Rock & Rolla
Bike review
Re-introducing a classic
Riese-Muller's original folding bike design perfected by Pacific Cycle's George Lin is now available for cycling enthusiasts here..
THE Birdy folding bike is the brainchild of Markus Riese and Heiko Muller.
They came up with the idea of a small bike with a monocoque body which folds only on the front and back tires back in 1992.
Hence the birth of the BD-1 that was introduced in 1995.
Even in its infancy, the BD-1 commanded a hefty pricetag. Expect to pay more than USD$1,000 (RM3,150) for the basic bike that came with an 8-speed transmission.
Taiwan's Pacific Cycles took interest in the BD-1 and perfected it. They came up with a face-lifted version of the bike and gave it a catchy name like Birdy.
With George Lin of Pacific Cycles at helm, the Birdy became mass-produced and has hit about 100,000 units worldwide.
The sleeker version of the BD-1 was readily accepted.
But it has an odd-sized wheel (18-inch) which lagged behind many of its larger 20" competitors.
What the Birdy can offer is a comfy ride with it's full-suspension feature.
An elastomer damper on it's rear suspension provides relief on bumpy roads while the front suspension takes off vibration on the handlebar.
Birdy's monocoque frame provides a sturdy ride and superb handling.
While it doesn't fold as compact as most folding bikes in it's class, the Birdy has almost a cult following among enthusiasts.
To commemorate the BD-1, Pacific Cycles had re-introduced the original frame design with the Birdy Classic.
This bike retails here in Malaysia for RM4,550 and sold rather well for endearing fans of the classic full-suspension folding bike.
Like the original BD-1, the Classic comes with an 8-speed transmission and two colours: Silver and Blue.
More information on the Birdy Classic can be obtained from GW Cycle Boutique in Kota Kemuning (http://www.gwcycle.com.my).