RIESE & MULLER WORLD BIRDY User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL BIRDY
TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL GERMAN INSTRUCTION MANUAL
BIRDY: FROM JUNE 2015
WORLD BIRDY

Dear customer,
Congratulations on your new Birdy. Thank you for choosing us for your
mobility needs. Riese & Müller builds lightweight and practical bikes that are
characterized by exceptional handling and award winning design.
Your dealer has performed the final assembly of the Birdy and possibly
implemented some requested changes for you. They have performed a test
ride to ensure an enjoyable riding experience from the very start.
During the design process, we constantly think about your riding enjoyment
and safety. Even though we cannot anticipate every possible scenario, this
manual answers many of the key questions you may have and gives you
many tips on using your bike.
Furthermore, a lot of interesting facts about bicycle technology, mainte-
nance and upkeep are summarized for you to ensure that you enjoy your
new Birdy for many years for come. If after reading this manual, you still
have questions, please feel free to contact your dealer or us directly.
Since our bikes are constantly being updated and improved,we may provide
additional supplementary pages to ensure you have the most up to date
information. Please be mindful that some updated information may have
already been included with your new bike.
The Riese & Müller Team

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65
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69
General information
Safety
Legal requirements
Intended use
Pedals
Before the first ride
Before every ride (quick check)
Quick release
Unfolding your Birdy
Folding your Birdy
Adjusting the riding position
Adjusting the suspension
Stem folding hinge
Rear swingarm catch
Front swingarm catch
Brakes
Shifting system
Chain
Headset
Wheels and tyres
Suspension pivot bearings
Lighting system
Carrying loads and children
Transporting your Birdy
General care/Inspections
Warranty/Guarantee
Technical data/Torque settings
Service and maintenance plan
Documents
Service record
CONTENT

Brake lever, p. 23 –20
Shifter, p. 37
Seat post, p. 22
Stem, Handlebar, p. 20
Stem,
Folding hinge, p. 26
Headset, p. 43
Lighting, p. 53
Suspension fork, p. 28
Brakes p. 30 –35
Rim brakes, p. 31 –33
Disc brakes, p. 34
Chain, p 42
Pedals, p. 9
Rear swingarm catch, p. 27
Rear shock, p. 25
Saddle, p. 22
Shifting, p. 36 –41
Derailleur, p. 37
Hub gear, p. 40
Wheel attachment, p. 14
Wheels and tiresw, p. 44 –51

© 2016, Riese & Müller GmbH
Text and concept
Riese & Müller GmbH
Expert consultant
Dipl.-Ing. Dirk Zedler
Teinacher Straße 51
71634 Ludwigsburg
Graphic Design
www.wolf-corporate.de
Photography
Kay Tkatzik, riese und müller GmbH
State 03/2016
This instruction complies with the
requirements of the European
standard EN 15194
Torque settings in this manual are
specied in Nm. Do not rely on
your feeling: “tight” is simply not
precise enough. ONLY a torque
wrench can ensure that the bolt
is properly tightened. You must
always use this tool to tighten
the components when a torque
setting is specied. A bolt that is
too tight or too loose can cause
malfunctions which could lead to
an accident with serious injuries
as a result.
DANGER!

4
GENERAL INFORMATION
Riese & Müller folding bicycles are equipped with innovative technology. So please read this
manual even if you are an experienced cyclist.
We’ll begin by telling you about the parts of your Birdy. Open the front cover of this brochure.
Here you’ll find a Birdy with all of the relevant parts clearly shown
Tip! Keep the front cover opened as this makes orientation easier!
We have tried to vividly portray all of the relevant information to ensure your satisfaction with
your new Birdy. Therefore we use the following symbols:
Attention! Here is a hint that will help you quickly become familiar with your bike and its
technology.
Danger! This symbol indicates that life-threatening risks are possible if the correspond-
ing instructions are not followed. Please read carefully.
Tip! This symbol indicates useful additional information.
This sign indicates the need of a torque wrench and that you must keep the specified
torque setting.
To ensure you always have a fun and safe ride, you should perform the quick check before
every ride. For instructions on this quick check please see page 12.

