The Octane series from Hero Cycles are performance-focused bicycles for both urban roads and moderate trails. With a lot of new models released in the last few months, Octane now has a wide range of bicycles. We got the opportunity to test ride the Hero Octane Caspian (2018) and here is what we thought.
Weight – 16.8 kgs
Usage – Leisure/Fitness
The Hero Octane Caspian is built on a full 6061 Alloy frame. The top tube is flat and thins out as it meets the seat post. This made sure there was no excess frame material used while still being strong on high impact joints. The slanting top tube made sure the rider had extra standover clearance, which makes it easier to ride over bumps.
The stock front suspension fork comes with a working travel of 75-80mm and during the test ride it helped in increasing comfort on rough roads and flat trails.
This hardtail MTB I test rode came in a Matte Black frame with Red graphics. The matte finish paint job was smooth and made the bicycle look like a much more expensive and premium bicycle. The colour coded saddle, fork and rims made the design look uniform. The overall design definitely made the bicycle look like the perfect rugged hardtail MTB.
The Hero Octane Caspian comes equipped with Shimano Tourney TZ/TY front and rear derailleurs. These derailleurs are a recent version of Tourney and shifted smoothly during the test ride which was ideal for quick shifts on flat trail and in busy urban roads. The 21-Speed Shimano EZ-500 easy fire trigger shifters were standard and easy to use.
The ‘Yining’ branded Mechanical Disc brakes handled the stopping power on the Hero Octane Caspian. These brakes felt balanced and safe to use during the test ride on rough urban roads, especially on fast turns.
The 680mm stock handlebar was lengthy to give the rider an aggressive position to have full control of the bicycle. The slight raise from the middle made sure the rider gets the much needed comfort on bumpy roads and flat trails.
The Hero Octane Caspian rolled on a pair of DSI 29” x 2.1” MTB tires. The DSI branded tires had bulky buttoned treads and were evenly spaced out providing great traction. The 29” tire size made the bicycle capable of handling flat to moderate trails. The stock Sport PU Saddle was ergonomically designed with a good design and grippy leather.
Overall Rating
This bicycle is a hardtail MTB with a more recent version of Shimano Tourney derailleurs which shifted smoothly without any lag. The flat handlebars and heavily treaded DSI 29” tires made it perfect for fast paced flat trail rides. Priced at Rs.16,665 (as on 31st January 2019) the Hero Octane Caspian is an ideal choice for anyone looking to buy a hardtail MTB for flat to moderate trails and urban rides.
Prices are subject to change by the brand, without due notice.