A sleek and comfortable bicycle built for city commuting and short leisure rides.
Hero is one of the largest manufacturers of bicycles in India with a large fleet of bicycle models. Hero’s Octane series of bicycles are premium in looks and are built for performance with different models for varied usages. We got the opportunity to test ride the Hero Octane Zephyr 7s and here is what we thought.
Frame, Fit and Comfort
This alloy frame which comes in a standard 18” frame size, was sleek and had a comfortable riding posture
The Hero Octane Zephyr 7s is built around a full alloy frame. The geometry is sleek with thin tubes which kept the weight in check. The strength of the frame was felt during the test ride when riding over bumpy roads, thanks to strongly welded tube joints, which are strongest in its high impact areas. The rigid fork was sleek and could withstand vibrations of the surface.
Design
The Hero Octane Zephyr 7s comes in 3 colour variants; Lime Green, Blue and Dark Grey
This city bicycle which I test rode came in a full lime green frame as the primary colour with grey graphics in a few places on the frame. The lime green was bright and the gloss finish paint job made it shine. The graphics, logo and names were minimalistic and hence looked neat. The full grey fork were a good contrast to the lime green colour of the frame.
Gearing
The Shimano TX35 rear derailleur along with the Shimano EF51 rapid shifters completed the 1x7 drivetrain
As in the name of this bicycle, the Zephyr comes with a 1x7-Speed drivetrain. The Shimano TX35 7-Speed rear derailleur is the most basic gear you can find and it performed to its expectations during the test ride. The 7- Speed rear derailleur was enough for short city commutes and leisure rides. Grip shifters are commonly used on 7-Speed bicycles but the Shimano EF51 rapid shifters were a good addition and made the shifting experience easy.
Brakes and Steering
The simple yet effective V-Brakes were powerful for city riding and are easy to maintain
A pair of standard V-Brakes handled the braking on the Zephyr 7s. These brakes were powerful enough to bring the bicycle to a sudden halt and also felt balanced during the test ride on slightly rough urban roads.
The steel 620mm handlebar comes with a raise in the middle which made the posture comfortable and the padded palm grips decreased the vibration transfers to the hand from the surface.
Ride Quality
The Ralson 700c tires were sleek and fast with a good tread pattern for increased traction on urban roads
The Hero Octane Zephyr 7s rolls on a pair of Ralson 700c hybrid sleek tires. These tires definitely contributed towards the easy acceleration of this bicycle. The tires provided enough traction for safe rides during fast turns and braking on slightly muddy roads. The Spur saddle had the ideal width and length to keep the rider comfortable on bumpy and long rides. The overall ride quality was comfortable on city roads.
Overall Rating
Performance
Design
Features
Value For Money
- Sleek frame with a comfortable geometry
- Aesthetic design and neat gloss paint job
- Reactive and balanced V-Brakes
- Lack of front derailleur for increased gear range
Conclusion
This urban bicycle was comfortable to ride with a straight back posture. The sleek frame tubes and 700c tires made the ride fast and easy to accelerate. The conventional V-Brakes made sure the braking experience was safe and balanced on wet and dry roads. Priced at Rs.12,555(as on 5th December 2018) the Hero Octane Zephyr 7s is an ideal bicycle for urban commuting and for short leisure rides during the weekend.
