A detailed look at my latest set of two wheels..
I had posted a few days back that I now commute from my Home to Office and back on my new bicycle. Posted below are some detailed photos and also a description of my new “btwin ROCKRIDER 5.0”.
btwin Rockrider 5.0: [Detailed Photos]
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"btwin" is a French bicycle brand. They have been selling in India for a few years now. But till a month back, I was not at all aware of the existence of this brand. Around a month back I happened to walk into a "Landmark" store in Pune where I saw a couple of btwin models on display and on sale.
What kind of bicycle is the Rockrider 5.0?
The Rockrider 5.0 is a "Hybrid" model and one of the entry level products from btwin. By "Hybrid" it means is that it is a cross between a street bicycle and a mountain bicycle. The Rockrider 5.0 is not meant for serious mountain/off road bashing.
According to the btwin’s website, the Rockrider 5.0 is meant to be ridden basically on the street and maybe for that occasional moderate off road trails. That means it is perfect for most of our Indian roads and fitted the bill for what I was looking for.
Despite coming from a relatively unknown (so far) brand, I was impressed with the product and liked what I saw.
Things that impressed me about the Rockrider 5.0:
1. Reasonably Light in Weight:
At 14.2 Kgs, the Rockrider 5.0 is not ultra light weight compared to some expensive bicycles, but it is still reasonably light weight. Normal models (with price of around Rs. 5,000) from Indian brands like Hercucles, Hero Cycles weigh around 20 (+) Kgs, which makes the Rockrider 5.0 decently light in weight.
2. Its got 21 Gears (3 x 7):
The Rockrider 5.0 has got “Shimano Gears”, 3 at the front and 7 at the rear. That gives the Rockrider 5.0 a total of 21 gear combinations. But does one need so many gears to ride inside the city? After riding for over a week now I am happy that my bike has got these many gears. Having extra gears always help to fine tune your ride.
3. Very Good Brakes:
The brakes on the Rockrider 5.0 impressed me straight away. It might not have disc brakes but the stopping power of the brakes is no less impressive for a bicycle. The brake lever is fabricated out of aluminum and one needs just a gentle tug with 2 fingers to stop the bicycle.
4. Attention to Details:
Things like the Paint quality, Weld finish on the frame; Quality of rubber on hand grips etc. were some things that definitely helped make up my mind to go for the Rockrider 5.0.
Small details like a “Rubber Padding” on the cables where it comes into contact with the frame (to protect the cables) and a thin “Plastic strip” on swingarm (to protect the paint on the swingarm if the chain comes off the gears) impressed me.
5. Reasonably Priced:
With the kind of build quality and attention to details, at Rs. 9,999 the Rockrider 5.0 is actually a very good product available in the market. Toady a kid in my society quizzed me about the price of my Rockrider 5.0. When I told him it cost me Rs. 10,000, the kid couldn’t believe it. He had though that it was at least Rs. 15,000..!!
The kid’s Hero Cycle (with a fixed single gear) had cost him Rs. 5,000.. therefore Rs. 9,999 for the “btwin Rockrider 5.0” makes an attractive value for money proposition.
Other details about the Rockrider 5.0:
The Rockrider 5.0 has got a Sturdy Hi-Tensile Steel Frame. Steel can take heavy impacts and stress quite well and is long lasting. The only negative with steel could be that it could add to the weight. The bike gets a 3 layer paint, which explains for the good paint finish on it. The nuts and bolts of the cycle also get an Anti Rust Treatment which is impressive to say the least.
The bike has got an easy Adjustable seat so that one can easily adjust the seat height. But then it also makes it easy for miscreants to flick the seat. The Rockrider 5.0 has got a Quick Release Front Wheel which allows for you to remove the front wheel without any tools, making it easy to transport the bike in a car.
The bell which has been fitted on my bike is the cutest one that I have seen in my life, and yes it does come handy..!!
The Rockrider 5.0 also comes with a warranty of 6 months on the gears and 5 years for the frame. The slight hesitation was in the form of after sales support in terms of service and availability of parts. But the store guys promised that are committed to providing after sales support and I should not be too worried about that.
Since I was impressed for the kind of quality that I was getting for around Rs. 10,000, I decided to go for the btwin Rockrider 5.0. It has been more than a week of daily commute on my new bicycle and I so far I have enjoyed the experience.
