Bicycle - the choice of active people. This is an environmentally friendly transport, where you can get to the place of work or study, have fun and relax from the routine. If a person decided to go in for cycling, then he needs a reliable unit. How to choose among the whole variety of models and brands. This article will talk about Stels mountain bikes. Here you can find all useful information about them.
Brand history
Stels mountain bikes have been available for quite some time. They are manufactured by Velomotors, which has been on the market for about fifteen years. The history of the brand does not have any highlights. A company was organized to sell bicycles of different brands. Since it was successfully developing, it was decided to manufacture its own products. This is how the Stels Navigator mountain bikes were born. In addition, the company is engaged in the production of scooters and ATVs.
Production
At Velomotors factories, only the assembly of Stels mountain bikes takes place. The fact is that many components are imported from China. And high-tech parts are imported from Europe and Taiwan. "Stealth" almost does not produce its components in the Russian Federation. This type of assembly helps to significantly reduce the cost of production.
The lineup
Stealth specializes not only in mountain biking. The company has models for any requirements:
- Mountain bikes. Suitable for active cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. Presented by the Navigator and Aggressor models. The Stels also have women's mountain bikes, the Miss.
- BMX. Designed for extreme riding with various obstacles. On it you can perform tricks of any complexity. To do this, he has a light and durable frame. Representatives are Saber and Tyrant.
- Urban. Due to their design, they are very convenient. Made for ordinary driving in urban areas and leisurely walks in the park. Represented by Energy, Navigator and Cross models.
- For children. This company has a lot of bicycles for those who are just learning to ride them. Therefore, you can easily pick up the unit for your child. “Flash”, “Jet”, “Echo”, “Talisman” and others - these are all children's models.
It is also worth paying attention to the number after the name. Suppose there is a Stels Navigator 500 mountain bike. In addition to it, there are models with the numbers 420, 450, 510, 530, 550, 570 and so on.
Ruler "Navigator"
This type of bicycle manufactured by Velomotors is in demand. This line is represented by road and mountain bikes. Among them are inexpensive models of appropriate quality.
Bicycles are divided into certain subgroups. If after the name there is a number from 100 to 300 - these are road bikes. Models with a number from 100 belong to the class of cruisers. They are designed for leisurely walks, so they are very comfortable.
From 200 - ordinary city with a standard wheel diameter of 26 inches.
If you need something more exotic, then you can try bikes of the 300th series. They have a rim diameter of 28 inches. Some believe that with such parameters you can ride more efficiently.
Tales from the 400 series are designed more for teenagers. They already belong to the mountain class and have a wheel diameter of 24 inches. Their equipment depends on the model.
The most common are the Stels 500 mountain bikes. They most often have cheap, low quality attachments. May be suitable for beginners who just want to try cycling. They are not suitable for everyday driving. Their frames are made of steel.
Stels 600 Series mountain bikes are slightly better in quality. They put more expensive equipment. Frames are most often made of aluminum alloy.
Among all the bicycles with the number 700 stand out. This is a kind of compromise in price and quality. In terms of level, they are already suitable even for lovers. They install middle class parts.
The 800 Series can even suit the most enthusiastic. These bikes are equipped with good suspension, switches and transmission. Since quality elements are installed on them, then they stand accordingly.
"Navigators" 900 and above can declare on a semi-professional level. They are very reliable and will never fail. These are the most expensive bicycles from the Velomotors company. They are hung parts of the best quality.
Mountain bike Stels Navigator: reviews
From the above facts it is clear that the larger the number in the name, the better the product. This greatly simplifies the search for a suitable unit. Just pay attention to the number.
Positive and negative reviews depend more on the quality of the bike. Cheap models are not something phenomenal, but acceptable enough for a quiet ride. Such bikes are usually bought by people who are not keen on this hobby or use them quite rarely. Despite everything, you can still ride them. Therefore, most often, such models receive an average rating.
Reviews Mountain bikes Stels 800 series and above get pretty good. They are equipped with good equipment, so they are reliable and durable. For this, they are most often loved by users. Good equipment makes the trip much more enjoyable.
