Originally Posted by
50PlusCycling
My Birdy was built to be light and fast, I converted it to 20" wheels, replaced all the steel with titanium, and installed a 22 speed XTR/Dura-Ace drive line, I have managed to get the weight down to 18 pounds. It's quite fast for a folder, and I have little trouble keeping up with most roadies. I find that I don't use the granny gear, so soon I'll dump the extra chain ring on the front, and get rid of the related components, this will drop the weight a little more.
It's fun to ride, smooth, quiet, and absorbs the bumps. It's not as fast as my road bikes, but it's fast enough.
Light is GOOD! (Particularly for this back-injured senior who finds it difficult to lift heavy folders into the back of his car
) I was not aware of the Birdy having much in the way of major steel components for which titanium components were readily (not custom made) available. Other than nuts and bolts, what titanium components have you sourced? Are your 20" wheels much lighter than the original 18" ones?