5
In this manual, a number of maintenance and repair tasks are described in detail. If you
engage in this activity you must always consider that the instructions are exclusively for
the designated Birdy and are not transferable to other bikes.
Through a variety of design and model changes it is possible that the included instructions
are not up to date. If necessary, review the separately attached instructions.
Note that the successful execution of the included instructions may require special tools
or technical expertise.
DANGER!
This manual covers the installation and maintenance work that may be best
performed by your local dealer (p. 66– 67). Do not perform any task that you are
uncomfortable with. Many of these tasks require special knowledge and tools
and should only be performed by an expert. Never ride your bike with incomplete
or improper maintenance. You could endanger your life or the lives of others.
If you reach a certain point where you are not sure how to proceed, please con-
tact your local dealer or us directly. We are happy to help!
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR NEW BIRDY!

6
SAFETY
THE FOLLOWING ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WE HOLD VERY DEAR:
• Always take care in trac as not to endanger yourself or others.
• Respect the rules of the road so you don’t draw the ire of other road users.
• If you tour through forests and meadows, please respect nature by cycling
only on marked or paved roadways. Observe the legal requirements for the
o-road use of bicycles. These are available from your local authorities.
• Never ride without a helmet.
• Make sure you always wear appropriate clothing.
• Make sure you always wear shoes with non-slip and rigid sole.
• Do not ride with hands o the handlebar.
• Do not ride with headphones and do not use your phone on the Birdy. Do
not drive if you are impaired in your driving ability by medication, alcohol or
other drugs
• Check if the quick releases or axle bolts are properly secured.
• Adapt your driving style to the weather conditions. Wet or slippery roads
increase the braking distance.
• Adjust your speed to the terrain and your riding ability.
ATTENTION!
After a crash or accident your dealer must inspect the Birdy for
damages before you use it again.

7
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
When you ride your Birdy on the road, it must comply with trac laws and
guidelines. These will vary from country to country. In general, there are mini-
mum standards for brakes, reflectors and lighting systems, as well as usually a
general responsibility to ensure that your vehicle is in roadworthy and in safe
condition. You also have a duty to ride in a safe and responsible manner. If you
ride your Birdy in trac, be sure to observe all relevant laws and regulations.
Please ask your local transportation administration for current information.
BRAKES
In most countries, including Germany and the UK, two independent brakes are
required. Do not ride with only one functioning brake!
LIGHTS
Bicycle lighting systems need to comply with the relevant national standards.

8
INTENDED USE
Your Birdy is designed for use on roads and
paved trails only. When using the Birdy in
public trac it must be equipped conforming
national legislation.
YourBirdy is not approved for extreme loads.
Riese & Müller is not liable for damages re-
sulting from improper use, incorrect assem-
bly, negligence, accidents, racing, jumping,
wheelies or similar activities.
Terms of use and maintenance described in
this manual are part of the intended use.
The manufacturer or dealer accepts no
liability or warranty if the Birdy is out of in-
tended use, when safety instructions are not
observed, when overloaded or improperly
deficiencies are eliminated. The warranty
does not cover damage caused by installa-
tion errors, intent, crashes and poor care or
poor maintenance.
DANGER!
Your Birdy is basically intended
for the transportation of a single
person only. One exception is the
transportation of a child in
a child trailer. Please note the
terms of your national legis-lati-
on. Pay attention to the use
of high quality trailers.
Pay attention to the maximum
gross weight (see page 65,
technical data).
NOTICE!
Gross weight =
Riders weight +
Birdy weight +
luggage weight

9
PEDALS
Grease the threads before assembly and
insert the pedal by rotating the axle 2 or
3 turns by hand. The left/right pedal has a
“L”/“R”-sign.
Tighten the pedals to 35 Nm.
NOTICE!
The stamp is located either directly
adjacent to the threads or on the top
side of the pedal body.
NOTICE!
Gross weight =
Riders weight +
Birdy weight +
luggage weight

10
BEFORE THE FIRST RIDE
Make sure that your dealer has performed
the final assembly of your Birdy and adjusted
it to your preferred riding position.
This includes:
• adjustment of the brakes
• adjustment of the brake levers, so you can
reach them every time
• wheel attachment to frame and front fork
• adjustment and attachment of saddle,
handlebar and stem for a secure and com-
fortable riding position
CARRIER, CHILD SEATS
Please note that carriers are not allowed to
be modified. The Birdy is not approved for
the use of child seats.
TRAILER/TRAILERBIKES
The Birdy is only approved for use with two
wheeled trailers. With some adjustment
work it is possible to attach the Weber cou-
pling, type ER (see fig.).
The authorized dealer must make
the Birdy ready to ride, so that safe
operation is guaranteed. The dealer
must do a nal check and a test ride
with your Birdy. Check the tight t
of quick releases and all important
bolts and nuts.
Check the tyres air pressure. You will
nd the required air pressure at the
sidewall of the tyres. Do not exceed
the minimum and maximum air
pressure! Make sure that tyres and
rims are free from damages, cracks
and deformations. Become familiar
with the functions of all controls.
ATTENTION!
DANGER!
Other trailer hitches do not
guarantee perfect function of
trailer and suspension and could
cause accidents or damage!

