What I Changed on My Birdy (and what actually felt worth it)

I’ve been riding a Birdy Folding Bike for a while now, mostly for city rides and short weekend spins. At some point I just got a bit tired of how “stock” it felt, so I started changing things piece by piece. Didn’t really have a strict plan—just wanted it a bit lighter, a bit cleaner, and honestly… a bit more “mine”.It kind of ended up turning into a purple-themed build, although that wasn’t even the original idea.

The first thing I changed was the handlebar. The stock setup felt a bit cramped on longer rides, so I tried a split-style aero bar. It wasn’t a night-and-day difference, but the riding position felt more relaxed, especially on flatter stretches. Also dropped a bit of weight there, which you can actually feel on a folding bike more than I expected.

Then I went down the wireless shifting route. Mostly because I just didn’t want cables everywhere. It definitely makes the bike look cleaner. Shifting is quick enough, nothing to complain about in normal riding. The only thing that took me a while to get used to was the lever feel—it’s a bit stiffer than I like. And setting it up through an app isn’t exactly something I enjoy doing mid-ride. But once it’s dialed in, you kind of forget about it.

Brakes were a bigger change. Switched to Shimano XTR M9100, and that was one of those upgrades where you notice it immediately. The braking just feels more controlled, especially when you’re riding a bit faster or dealing with uneven city roads. On a small-wheeled bike like the Birdy, that extra confidence actually matters more than I thought.

I also swapped the rear suspension. Didn’t expect much from it at first, but it turned out to be one of those upgrades you appreciate after a few longer rides. It smooths out the rough patches just enough that you don’t feel beaten up after riding through bad pavement. Found one in purple too, so it ended up fitting the whole look without trying too hard.

Somewhere along the way, I started paying more attention to the small bolts. Not even for performance at first—just noticed the stock ones were starting to look a bit rough, especially around the derailleur and shifter where they see more use and exposure.

I ended up swapping those to titanium, mainly to avoid rust and the whole “stuck bolt” situation later on. For the drivetrain side, I used a dedicated kit made for Shimano 12-speed setups (the XTR M9100 spec fits perfectly on Birdy builds running similar drivetrains).

If you’re curious, this is the one I went with:
👉 11pcs Titanium Bolt Kit for Shimano 12-Speed XTR M9100 Shifter & Derailleur

It’s one of those upgrades you don’t really notice immediately while riding, but you definitely appreciate later—especially when everything still looks clean and comes apart easily after months of use.

Switched those over to titanium. Mostly just wanted something that wouldn’t rust and wouldn’t get stuck the next time I take things apart. The weight savings is there, sure, but it’s not something you feel instantly. It’s more that the bike stays “clean” over time, both visually and when you’re working on it.

I ended up using a set from SpartsBolts because they had colors that matched what I was doing. Didn’t think too much about it when ordering, but the fit was good and I haven’t had to touch them since. That alone is kind of the point.

Looking back, not everything I changed made a huge difference. Some things were just for looks, and that’s fine. But a few upgrades actually changed how the bike feels to ride—and those are the ones I’d do again without thinking too much.

The funny part is, the smallest parts ended up being the ones I stopped worrying about completely. And that’s probably the best outcome you can get from an upgrade.