Birdy URB 9 Speed Folding Bike

"More than just a folding bike — it's your partner for getting around the city."

The Birdy URB is Pacific Cycles' 18-inch full-suspension folding bike built for urban riding, with a trolley rack and rolling wheels (the official "trolly carrier") fitted as standard, so you can roll it along like a suitcase once folded. It shares the Monocoque frame and Shimano Sora 9-speed drivetrain of the Birdy Standard 3rd gen, and adds Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, Schwalbe Big Apple 18x2.0" tyres and a 10° adjustable short stem with extension. The name URB comes from "Urban Mobility".

Key Facts

• Category: Full-suspension folding bike (adult, 18-inch wheels), urban commuter model
• Brand: Birdy (Pacific Cycles, Taiwan); official model name BIRDY URB
• Standout feature: Standard trolley rack with rolling wheels for pushing the bike when folded; in Jollymap's hands-on test you can flip the rack up and push without folding the front wheel
• Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc (the Birdy Standard 3rd gen uses mechanical disc brakes)
• Tyres: Schwalbe Big Apple 18x2.0" (50-355)
• Drivetrain: Shimano Sora 9-speed, SunRace 11-32T cassette, single 52T chainring
• Weight: 11.5 kg (official); 12.4 kg measured by Jollymap (with rack, without pedals)
• Folded size: 75 x 32 x 65 cm (L x W x H)
• Rider height: 145-185 cm; max. load 110 kg (rider and luggage)
• Colours: Neon Orange, Neon Yellow, Neon White
• Best for: City riders who commute by bike and often wheel it through malls or along short no-riding stretches

The Problem It Solves

A folded Birdy normally rolls only on the small wheels at the back, so many owners end up adding an easy-wheel kit or rack after purchase, and you have to watch that the suspension or wheels don't scrape the floor while pushing. The URB leaves the factory with a rack and rolling wheels already fitted: push it forwards or backwards, and use the rack for groceries or a briefcase. In Jollymap's test, simply flipping the rack up lets you push the bike straight away without folding the whole thing, which saves time in malls or on sections where you can't ride.

Who It's For

The URB suits riders who commute or run errands by bike, regularly wheel it into malls, restaurants or building lobbies, and want to carry a little on the rack (shopping, a backpack). Many Hong Kong cycle tracks sit close to MTR stations, such as the Tseung Kwan O cycle track, the Tolo Harbour cycle track and the Kai Tak area, and this kind of city riding is exactly where the URB is aimed.

If light weight matters most and you don't need the rack, the Birdy Standard 9 Speed Folding Bike 3rd gen is lighter at an official 10.9 kg (without pedals). If you want speed on tarmac, the 20-inch Birdy R is a better fit. See the model guide below.

Core Highlights

1. Trolley Rack With Rolling Wheels as Standard

Pacific Cycles says that with the trolly carrier "you can roll it anywhere", making indoor-outdoor access seamless, so you can roll into shopping malls or restaurants with ease. Jollymap's review quotes a rack capacity of 18 kg, enough for groceries or a briefcase. The rack is standard on the URB; on the Birdy Standard it has to be bought and fitted separately.

2. Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes

The URB uses Tektro levers with front and rear hydraulic disc brakes (1050 mm front hose, 1650 mm rear hose), whereas the Birdy Standard 3rd gen uses TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes. In Jollymap's test, the full hydraulic system gave more linear modulation, stronger stopping power and a lighter lever feel, so your hands tire less on longer rides.

3. Schwalbe Big Apple 2-inch Tyres Plus Front and Rear Suspension

Tyres move up from the Standard's 18x1.5" to Schwalbe Big Apple 18x2.0" (50-355). The wider tyres work with Birdy's 8.5-coil black front suspension spring and rear PU elastomer to soak up brick paving, kerb transitions and uneven surfaces. Jollymap's review also notes the Big Apple's smooth tread and good grip.

4. 10° Adjustable Short Stem With Extension

The official spec is a 3D-forged 10° adjustable stem (short) with extension. Jollymap's review notes that the Standard's stem has 5 adjustment holes, while the URB has 3 holes plus an angle-adjustable design, so you can set bar height and angle to suit your height and arm length. With the extension in use, saddle-to-bar reach increases by roughly 3-4 cm; raise the stem if you'd rather not lean so far forward.