11
BREAKING SYSTEM
Are you familiar with the braking system?
Check to make sure that the front brake lever
is on the side of the handlebar that you are
used to. If it isn’t then you can either train
with the new arrangement or have your
dealer change the arrangement to fit your
needs. More details on brakes can be found
on pages 30 –35.
SHIFTING
Conduct a test ride to familiarize yourself
with the shifting system in a low-trac area.
More details on the shifting on page 36.
SEATING POSITION
Is the saddle and handlebar in the right
position? Your dealer can assist you in
finding the best seating position. More
details on seating position on page 20– 24.
SUSPENSION
Is the suspension adjusted to suit your
needs? More information regarding
suspension on page 25.
FOLDING THE BIRDY
Are you familier with the folding and unfold-
ing process? Ask your dealer or read the
pages 16– 18.
DANGER!
Modern brakes are much more
powerful than simple rim or
drum brakes. Make sure to rst
test the braking power before
heading into trac. Unintended
braking can lead to an accident.
Slowly squeeze the brake to
generate more braking force.
When riding with a full load, the
handling is affected and it takes
longer to stop. Be sure to make
some handling and braking test
prior to heading into trac.
DANGER!
If your Birdy is tted with pedals
with rubber or plastic cage,
please become familiar with
their grip. Pedals with rubber
or plastic cage may get slippery
when wet!

12
BEFORE EVERY RIDE QUICK CHECK
Before every journey you must check the
following points:
QUICK RELEASES / AXLE NUTS
Are the quick releases on the wheels, the
stem and the seatpost clamp all correctly
fastened? Read more on page 14.
FOLDING STEM
Is the tension lever on the stem hinge closed
correctly? Are all hinge parts for the stem
hinge present? More information on page
26. Is the quick release lever on the height
adjustable stem closed? Is the pin of the
height adjustable stem fully snapped into
one of the holes. Read more on page 21.
FRONT AND REAR SWINGARM
Are the rear swingarm catch and the front
swingarm catch both correctly engaged?
More about this on pages 27– 29.
SUSPENSION
Check to make sure the suspension is
functioning. Press down on the saddle to
check the rear saddle. While holding the
front brake, press down on the handlebars to
check the suspension fork. In both cases the
suspension should move up and down with
uniform resistance and without significant
noise. No components of the Birdy should
scrape or rub together.
TYRES
Are the tyres in good condition? Is the air
pressure correct? More information regard-
ing tyres can be found on page 44.
DANGER!
Quick releases and ttings that
are not properly closed can
result in severe accidents!
Check the tight t of quick
releases, thru axles and bolts
even if you parked your Birdy
only shortly at an unattended
place. Do not ride your Birdy
with untightened quick releases.

13
LIGHTING
Does the light illuminate properly? More on
lighting on page 53.
BRAKES
Perform a stationary brake test by pull-
ing the levers hard towards the handlebar.
The brake pads of rim brakes should press
with their full area against the rims, without
touching the tyre. You should not be able
to pull the lever right up to the handlebar!
Further tips on braking on pages 30– 35.
LOADING
Check the fixation of basket. The luggage
must be fixed securely and nothing should
get caught by the wheels. Please note that
your Birdy may change under loading.
WEIGHT LIMITS
Check to ensure the gross vehicle weight
rating is not exceeded. Please see page 65.
UNUSUAL NOISES
Be aware of any unusual noises or changes
to handling characteristics which may
indicate a problem. Check the bearings and
couplings.
DANGER!
Do not ride your Birdy if concer-
ned about any of these points!
If in doubt please consult your
dealer. A faulty bicycle can result
in accidents!
ATTENTION!
After a crash or accident your
dealer must inspect the Birdy for
damages before you use it again.

