The Birdy idea emerged in Markus Riese and Heiko Müller’s workshop in the early 1990s: use suspension pivots to fold a bicycle. The red prototype won a special prize at the 1993 Hesse Innovation Award. Having the first 250 bikes made in Taiwan helped turn the garage project into a company.
During folding, the front and rear wheels swing towards the frame on their suspension arms; the saddle lowers and the handlebar stem folds. In riding position, those suspension assemblies let the wheels move over uneven ground. Compactness and cushioning therefore share part of the same structure.
The design’s interest lies in combining functions. A folding bicycle can be considered as more than an object that must occupy less space: its moving parts can also shape the ride. The Birdy makes that relationship particularly easy to see.