Kross Ecobike 26T SS (2017) - Review

The Kross Eco Bike 26T is built around a full steel frame. This material selection isn’t surprising considering the price of this bicycle. The frame geometry is simple with evenly shaped tubes, which are strongly welded at the joints. The relaxed riding posture that this bicycle offers is perfect for those short commutes on flat city streets and rough urban roads.The Eco Bike 26T comes with a front suspension fork. This fork is a basic component with a very minimal travel of around 4-5mm. This suspension fork is just enough for those small bumps and speed breakers on the road.

As the name suggests the Kross Eco Bike is a single speed bicycle. This makes it a fairly simple bicycle for commuting on urban roads. Just hop and ride without having to worry about changing the gear and being on the right gear combinations. This crank, pedals, chain and chainring all work together smoothly to give a comfortable riding experience when it comes to pedaling. If you live in a hilly neighborhood then climbing those inclines without a gear on this fairly heavy steel frame is going to be quite the task.

Not just this bicycle but most of Kross's bicycles seemed to have got the aesthetics right. The Eco Bike which I test rode came in a full sky blue colour with black graphics. This bicycle comes with a front and rear black mudguards, which are not only functional but are also colour coded to blend right in. This bicycle also comes in a full black with gold graphics as a colour variant.

The stopping power on this bicycle is taken care of by a pair of standard V-brakes. During the test ride these brakes worked well while going at moderate speed in city traffic. During turns, interval braking helped in coming to a halt or slowing down in a smooth manner. There is a bit of screeching sound when jamming the brakes.The steel handlebar on the Eco Bike is sleek and wide with a good raise from the middle making the rider have a straight back posture in the saddle. The handlebar grips were very minimal and could have been better to decrease vibrations of the surface being felt on the palms.

The Eco Bike is equipped with 26inch MTB type tires at both the front and back. These tires are heavily treaded which gives great traction on both wet and dry conditions. When jamming the brakes the tires handled the skidding well enough to not let the rider get loose balance. The stock saddle is designed ergonomically with just the right amount of cushioning. There is a slit cut-out in the middle of the saddle. The cutout is designed to eliminate or reduce pressure on your perineum. The overall ride quality was comfortable on city roads.