Hercules Roadeo Turner DD (2016) : ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The Hercules Roadeo Turner DD 2016 comes with a full suspension steel frame. With alloy frames making its way into cheaper bicycles, steel frames are nothing to be looked down upon. Of course, there is an obvious weight difference and a few extra kgs added to the overall weight of the bicycle but the strength of the frame is not compromised.

The threadless steel front suspension fork will break the vibrations generated from bumps on the streets but does not take in everything to give the rider a smooth ride. The colour coordinated alloy rear suspensions are a little more than just an aesthetic feature, they work well on the rough city roads with the rear suspension functioning easily felt on the saddle.

The Turner DD 2016 I test rode was in full black with a visible metallic green graphics seen all around the cycle. The brake and gear cables are colour coordinated. Apart from the regular full suspension frame design, the aesthetic touch is given extra attention by colour coordinating everything from the mudguards, the top and bottom tubes for branding, forks and also the rims. All these make the bicycle very trendy which will easily attract teenage riders. The Hercules Roadeo Turner DD 2016 also comes in a Blue/Yellow colour variant.

The gearing in the Roadeo Turner DD 2016 is taken care by the full Shimano Tourney groupset.¾ Tourney which is known to be an entry level gearing component is essentially enough for the usage of this bicycle. Even though there were some obvious lag in lower gear shifts on the rear, it is only fair to say that at this price point this isn't a surprise and not quite bad. The 21 speed Shimano EF-41 easy fire thumb shifters felt comfortable in hand position and I was also able to easily operate them without putting too much effort.

The dual mechanical disc brakes on the Roadeo Turner DD 2016 is easily the most exciting feature and a great selling point among teenagers. The disc brakes functioned decently during the test ride and required just 3 fingers to apply the brake using the integrated brake levers.

The steel handlebar is about the right length for the rider with enough rise in the middle to provide a comfortable riding posture. The handlebar grips were rough but never gripping enough for wet palms.

The 26'' x 1.25'' nylon tires has neatly spaced treads for traction but the slightly shorter width, stops it from being fast rolling. But the grips are superb on wet city streets and when jamming the brakes while making a quick and fast turn. The saddle has been designed with only one thing in mind, which is cushioning but not ergonomics. It does feel soft but it could have been made wider and lengthier. The ride quality was quite hard but nothing to cause any pain or discomfort to the rider.