Transport is a very important part of everyday life. For some it’s a personal car or bus, and for some it’s a bicycle. Now such a vehicle is gaining more and more popularity. You can get to work or school by bike. This is an environmentally friendly cheap transport, which also helps to keep the body in good shape. One of the main factors that will ensure travel comfort is reliability. How to choose a bike among such a variety? In this article, we learn more about Stels Focus. What are its characteristics and strengths?
Stels Focus Basics
The company "Stealth" is not the first decade engaged in the production of bicycles. During this time, she managed to develop a number of models. One such line is the Stels Focus bike. It is intended for adults. Stels Focus is a mountain bike. This does not mean that you can go on it to conquer the peaks. For this, it is not strong enough. His element is a cross-country style. This is one of the most popular destinations for cyclists. It implies overcoming rough terrain with potential obstacles in the form of humps, stones, sand, dirt and other off-road. The features of Stels Focus help everyone in this.
Frame
Mountain bikes should have a good margin of safety. While riding, the frame is under heavy load. Therefore, this element is very important for a bicycle. At Stels Focus it is made of steel. Special equipment and alloys make the frame strong enough. But there is one catch: such material lends itself to corrosion. If the bike often falls, the protective coating may be erased. Poor conditions and bad weather can cause oxidation of the metal, which will significantly reduce its strength and durability.
The frame size is 18 inches. Stels Focus is not suitable for children and adolescents, it may be a little tall for them. Since the frame is made of steel, it is quite heavy. The weight of the bike is about 18 kilograms. This is enough for a mountain bike. With every kilogram it’s getting harder to climb the hill and more effort is needed. Therefore, now there is a tendency to facilitate two-wheeled transport.
Depreciation
Here Stels Focus begins to stand out among its mountain counterparts. Depreciation bicycles are divided into two-suspension (when both wheels are provided) and hardtail (if the fork is only on the front). This model belongs to the first type. This type of design helps increase cross-country ability. The rear fork absorbs part of the vibration, which improves comfort. At least that's what they intended.
The Stels Focus has both the front and rear with the cheapest shock absorption. This makes the bike more affordable. But here lies the main minus. Front fork mounted spring type. This is the simplest design. Such a shock absorber does poorly with its duties. Although the characteristics indicate the fork stroke of 60 millimeters, but in fact it is very arbitrary. An ideal mechanism should respond to every bump and bump. So the wheel does not come off the ground, and vibration does not go into the hands. But this only happens with expensive and high-quality forks, which cannot be said in relation to those that stand on the Stels Focus. Such a suspension is quite heavy. But it's still better than nothing.
Wheels
Everything is clear from the name of the Stels Focus 26. The index at the end indicates the size of the wheels. Here it is 26 inches. These are standard mountain bike wheels. On teenagers sometimes put 24 inches. Tires are the most common. Width is also important. These tires have 1.95 inches. This is a universal option. Such rubber will feel good both on urban asphalt roads and on primers. The tread is also important. The patency of the bike depends on it. This tire has a deep tread, which significantly improves driving performance on the road.
Brake system
It is always important to stop on time. This rule also applies to the Stels Focus v. There are several types of brake systems. Each of them has its pros and cons. The index in the title indicates that this model has rim brakes. They also have their own varieties. This type is the most common mechanical rim brake. They are driven by a metal cable that is connected to the handle on the steering wheel.
In hydraulic systems, this function is performed by a special fluid. Rim brakes are light in weight. Therefore, they are often used in races or marathons. They are also easy to fix. Even someone who has never dealt with repairing bikes can deal with them. But such brakes have a minus - less efficiency. Therefore, mountain bikes have long been installed disk system. Although it is heavier, it is much more reliable.
Transmission
This collection of elements that sets the Stels Focus 18 sp 26 into motion. This includes the chain, switches and sprockets. There are some differences here. This bike model is available for a long time. And over the years of its industrial production, some changes were made to the design. One of them concerns transmission. Therefore, there are two versions of the model. The name Stels Focus 21 shows that it differs in the number of speeds. In the first case, there are 6 stars behind, which in total gives 18 speeds, and in the second 7, which give 21 variations. Therefore, when choosing a bike Stels Focus 21, you must clearly pay attention to the numbers in the name. They will help you find out how many speeds this bike has.
As for modern two-wheeled vehicles, the Stels Focus transmission is a bit outdated. Even the second variation with 21 speeds has long been no longer popular with bike lovers. Now there are already such cartridges on which up to 10 stars are hung. For those who want a ride with the breeze, you will have to upgrade your vehicle.
Also an important part of the transmission is the switches. On this model is the equipment from the "Shimano" initial type, both front and rear. The Tourney line is typical for all cheap bikes. They are driven by lever switches mounted on the steering wheel.
Additions
There are a few more details worth paying attention to. The comfort of the trip depends largely on a good saddle. Everything is in order here. This Stels Focus is equipped with a comfortable semi-sports saddle, which will be convenient both for leisurely walks in the park and for off-road trips.
The manufacturer also adds wings to protect against splashes. True, because they do not completely close the wheels, some of the dirt and water still gets on the wheels. If desired, they can be removed.
The most common pedals. Due to the fact that they are made of plastic, they must be handled more carefully. Under heavy loads, such pedals may crack. Since the material is relatively soft, it can wear out. Therefore, teeth to improve traction with the sole may disappear over time. It will be more reliable to install pedals made of aluminum. They are both light and more reliable.
Front and rear reflectors are standard. According to the rules of the traffic regulations it is impossible to go on the road without these reflectors.
Owner reviews
This bike is only suitable for those who do not have any special requirements for bicycles. The whole package consists of fairly cheap items, so the product itself is inexpensive. Due to its severity, you have to constantly pedal. On a flat surface, the bike sways, as part of the energy goes into the spring. If there was a special blocker, then this can be prevented. Since the bike is quite strong, so you can ride on it off-road.
Practical recommendations
A bicycle that you just bought from a store is often in semi-working condition. For it to start functioning normally, it must be configured. The first thing to do is brakes. They are often poorly tailored to the bike itself. The second place you should pay attention to is speed switches. They are not so difficult to adjust, but then everything will work like a clock. Tire pressure should also be in line with the norm. For driving on city roads, you can download 4 atmospheres. For mountain driving, you can reduce it to 3.