,0 mm, QR Pedals: VP R&M Custom Handlebar: Satori Horizon, 31.8 mm, 10°, B=540 mm Grips: Ergon ergonomic Front light: Supernova E3 Pure 3S Tail light: Supernova E3 E-Bike Tail Light 2 Mudguards: SKS Birdy Kickstand: Minoura for Birdy Tell us what the bike is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike? This is a folding bike aimed at the serious commuter or even longer-distance cyclist. Riese and Müller says: “Whether you’re on holiday or for everyday working, the Birdy takes you safely to any destination, with Riese & Müller Control Technology. Thanks to its unique folding properties and low weight, you can take it with you easily at any time: folded together, it fits onto any form of public transport or into any car boot. And it can also be adjusted to different rider heights just as quickly as it can be folded.” Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options The Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. There’s the entry-level Birdy City starting at £2,579 or the halo Birdy Rohloff starting at £3,979. Overall rating for frame and fork 9/10 Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork? The frame and fork are essentially the main selling points of the Birdy, and you can see why. They’re very well engineered. Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork? Aluminium monocoque for the main body of the frame, with hydroformed aluminium elsewhere. Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork? Quite aggressive, almost ‘real’ bike geometry for the Birdy. I felt more head-down than on most other folders. How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size? Very good in terms of height and reach. Only potential negative is that some riders might want slightly more handlebar height. Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality. Very comfortable to ride – the suspension front and back saw to that! Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible? Ah, now it gets tricky. Yes, this bike bobs and wallows almost all the time, but especially under pedalling input. How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient? It still felt efficient, though. Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem? No. How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Not super lively, but a bit more eager than plain neutral. Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly? I was impressed by the handling. Aside from the bobbing, it was very surefooted. High speed freewheeling descents, for example, were great fun. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s comfort? would you recommend any changes? No changes needed for comfort. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s stiffness? would you recommend any changes? No component changes would make any difference here. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s efficiency? would you recommend any changes? I’d suggest a higher-spec gearset would make things even better. Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer: 7/10 Pretty good. Rate the bike for acceleration: 7/10 Rate the bike for sprinting: 6/10 It’s a folder, so its sprinting capacity is limited. But the Birdy is good for a folder. Rate the bike for high speed stability: 8/10 Rate the bike for cruising speed stability: 8/10 Rate the bike for low speed stability: 6/10 Rate the bike for flat cornering: 6/10 Rate the bike for cornering on descents: 8/10 Rate the bike for climbing: 7/10 It’s efficient, but that bobbing really makes itself known on climbs. Rate the drivetrain for performance: 6/10 Rate the drivetrain for durability: 5/10 Rate the drivetrain for weight: 5/10 Rate the drivetrain for value: 2/10 On a £2,500+ bike, you really expect better. Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn’t like? Any components which didn’t work well together? Brompton has made its own gearset and I would suggest Riese & Müller would probably benefit from doing the same. Fitting budget drivetrain componentry to bike at this price point doesn’t look good. Rate the wheels for performance: 5/10 Rate the wheels for durability: 7/10 Rate the wheels for weight: 4/10 Rate the wheels for comfort: 5/10 Rate the wheels for value: 2/10 Again, R&M branded kit, even if it was still produced by Alex, would at least look better. Rate the tyres for performance: 8/10 Rate the tyres for durability: 7/10 Rate the tyres for weight: 7/10 Rate the tyres for comfort: 7/10 Rate the tyres for value: 6/10 Rate the controls for performance: 8/10 Rate the controls for durability: 7/10 Rate the controls for weight: 7/10 Rate the controls for comfort: 8/10 Rate the controls for value: 6/10 Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad) The Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes are probably the highlight of the package – they work well. Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes Would you consider buying the bike? Absolutely not. Would you recommend the bike to a friend? To test, yes. To buy unseen, no. How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc? The Vello Rocky (review to come) is similar in being almost a boutique-style folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter weight Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890. Or there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models . In comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive. Rate the bike overall for performance: 7/10 Rate the bike overall for value: 4/10 Use this box to explain your overall score Folders are so tricky to score because they often feature so much innovation and engineering yet, ultimately, they still have to be judged on the basics: ride quality, performance and value. Here, the Birdy does well on the first two criteria, even if that bobbing sensation is a bit off-putting. But even despite all the positive qualities of its unique design, the Birdy’s price is just too much for most people. Overall rating: 6 /10 Age: 39 Height: 6’0 Weight: 16 stone I usually ride: Islabikes Beinn 29 My best bike is: 25-year-old Dawes Galaxy I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, Leisure
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Touring folding bike – riding 3.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-3-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - riding 3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) # Birdy Touring - [by Matt Lamy](https://road.cc/author/matt-lamy) Wed, Aug 10, 2022 08:45 [21](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comments) £2669.00 #### VERDICT: 6/ 10 Unique folding bike with a lot of positives qualities, but it also has a strange tendency to bob, and that price, well... Comfort Control Power delivery Super expensive Liable to bobbing Low-rent components in parts Weight: 12100g Contact: [www.r-m.de](https://www.r-m.de/en-gb/bikes/birdy/birdy-touring/#F00760_0602) How we test We thoroughly test every product we review for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced riders that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don’t intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product’s function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price. What the scores mean Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad. - Exceptional - Excellent - Very Good - Good - Quite good - Average - Not so good - Poor - Bad - Appalling This review contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent. Riese & Müller’s iconic Birdy could be characterised as the over-engineered Germanic answer to a Brompton. However, while the Birdy Touring’s ride experience does exhibit a strange ‘bobbing’ quality, it is also superbly comfortable with surprisingly impressive levels of power delivery and control. It is very, very expensive, though. Here at road.cc, we don’t do grouptests, which is a blessing to some extent. Trying to get multiple versions of similar bikes from disparate manufacturers or distributors can feel like herding cats. However, as luck would have it, at the same time as I was testing the Birdy, I also had the [Vello Rocky](https://en.vello.bike/products/vello-rocky) on review, so (don’t tell anybody), if you read that review (once it’s published) straight after this, I’ve sort of snuck in a little two-model ’boutique-style’ folding bike grouptest here. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-2-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) The Birdy offers a strangely springy ride quality, far more so than the very, very stiff Vello. Thanks to suspension both front and back, there’s a slightly bizarre sensation of bobbing up and down in the saddle – particularly when pedalling hard – that takes a bit of getting used. I suspect roadies and anybody focused solely on forward momentum will find it frustrating. However, it’s hard to condemn the Birdy’s ride because it’s also very comfortable. Think of it sort of like a folding bike equivalent of an old Citroen 2CV; it’s almost impossible to stop it lolloping and rolling but it’s still quite impressive in its own way. