Roadeo Fugitive 27.5 (2018) - Review

The Fugitive 27.5 is one among the 3 new bicycle series released this year by Roadeo, with hardtail full steel frames. Steel is heavy and that is clearly felt while riding, as acceleration is a little tough. But heaviness also brings strength and long lasting life. The frame geometry is comfortable and easy to ride around the city.This bicycle comes with a suspension fork with a minimal working travel of 5mm. This was sufficient to keep the ride smooth on city roads and can handle flat trails decently.

In line with the other geared Roadeo bicycles, the Fugitive 27.5 also comes with a 21-Speed drivetrain. Powered by the entry-level Shimano Tourney derailleurs at the front and rear. These derailleurs are the most basic but was just enough for those short rides. There was some slight lag at the front derailleur but nothing major, which affects the overall performance. The 21-Speed Shimano EF41 shifters were standard trigger type which were easy to use.

The Fugitive 27.5 which I test rode came in a full white primary colour and a combination of neon green and black secondary colours. The colour shades and also the matte finish paint job was top notch. The smooth welds on the tube edges along with the colour coded suspension fork and saddle definitely enhance the aesthetics of this bicycle.

Same as in the Fugitive 26, the Fugitive 27.5 comes with a combination of Mechanical Disc and V-brakes. A C-Star mechanical disc brake at the front and Power V-brake at the rear completes the braking system on this bicycle. Yes, there isn’t optimum balance in the strength of braking on both but for riding through city streets this setup is good enough. These brakes can also work on flat trails to an extent.The XMR stock handlebar was 6mm in width and made the riding posture comfortable to pedal through city traffic.

The Fugitive bicycle rolls on a pair of 27.5” x 2.125” Wanda King MTB tires. These tires are the perfect blend to handle both city roads and also flatter trails for occasional adventures. The treads were huge and spaced out perfectly to give complete traction over both wet and muddy surfaces. The XMR PU saddle was not just colour coded but also cushioned enough to keep you soreness free on those commutes. The overall ride quality was comfortable on smooth urban roads and flat trails.