Related Posts
- I cycle to work now [Oct 2011]
- Petrol prices could reach Rs. 100/Litre. What the #&(@..!! [Jan 2011]
Disclaimer:
This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.
66 Comments:
Rockrider 5.0 is good buy, welcome to the world of cyclists. Unlike what most people think Hero does have a good MTB (Thunder MTB) which can be converted into a hybrid by just changing the tyres with slicks. I own one. and it weighs less that 11 Kg with all accessories intact.
Good on you for buying a helmet. Consider a LED headlight and a tail light too. Have fun riding.
I wonder why you forget to have a bicycle without a shock absorber (preferably telescopic at front and mono-shock at rear)...having mono-shock at rear gives immense comfortable ride on indian roads
good review i own hero octane recra with some extra features like both shock absorber, front disk etc but the price 10000
after few month the fever of cycle riding in city and out side is going down due to heavt pollution and dust in indian road,
i am sorry to say but in india cycling is harmful for your health
@Chandan
One does not really need shock absorbers on a bicycle to ride on normal roads. One only needs them if one is really into "mountain biking".
Heavy duty Mountain bikes come with really good shock absorbers which by the way add to the weight and cost of the bicycle. And my mountain bike I am not taking here about the "Indian/Chinese" bikes with fat tyres. Proper mountain bikes are made by bicycle specialists.
Moreover most of the "Cheap" cycles with suspension are far worse to ride because the suspension won't work properly and in the end it affects the handling of the cycle.
Word of advice, if you need a cycle just to ride on normal roads (even our Indian poth holed filled roads), its better if you get a cycle with a "hard tail".
Posted on 10/28/2011 6:29 PM
Most Hero Cycles are Crap. Only the simple Roadster model from Hero is OK.
If one needs quality, then better invest in a well known, international cycle brand. Avoid the Indian brands, especially Hero Cycles.
@Akram,
If pollution is the concern then riding on the same roads on a motorcycle is no better as one is exposed to the same pollution and dust.
Regarding the heat, I come to office early in the morning and go back home in the evening and on both time of the day the heat is less.
Good to see that you found time to write about your bicycle.
I remember i asked you about you not having anything for TVS WEGO and you said "I am sorry but I don't do scooters".
I pity myself for opting for WEGO. you know what i mean :)
@above,
The scooter is a pretty nifty little vehicle to have and I am sure the Wego would be a good product.
It's just that I doo not have any experience of scooters and that's why don't blog about it either.. since my blog is a dairy of my experiences with two wheelers.
But thanks for your comment
Great! like it
Really impressed with your review and the bike rockrider. The only negative i found is the weight. And I doubt about the over all quality of the parts, as the price is low. thank you.
@Sarin Kumar,
That's the best quality that I ave seen in India at a price point of Rs. 10,000. Better than brands like Hero, Hercules and Firefox at that price.
The bike looks good !!
The tyres look a bit thick are they 700x35?
Do they have frames in the Aluminum alloy too?
Rajeev
A really nice review. thanks. i noticed that the post is from oct 2011. and just wanted to know how the bike is keeping up with the months gone by and also how much do you ride the bike
Hi Aparna,
Bike is as good as new. am really happy with it. As a regular maintenance practice I make sure that I lubricate the chain once a month with oil used on sewing machines.
I have used the bike quite regularly since I bought it.
hi. i too am looking into buying a rockrider 5.0 i wanted to know was where did you buy the bike from? was it from the landmark store itself. cause i have been trying to look for dealers of btwin here in delhi but haven't been able to find any till now.
Appu,
Check out btwin's India site (click here) to look for dealerships. Give them a call if you need more assistance
Based on your review...even I bought the cycle yesterday....its really cool
Could you give me the details of the Landmark shop from where you bought the cycle?
Sarvesh,
it's in Phoneix Mall, Nagar Road, Pune
Hi SP,
I am also planning to buy this beauty. However, i do not have the option of buying this from a shop as there is no dealer around me. Hence i am thinking of buying online.
Can you suggest me if a normal person can assemble this cycle on his own?? Or do i need a specialist to do this job?
Regards,
Abhinav
No need of any specialist if u got the tools
these are the four things u need to assemble handle,saddle(seat), pedals,front wheel & stand.
Handle--u need a Allen key
saddle--no need of any tool there is an in-build quick release.