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-suspension-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-damper-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Just to check it wasn’t my prodigious weight causing this phenomenon, I gave the Birdy to my wife, who is not a prodigious weight. She also experienced the bobbing, but she also said it was the most comfortable bike she’d ever ridden. I have to concur – it is very comfortable – but that bobbing is still pretty weird. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-3-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) While some riders might far rather swap at least some of that obviously compliant bump-absorption for a bit more stiffness, pedalling is far from a turgid affair and the Birdy actually gets up to speed well. The Birdy marketing bumf suggests this is because the suspended wheels maintain contact with the ground better, and therefore create better drive. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-fork-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Control is also surprisingly good. For a folder, reach is quite long, which provides a slightly more enthusiastic ride and, at speed, the Birdy handles very well. It’s easy to place on the road and its geometry offers just about the most naturally stable riding position – for me at 6ft at least – of any folder I’ve tested. The bobbing motion of the suspension negatively affects the feeling of stability just a tad, but among all the folders I’ve tested, it is – again surprisingly – the easiest for getting out of the saddle. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-4-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) In short, that wallowing suspension might not be to everybody’s tastes, but this is an otherwise fun and capable bike to ride. ### Frame In unfolded form, the Birdy’s geometry and riding position make it feel almost like a ‘normal’ bike. As I mentioned, the reach is good, as is wheelbase length. Stem height can be adjusted to one of five predetermined points, but even at the top one it might be a little low for tall riders wanting an upright position. I thought it was perfect for getting a bit of speed up. Saddle height was good enough to fit my 6ft frame and there was more seatpost available. ![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-bar-height-adjustment-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-bars-quick-release-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-bars-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-brak-elever-and-bell-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-cable-routing-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-chain-detail-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-crank-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-crank-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-1-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folding-hinge-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-frame-bag-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-frame-logo-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-disc-brake-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-fork-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-light-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-suspension-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-head-tube-badge-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-kick-stand-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-lever-and-shifter-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-mudguard-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-damper-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-disc-brake-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mech-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mudguard-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-rack-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-rack-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-reflectors-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-saddle-rear-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-saddle-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-seat-post-quick-release-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-seat-post-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-dynamo-hub-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-1-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-2-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-3-1024x683.jpg)![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-4-1024x683.jpg) There’s no getting away from the fact that the Birdy is a pretty funny looking thing. The main frame is effectively a single piece of aluminium engineering – no traditional tubes and joins here, this is monocoque all the way, albeit with a small integrated triangle heading down to the bottom bracket. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-2.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) At the bottom bracket, there’s also the pivot point for the separate hydroformed rear triangle. Like the Brompton and the aforementioned Vello, the Birdy’s fold relies on this rear triangle swinging underneath the main frame when folded. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folding-hinge.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) At the front, it’s sort of similar, actually. The fork’s two-arm suspension system effectively splits, with the front wheel folding underneath to sit alongside the main frame. It’s all rather ingenious, although the stem ruins it slightly by utilising an old-school clamp that you have to undo to fold that in half. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-head-tube-badge.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Drop the saddle to lock everything in place, and you’ve got a very compact little folded package. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-2.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) The Birdy has the world record for folding – 4.9 seconds – and despite its engineering complexity, it’s actually fairly intuitive. I unfolded it initially without resorting to any instructions. ### Gearset and brakes I tested the Touring Birdy here, which comes with a 10-speed derailleur gearset, as opposed to the City model with Shimano Nexus hub gear, or Rohloff model with – you guessed it – a Rohloff Speed Hub. Having a 32-tooth biggest sprocket does look a tad strange inset against an 18in wheel, but a derailleur setup is – normally at least – fine by me. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Gear changes were very positive and allied with the Driveline 52-tooth chainset, the 9-32 cassette offered enough options for just about anything – climbing is particularly easy. It’s a bit of a shame that on a bike costing north of £2,500 you’re ‘only’ getting Microshift XLE componentry at the rear mech – I looked online and the XLE rear mech is available for £29.99 from a well-known online cycle retailer. Call me a snob, but a £30 rear mech on a £2,500+ bike seems a bit cheap. Despite that, I’m actually quite a fan of Microshift kit so, functionally at least, there’s almost nothing to complain about. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-crank.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) I say ‘almost’ because Birdy does make mention of the fact that, despite its low bottom bracket, it still complies with regulations regarding pedal strike when leaning over into a corner. What it doesn’t say is that having a full size rear mech on an 18in rear wheel means you can get pretty close to striking the road with that, too. I doubt you’ll be knee-down in the corners enough for it to be a problem, but just be aware that it’s a lot closer to the floor than a rear mech normally is. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mech.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Finishing off the important moving parts are the Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes. These offer more than enough power, and after an initial ‘grabby phase’ provide excellent feel to make sure you use exactly the amount of braking that you need. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-disc-brake.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) One little quirk about these, though, is that the front calliper is mounted on the right leg of the fork. It makes no difference to performance but does seem just a tad strange. ### Wheels and tyres The Birdy runs on 18in wheels, rather than the Vello’s 20in or the Brompton’s 16in. The rims here are made by Alex, which again is another slight disappointment. (Fun game for the comments section – can anybody name a bike that costs more than the Birdy but also runs Alex rims?) