Forward bicycles: variety of model range

Forward is a relatively young bicycle manufacturer that in no country can boast of being known to generations of cyclists. Nevertheless, it is worth paying attention to this brand, if only because it is, in spite of the “foreign” name, a Russian company, and domestic products are usually somewhat cheaper than their foreign counterparts. Although these bicycles do not have a well-recognized name, it is possible that such a two-wheeled vehicle will be the best solution for you.

Forward is one of the few Russian bicycle brands that focused their production not so much on the mass consumer with a small budget, but on inveterate amateurs and true professionals. Of course, the manufacturing country has a pleasant effect on the price, and yet it is definitely not classified as the most budgetary bikes Forward, but even professional athletes do not shy away from the company's products.

The company, which eventually evolved into the modern Forward, was founded in 1999, but although its activities were immediately related to bicycles, at first it did not produce anything. Initially, the business was created with the aim of organizing the wholesale supply of two-wheeled vehicles from both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Later, after assessing what dubious products some potential competitors produce, Forward decided to start its own production.

It is surprising how quickly the company became popular: already in 2008, the millionth bike was sold, and then the cyclists on Forward achieved success in prestigious international competitions for the first time.

Two decades after its founding, Forward is rightly considered one of the most successful Russian bicycle manufacturers. They are periodically called budgetary, but it would be more correct to say that this is an excellent combination of price and quality.

Forward is a unique example of a promising Russian bicycle manufacturer, which in just two decades has grown from an unknown importer to the level of a manufacturer whose products even professionals do not disdain. The average cyclist can find many advantages to such a bike, but we will highlight only those features that appeal to the vast majority of commentators.

• Low cost. Whatever one may say, initially our person is attracted by the price criterion - a potential buyer heard something about the fact that such a bike is quite in demand, but saw the price and was fascinated. It is important to note here that Forward is not the cheapest in principle, but it is surprisingly affordable compared to foreign counterparts, which makes one give preference to it.

• Imported attachments... Even an ardent patriot is unlikely to argue that Russia does not yet produce unambiguously top-end bicycles and equipment for them, therefore leading foreign brands like Shimano are preferred. Forward has chosen the smart tactic of combining inexpensive self-made parts (where appropriate) with critical imported components, making their bikes relatively inexpensive and of sufficient quality at the same time.

• An impressive selection. This argument will greatly appeal to those consumers who like to trust a particular manufacturer that once showed its best side. The Forward product lines offer bikes for all tastes, which means that the owner of an old bike can switch to a completely new model, and even a different type, without experiencing undue doubts about whether this brand can be trusted.

• A huge number of service centers. Nothing lasts forever, and even expensive foreign bikes sometimes break - like Forward bikes. Another thing is that an imported "iron horse" is not always so easy to repair - some parts are really difficult to get, and one has to hope that expensive transport will live as long as possible. Since Forward is manufactured in Russia, the company has opened almost a hundred authorized service centers throughout the country. This means that even in the event of a breakdown, the chances of recovery for the two-wheeled pet are quite high.

It is possible that the shortcomings below are just the subjective opinion of the authors of negative comments or a flaw in one particular model, but we deliberately tried to collect the criticism that is repeated quite often. First of all, Russian production and non-belonging to the top class are obvious: build quality and paint quality can be lame. In addition, consumers often complain that the unit could be lighter, because it is difficult to drag it up the steps, especially for a fragile woman or child.

Forward is ready to attract new fans of the brand from a young age - especially for them, it produces children's bicycles designed for riders from 1 to 10 years old. In principle, this category includes bicycles of all "adult" types, but in a slightly reduced form, but we will highlight only a few typical examples.

• Unit. A mountain bike designed for a child who is unlikely to go to full-fledged mountains, but will desperately drive along a flat road, subjecting the bike to no less stress. The hardtail is aimed at kids ages 5 to 9 - at least its twenty-inch wheels are good for that age. The complete set of the model is completely different, up to the fact that the frame can be made of different materials - steel or aluminum (Pro version).

• Dakota 20. Another mountain bike, but to a greater extent sharpened for riding on asphalt surfaces. This is a relatively simple, and therefore inexpensive model - the same 20-inch wheels are crowned with a steel frame, there is a simple 6-speed gearbox, vibrake is responsible for braking.

• Scorpions. Typical city bike for children aged 5-9 years. It is not worth driving it too much, especially on uneven surfaces, but as the first transport for a child who is just learning and, in principle, does not have a too perky disposition, it will do quite well. In terms of construction, this is the simplest single-speed vehicle on a rigid steel frame and 20-inch wheels.

• Meteor. Contrary to the daring name, this model (more precisely, a number of modifications) is designed for the smallest - a young passenger must be from 1.5 to 6 years old to ride one. As befits a starter model, the Meteor is initially equipped with side wheels to maintain balance, which can then be quickly removed.

For adult riders, the choice of riding style is still much wider, therefore the variety of models is much more impressive. We have collected examples of models that many consumers think are the best, although we do not argue what taste and color here.

Mountain bikes, as their name suggests, are designed for cross-country riding, although they can also be ridden on a good road, albeit with some reservations. The Forward company focuses on inexpensive amateur hardtails - models that do not have rear wheel shock absorption.

Let's highlight those bikes that have become recognizable among cyclists.

• Apache. Perhaps the most recognizable model across the brand is a simple beginner mountain bike that is inexpensive but good for the city and relatively rough terrain. Standard equipment features an aluminum frame, 21-speed gearbox, 26-inch wheels and mechanical vibrake, but there are plenty of variations.

• Sporting. This unit is very similar to the one described above, including a variety of modifications. The starter kit, in fact, differs only in that the frame is steel, not aluminum, and the speeds are 18, not 21.