Pedals--u can do it by hand
front wheel--no need of any tool there is an in-build quick release.
stand--a spanner.
hey, thanks for wonderful review. am going to get 5.0
btw this has wrist type for changing gears. Does this cause any problem while riding. is thumb shifter is better then this ?
Best entry level bike in India. Excellent VFM too. Getting one for myself soon.
Хороший велосипед. Я купил такой месяц назад. В России он стоит столько же. Это у нас самая низкая цена за велосипеды для взрослых. Однако у нас нет в комплекте шлема и замка. Нужно покупать отдельно. А вообще я очень доволен покупкой. Я катаюсь на нём в парке, по городу и езжу за город, к себе на дачу. Это где-то 15 километров в одну сторону. За месяц я два раза перевернулся на нём. Это были мои ошибки. 1 раз я резко затормозил передним тормозом и во 2 раз я перевернулся на бездорожье. С велосипедом всё в порядке. Ни одной царапины не осталось. Sorry for my russian, but I think, my english very bad.
Hello,
I am looking for a bike which I can use to commute to workplace ( distance 15 kms). Can you suggest any model/brand?Also can you tell what is the current price of Rockrider 5.0?
@Venkatesh,
The btwin rockrider is a solid option. I got it for around Rs. 10,000.. call up the guys at www.decathlon.in/btwin to get the current prices.
You can also look at brands like Firefox
@S.P
Thanks for your words.
What would be the tyre pressure for Rock Rider 5.0? is it 50 PSI or 60PSI? Can we fill notrogen to these typres?
Hi,
A very nicely written review.
wanna buy a hybrid for office commuting (around 12km one side rough roads), hv few doubts abt btwin Rockrider 5.0., the tyre seems wider compare to other hybrids, will it require heavy paddling? hows the speed compare to slick tyre hybrids? my height is 183cms (5'11), what woud be the optimum size for me? i reside in mumbai,any idea where can i buy this? thanks a lot!
Pankaj
Excellent stuff. Thanks to your pictures, I could assemble my 5.0 with ease.
Pankaj, go for an L. I'm 5"10 and the L does fine for me.
-Aditya
Great Bike, I recently brought at Playgroundonline.com
very Happy with their support and delivery
Hey guys,
What are the general maintenance charges for this bike?
Regards.
Aditya
hi there..
is there a service station for btwin bikes in delhi? since decathlon does not have a shop in delhi im a little double minded on getting this bike. if something happens to the gears or if im having a technical problem other companies like trek, merida etc have showrooms where these things can be addressed by trained people. now if i take my btwin bike to a firefox shop for repairs..thy will not entertain me. and i would not want to get it serviced from the local cyclewala.( i am planning to get back to cycling after many years ..and have lost touch with the mechanics thats y im asking.)
thanx and regards,
-Tejas
I wanted to buy a cycle only for my daily travel to office which is about 10 km one side. My budget is around 10K. can you recommend some more cycles
hey S.P i just ordered RR 5.0 from decathlon.in since no dealer(mumbai) has it in stock.
i have to ask a few questions.
1. from wer did u get the btwin helmet and lock...? did u order it ?
2. what abt the availability of spares ? brake pads n tires !!!
i asked the above because decathlon has a service centre in banglore n i hv no idea if pune also has 1.
m seriously impressed with ur pics n detailled writting. good work
:) i will mail u if i hv any doubts in future :)
Hey, how is the bike in general?
I am 6' so I want to know if the large size will suit well for ride close to 30-50kms.
Thanks.
Hi,
I have got my RR 5.0 yesterday and really a cool bike... Yet to explore it but I am happy about it. Good Review.. U should tie-up with BTwin for marketing so many to buy RR :-)
@everyone
I have found the Decathlon guys to be very prompt and professional in terms of after sales service.
Overall am very satisfied with my bicycle.
Regarding sizing, there are sizes from small, medium and large. In case of doubts get in touch with the Decathlon guys.
The cycle is fairly simple and given the proper spares any normal bicycle repair guy should be able to service it
That was a very helpful review. Was planning to buy a bicycle for daily commute but was apprehensive of going for high end bikes like Trek without prior experience. Your review clinched the deal for Btwin RR 5.0 to start with. Thanks a lot!!
damn...looks nice...was thinking of getting a new bike after I my Firefox got stolen....Rockrider seems like a nice option now...all thanks to you
I am a 5ft 6in girl..i need help !! Which size of the bike shall be comfortable for me ? small medium or large??
