Fomas Roadking 3.0 (2016) : ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The Fomas Roadking 3.0 2016 is equipped with a full steel frame. This isnêt a surprise at this price. The frame build and geometry are critical for steel framed bicycles as they tend to weigh heavier and hence rely on a build with minimum material usage. Fomas have done well to make sure the weight is in check. The top tube and bottom tube are both slim which is unusual. The strength of the frame might have reduced a bit due to the thin tubingês installed. The steel fork is rounded and also thin with almost a straight shape to it with no real aero characteristics for speed assistance.

The design on the RoadKing 2.0 2016 is simple yet slightly flashy with a full black primary colour and the fluorescent green secondary colour in many places. The branding isnêt hitting and has been placed in multiple places which doesnêt over power the colour or the design. The colour coded fluorescent brake cables add a nice touch to the overall looks of the bicycle. The high elastic fomas padded saddle has rounded metal buttons which makes it look like a vintage saddle.

The Roadking 3.0 is a fixie bicycle with an interchangeable fixie/freewheel hub. During the test ride I started off on a fixie mode and then changed it myself to the fixie mode on the way. The fixie mode felt energizing to ride and I was able to accelerate quickly without getting off the saddle. The freewheel side of the Roadking 3.0 was smooth with no drag while pedalling. The Prowheel steel alloy 48T*170L was of perfect length and functioned quietly during the test ride. Free flowing pedaling is important in enhancing the riding experience on a single speed/fixie bicycle and the Roadking 3.0 did that perfectly which is a big positive.

The road alloy rim brakes take care of the stopping powers on the Fomas Roadking 3.0 2016. This component is not really a surprise at this price but when put to test it did perform up to the standards of similar braking components which can be seen on far more expensive road bicycles. The alloy braking component looked sleek and was reactive to sudden halts but not without the screeching. The Alloy plastic power aero brake levers felt comfortable to use. The levers werenêt strong and hence the life span of it might be lesser than expected.

One of the unique things about this bicycle is that it gives you the road bicycle experience and the main reason for that is the Zoom alloy road drop handlebars. This handlebar length was good enough to open up the shoulders. The hoods were slippery while using with bare hands but a basic cycling glove will cover that up. The bar tape wasnêt the most cushioned but they were no less on grip as I did not experience any slipping on the drops and the straight bar during the test ride.

Another impressive component on the Roadking 3.0 2016 is the Kenda Compass 700C x 23C road tires. These tires are usually found on road bicycles which are priced 5 times as much as this Fomas bicycle. But these tires arenêt just value for money but they perform well too. With 70 TPI casing and a smoothly embedded tread pattern these tires are fast and can give reliable and safe traction on tarmacs. The stock saddle on the Roadking 3.0 with its metal button around the back gives it a vintage look but the functionality might be lacking due to its minimal padding and smaller width which can become uncomfortable on longer rides. The overall ride quality was smooth on flat tarmacs but the rattling gets escalated even on the slightest of bumps on the road.