5. Shimano Sora 9-Speed for City Bridges and Hills

A Shimano Sora 9-speed rear derailleur and flat-bar right-hand shifter run with a Birdy 52T alloy chainring (170 mm cranks, dual-sided black alloy chain guards) and a SunRace CSM96-9AU 11-32T cassette. The single-chainring setup is simple to use, and the 11-32T range covers city flyovers and typical climbs.

6. Birdy Monocoque Frame and Fold

The frame is the BIRDY Monocoque disc-brake frame (front AL 6061 / rear AL 7005), with no folding hinge in the middle of the main frame. To fold, the front and rear wheels swing under the main frame and the stem folds down, giving a folded size of 75 x 32 x 65 cm.

7. Three Neon Colours

Available in Neon Orange, Neon Yellow and Neon White (Pacific Cycles' website lists the colours as Neon Orange, Neon Green and Neon White).

Which Birdy Should You Choose?

Most Birdy models share the same monocoque frame and front and rear suspension; the differences are mainly wheel size, drivetrain, brakes and accessories:

• Closest to the URB but lighter: the Birdy Standard 9 Speed Folding Bike 3rd gen has the same frame and Shimano Sora 9-speed drivetrain, but mechanical disc brakes, CST 18x1.5" tyres and no standard rack; official weight 10.9 kg (without pedals).
• Speed on tarmac: the Birdy R 20inch 11 Speed Folding Bike uses 20-inch wheels and Shimano 105 11-speed, weighing 10.2 kg (without pedals).
• Road-style drop bar: the Birdy P45 Dropbar Folding Bike is the Birdy 30th anniversary limited edition, with a drop bar, SRAM Apex1 11-speed and 20-inch Hubsmith carbon wheels.
• Gravel and trails: the Birdy GV Plus 10 Speed Folding Bike runs SRAM X5 10-speed and Schwalbe Billy Bonkers 18x2.0" light off-road tyres; it is the new generation of the Birdy GT 10 Speed Folding Bike, which uses Schwalbe Black Jack 18x1.9" tyres.

For a detailed URB vs Standard comparison, read Jollymap's Birdy URB review: all 4 upgrades explained. The comparison table below lists six Birdy models by tyres, frame, drivetrain, brakes, weight and folded size:

Jollymap Recommends

The URB uses 18-inch (355) wheels, so wheel-size-specific Birdy accessories such as kickstands and mudguards must be the 18-inch versions. Because the URB already has a rack fitted, some rear accessories designed for other Birdy models may not fit. Not sure an accessory will fit? Please contact us to confirm before ordering. Message us via "Chat with us" or the Jollymap Facebook page with your bike model and photos of the accessory, and we'll check compatibility for you.

Birdy URB Specifications

Brand	Birdy by Pacific Cycles
Colours	Neon Orange, Neon Yellow, Neon White
Rider height	145-185 cm
Max. load	110 kg (rider and luggage)
Folded size	75 x 32 x 65 cm (L x W x H)
Weight	11.5 kg (official); 12.4 kg (measured by Jollymap, with rack, without pedals)
Frame	BIRDY Monocoque disc-brake frame (front AL 6061 / rear AL 7005)
Fork	BIRDY folding suspension fork (disc-brake version) with 8.5-coil black suspension spring
Rear suspension	PU elastomer (black)
Rear derailleur	Shimano Sora 9-speed
Shifter	Shimano Sora flat-bar 9-speed (right only)
Chainwheel / cranks	Birdy aluminium 52T, 170 mm cranks, BCD 130 mm, dual-sided black aluminium chain covers
Cassette	SunRace CSM96-9AU 9-speed 11-32T
Chain	KMC HG-53, 112 links
Bottom bracket	68/113 mm steel axle
Brake levers	Tektro
Brakes	Tektro hydraulic disc (left lever + front brake, 1050 mm hose; right lever + rear brake, 1650 mm hose; F6 adapter mount)
Rims	Alex DA16 18x1.5 Presta valve, anodised black, 32H front and rear, with wear indicator line
Hubs	Birdy disc-brake hubs 32H
Spokes	2.0 mm (14G) stainless
Tyres	Schwalbe Big Apple 18x2.0" (50-355)
Handlebar	Alloy 6061 T6, 31.8x540 mm, 10°, sandblasted black anodised
Stem	Birdy 3D-forged double-lock adjustable stem, 10° (short), with extension
Saddle	BIRDY SD-3164 with Cr-Mo rails
Seatpost	Birdy SP61R.1 34.9 x 570 mm, AL7075, hard anodised with laser scale
Pedals	VP-195E black cage with reflectors
Headset	Hidden type 1-1/8", black, with 2 mm washer
Accessories	Trolley rack with rolling wheels, chain tensioner, bell, reflectors

