Sneak Peek: The Birdcage

↓ Sneak Peek: The Birdcage10.12.2010

Someone told me a few years ago that there was nothing new left to do with BMX rims, yet since then we have gone on to do quite a lot of new stuff, and here’s an example of the latest. At first glance the Birdcage looks like a fairly conventional “aero” style rim, but there is more to it than that. The first clue comes from the name; birds have hollow bones to save weight whilst retaining as much strength as possible, and the Birdcage rim has a hollow bead for the same reason. The rim’s hollow bead is still big and chunky to help reduce the chances of pinch puncturing or flat spotting the rim, but by creating a tiny hollow cavity inside it we can also keep the weight right down.

The next innovation was to adapt our cross-lacing design to the narrow inner wall of the rim. We managed to squeeze a few extra millimeters of spoke offset out of the design to help increase lateral wheel strength, and by carefully tailoring the rim’s cross-section we managed to match all the angles to the nipple so that the walls of the rim section act like the ribs inside the Ribcage rim, which helps to support the spoke nipples as much as possible.

Traditionally, the greatest flaw in “aero” rims has been the valve hole. “Aero” rims position a lot of very efficiently utilized mass in the base of the rim to support the spokes and give the rim good strength, then a huge hole is drilled through it for the valve stem and a massive weak-spot is created. With the Birdcage we’ve offset the valve hole so that this section can retain its strength. A handy side-effect of this is that fitting a pump is now more convenient.

Aside from these original features, we spent a lot of time “sweating the small stuff”. We’ve ensured that the deep center allows for easy tire removal and fitting, and we’ve made sure that the sidewalls, while slimmed down, are still suitable for brake use.

The end result is one of our most high tech rims to date. With a weight of just 408 (14.4oz) it outperforms most rims weighing 20-30% more, and the weight saving from the rotational mass of the wheel feels fantastic.

As of right now, Dakota is running these rims and we hope to have them available early next year.

Comments: 45 Comments
Categories: Photos, Products
Tags: Birdcage
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http://www.leichtsinn.org aloex

Would be fucking awesome if there is a rimtape which fits. ;)

http://cyclesensei.blogspot.com yyyyyyyyep

get the stolen pvc strip its made for the stolen roulette rim which is also 34 mm wide.

http://Website Phil

Hi, George

Any idea when these will be available in Germany ?
http://Website George

Any idea when these will be available in the UK?
http://Website Soda

I have been looking forward to these since I got the update email from Odyssey back in October. Any word on when I could buy one? lol I’ve been rolling a Sun RhynoLite for the past 4 years. It’s pretty done. Plus it will match my Rollcage in the back. Please let me know. =)

http://www.gsportbmx.com George

We are still expecting them this month (April). We will update as soon as they pass customs and QC and are available for shops to order.

http://Website austin

Do you have a date when they ae supposed to be coming out.
http://Website Ben

so are these rims just as tough as your other rims? considering they’re substantially lighter :S, they look sorta week until you show the inside. but i just really want to know. i mean i have had a stolen roulette wheel on the rear and its held up pretty good with the average 2month straighten and tightening.
http://hellride.ru Nikolas

It is a Streeters or Flatlanders rims???Simply I behind have a Ribcage,and whether it is necessary to change it?
And when they will be in Russia?
http://Website Rich

Hi. How is the braking performance on the anodised and black rollcage, ribcage and birdcage rims? thanks.

http://www.gsportbmx.com George

Its good. It helps to give the rims a really good clean with soapy water and then dry thoroughly. The HARD anodising we use on all our rims is much tougher and longer lasting than the ordinary decorative anodising that most companies use.

http://Website gsport lover

Please release in CHROME and 48 HOLE.

Flatlanders are crying out for good light weight 48 hole rims as well as park/street riders.

Many thanks.
http://facebook.com/RalphiNYC Ralph

Hey George. Just throwing this out there, but why not make 2 versions of the Birdcage. An affordable one out of 6061 alloy and a baller one out of the Ribcage alloy? I’m pretty sure it would sell, both versions. I know for one that I personally spare no expense when it comes to wheels. And I was hoping that it would come made out of the Ribacage alloy, and I’m sure other people are too. Just a thought. Happy New Year by the way.
http://Website nicejob

When would the rim be available to purchase?
http://Website codie

when are these rims coming out? i have hubs siitin here until febuary…
http://Website JackDunn

Its like an over-enginered Envy rim Haha.
http://Website chris

will a there be a 48h option
http://www.israelbmx.co.il Tal

Hey George, what spoke size will they need? let’s say with a Vandero2, and Odyssey cassette and ratchet hub. Thanks man, keep up the good work!
http://Website Sandman

I think it would behoove you to do this rim in crome. I’d jump on it if you did
http://Website Peter Bell

would it be possible to have these come in a raw Ali finish rather than chromed just from the weight freak point of things. I want the traditional chrome look but at the same weight as the anodised. I appreciate that it wouldn’t last up against breaking but for break less set-ups it would be red.

http://www.gsportbmx.com George

We can look at doing high polish later. In the mean time you could always buy the anodised version when they come out and polish it yourself….

http://Website Chris

I never really liked aero style rims, but, the angles on it change my mind. Also the fact that I like to run front brakes makes it even more appealing. I really hope these are out by x-mas or soon after. A chrome Birdcage laced to a Marmoset would be awesome. George, I really hope that you have seriously considered making these in chrome. Any rim that has the ability to be used with brakes, should have a chrome option in my book. Not only does it look nice, but, the braking power and ability is phenomenal!
http://Website Matt

Based on has been said by George here so far and looking at the way the wheel is designed I would say it is pretty safe to say that this will be stronger than the Quadrant by quite a bit seeing as the Quadrant is an entry level budget wheel. That’s not to say its shit, for $40 a rim it is a great value but it does uses a pinned seam as opposed to a welded one which most rims $60 and over have. The seams can be the weakest spot in a wheel, I have seen many pinned wheels taco due to breaking right at the seam. The Quadrant does use 4 pins as opposed to the traditional 2 however.