Positive and negative sides
Like any bike, the Stealth has its pros and cons. On average, this is a good brand that is not inferior to many foreign goods that have flooded the market. He has such advantages:
- Rich choice. You can choose a model for any requirements and for any age category.
- There are good models.
- Affordable price.
- Bright design for every taste and color.
- If something is broken, then you can buy original spare parts from the manufacturer.
He also has its drawbacks:
- Some models are quite expensive. Sometimes it’s even cheaper to buy a foreign option.
- Bicycles are assembled from Chinese components.
- Sometimes the quality is poor.
- Very heavy frames with thick walls. Probably specially designed for our roads.
Mountain Bike Stels Navigator 500 md
One of the most popular models. The most important factor that makes it so popular is its price. Such a Stels md mountain bike costs about $ 180. Therefore, it is available to almost everyone. But the quality, of course, is appropriate. It is designed for cross-country riding. That is, along forest paths, bumps and other natural obstacles. His special design helps him in this.
Frame
The cheapest equipment is installed on it. But the frame here is strong, albeit heavy (it weighs about 16 kilograms). Its size can be selected depending on the height. Therefore, the size should be checked with the seller. It is made of steel. Therefore, if a special coating is damaged, the metal may rust. I would like to note that all Stealth models have very similar frames. They are manufactured using the same technologies and designs. The only thing that changes is the type of alloy. For each model, its own metal is selected, which has certain properties.
Fork and wheels
The pendant of the 500th Stealth is a separate topic for discussion. By type of depreciation, it belongs to the category of hardtail, that is, it only has a suspension on the front wheel. It seems that the spring-elastomeric fork is here only for beauty. It almost does not fulfill its functions. Its installation is a good marketing move. The buyer can peck that there is a fork, so this is a full mountain bike, and buy it. Nobody even asks about quality. Such a system is very heavy. It is much better then to change the plug from the "Stealth" to the usual rigid (without spring). So the bike will become lighter a couple of pounds.
The wheel size here is standard - 26 inches. Wide tires with a deep tread give better grip. There are also double rims. This is a good sign, as double walls are stronger, so they bend less often.
Brake system
It is also important to pay attention to the letters after the name. If it says: "Mountain bike Stels Navigator 500 v", then it means that rim brakes are installed on it. If at the end there will be a letter "D", then disk. But on this model you have to be careful with them. No need to drive on cheap discs. Pads can move poorly on them. It is much better to put quality rims.
Transmission
3 stars are installed on the front as standard, and a 7 cassette on the back. In total, 21 gears are obtained. For modern bicycles, this is not enough. On them you can find cassettes with 9 stars. But, as practice shows, seven are enough for ordinary skiing. But this is not the main thing. Speed ​​switches are a sore subject in this model. Some users said that the chain itself jumps from asterisk to asterisk. This is the result of poor build and poor equipment. Therefore, you need to configure them yourself or contact the wizard.
Handles and mudguards
A common problem with budget bikes is uncomfortable handles. From a long ride, my hands begin to hurt. They have a round shape, but this does not quite fit the bends of the palm. Therefore, it is best to simply change the handles to some others that will be more convenient. They can be found in any sports stores. The exit could still be the acquisition of special gloves.
Mud flaps are also included. As practice shows, they do not protect the cyclist well from dirt and water, since they go in a shorter version. Such devices look much cooler than full-fledged mudguards, which cover the entire wheel completely. But they are useless. Also their fastening is very unreliable. They can fall off. But this is not a problem with this model, but with the entire Stealth product.
findings
“Navigator” is a whole line of mountain and city bicycles. This company is known for having a very wide selection. Models differ from each other in quality and price. Stealth makes bicycles for any wallet. They are available in various modifications and are upgraded every year. You can buy goods with entry-level equipment, or high. It is better to purchase a reliable bike right away, which will serve for a long time faithfully. If you buy an expensive model, then it will be able to compete with other well-known brands.