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-1.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) The more interesting part of the wheel build is the Shutter Precision front dynamo hub. We’ll come onto the point of that in a mo. As a package, the wheels seem fine if exceedingly nondescript. Tyres are a bit better for people looking for brand names. The Schwalbe Marathon Racers offer fantastic grip in the dry and should be good enough for year-round use in all but snow and ice. They’re certainly a sensible out-of-the-box option to get the most out of your Birdy. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-mudguard.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ### Finishing kit Folding bikes are always a bit weird when it comes to finishing kit, and the Birdy is certainly no exception. I’ll start with the obvious stuff first: the Selle Royal Shadow saddle is great; the Satori Horizon handlebar is good; and the Ergon ergonomic grips are excellent. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-saddle-rear.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-lever-and-shifter.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) We also get cute little Birdy-specific SKS mudguards, a little kickstand on the rear triangle and custom – although sadly not folding – pedals. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mudguard.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-kick-stand.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Best of all, though, the front dynamo hub powers Supernova E3 lights at the front and rear, and our Birdy also came with Riese & Müller’s funky Birdy luggage rack (that’s an extra £94), which cleverly drops down with the rear triangle in folded form. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-dynamo-hub.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-rack-2.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ### Value and conclusion According to Riese and Müller’s website, the Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. Don’t get your hopes up that there’s a budget wonder there, though: the entry-level Birdy City starts at £2,579 and the halo Birdy Rohloff is a whopping £3,979. Obviously, in that kind of price range, equivalent rival bikes are few and far between. I mentioned the Vello Rocky I’ve also been reviewing earlier, which is similar in being almost a boutique folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890 (£2,444.37). Or there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of [Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models](https://knl.mntzrlt.net/shop-rest/api/link/wrapper/660/12?mk=GBP_EN&su=chrome-extension%3A%2F%2Fkcldccohmbodnkjokmlfpdhmdoogaadf&tu=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tredz.co.uk%2F.Brompton-P-Line-Urban-Low-Bar-Increased-Gearing-Midnight-Black-2022-Folding-Bike_244946.htm). So in comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive. [\> Best folding bikes 2022 – portable bikes for convenient commuting](https://road.cc/index.php/buyers_guide/6-best-folding-bikes-2022-195485/) Despite its fairly phenomenal price, though, I have developed a bit of affection for my little Birdy test bike. While I could never imagine spending that kind of money to buy one myself, there is a lot of innovative engineering here. Yes, its ride experience is unusual, but it’s quite fun, very comfortable, and surprisingly fast and secure on the road. If you want something special, and you’ve got the money, certainly give one a test ride. ### Verdict Unique folding bike with a lot of positives qualities, but it also has a strange tendency to bob, and that price, well… All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click [here](https://road.cc/content/review/blog/how-does-roadcc-makes-money-300903/). road.cc test report Make and model: Birdy Touring Size tested: n/a About the bike List the components used to build up the bike. Birdy lists: Frame: Monocoque aluminium with hydroformed aluminium rear triangle Headset: TH No 10, semi-integrated Crankset: Driveline 52T, including Hollow Tech bottom bracket Rear derailleur: Microshift, 10-speed Shifter: Shimano Deore, 10-speed Chain: KMC X10 ( 111x ) Cassette: Sunrace 10-speed, 9-32t Brakes: Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brake Rims: Alex 18in Front hub: Hub dynamo Shutter Precision Rear hub: Sunrace, 32 Loch Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Racer 40-355 Reflex Tubes: Schwalbe SV5 Saddle: Selle Royal Shadow Seatpost: JD / Riese and Müller, aluminium 34.9 x 565mm Seatclamp: TranzX, 40,0 mm, QR Pedals: VP R\&M Custom Handlebar: Satori Horizon, 31.8 mm, 10°, B=540 mm Grips: Ergon ergonomic Front light: Supernova E3 Pure 3S Tail light: Supernova E3 E-Bike Tail Light 2 Mudguards: SKS Birdy Kickstand: Minoura for Birdy Tell us what the bike is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike? This is a folding bike aimed at the serious commuter or even longer-distance cyclist. Riese and Müller says: “Whether you’re on holiday or for everyday working, the Birdy takes you safely to any destination, with Riese & Müller Control Technology. Thanks to its unique folding properties and low weight, you can take it with you easily at any time: folded together, it fits onto any form of public transport or into any car boot. And it can also be adjusted to different rider heights just as quickly as it can be folded.” Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options The Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. There’s the entry-level Birdy City starting at £2,579 or the halo Birdy Rohloff starting at £3,979. Frame and fork Overall rating for frame and fork 9/10 Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork? The frame and fork are essentially the main selling points of the Birdy, and you can see why. They’re very well engineered. Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork? Aluminium monocoque for the main body of the frame, with hydroformed aluminium elsewhere. Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork? Quite aggressive, almost ‘real’ bike geometry for the Birdy. I felt more head-down than on most other folders. How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size? Very good in terms of height and reach. Only potential negative is that some riders might want slightly more handlebar height. Riding the bike Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality. Very comfortable to ride – the suspension front and back saw to that\! Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible? Ah, now it gets tricky. Yes, this bike bobs and wallows almost all the time, but especially under pedalling input. How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient? It still felt efficient, though. Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem? No. How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Not super lively, but a bit more eager than plain neutral. Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly? I was impressed by the handling. Aside from the bobbing, it was very surefooted. High speed freewheeling descents, for example, were great fun. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s comfort? would you recommend any changes? No changes needed for comfort. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s stiffness? would you recommend any changes? No component changes would make any difference here. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s efficiency? would you recommend any changes? I’d suggest a higher-spec gearset would make things even better. Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer: 7/10 Pretty good. Rate the bike for acceleration: 7/10 Rate the bike for sprinting: 6/10 It’s a folder, so its sprinting capacity is limited. But the Birdy is good for a folder. Rate the bike for high speed stability: 8/10 Rate the bike for cruising speed stability: 8/10 Rate the bike for low speed stability: 6/10 Rate the bike for flat cornering: 6/10 Rate the bike for cornering on descents: 8/10 Rate the bike for climbing: 7/10 It’s efficient, but that bobbing really makes itself known on climbs. The drivetrain Rate the drivetrain for performance: 6/10 Rate the drivetrain for durability: 5/10 Rate the drivetrain for weight: 5/10 Rate the drivetrain for value: 2/10 On a £2,500+ bike, you really expect better. Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn’t like? Any components which didn’t work well together? Brompton has made its own gearset and I would suggest Riese & Müller would probably benefit from doing the same. Fitting budget drivetrain componentry to bike at this price point doesn’t look good. Wheels and tyres Rate the wheels for performance: 5/10 Rate the wheels for durability: 7/10 Rate the wheels for weight: 4/10 Rate the wheels for comfort: 5/10 Rate the wheels for value: 2/10 Again, R\&M branded kit, even if it was still produced by Alex, would at least look better. Rate the tyres for performance: 8/10 Rate the tyres for durability: 7/10 Rate the tyres for weight: 7/10 Rate the tyres for comfort: 7/10 Rate the tyres for value: 6/10 Controls Rate the controls for performance: 8/10 Rate the controls for durability: 7/10 Rate the controls for weight: 7/10 Rate the controls for comfort: 8/10 Rate the controls for value: 6/10 Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad) The Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes are probably the highlight of the package – they work well. Your summary Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes Would you consider buying the bike? Absolutely not. Would you recommend the bike to a friend? To test, yes. To buy unseen, no. How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc? The Vello Rocky (review to come) is similar in being almost a boutique-style folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter weight Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890. Or there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of [Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models](https://road.cc/index.php/review/brompton-p-line-urban-2022-290711/). In comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive. Rate the bike overall for performance: 7/10 Rate the bike overall for value: 4/10 Use this box to explain your overall score Folders are so tricky to score because they often feature so much innovation and engineering yet, ultimately, they still have to be judged on the basics: ride quality, performance and value. Here, the Birdy does well on the first two criteria, even if that bobbing sensation is a bit off-putting. But even despite all the positive qualities of its unique design, the Birdy’s price is just too much for most people. Overall rating: 6/10 About the tester Age: 39 Height: 6’0 Weight: 16 stone I usually ride: Islabikes Beinn 29 My best bike is: 25-year-old Dawes Galaxy I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, Leisure #### Help us to bring you the best cycling content If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more. [Subscribe](https://road.cc/register) - [Birdy](https://road.cc/tags/birdy), [Birdy 2022](https://road.cc/show/tags/birdy-2022/206869), [Birdy Touring](https://road.cc/show/tags/birdy-touring/206867), [Birdy Touring 2022](https://road.cc/show/tags/birdy-touring-2022/206865), [Riese & Muller](https://road.cc/show/tags/riese-muller/172621) ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/807932bd8f5171bf30952f9ba93f199e7e7e4b05051a69271594e13c5de167f7?s=96&d=mm&r=g) ##### [Matt Lamy](https://road.cc/author/matt-lamy) [![twitter](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/import/twitter-black.svg)](https://twitter.com/) ## 21 Comments ## 21 thoughts on “Birdy Touring” 1. ![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/pictures/picture-769249-1631883907.jpg) Secret\_squirrel [August 10, 2022 at 10:34 am](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727212) 0 This review is a little This review is a little unfair imo. I owned the 2019 version of the Birdy touring also an older Birdy Blue (24 speed!). Firstly I never ever noticed any bobbing on my 2 models – its worth noting that rear elastomer is replaceable at purchase for a harder or softer one. I was 75kg on the Medium. YMMV of course. Doing a proper price comparison to the Vello (which wouldnt exist without the Birdy) makes it slghtly more equal – though you are paying a premium for a smaller, faster fold, that monocoque hydroformed frame and a lighter base weight (closer to 11kg without the Dynamo & rear rack and lighter than the non-Ti Brompton) Its also worth noting that the Vello doesnt even appear to be available in the UK – so the Birdy has a Brexit/Import Tax AND a LBS retail tax on it which the Vello doesn’t. If you spec the Vello up to the same level it comes to € 2.496.00 (Birdy €2,799) without an equivalent of that funny frame box and alegedly you get an Abus lock too (in Germany at least) – so dont think its that much worse. Agree the rear mech is low rent. It was bad enough when it was 10 sp Deore rear mech. Also the mech is worryly low but you can go lower. I replaced mine with an 11sp Long cage XT Shadow Rear Mech which was even lower – but worth bearing in mind that you’re rarely in the bigger cogs where the jockeys are so low. I never had a surface strike either – I did long 15-20 mile commutes on mine and it was barely any slower than my road bike. Also check out the 32-9t rear cassette 😉 (Obviously a Birdy fanboi here – its not perfect but I did like my 2) Also if you think this is pricey you should see the Rohloff version 😉 - ![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/BSReTVSCMAI-cxc.jpg_large.jpg) Simon\_MacMichael [August 10, 2022 at 10:29 am](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727213) 0 Thanks for the comment, I’ve Thanks for the comment, I’ve flagged it to our tech team to look at. - ![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/BSReTVSCMAI-cxc.jpg_large.jpg) Simon\_MacMichael [August 10, 2022 at 2:30 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727316) 0 After a bit of research, After a bit of research, Vello does in fact have a distributor in the UK, based in east London, so other issues pointed out in comments apart (ie cost of speccing extras) there’s no issues with import duty etc. <https://www.aboutthebike.co.uk/vello-bike> - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/807932bd8f5171bf30952f9ba93f199e7e7e4b05051a69271594e13c5de167f7?s=50&d=mm&r=g) Matt Lamy [August 10, 2022 at 4:24 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727353) 0 Hi there, thanks for your Hi there, thanks for your comment. The rear rack doesn’t come as standard on the Birdy – not even on the ‘Touring’ model – add the carrier and it’s £2763. As you say, an equivalent VELLO would be €2469 which at current exchange rates would be £2110 – £650 less than the Birdy. (However, in the Birdy’s favour, the price for a UK-sourced VELLO seems to be a bit more than a direct price conversion.) So it’s complicated. However, as a package, I still believe the VELLO is better value. I mean, a £30 rear mech on a £2.5k+ bike just looks like a ridiculous speccing decision\! I stand by the bobbing issue I had – it was bizarre. Because the Riese and Muller website has UK prices, I used that as my reference and I couldn’t find any mention of alternative suspension parts there. However, following your comment, I see they are available on the US Birdy website – thank you for letting us know. All that said, and without wishing to pre-empt the VELLO review, even with the bobbing, I’d still rather ride the Birdy… 2. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/76eedafcfd55aa8553fa53546d245d76a29bca2737cb5ac329743632e1d4cd54?s=50&d=mm&r=g) Doctor Fegg [August 10, 2022 at 12:04 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727245) 0 For a touring folder my first For a touring folder my first stop would always be a Bike Friday New World Tourist (20in wheels): I’ve had one for some seven years now and remain delighted with it. I suspect the Birdy folds a bit smaller, but the NWT is small enough for a suitcase or a train luggage rack, which is surely enough unless you’re doing the whole Brompton commuter thing. Bike Friday don’t currently have a UK dealer (sigh) but it’d still come out at less than the Birdy price. The Airnimal Joey is worth considering, too. 3. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6efa5ad34fdce4f0c3b5bcfc9a3d9f5d14b023f6b4d17aaa146334ac5e161ab9?s=50&d=mm&r=g) SimonS [August 10, 2022 at 3:45 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727344) 0 I’ve always wanted a Birdy I’ve always wanted a Birdy since I first rode one nearly 20 years ago. I’m on my second Brompton since then and, while they’re a load of fun and massively convenient i still think the Birdy would be better for longer rides while still having the security off Folding and storing indoors. At first glance the Vello looks like it’s got a decent riding position but it’s useless as a utility bike without mudguards and luggage carrying. And I can’t find any images of it with either fitted. (I’d want a dynamo too for full convenience) 4. