As soon as I wheeled it outside, I could hear the brake pads and discs scraping against each other. I was able to slightly adjust the spacing to prevent them from rubbing, but it required pulling the brake handles much more.
I depleted the battery to a maximum of 2055 percent and went on a 25 km ride (this involves using a lot of throttle and higher pedal assist for the first day to test it out). One charge will get me 5060 km, which is far more than I need.
After having this e-bike for a few days, I thought I would share my thoughts since I couldn’t find many reviews from other owners.
Overall Im happy with the bike. I wish this hadn’t arrived so damaged and required so many changes right out of the box. If you decide to purchase one of these, be prepared for modifications. Once thats taken care of, its a pretty great bike. Youll get lots of compliments on how it looks.
I discovered that once you surpass 20 km/h, you are pedaling against nearly no resistance; therefore, while some extra gears would be useful, they are not absolutely essential.
Intro, Price, Options and Verdict
- Solid build
- Decent range
- Sleek design
- Smartphone-integrated tech
- On the expensive side
- High crossbar not ideal for shorter riders
- A bit heavy
- Disc brakes not hydraulic
Assisted Range: 60 miles Top Assisted Speed: 15. 5 mph Cost/Mile (@52p/kWh): 0. 3p.
Electric bikes are getting more sophisticated. Theyre not just a motor and battery shoehorned into an existing design anymore. Some manufacturers are now designing their ebikes specifically around electrification and adding connected features as well. One company leading this charge is Californian-based Bird, which entered the UK market a few months ago.
Connectivity is necessary for its rapidly expanding e-bike and e-scooter rental business in the US and Europe, which is partially met by the purchaseable bikes Bird recently introduced in the UK. Can the firm replicate its US success in the UK with its first release, the sturdy-looking BirdBike commuter bike that seems to be borrowing some styling cues from VanMoof (or was it the other way around)?
The BirdBike is available in two official versions: the step over A frame and the step through V frame. Since the V frame version isn’t yet available in the UK, we tested the A frame version. There are three colors to choose from: Gravity Grey, Starling Blue, and Stealth Black. Bird used to have an exclusive agreement with Halfords, but other retailers are now selling this e-bike.
At launch, the price was £1,999, and this was still the case when we recorded our video review. But since then vendors have knocked £500 off the top, including Halfords, making for a much more reasonable £1,499. This is still on the premium side but sits alongside popular brands such as Carrera and Raleigh. Boardman and VanMoof ebikes are a lot more expensive.
Every BirdBike model has a 250W motor that is limited to the UK and a 346Wh, 36-volt detachable battery. The motor is manufactured by Bafang. Although it is a Chinese brand, its manufacturing quality is highly regarded. In addition to a two-year warranty, Halfords provides some excellent aftercare options for the BirdBike.
Design, Ride Comfort and Storage
Although Stealth Black makes the BirdBike appear rather mean, the other two colors are also elegant. Despite being primarily a road bike, the overall design has a very sturdy, mountain bike-like feel to it. The BirdBike bears a striking resemblance to a VanMoof ebike thanks to its straightforward A frame design.
Instead of the crank, the motor is located in the rear wheel hub. Although a hub motor is still a great option for an everyday commuter bike and is also less expensive, a crank motor can deliver more precise power tailored to your riding style.
The BirdBike has a stylish appearance, but the top bar is thick and quite high, which has disadvantages that we will cover in the next section. The battery is situated in the frame’s diagonal section rather than in this crossbar. Theres a sturdy integrated kickstand.
This bike’s sturdy construction allows it to weigh slightly less than 23 kg. Considering the thick frame design, this isn’t too bad, but there are options that weigh a few kilograms less. Although the wheels are standard for this type of bike and are 29 inches in diameter (700C), Bird refers to them as being 28 inches.
While most ebikes have a lot of cabling, the BirdBike has a lot of thin wire cabling in front of the handlebars that could catch on a bike rack. Additionally, if you ride in the rain, the handlebar upright has a notch facing forward that will collect water. If this had been covered or oriented reversely, it would have been preferable. The plastic pedals on this otherwise sturdy and well-made bike is also unexpected.