• Agris (Lady). A special women's mountain bike in red and white tones, designed for a rather aggressive riding style or perceptibly rough terrain. The model on 26-inch wheels also exists in the "masculine" version, differing only in the characteristic frame design with a lowered upper tube.

• Raptor. This mountain bike is somewhat out of the general range of Forward bikes, as it is two-suspension. This design allows you to overcome any irregularities softer, but negatively affects the roll and weight of the structure, slowing down somewhat. A 21-speed bike on 26-inch wheels is well suited for real mountains or any other area where the terrain lacks anything even remotely resembling normal roads.

These are often called road (also road) bicycles, the main function of which is - drive on roads of decent quality, but at the same time at the highest possible speed, to travel long distances quickly.Basically, this is a city bike, but with a lighter frame and improved aerodynamic properties, which provides excellent rolling.

There are a lot of such bikes among Forward's products, and in most cases they are already equipped with such useful bonuses as a trunk, fenders, and so on.

• York. The brightest representative of its class with large (28 inches) wheels and a 14-speed gearbox on a steel frame. You cannot go on a long journey empty-handed, therefore, such vehicles are initially equipped with an aluminum trunk, reflectors for better visibility of the bike on a dark track, a footboard and plastic fenders.

• Yukon... This bike rather conditionally refers to highways, because theoretically it is suitable for everything: you can ride around the city, and over rough terrain, and, of course, on a flat road for long distances. In principle, this transport is similar to the one described above, only the frame is aluminum, the speeds are 24, and the wheels are slightly reduced - their diameter is 26 inches.

• Canberra. And this model, in terms of characteristics, is almost an ideal copy of the aforementioned Yukon, but with a specific feature - the model, named after the Australian capital, has a ladies' frame shape.

A city bike is perhaps the simplest from a constructive point of view. Riders, most likely, will not put forward any unprecedented requirements for a city bike, because there are no special loads on it due to the absence of too long routes and the presence of decent roads. Another thing is that such a bicycle replaces the owner of public transport or a personal car, it may be needed at any time, and there is simply no time to specially prepare it for each trip. For this reason the simplicity of the design is also focused on the absence of any necessary maintenance.

• Indie Jam. A typical example of a city bike, which is a classic rigid, that is, a structure with no shock absorption at all. The designers felt that in the conditions of ideal urban coverage, the shock-absorbing springs would inappropriately weight the city bike, so they simply removed such a detail.

• Valencia. A foldable vehicle that is generally suitable not only for the city, but also for slightly rough terrain, even with its modest 24-inch wheels. Of course, you can experiment with the latter only very carefully, since folding bike models, in principle, are not designed for full-fledged prancing, because the maximum strength of the frame is impossible without its integrity.

• Azure. Ladies' version of the city bike with a specially lowered upper tube - to simplify the embarkation and disembarkation of the fair sex in long dresses. 26-inch wheels and simple vibrating racks are the standard for this bike, but in terms of the number of speeds, a choice of modifications is available - there is a modest 7-speed transmission, but there is also a 21.

Admittedly, most Forward bike models do have entry-level equipment, which makes the choice much easier. Many bikes of the domestic company are designed for ordinary citizens, and not for athletes, and therefore they are relatively inexpensive, and the consumer only has to choose the type of bike that will be most comfortable for him.

It so happened that a mountain bike in the circles of ignorant people is considered something "cool", because many beginners, if possible, take it, not understanding the simple truth that the use of a mountain bike is quite justified in the mountains, but not so logical in the city. The best characteristics of such a bike on smooth asphalt are not revealed, and most of the elements of its attachments, for which decent money was paid, are simply not used. If you only want to ride in the city, choose the simplest city bike.

If your routes run mainly outside the city, also do not rush to make a choice in favor of an abstract mountain bike. For a country road, if it is relatively adequate, the same city bike will do - just, perhaps, no longer a rigid, but at least a hardtail or even a two-suspension. You will only need a highway driver in case you cover distances of 10-20 km or more every day, and you want to spend a minimum of time on this, especially since there are no complaints about the quality of the road surface.

As for the mountain bike, then choose inexpensive models in case you just love to ride in the woods and buy something more expensive only for serious sports training. Please note that on difficult surfaces such as thick grass or sand, a fat bike, a type of mountain bike with wide semi-flat tires, will perform much better.

Be sure to test the unit in business before buying. A mountain bike, of course, will not be allowed to take to the mountains for a couple of days, but at least just a ride around the store is necessary in any case, in order to understand whether it is convenient for you to ride it or not. At least by eye, evaluate the reliability of all structures, and also check whether the specific model taken is correctly assembled, whether there are burrs and chipped paint on its surface.

If doubts are not completely dispelled, also look for reviews of the model on the Internet, although you should be careful with this: remember that most satisfied people do not leave reviews in principle, and criticism seen in only one or two comments out of a dozen may turn out to be subjective.

Finally, there is a general picture of the opinions of the owners who were lucky enough to ride the products of the Russian company Forward. In most cases, they speak positively about their bikes, considering them to be quite decent transport for leisurely riding around the city, amateur trips out of town or even long hikes on asphalt roads. Combined with a low price such a bike seems like a real godsend, and many consumers say that they would recommend Forward to their friends and acquaintances.

The criticism is usually insignificant, but it is still present in most of the comments. True, a significant part of it can be estimated from one of the reviews, in which the author is dissatisfied with the complete set of a mountain bike, which allegedly lacks ... a reflector and footpegs that would be more suitable for a city bike or highway. Substantial weight complaints can be considered the most weighty of the typical claims.

For an overview of the Forward bikes, see the video below.