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g) wtjs [August 10, 2022 at 4:51 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727357) 0 The bobbing problem: I’ve had The bobbing problem: I’ve had a Birdy for over 20 years – a previous model with more boxy aluminium frame. I have never toured with it carrying heavy loads, and its main use was being hidden in obscure locations at the end of mountain tours so we could start from the car in one place and end at another. I would then ride a couple of hours at most to retrieve the car. I never experienced bobbing. I bought the green ‘hard’ elastomer at the outset, with a spare medium ‘red’. This summer the 20+ year old green just fractured, making the bike unrideable. A quick replacement with the completely unused red didn’t work because that promptly broke too- clearly it’s age not use that finishes them off. A quick look online got me another green with no choice about which model it would fit. Well done R\&M, because it fitted instantly and it rode better than before – maybe the elastomer is only good for 10 years! I also changed the front, which is just a damper with the work being done by the front suspension spring. It has been ridden on fairly rough roads and even Pyrenean ‘gravel’ and works well. I’m about 75kg, so I suspect that green is best for most people - ![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/pictures/picture-769249-1631883907.jpg) Secret\_squirrel [August 10, 2022 at 5:07 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727359) 0 Deffo not the green for me Deffo not the green for me even Red was a touch hard. If anyone wants a yellow (soft) one I think I have a spare in the shed for postage. No guarantees it wont crumble – thats just Age and Elastomers. I have a sizable bundle of odd bits for the Mark 1 non-hydroformed Birdy that I got from a bike shop closing down sale on Ebay – if anyone wants some bits ping me on the below and I’ll send a photo. From memory its mostly partial pannier racks, plastic mud guards, loads of trolley wheels for some reason. I also have lightly used 32-9 Sunrace cassette from this model from my 10 to 11 speed conversion project. Which are like hens teeth outside of the dealers. [decline-gigabit01@icloud.com](mailto:decline-gigabit01@icloud.com) Happy to have a conversation if someone wants to inherit this lot. - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g) wtjs [August 10, 2022 at 5:18 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727363) 0 Mine sounds even more Mine sounds even more original than yours, with an 8-speed and a GripShift. I’ve only changed the chain once, whereas I’ve done for 4 on my trailer towing Vitus gravel in 3 years- this shows that the Birdy is underused, but that’s only because I’m lucky enough to have several bikes. Over hilly unladen rides of up to a couple of hours the Birdy does about the same as the steel Vitus, which is not bad for 18″ v 700C\! 5. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/09d6e4c1c6c20a087f04657b5bf1c3a0e94a97a88af9061ce8a844298d49d3eb?s=50&d=mm&r=g) eburtthebike [August 10, 2022 at 5:34 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727369) 0 I’ve done a few tours on my I’ve done a few tours on my Birdy, 3×8 gears, and it was excellent, so much better than the hire bikes some of my companions were saddled with, and never had any bobbing problems either. - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g) wtjs [August 10, 2022 at 6:37 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727377) 0 3×8 gears 3×8 gears Is that a 3 speed hub? Was it from R\&M or a mod of your own? - ![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/pictures/picture-769249-1631883907.jpg) Secret\_squirrel [August 10, 2022 at 7:55 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727389) 0 Sram Dual drive (ex Sachs Sram Dual drive (ex Sachs Dual Drive). 3 speed Hub with 8 Speed freehub body on outside. I had one too. Same as wtjs’s but painted blue. Orginally the colour = the spec. So Birdy blues were always 24 speed, 8 Speed was Birdy Red. Rohloff was Birdy Black. <https://www.sheldonbrown.com/sachs-internal.html> SRAM briefly made a 3×10 speed version\! 6. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g) wtjs [August 10, 2022 at 7:09 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727380) 0 I thought I’d better put my I thought I’d better put my legs where my mouth is, and brought the Birdy out from its bag. There’s a fairly steep hill near me which I can just get up with my limited 1 x 8 gearing. No bobbing, which is why I have never noticed it over the years. It’s a very useful bike, although I’m glad I don’t have to buy one now\! I remember now – won’t go the right way up on Android - ![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/pictures/picture-769249-1631883907.jpg) Secret\_squirrel [August 10, 2022 at 8:04 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727387) 0 Ohh polished Alu version – Ohh polished Alu version – Nice! Just keep an eye out for fatigue in the seat post. TRIGGER WARNING – the following picture is real – Japanese only licensed version. I’ve always fancied one. Scroll Scroll some more And more…… And more And More And more And more And more Cue the weeping of the entire Italian Nation……… - ![](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/pictures/picture-364802-1479517623.jpg) ktache [August 10, 2022 at 9:08 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727398) 0 It’s so wrong, but in Celeste It’s so wrong, but in Celeste, so right… 7. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f77d174b4d38fd7de8ca1ac6c4a445fd23bd9b8e1f6a1b8872ea8512ef10377c?s=50&d=mm&r=g) a1white [August 11, 2022 at 10:07 am](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727443) 0 Crikey that rear derailleur Crikey that rear derailleur looks so close to the ground. So odd looking. Good job it only costs £30, It looks like you”ll easilly catch it on a kerb or comething. - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g) wtjs [August 11, 2022 at 11:47 am](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-727459) 0 Crikey that rear derailleur Crikey that rear derailleur looks so close to the ground…It looks like you”ll easilly catch it on a kerb or comething Depends how you define ‘easily’ and how long-term you want your assurance. Over 20 years of using the bike in Enland, Scotland, Wales, France and Spain without an incident leads me to suspect it’s not that easy 8. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/807932bd8f5171bf30952f9ba93f199e7e7e4b05051a69271594e13c5de167f7?s=50&d=mm&r=g) Matt Lamy [September 5, 2022 at 11:25 am](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-731315) 0 Re: bobbing. As I was finally Re: bobbing. As I was finally packing the Birdy to send back today, just thought I’d take a video of its rear elastomer under load. And this is fairly minimal load – just one hand on the saddle and a bit of downward pressure whilst holding an iPhone with the other hand. I suspect, as commenters here have said, a stiffer green elastomer would have been better for me. - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/807932bd8f5171bf30952f9ba93f199e7e7e4b05051a69271594e13c5de167f7?s=50&d=mm&r=g) Matt Lamy [September 5, 2022 at 11:29 am](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-731316) 0 Sorry, scuppered by Sorry, scuppered by technology – I was hoping as a GIF I’d be able to show moving footage of the rear elastomer squidging up easily. - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/722b56f6a8a538329435a0fd765c943b76d4ce86b717c1fb529090f71625c51e?s=50&d=mm&r=g) wtjs [September 5, 2022 at 11:39 am](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-731318) 0 I suspect a stiffer green I suspect a stiffer green elastomer would have been better for me I agree once again 9. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1408de1a73197c2150ccb7f681ae9443d6fbcb5b18f05b60aabf791c0b3b3a41?s=50&d=mm&r=g) Philip\_Rogers [September 29, 2022 at 3:53 pm](https://road.cc/content/review/birdy-touring-295093#comment-734700) 0 I have the same model and am I have the same model and am roughly the same height as you at 184cm. Some further comments: \+1 for the green rear elastomer and harder front elatomer. I use these in the summer but switch back to red and soft in the winter. The dealer advised this. You look to be on the more upright comfort stem. The sport stem may give a more comfortable and stable ride for taller riders. The dynamo lighting is set for cycling on the right, i.e. as in Germany. This is a nuisance as the front light can dazzle if on unlit cycle paths and not angled down. To my mind the rear light is also wrong and angles too much the left. I had a test ride on the Tourning, which I bought on Cyclescheme, and the Rohloff. The Rohloff felt heavier and slower, which it is, but given steep hills near Bath I would now appreciate the wider gear range. Comments are closed. ## Latest Comments Rendel Harris 2 hours ago 2028 will be an interesting choice for him (if he's still racing, who's to say that with potentially the most Tour wins, most WC wins and most Monument wins by then he might not have quit?) as although the rumoured road race course would suit him very well even with the Tour being moved to June as planned there will only be about five days between the end of the Tour and the road