Hercules Roadeo Yago V (2017) - Review

The Hercules Roadeo Yago V has been made using steel. Bicycles made from steel are sturdy and durable, but tend to be on the heavier side, as is with the Yago V. It is a full suspension frame, where in the rear suspension works to absorb shocks felt from bumps on the road. The frame is designed with a longer rear side, to accommodate the rear suspension. The Hercules Roadeo Yago comes with a Threadless Steel Suspension Fork with a Matte Black Finish. The front suspension functioned reasonably well, when tested.

The Hercules Roadeo Yago V is a 21-speed MTB and comes equipped with Shimano TZ-4 front and rear derailleurs, whose shifting is controlled by Shimano EF-41 trigger shifters. Given its price point, these gearing components are expected. While on the test ride, the shifting was quite smooth and fairly noiseless, the effect of the transmission wasn’t too impressive when it came to performance. Shifting up or down, on the rear derailleur, by a difference of 2-3 gears was when I felt a difference in the performance. However, being targeted for urban commuting/leisure riding, this will not affect its overall performance by a lot.

The Hercules Roadeo Yago V has been designed keeping the preferences of teenagers in mind. The graphics on the frame are sure to turn heads while on the road. The bicycle is available in two color variants - a matte black, with yellow and green decals, and a glossy blue with green and white decals. Overall, I feel that the branding on the bicycle has taken up most of the space on the frame, and the multiple streaks of yellows, greens and whites on both the color options can get slightly overwhelming.

The Hercules Roadeo Yago V comes equipped with Shimano V-Brakes, controlled by Shimano Brake levers. The stoppage power was adequate for city usage, where abrupt stopping might be called for. Overall, the brakes are powerful and will work well on dry and wet surfaces, though the latter might call for additional pull. The XMR, oversized 62mm handlebar is perfect to be able to maneuver the bicycle in traffic, or crowded riding conditions. The length of the handlebar ensures a comfortable ‘open-chested’ position. The grips on the handlebar were satisfactory when tested.

The Hercules Roadeo Yago V comes equipped with 26” x 2.125” Nylon MTB tires that are fitted onto XMR alloy rims. The treading on the tires enable the bicycle to easily tackle rugged riding conditions with ease. Given that not all city roads are well-done, this is easily one of the bicycle's stand-out features. The soft XMR PU saddle is not only comfortable, but is also designed to match the color theme of the bicycle. It is a comfortable saddle, good for commutes and leisure rides.