14
QUICK RELEASES
Even though quick releases are very con-
venient, many accidents occur because of
their misuse. So please pay attention to this
article
DESIGN OF QUICK RELEASES
The quick release consists of two control
elements:
• A lever Aon one side of the hub that
produces the clamping force.
• A locking nut Bwhich is threaded on the
opposite side that sets the tension
HANDLING OF QUICK RELEASES
• Open the lever AYou should now be able to
read the word “Open“.
• To close it, move the lever so that on the
outside it reads ”Close“. At the beginning
of the closing movement, about halfway
through its travel, the lever must be slightly
tight.
• During the second half of the lever’s travel,
the leverage increases significantly. Finally,
the lever is very tight and is dicult to
move. Use the palm of the hand to close
the lever. Once closed the lever must be
parallel to the wheel and not project out
laterally.
BA
OPEN
CLOSED

15
• Check the fit by attempting to turn the
closed lever. When the lever rotates, it is
not safe to use the bike. You have to open
it again to retighten it. Do this by turning
the locking nut Bone-half turn (while
holding quick release).
• Repeat the closing process and check the
fit again. When the lever no longer rotates,
it is clamped properly.
• Check the tightness of the wheel: lift the
wheel several inches o of the ground
and give the top of the tyre a little whack.
A securely fixed wheel should remain in the
frame.
• Check the tight fit of saddle and handlebar
by trying to twist them.
TIP!
Components secured with a
quick release are at risk of theft.
If possible place an additional
lock on the wheels when you park
the Birdy.
DANGER!
Never ride a Birdy without rst
checking that the wheels are
securely attached to the frame
with a quick release or bolt.
If not securely attached, the
wheel could fall out during the
ride and lead to a severe injury!
Check the tight t of quick
releases, thru axles and bolts
even if you parked your Birdy
only shortly at an unattended
place. Do not ride your Birdy
with untightened quick releases.

16
UNFOLDING YOUR BIRDY
• Open the seatpost quick-release and raise
the seatpost to the appropriate height
(notice the height marks on the post).
• Close the quick-release again. Do not raise
the seatpost beyond the minimum
insertion mark (see page 21).
• If your Birdy is equipped with a height-adjustable stem,
open the height-adjustment quick-release, press the pin
and raise the stem to the desired height.
• Carefully close the quick-release.
• Check that everything is secure on the stem, by holding
the front wheel between your legs and attempting to
twist the handlebar with your hands. If it doesn’t turn,
it’s secure.
01 02
05
• Unfold the stem and handlebars.
• Close the hinge lever.
Do not pull out the seat post above
the minimum insertion mark.
Please read page 23.
ATTENTION!

17
• Lift the Birdy by the handlebar, unfold the
front wheel and put the Birdy back on the
ground.
• Press briefly on the handlebar, so that the
front spring audibly engages in the front
swingarm catch.
04
• Adjust the seatpost to the correct
height. Turn the saddle so it is
in line with the bike, by lining up
the front of the saddle with the
bottom bracket or along the main
frame tube.
• Check that the seatpost is securely
fixed by grasping the front and
rear of the saddle and attempting
to twist it. If it doesn’t move at all,
it’s secure.
06
03
• Lift the Birdy by the saddle, so that the rear
swingarm swings backwards.
• Engage the rear swingarm catch.
If you have one, unfold the kickstand.
Under no circumstances should
the stem be raised beyond the
‘MINIMUM INSERTION’ mark.
Check that the pin engages in
one of the holes at the stem.
ATTENTION!

18
• Fold the front swingarm right under until
the front wheel rests next to the main
frame tube, and the tire grips up against
the fixing screw on the front forks.
• Put the bike back down. If you have one,
fold up the kickstand. Lift the bike a little by
the saddle and open the rear swingarm
catch with a light outward pull.
• Now fold the rear swingarm forward and
put the Birdy back on the ground.
• Now open the seatpost quick release and
lower the saddle as far down as it will go.
Close the quick release.
• Finally, open the stem hinge lever and fold
the handlebars down. Finished!
With a little practice you can easily fold the
Birdy very quickly. The folding procedure is
as follows:
• Select the highest gear – the chain should
be on the smallest sprocket.
• If your Birdy is equipped with a height-
adjustable stem, open the height-adjust-
ment quick-release, press the pin and lower
the stem to the lowest pin hole. Close the
quick release again.
• Ensure the right-side pedal points upwards
(the crank should be in line with the seat-
post).
• Stand on the left side of the Birdy and grip
the handlebar with your right hand. Press
the front swingarm catch with the left
hand, so that it releases the spring from
the fork.
FOLDING YOUR BIRDY