I m going to buy the lady version of the same bike. Reply asap people!! Please :)
Aditi,
the medium size should suit you. but i am not sure about the lady version of the bike. you should get in touch with the Decathlon guys
Hi , I decided to buy Rockrider 5.0 , I went to a store in bangalore , on the Rockrider Medium size it is written as Decathlon Trail and not Btwin or rockrider . When I asked the store guy said since Decathlon is the manufacturer they have changed the design for Aug 2012 mnufactured M sized Rockrider , however on the Small sized ones it is labeled as Rockrider . Did anybody have had similar experience
Perfect review...I'm ordering one and flying over from Mexico to ride India. My Trek 520 was just stolen here as i was on my way from Southern Mexico to LA to catch a flight...so I'm delayed maybe 2 more weeks.
Fantastic looking steel bike, and plan to upgrade as I go along.
Cheers
James Yeiser
jameson2wheels well, ok NOT on 2 wheels at the moment !
who the hell said cycling was bad in india if pollution is u r main aspect then prefer air filtering masks where there is a will there is a way sorry for my bad english
I checked in Landmark stores today, they dont have it any more (in pune), they have 5.1,5.2 etc .. and they said they can order one 5.0 from bangalore if i pay in advance and it will take 15 days or so..
so does anyone know any other place where i can get this in pune ? or any other website where i can order it from ? or is there any other brand with similar qualities etc ?
let m eknow please
Thanks, help full comment.. Still i am confused which one to buy, i feel Fomas CLIMBER (http://www.fomascycle.com/products_detail.php?p_id=706&c_name=MTB&c_brand=FOMAS) is good campare to Btwin Rockrider 5.0.
hi , i am parikshit from pune, today i ordered by rr 5.0 from life cycle shop tilak road pune, they are going to give me on 8/9 january. price of cycle will be 10000/-
Today i also checked landmark shop in phonix mall, they told me we are not having in stock , cycle will be arrive after 20th january
I am Arun from Trivandrum.
I am looking forward to buying a bike for going to college. I think it is wiser to buy a bicycle that costs a bicycle that costs around 10k than buy a 50k motorbike that will guzzle all the fuel in the world. I think RR fits the bill...
Can you comment on the prices of accessories, like LED lights, bells, locks, and helmets??
Hi, I wanted to buy RR 5.0, I am confused whether to buy Small / MED size.
I am 5.2 ft, www.decathlon.in web site suggests Small, I am worried will it be small for me..
Experienced RR 5.0 users Please suggest...
Thanks.
So Anonymous,
Which size did you buy then? S or M?
At 5ft2, I think Small (S) size would be more appropriate
Hi I am 5'9 with inseam of 30 inches....I am confused with size will suit me M or L. Pls advice.
Thanks
Rahul
@Rahul,
the "M" should suit you well
Hi, I want to buy rockrider 5.0. I love fast riding and long distance commuting. And my budget is 10K. Is this bike really suits me.
Hi I am looking forward to buying a bicycle under 10K. I wanna commute to office with it, same as you. I want to know how's the bike holding up after 1.5 years since you bought it. Also let me know if lack of suspensions causes any physical problem (to the back, spine). Thanks.
PS- i was not into cycles at all, till now.
hows this bike ? http://www.choosemybicycle.com/in/en/bicycles/urban-trail/mtb/urban-trail-sonic-20/Price-India
Hi,I am currently planning to buy B'twin Rockrider from Decathlon Store, Bangalore at a price of 9K. Could you please tell me the accessories which are needed mandatory as they don't include a side stand etc. And also it would be better if you guide me on steps required on how to do a self maintenance regularly ??
Even RockRider is manufactured by Hero Cycle, Only design is from BTwin!! - Sharath
Hey .. Nice pictures and review. Found it very helpful . . Cheers
@S.P. Awesome review.! Will check out the bike very soon in Landmark stores..
Have heard that they lunched new 5.0 2013 whats the difference ?
If i put a slick 700c in R.R.5 will that be a problem...any suggestion.....
Can disc brakes be fitted on to the RR 5.0? I had this situation lately, while riding in heavy rain my brake pads started to wear of on to my rims.
Is this normal for the type of brakes fitted on the RR 5.0?
Is RR 5.0 replaced with RR 300?
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