However, because there are many of them despite the spokes not being a high-end variety, the wheels will be strong and resistant to pothole damage. Additionally, the tires are made of puncture-resistant Kenda rubber, which will be excellent on the awful roads in the United Kingdom.
The BirdBike is no racing road bike. Its meant for commuting and general urban journeys. However, the Kenda tires are in the middle of road and mountain bike tires, so they should still be effective despite having a sturdy center section. The fat content will aid in mitigating some of the uneven patches on those subpar British roads.
But since some commuter bikes, like the Mark2 X-Cross 450 and 520, at least have this on the front forks, the lack of suspension is dubious. The saddle is a little firm for our liking, too. Another reason the seat is difficult to adjust is that there is no quick clamp; instead, you must use a tool to remove a lug on the side. Nevertheless, no one will be taking your seat anytime soon. It’s too difficult to take off, and most burglars couldn’t even figure out how
However, the fact that this bike is also suitable for someone who is reasonably tall is our least favorite feature in terms of comfort. Officially, supported heights are up to 120kg and span 173190 cm, or 58 and 63. However, with their feet planted on the ground, even a 5ft 10in person may find their ass firmly resting on the crossbar. It is also more difficult to get off and on because of the high crossbar. When riding a commuter bike, both of these present issues as you may have to stop frequently for traffic signals.
If you’re shorter, though, the V-frame version can fit people as short as 5 feet. Additionally, getting on and off will be much simpler when traveling in commuter traffic that stops and starts. We hope it arrives in the UK eventually.
Although there isn’t a built-in cargo system on the BirdBike, there are plenty of viable alternatives, and fixing bolts for a variety of attachments Some are available on the back for panniers or a luggage rack.
Additionally, there are fasteners on the front for front panniers or a basket. Even fixing bolts for attaching a water bottle are included on the diagonal bar in the center frame. Therefore, even though none of these options are offered by Bird as regular extras, there are still plenty of options overall.
The BirdBike’s ability to seamlessly integrate electrical controls into the design is one of its most impressive features. When the LCD display is turned off, you might not even notice it is there because it is mounted at the top of the handlebar upright. The power button on the left side of the handlebar must be long pressed in order to turn the system on. Nearby plus and minus buttons then vary the motor power. Additionally, you can activate the walk mode by holding down the negative button for a few seconds, but you must first start pushing the bike a little to make it engage.
The small LCD displays the amount of battery left at the top, the speed below, the assist level above, and a trip meter below that. A brief push of the power button can switch the latter between a single trip and the entire distance. The reminder to service the bike after 300 miles is a pleasant addition.
Additionally, the BirdBike has integrated lights on the front and back that can be turned on by holding down the plus button for two seconds. These won’t fall off or go in the wrong direction because they are completely integrated into the crossbar.
By simultaneously pressing the plus and minus buttons, you can access the settings mode. You can change the unit of measurement from miles to kilometers and set the speed limit from 7 to 20 mph, though the latter is not permitted on UK roads in theory. The UK ebike limit is 15. 5mph. In addition, you can reset the trip meter, change the power off timer, display brightness, and wheel diameter.
In addition to the electrical power, the Shimano Tourney gear system has seven speeds, which is about the appropriate amount of gears for a city bike. However, we discovered that when we tried to ride as quickly as possible, we ran out of gears. With ten gears, the Mark2 X-Cross 450 and 520 have a little bit more room at the top end.
We’re curious as to why the mechanical bell was included in this assembly. Should it malfunction, you will need to take it apart completely.
At last, we reach the most distinctive feature of the BirdBike: its compatibility with smartphone apps. The Bird app lets you turn on the lights, see how far you’ve ridden your bike, and locate it on a map. It can also be used to interface with commercial Bird e-mobility vehicles. Additionally, you have the option to reset the tripmeter and 300-mile service reminder, as well as lock out the on-bike controls.
FAQ
Where are bird bikes made?
Are bird mountain bikes any good?
Do bird bikes have gears?
How fast does the Bird Bike go?