A comfortable, fast and a good looking hybrid bicycle suitable for urban commuting and fitness rides.
Bike Ark is new Indian bicycle brand in the market, which started off with fixed gears bicycles. The stylish design and custom colour options were unique to the fixie market in India. Recently, Bike Ark launched their hybrid series of bicycles with multiple colour and size options. We got the opportunity to test ride the Bike Ark Jaz and here is what we thought.
Frame, Fit and Comfort
This Hi-Ten steel rigid frame comes in 2 frame sizes; 52cm and 54cm
The Bike Ark Jaz is built around a Hi-Ten steel frame. The frame geometry is very simple and focuses completely on comfort. Yes, steel is a heavier component but the usage and design of the tubes has made this bicycle competitive in weight and not difficult to pedal on climbs.
This is a rigid hybrid bicycle with no front suspension fork. The steel fork is bladed in shape and doesn’t add any extra weight to the bicycle. The lack of a suspension will be felt only when riding over really bad roads and non-tar surfaces. If your ride is going to be majorly on flat roads then this frame and fork is responsive and strong.
Design
The Jaz comes in 2 colour variants; Black with Red deep dish rims and Black with Black deep dish rims
This is the department in which Bike Ark has always excelled in from the beginning. The Jaz Hybrid Bicycle which I test rode came in a full silver frame with a shining gloss finish and black graphics in a few places. The red deep dish rim on both wheels adds an enormous amount of aesthetic appeal to the Jaz.
Gearing
The Shimano Tourney TZ 30/50 21-Speed derailleurs were smooth and precise in shifting
This is Bike Ark’s first every multi-speed bicycle and is equipped with a Shimano Tourney TZ30 in the front and Shimano TZ50 at the rear. Even though Tourney is the most basic gearing system in Shimano’s Hybrid/MTB hierarchy, these derailleur components are from the latest Tourney range, which is not offered in most of the competitor hybrid in this price range. The shifting was smooth and no lag was experienced during the test ride.
Brakes and Steering
The Power Caliper brakes were not the quickest not the most powerful but keeps the rider safe at moderate speeds in the city
The Power high performance caliper brakes on the Jaz was not the most powerful but did the job well on flat roads and on moderate speeds. Sudden braking isn’t the quickest in stopping. Normal V-brakes as found on standard Hybrids would have been a better component for braking performance. Do watch out for any change in braking components in the near future.
The 600mm rider handlebar was perfect in length and gave the rider an upright riding posture.
Ride Quality
The Kenda 700x35c tires were fast rolling on urban roads
The Kenda 700x35c tires on the Jaz were fast rolling and perfectly suitable for urban roads. Both fast corners and quick maneuvering in traffic felt safe to use. The stock saddle on this bicycle was ergonomically designed and keeps the rider comfortable and sore free on urban roads. The overall ride quality was comfortable.
Overall Rating
Performance
Design
Features
Value For Money
- Aesthetic design
- Smooth 21-Speed Shimano Tourney drivetrain
- Fast rolling 700c Kenda tires
- Moderate braking performance
Conclusion
This hybrid bicycle is comfortable to ride with smooth and precise gear shifting. The dual colour shade with deep dish and mag wheel rims enhance the aesthetic appeal of this bicycle. The 2 frame sizes and 2 colour options are positive to this hybrid. Priced at Rs.14,999(as on 3rd December 2018) the Bike Ark Jaz is an ideal choice for anyone looking to buy a bicycle for urban commuting, fitness rides and occasional long weekend rides.
