abhichotu.abhi

Hello xbhpians,

I am in need of a new Bicycle, have a budget of 10,000 Rs (not a penny above). Mostly, I will use it for adventure road rides of anywhere between 50-100 kms also I will use the bicycle extensively daily for 20-30 kms.

Please suggest a low maintenance and easily servicable bike for me, I have shortlisted a few of them:

1) Hercules Ryders ACT 110

2) Hercules Ryders k10: https://www.bsahercules.com/Product-...es.asp?pid=305

3) Firefox Roadrunner: Firefox Bikes » Hybrid » Road Runner 21 Speed

Please suggest me some more of bikes in this range.

NOTE: I have no need of any disc brakes, suspensions. I could do without them as I don't feel need of them as of now. Although, disc brakes are welcome if maintenance is low.

Thanks.

aargee

I've ACT 104, so from that perspective, avoid the cycles without mudguard, if not possible, then avoid taking them in rains. Your back & people cleaning your shirt will curse you for the muck!!!

__________________
Patience pays...The Vulture's virtue is patience and the bird always get it's food - Wise man saying

This is not a bakery. I don't sugar coat anything. If you ask for my opinion...then that's what you'll get. Don't be mad when it's not what you want to hear

shubhamAT

I have been using a ACT 110 PLUS for an year now. Very happy with the bike. The advantage over regular 110 is that this bike comes with 3x8 Shimano Acera, Adjustable seat post and removable front/back wheels (comes handy when taking the bike in a car or when u need to get a puncture fixed). Don't worry about disc brakes and suspension, you wont need it unless you are into mountain biking. For regular usage these components are sheer dead weight. I had a bike with suspension before switching to ACT so i know what difference the lack of suspension makes in ease of riding esp when you are going uphill. Also at the 10k price point i don't think these components have any quality to it.

abhichotu.abhi

How is 104 in terms of comfort and pedal effort? We don't have much chances when goin for a limited budget so something hastobe compromised upon to.

What's the role of suspension in bicycles on our roads according to your experience? How's the service of parts? I mean common problems with bicycles are seat getting misaligned, brakes fading and requires gr8 effort after sometime, comfort and easiness of ride?

aargee

Aah!!! Forget it!!! ACT104 is replaced by several other ACT's & I even doubt if you get 104 now. I bought 104 because it comes with carrier, front & rear suspensions.

I personally find it comfortable with suspension.

This is something you've to do the homework; I stay very close to Ti cycle factory & they also have their service & showroom right in the factory campus. But when it comes to servicing, they're like Honda. They care a damn about their customers. However, we also have Just Buy Cycles who sell Hercules & Raleigh products; they're little better than Ti interms of arrogancy.

So you need to find out the bad devil among the worst & buy their product

__________________
Patience pays...The Vulture's virtue is patience and the bird always get it's food - Wise man saying

This is not a bakery. I don't sugar coat anything. If you ask for my opinion...then that's what you'll get. Don't be mad when it's not what you want to hear

abhichotu.abhi

That's the real problem, now we know that a bicycle is servicable at almost every puncture shop we see on the roadside. But, the quality of work and inexperience in handling expensive bicycles is what they lack.

Tomorrow will have a thorough market research on this perspective. As I will be using the bicycle extensively, I need an easily servicable and reliable bicycle.

shubhamAT

Having suspension makes your ride comfortable only by bit. You will still feel jerks. On sub 10k bikes the shocks don't damp as well, as they would on a motor cycle. Also, more weight to paddle means every time you slow down to attack a pothole or hump, it will take more effort to re-gain speed. On Indian road, seldom is the case where one can maintain a given speed for long time. So what ever little you gain in comfort you lose out in pedaling effort. Another point is that the rear-shock eats up some energy too (read about this in a 0hp forum). Your other points about maintaining a bike are very valid and if you add suspension to it you have one more thing to worry about. In one year the only issue that bothered me was punctures (once i had 6 in a span of a week).

aargee

+1; even if your cycle lies rusted, never, ever give it to them; they not only learn on your cycle, but also point fault with manufacturers to have made cycles so complex!!! Damn their capability!!!

Also consider buying a cycle with gear & give more weightage to the gears; I love the gears & they really motivate me to ride harder.

__________________
Patience pays...The Vulture's virtue is patience and the bird always get it's food - Wise man saying

This is not a bakery. I don't sugar coat anything. If you ask for my opinion...then that's what you'll get. Don't be mad when it's not what you want to hear

abhichotu.abhi

Under 15 gears are the maximum I am looking forward to. More gears and you struggle to get a good combination. Yes, I would buy a bike that I love to, that will keep me motivated to ride her for longer and longer and longer...... very tiresome to think..:P

Just one more thing wanted to ask are tubeless tyres available in bicycles?:P

shubhamAT

Yes they are but probably not that easily in India and it may require a rim change too.