race to get to the west coast of the USA and acclimatise to the eight hour time difference with France, and the winner will surely be someone who didn't ride the Tour. [in: Dominant Tadej Pogačar equals Tour of Flanders record to continue perfect season](https://road.cc/news/tadej-pogacar-continues-perfect-season-to-equal-tour-of-flanders-record#comments) Fursty Ferret 2 hours ago I don't think you could highlight the issues with Garmin's UI more than the fact that the senior editor of Road.cc (and a PhD to boot) can't quickly mute the navigation sounds or stop the guidance on their flagship GPS unit... [in: The relentless ring of the Garmin: I cycled the roads of the Tour of Flanders… and nearly lost my mind](https://road.cc/blog/i-cycled-the-roads-of-the-tour-of-flanders-and-nearly-lost-my-mind#comments) Rendel Harris 2 hours ago Sincere condolences to David's family for the loss of their husband and father and to you and our local cycling community on the loss of a friend. [in: British cyclist dies during Tour of Flanders sportive](https://road.cc/news/british-cyclist-dies-during-tour-of-flanders-sportive#comments) Mr Blackbird 4 hours ago Paris Roubaix will be interesting. Potentially the hardest one for Pogacar to win. But who would bet against him? If he wins what will be his next target apart from the TDF and World Champs? The Vuelta? Cavendish's TDF stage record? 2028 Olympic Road Race? [in: Dominant Tadej Pogačar equals Tour of Flanders record to continue perfect season](https://road.cc/news/tadej-pogacar-continues-perfect-season-to-equal-tour-of-flanders-record#comments) OldRidgeback 12 hours ago I was shocked when I went to training this morning to be told by another coach that David had died. He was doing the sportive with his sons. One had ridden ahead and the other was with him when he had the heart attack. I can't imagine the traumatic experience this would've been for his son. I've known David for several years and the boys were both very keen racing cyclists (BMX, cyclocross, road and track), with some good results under their belts from a young age. David took them to so many races, a hands-on dad. He was very fit himself, a keen cyclist too. My deepest condolences go to his wife and sons. I've not named them to give them some privacy. David will be much missed by the many friends he had in South London's cycling community, with his irrepressible smile and humour. [in: British cyclist dies during Tour of Flanders sportive](https://road.cc/news/british-cyclist-dies-during-tour-of-flanders-sportive#comments) Rendel Harris 15 hours ago Excellent race and another extraordinary performance from the GOAT. On to important questions though, what was going on with the collar of Tadej's jersey? For many kilometres it looked as though he was wearing a white neckerchief with a bit of material hanging down from his collar, then at some point he presumably tore or had it cut off, hence in the photo above most of the A in UAE is missing. What happened? He didn't crash (that I know of, started watching from 120km to go), was MVDP or one of the other mere mortals trying to pull him back by the collar? [in: Dominant Tadej Pogačar equals Tour of Flanders record to continue perfect season](https://road.cc/news/tadej-pogacar-continues-perfect-season-to-equal-tour-of-flanders-record#comments) hawkinspeter 16 hours ago Nice idea, but Raspberry PIs are getting more expensive at the moment, so it's not going to be cost effective, though still a cool and fun project. There's better alternatives for reducing cost or power usage, but Raspberry PIs are going to have the best support available. I like the NanoPI range (https://www.friendlyelec.com/index.php?route=product/category\&path=69) though I bought more expensive models (e.g. M5) for use as a router (they have OpenWRT support along with docker) which can use and boot from NVMe. I've got a bunch of RPi4s that I'm considering whether it's worth selling them due to the big price increases. [in: “Flag me”: Tadej Pogačar uses tailwind for latest incredible Strava KOM hunt (after helping out fan trying to convince wife to let him get a Y1Rs); When you haven’t ridden your bike in a while; Was Ganna win aided by sticky bottle? + more on the live blog](https://road.cc/news/cycling-live-blog-2-april-2026#comments) BroomBroomBroom 18 hours ago Really sorry to hear this. Had great service from Pedal Heaven last year – fantastic bike shop. [in: “If you let it get you down, they win”: Bike shop owner hails “amazing” staff and community as business reopens after £40,000 of stock stolen in ram raid](https://road.cc/news/bike-shop-owner-hails-amazing-staff-after-40000-of-stock-stolen-in-ram-raid#comments) Freddy56 20 hours ago super race [in: Dominant Tadej Pogačar equals Tour of Flanders record to continue perfect season](https://road.cc/news/tadej-pogacar-continues-perfect-season-to-equal-tour-of-flanders-record#comments) thrawed 20 hours ago On my wahoo I've always turned off the turn by turn notifications because it gets confused by the British tendency to have staggered T junctions rather than crossroads. Using the map page with a couple data important data fields above it is my preference. [in: The relentless ring of the Garmin: I cycled the roads of the Tour of Flanders… and nearly lost my mind](https://road.cc/blog/i-cycled-the-roads-of-the-tour-of-flanders-and-nearly-lost-my-mind#comments) ## Related Reviews [![Velo de Ville E-Foldy (9).JPG](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/velo-de-ville-e-foldy-9-300x200.jpg) Velo de Ville E-Foldy Folds pretty well, rides very well and carries a premium quality price tag](https://road.cc/content/review/velo-de-ville-e-foldy-316401) £3338.80 0 [![Brompton G Line with Roller Frame 8-speed](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2025-bromton-g-line-riding-1-300x200.jpg) Brompton G Line with Roller Frame 8-speed A bigger Brompton that's great for anything from commuting to multi-day adventures](https://road.cc/content/review/brompton-g-line-roller-frame-8-speed-315835) £2499.00 2 [![MiRider 20](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/mirider-20-1-300x200.jpg) MiRider 20 More single speed throttle-powered fun. 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Readable Markdown	This review contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent. Riese & Müller’s iconic Birdy could be characterised as the over-engineered Germanic answer to a Brompton. However, while the Birdy Touring’s ride experience does exhibit a strange ‘bobbing’ quality, it is also superbly comfortable with surprisingly impressive levels of power delivery and control. It is very, very expensive, though. Here at road.cc, we don’t do grouptests, which is a blessing to some extent. Trying to get multiple versions of similar bikes from disparate manufacturers or distributors can feel like herding cats. However, as luck would have it, at the same time as I was testing the Birdy, I also had the [Vello Rocky](https://en.vello.bike/products/vello-rocky) on review, so (don’t tell anybody), if you read that review (once it’s published) straight after this, I’ve sort of snuck in a little two-model ’boutique-style’ folding bike grouptest here. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-2-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) The Birdy offers a strangely springy ride quality, far more so than the very, very stiff Vello. Thanks to suspension both front and back, there’s a slightly bizarre sensation of bobbing up and down in the saddle – particularly when pedalling hard – that takes a bit of getting used. I suspect roadies and anybody focused solely on forward momentum will find it frustrating. However, it’s hard to condemn the Birdy’s ride because it’s also very comfortable. Think of it sort of like a folding bike equivalent of an old Citroen 2CV; it’s almost impossible to stop it lolloping and rolling but it’s still quite impressive in its own way. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-suspension-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front suspension (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-damper-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – rear damper (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Just to check it wasn’t my prodigious weight causing this phenomenon, I gave the Birdy to my wife, who is not a prodigious weight. She also experienced the bobbing, but she also said it was the most comfortable bike she’d ever ridden. I have to concur – it is very comfortable – but that bobbing is still pretty weird. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-3-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) While some riders might far rather swap at least some of that obviously compliant bump-absorption for a bit more stiffness, pedalling is far from a turgid affair and the Birdy actually gets up to speed well. The Birdy marketing bumf suggests this is because the suspended wheels maintain contact with the ground better, and therefore create better drive. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-fork-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – front fork (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Control is also surprisingly good. For a folder, reach is quite long, which provides a slightly more enthusiastic ride and, at speed, the Birdy handles very well. It’s easy to place on the road and its geometry offers just about the most naturally stable riding position – for me at 6ft at least – of any folder I’ve tested. The bobbing motion of the suspension negatively affects the feeling of stability just a tad, but among all the folders I’ve tested, it is – again surprisingly – the easiest for getting out of the saddle. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-riding-4-1024x683.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike – riding 4 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) In short, that wallowing suspension might not be to everybody’s tastes, but this is an otherwise fun and capable bike to ride. ### Frame In unfolded form, the Birdy’s geometry and riding position make it feel almost like a ‘normal’ bike. As I mentioned, the reach is good, as is wheelbase length. Stem height can be adjusted to one of five predetermined points, but even at the top one it might be a little low for tall riders wanting an upright position. I thought it was perfect for getting a bit of speed up. Saddle height was good enough to fit my 6ft frame and there was more seatpost available. There’s no getting away from the fact that the Birdy is a pretty funny looking thing. The main frame is effectively a single piece of aluminium engineering – no traditional tubes and joins here, this is monocoque all the way, albeit with a small integrated triangle heading down to the bottom bracket. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-2.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) At the bottom bracket, there’s also the pivot point for the separate hydroformed rear triangle. Like the Brompton and the aforementioned Vello, the Birdy’s fold relies on this rear triangle swinging underneath the main frame when folded. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folding-hinge.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folding hinge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) At the front, it’s sort of similar, actually. The fork’s two-arm suspension system effectively splits, with the front wheel folding underneath to sit alongside the main frame. It’s all rather ingenious, although the stem ruins it slightly by utilising an old-school clamp that you have to undo to fold that in half. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-head-tube-badge.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - head tube badge (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Drop the saddle to lock everything in place, and you’ve got a very compact little folded package. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-2.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) The Birdy has the world record for folding – 4.9 seconds – and despite its engineering complexity, it’s actually fairly intuitive. I unfolded it initially without resorting to any instructions. ### Gearset and brakes I tested the Touring Birdy here, which comes with a 10-speed derailleur gearset, as opposed to the City model with Shimano Nexus hub gear, or Rohloff model with – you guessed it – a Rohloff Speed Hub. Having a 32-tooth biggest sprocket does look a tad strange inset against an 18in wheel, but a derailleur setup is – normally at least – fine by me. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Gear changes were very positive and allied with the Driveline 52-tooth chainset, the 9-32 cassette offered enough options for just about anything – climbing is particularly easy. It’s a bit of a shame that on a bike costing north of £2,500 you’re ‘only’ getting Microshift XLE componentry at the rear mech – I looked online and the XLE rear mech is available for £29.99 from a well-known online cycle retailer. Call me a snob, but a £30 rear mech on a £2,500+ bike seems a bit cheap. Despite that, I’m actually quite a fan of Microshift kit so, functionally at least, there’s almost nothing to complain about. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-crank.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - crank (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) I say ‘almost’ because Birdy does make mention of the fact that, despite its low bottom bracket, it still complies with regulations regarding pedal strike when leaning over into a corner. What it doesn’t say is that having a full size rear mech on an 18in rear wheel means you can get pretty close to striking the road with that, too. I doubt you’ll be knee-down in the corners enough for it to be a problem, but just be aware that it’s a lot closer to the floor than a rear mech normally is. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mech.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mech (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Finishing off the important moving parts are the Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes. These offer more than enough power, and after an initial ‘grabby phase’ provide excellent feel to make sure you use exactly the amount of braking that you need. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-front-disc-brake.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - front disc brake (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) One little quirk about these, though, is that the front calliper is mounted on the right leg of the fork. It makes no difference to performance but does seem just a tad strange. ### Wheels and tyres The Birdy runs on 18in wheels, rather than the Vello’s 20in or the Brompton’s 16in. The rims here are made by Alex, which again is another slight disappointment. (Fun game for the comments section – can anybody name a bike that costs more than the Birdy but also runs Alex rims?) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-folded-1.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - folded 1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) The more interesting part of the wheel build is the Shutter Precision front dynamo hub. We’ll come onto the point of that in a mo. As a package, the wheels seem fine if exceedingly nondescript. Tyres are a bit better for people looking for brand names. The Schwalbe Marathon Racers offer fantastic grip in the dry and should be good enough for year-round use in all but snow and ice. They’re certainly a sensible out-of-the-box option to get the most out of your Birdy. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-mudguard.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ### Finishing kit Folding bikes are always a bit weird when it comes to finishing kit, and the Birdy is certainly no exception. I’ll start with the obvious stuff first: the Selle Royal Shadow saddle is great; the Satori Horizon handlebar is good; and the Ergon ergonomic grips are excellent. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-saddle-rear.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - saddle rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-lever-and-shifter.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - lever and shifter (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) We also get cute little Birdy-specific SKS mudguards, a little kickstand on the rear triangle and custom – although sadly not folding – pedals. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-mudguard.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear mudguard (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-kick-stand.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - kick stand (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) Best of all, though, the front dynamo hub powers Supernova E3 lights at the front and rear, and our Birdy also came with Riese & Müller’s funky Birdy luggage rack (that’s an extra £94), which cleverly drops down with the rear triangle in folded form. ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-dynamo-hub.