Specification source: Pacific Cycles BIRDY URB product page; measured weight and rack details: Jollymap's Birdy URB review. The official weight does not state whether the rack and pedals are included. Parts and accessories may vary between production batches; product images are for reference only, and actual specifications and equipment follow the physical bike.

Preparing to Fold the Birdy URB

From Jollymap's hands-on test, four adjustments make folding the URB smoother:

1. Drop the handlebars to their lowest setting.
2. Shift to a middle gear.
3. Raise the saddle above the 18 mark on the seatpost.
4. Rotate the right crank to line up with the seat tube and rear suspension.

Then fold as for any Birdy: swing the rear and front wheels under the main frame and fold the stem down. The Jollymap video below shows the process from about 7:49.

Video: Birdy URB folding bike review and four upgrades (Jollymap YouTube channel, Cantonese).

FAQ

What's the difference between the Birdy URB and the Birdy Standard?

They share the same frame and Shimano Sora 9-speed drivetrain; the URB adds four upgrades: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes (the Standard has TRP Spyre mechanical discs), Schwalbe Big Apple 18x2.0" tyres (Standard: CST 18x1.5"), a trolley rack with rolling wheels as standard (optional on the Standard), and a 10° adjustable short stem with extension. The trade-off is weight: the Standard is an official 10.9 kg (without pedals), while the URB is an official 11.5 kg and 12.4 kg with rack (without pedals) as measured by Jollymap.

How much does the Birdy URB weigh?

Pacific Cycles lists 11.5 kg, without stating whether the rack and pedals are included. Jollymap measured 12.4 kg with the rack and without pedals. The two figures were taken under different conditions, so they are not directly comparable.

Can you push the Birdy URB on its rack without folding it?

Yes. In Jollymap's test, flipping the rack up lets you push the bike straight away without folding the front wheel, which is handy in malls or on short stretches where you can't ride. For the MTR, the bike must be fully folded to meet the rules (see the next question).

Can I take the folded Birdy URB on the MTR or buses?

It depends. According to the Transport Department's Cycling Information Centre, a bicycle must be folded to meet the MTR luggage rule (length, width and height adding up to no more than 170 cm, with no side over 130 cm) before entering MTR premises. The URB's official folded size is 75 x 32 x 65 cm, a total of 172 cm, slightly over the limit; the Transport Department notes that removing the front wheel is an option when a bike doesn't meet the rule. On franchised buses, section 14 of the Public Bus Services Regulations (Cap. 230A) only allows items within 5 kg and 0.1 cubic metres, which a whole bicycle exceeds, so boarding is at the bus company's discretion; minibuses offer no guarantee either.

How much can the Birdy URB's rack carry?

18 kg. That's the manufacturer rating quoted in Jollymap's review, enough for groceries, a briefcase or a backpack; the bike's overall max. load including rider is 110 kg (Pacific Cycles).

What rider height does the Birdy URB fit?

Pacific Cycles specifies a rider height of 145-185 cm and a max. load of 110 kg (rider and luggage). The adjustable stem gives some range in bar height and angle; if you're near either end of the range, please contact us before ordering.

Is the Birdy URB good for beginners?

Yes. The URB is designed around city riding; in Jollymap's test the full hydraulic brakes made speed control easy to learn, and the 2-inch Big Apple tyres grip well and absorb bumps. With a single chainring, you only use the right-hand shifter, so it's simple to pick up.

What colours does the Birdy URB come in?

Neon Orange, Neon Yellow and Neon White. Pacific Cycles' website names the colours Neon Orange, Neon Green and Neon White.

Specifications and components follow the manufacturer's latest release and may change without notice. If in doubt, please contact us to confirm before ordering.

Last updated: October 2026