Btwin Riverside 900 (2018): ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The Btwin Riverside 900 has been made using a 6061 series aluminium alloy frame. Alloy frames are lightweight, stable and durable. The frame has been ergonomically designed with a lowered, sloping top-tube, enabling easier mounting and dismounting. Btwin has classified this bicycle as a unisex hybrid bicycle. The ergonomically designed bicycle frame allows for an upright, open-chested, comfortable riding position. The bicycle has a Suntour NCX SF14 suspension fork with an adjustable lockout. Additionally the bicycle has a removable rear derailleur dropout. The B’Twin Riverside 900 is available in three sizes - Small, Medium and Large. The Small bicycle weighs 13 kgs, the medium is 13.2 kgs and the large is 13.3kgs. This bicycle comes with front and rear battery-powered lights and a rear derailleur guard.

The Btwin Riverside 900 has been designed keeping in mind simplicity and minimalism. The bicycle is available in a single colour option, a silver white with primary black decals and highlights of bright green. The branding is in simple bold black lettering. A welcome addition in this area would have been to have more colour options available.

The Btwin Riverside 900 is a 10-speed bicycle that has 10 Indexed Speeds controlled by Microshift SL760 Grip Shifters. The Rear Derailleur is a 10-Speed, Btwin by Microshift ‘ RD M62L’ derailleur’. At the given price point, one would expect top performance from the shifters, though on the test ride I felt a lag in both upshifting and downshifting, especially from gears 7 to 10. Also, one would expect to see a front derailleur on a hybrid bicycle at this price point. That said, being a city-focussed hybrid, it is adequate for city commutes and short rides.

Overall being classified as a hybrid bicycle, I feel that the absence of a front derailleur makes a difference, and takes a toll on the overall performance of the bicycle, as part of the said category.

The Btwin Riverside 900 comes equipped with Promax DSK908 Disc Brakes at the front and back. The Brake levers are well placed on the handlebar to ensure comfortable reach to use them. The stopping power is adequate and is sufficient to bring the bicycle to a complete stop without requiring extra effort. The braking was effective in both dry and wet riding conditions.

The semi-raised, 620mm oversized, wide handlebar on this bicycle ensures supreme control when on the saddle. Additionally, a wide handlebar allows for an ‘open-chested’, comfortable riding position. It also allows for easy maneuvering in crowded riding conditions as well as superior control and stability.

The Btwin Riverside 900 is equipped with Btwin Versatile tires for roads and trails with their dimensions being 700x38c. The sidewall of the tires have 3mm thick Kevlar reinforcement to enhance comfort while maintaining a lightweight. The tires are fast rolling and well threaded. They are slightly broader than traditional tires on hybrids, but this is considerably helpful on rugged, bumpy roads and on flat trails. These tires allow one to shift from road riding to flat trails and rugged paths effortlessly. Additionally, both the front and rear wheels have a quick release option which makes detaching them from the frame quick and easy.

The Btwin Sport 500 Ergofit saddle is made using foam. The saddle is soft ensuring a comfortable ride. The saddle will be comfortable for city commuting as well as leisure riding on a regular basis. Longer duration rides, over an hour long, might have the one feel slight discomfort on the sit bones. Additionally, the seat post comes equipped with a quick release option, which makes it easy to adjust the seat height within seconds, and at any point of time, without the hassle of requiring additional tools.