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - dynamo hub (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ![2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2.jpg](https://cdn.road.cc/wp-content/uploads/roadcc/styles/main_width/public/2022-birdy-touring-folding-bike-rear-rack-2.jpg) 2022 Birdy Touring folding bike - rear rack 2 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson) ### Value and conclusion According to Riese and Müller’s website, the Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. Don’t get your hopes up that there’s a budget wonder there, though: the entry-level Birdy City starts at £2,579 and the halo Birdy Rohloff is a whopping £3,979. Obviously, in that kind of price range, equivalent rival bikes are few and far between. I mentioned the Vello Rocky I’ve also been reviewing earlier, which is similar in being almost a boutique folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890 (£2,444.37). Or there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of [Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models](https://knl.mntzrlt.net/shop-rest/api/link/wrapper/660/12?mk=GBP_EN&su=chrome-extension%3A%2F%2Fkcldccohmbodnkjokmlfpdhmdoogaadf&tu=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tredz.co.uk%2F.Brompton-P-Line-Urban-Low-Bar-Increased-Gearing-Midnight-Black-2022-Folding-Bike_244946.htm). So in comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive. [\> Best folding bikes 2022 – portable bikes for convenient commuting](https://road.cc/index.php/buyers_guide/6-best-folding-bikes-2022-195485/) Despite its fairly phenomenal price, though, I have developed a bit of affection for my little Birdy test bike. While I could never imagine spending that kind of money to buy one myself, there is a lot of innovative engineering here. Yes, its ride experience is unusual, but it’s quite fun, very comfortable, and surprisingly fast and secure on the road. If you want something special, and you’ve got the money, certainly give one a test ride. ### Verdict Unique folding bike with a lot of positives qualities, but it also has a strange tendency to bob, and that price, well… All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click [here](https://road.cc/content/review/blog/how-does-roadcc-makes-money-300903/). road.cc test report Make and model: Birdy Touring Size tested: n/a List the components used to build up the bike. Birdy lists: Frame: Monocoque aluminium with hydroformed aluminium rear triangle Headset: TH No 10, semi-integrated Crankset: Driveline 52T, including Hollow Tech bottom bracket Rear derailleur: Microshift, 10-speed Shifter: Shimano Deore, 10-speed Chain: KMC X10 ( 111x ) Cassette: Sunrace 10-speed, 9-32t Brakes: Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brake Rims: Alex 18in Front hub: Hub dynamo Shutter Precision Rear hub: Sunrace, 32 Loch Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Racer 40-355 Reflex Tubes: Schwalbe SV5 Saddle: Selle Royal Shadow Seatpost: JD / Riese and Müller, aluminium 34.9 x 565mm Seatclamp: TranzX, 40,0 mm, QR Pedals: VP R\&M Custom Handlebar: Satori Horizon, 31.8 mm, 10°, B=540 mm Grips: Ergon ergonomic Front light: Supernova E3 Pure 3S Tail light: Supernova E3 E-Bike Tail Light 2 Mudguards: SKS Birdy Kickstand: Minoura for Birdy Tell us what the bike is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike? This is a folding bike aimed at the serious commuter or even longer-distance cyclist. Riese and Müller says: “Whether you’re on holiday or for everyday working, the Birdy takes you safely to any destination, with Riese & Müller Control Technology. Thanks to its unique folding properties and low weight, you can take it with you easily at any time: folded together, it fits onto any form of public transport or into any car boot. And it can also be adjusted to different rider heights just as quickly as it can be folded.” Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options The Birdy Touring sits in the middle of a three-bike range. There’s the entry-level Birdy City starting at £2,579 or the halo Birdy Rohloff starting at £3,979. Overall rating for frame and fork 9/10 Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork? The frame and fork are essentially the main selling points of the Birdy, and you can see why. They’re very well engineered. Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork? Aluminium monocoque for the main body of the frame, with hydroformed aluminium elsewhere. Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork? Quite aggressive, almost ‘real’ bike geometry for the Birdy. I felt more head-down than on most other folders. How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size? Very good in terms of height and reach. Only potential negative is that some riders might want slightly more handlebar height. Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality. Very comfortable to ride – the suspension front and back saw to that\! Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible? Ah, now it gets tricky. Yes, this bike bobs and wallows almost all the time, but especially under pedalling input. How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient? It still felt efficient, though. Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem? No. How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Not super lively, but a bit more eager than plain neutral. Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly? I was impressed by the handling. Aside from the bobbing, it was very surefooted. High speed freewheeling descents, for example, were great fun. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s comfort? would you recommend any changes? No changes needed for comfort. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s stiffness? would you recommend any changes? No component changes would make any difference here. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike’s efficiency? would you recommend any changes? I’d suggest a higher-spec gearset would make things even better. Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer: 7/10 Pretty good. Rate the bike for acceleration: 7/10 Rate the bike for sprinting: 6/10 It’s a folder, so its sprinting capacity is limited. But the Birdy is good for a folder. Rate the bike for high speed stability: 8/10 Rate the bike for cruising speed stability: 8/10 Rate the bike for low speed stability: 6/10 Rate the bike for flat cornering: 6/10 Rate the bike for cornering on descents: 8/10 Rate the bike for climbing: 7/10 It’s efficient, but that bobbing really makes itself known on climbs. Rate the drivetrain for performance: 6/10 Rate the drivetrain for durability: 5/10 Rate the drivetrain for weight: 5/10 Rate the drivetrain for value: 2/10 On a £2,500+ bike, you really expect better. Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn’t like? Any components which didn’t work well together? Brompton has made its own gearset and I would suggest Riese & Müller would probably benefit from doing the same. Fitting budget drivetrain componentry to bike at this price point doesn’t look good. Rate the wheels for performance: 5/10 Rate the wheels for durability: 7/10 Rate the wheels for weight: 4/10 Rate the wheels for comfort: 5/10 Rate the wheels for value: 2/10 Again, R\&M branded kit, even if it was still produced by Alex, would at least look better. Rate the tyres for performance: 8/10 Rate the tyres for durability: 7/10 Rate the tyres for weight: 7/10 Rate the tyres for comfort: 7/10 Rate the tyres for value: 6/10 Rate the controls for performance: 8/10 Rate the controls for durability: 7/10 Rate the controls for weight: 7/10 Rate the controls for comfort: 8/10 Rate the controls for value: 6/10 Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad) The Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes are probably the highlight of the package – they work well. Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes Would you consider buying the bike? Absolutely not. Would you recommend the bike to a friend? To test, yes. To buy unseen, no. How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc? The Vello Rocky (review to come) is similar in being almost a boutique-style folding bike, although it comes with a better Shimano XT gearset yet costs ‘just’ £1,352. If you’ve got the money, you could go for the even more exclusive and lighter weight Vello Rocky Titanium at €2,890. Or there is the legendary Brompton. For £400 less than the Birdy, you could have one of [Brompton’s speedy and lightweight P Line models](https://road.cc/index.php/review/brompton-p-line-urban-2022-290711/). In comparison, you’d have to say the Birdy does look expensive. Rate the bike overall for performance: 7/10 Rate the bike overall for value: 4/10 Use this box to explain your overall score Folders are so tricky to score because they often feature so much innovation and engineering yet, ultimately, they still have to be judged on the basics: ride quality, performance and value. Here, the Birdy does well on the first two criteria, even if that bobbing sensation is a bit off-putting. But even despite all the positive qualities of its unique design, the Birdy’s price is just too much for most people. Overall rating: 6/10 Age: 39 Height: 6’0 Weight: 16 stone I usually ride: Islabikes Beinn 29 My best bike is: 25-year-old Dawes Galaxy I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, Leisure
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