But I also am not a huge fan of how it doesn’t have at least 2 separated chambers to divide up each of the two walls. I usually prefer some type of chambering; I love the Hazard Lite with its 4 internal chambers. IMO that wheel is hard to beat for $60 and once I need a new wheel/hub set I was planning to run one in the front and a Ribcage in the rear just because I want the strongest possible wheel on the rear that will hold up without having to worry about it.
But I will have to see, I am a pretty light rider (150 Lbs) and I am pretty sure I would do more than fine with either a Hazard Lite or Rollcage in the rear and possibly a Birdcage in the front. Right now I have Stolen Roulettes ….[edited for factual accuracy]….

….. As long as they don’t have pinned seams which I doubt they will. For the weight these look like a very nice well designed wheel, particularly for the front in my case esp. with a matching roll or rib in the rear.

Oh and I agree with Aidan Anodized purple would be sweet! Because like he said I cannot get any other Ody or Gsport rim in Purple and I really want a chrome rear (for the braking ability) and a Purple front.

http://www.gsportbmx.com George

Sorry to have to edit your comment Matt. Some factual inaccuracies there.

The Birdcage (and all the other G-Sport rims) have a welded joint. The Quadrant rim (as you point out) is pin joined but it is a substantially tougher join than traditional pin joints.

http://Website Anthony

I hope they come out in chrome or something that will work better then painted rims as far as braking. I can’t wait for them to come out they look tight.
http://Website Aidan

Make these in ano purple? Just an idea because you havent done purple before.
http://Website ramon

and compared to a quadrant?, which is stronger?
http://Website jjjjjjjjjjjj

are these rims going to be as expensive the ribcage? Because i bought the ribcage and it was kinda pricey but anything for that strength…SO WORTH IT!!!!!!!Thanks for the info.
http://Website Joey B

What is the Birdcage width?

http://www.gsportbmx.com George

34mm

http://Website jjjjjj

would you recommend this rim for the front or rear? Also keeping in mind, pretending that you need more strength because of rough landings etc.

http://www.gsportbmx.com George

It will entirely depend on your riding style. For the average rider I would be happy to recommend it for front and rear, but if you have killed rims like the Hazard Lite, 7kA, Big City, etc in the past then I would go for the Ribcage instead. (The rollcage would sit inbetween these two for strength).

http://Website Jesus

wassup dude.
I meant “good” as in strength, i want to know if birdcage can take as much punishment as the ribcage? also if both rims are almost equal in strength or does one take more by alot.

http://www.gsportbmx.com George

No. The Ribcage is one of the strongest rims available at any weight, it is made from a super high tech alloy and has a lot of design features to maximise strength. So the Ribcage will hammer pretty much any rim (including the Birdcage) all day long. However not everyone needs that kind of strength, so the Birdcage is a choice for people who want a SUPER light rim that will still take average or slightly harder than averagely heavy riding. I hope this helps clarify.

http://bmxisrad.tumblr.com vb

These come in 48h & chrome?

Gotten 4 years out of my rear 48h chrome, but it’s on it’s way out & I need a chrome to replace the black 48h I currently have on the front.

Do they work with fat pads like Eagle 2s & Eclats?

http://www.gsportbmx.com George

We haven’t decided on drillings and finishes yet, we will have more info nearer to launch next year.

http://Website ivan

George! it’s great! How about price?
http://Website Hendrik

how do these compare to the strength of a ODSY 7ka ?
http://Website Jesus

are these rims just as good as the ribcage?????

http://www.gsportbmx.com George

Define “good”. This is a whole lot lighter but still pretty strong, the Ribcage is a whole lot stronger, but still pretty light.

http://Website Josh

When will this be out?
http://Website Tim M

Awesome, George, simply awesome.
http://Website meh

Are these 7xxx, 6xxx or RIbcage style secret alloy?

http://vitalbmx.com gstring02

what are you talking about secret alloy?? hahaha the ribcage is 7000 aluminum its not a secret. anyways, cant wait for the rim! i will definitely be getting some especially if they are 7000k like the ribcage.
http://www.gsportbmx.com George

The Ribcage is not 7000 aluminium. I think you mean that it is a 7000 series alloy, however this would cover a huge range of alloys. Most 7000 series rims are 7005 which is only marginally stronger than the standard 6061, the Ribcage is made from a very different alloy which is substantially stronger than 7005, however I am not going to give the number.
The Birdcage will most likely be standard 6061 to keep it affordable, the design of the rim is used to allow weight savings by hollowing out sections and using widely spread material to give strength without the “dead weight” this means that it doesnt need to be a super high strength alloy. I hope this makes sense.