Firefox Tempest 6S (2017) - Review

The Firefox Tempest 6s (2017) comes with a full alloy hardtail frame. This frame has not gone through much butting to make the welds smooth but there is no excess material used to make the bicycle any heavier than it should be. During the test ride the frame could take in vibrations from the surface and was also easy to move amidst traffic. This bicycle comes in 1 standard frame size which is 18inch. So anyone up to 5 feet 8 inches can ride this bicycle comfortably.The Tempest 6s is a city bicycle and if you do have bad roads in your city then the front suspension forks on this bicycle are going to make you ride a little more comfortable. The Zoom front suspension fork comes with a 5mm travel. This is a very basic suspension fork and isn’t the smoothest, but it solves the purpose of taking vibration off speed breakers and potholes.

The Firefox Tempest 6s comes with a Shimano Tourney TX3 rear derailleur. This is the most basic gearing in the Shimano MTB/Hybrid hierarchy. Shimano RS35 rotor shifters control this rear 6-speed derailleur. These shifters are scarcely seen these days on bicycles in the India market. Even though it might sound outdated, these rotor shifters are still functional and easy to use. During the test ride this gearing component worked well enough to get going on city streets.

The Firefox Tempest 6s (2017) which I test rode came in a full white primary colour with shades of ink blue in a few places on the frame. The frame geometry was standard with no irregular shapes. The paint quality was a letdown as the gloss finish looked and felt below par. For the price of this bicycle, the overall design, graphics and paint quality could have definitely been better. This bicycle also comes in a full blue colour variant which also has a gloss finish.

The Tempest 6s comes with a pair of steel V-brakes. During the test ride on busy streets, these brakes worked well to maneuver through traffic. But jamming of the rear brake does cause the back tire to skid a little. But that can be managed by effectively braking at both the front and back equally. The brake levers didn’t feel that strong and was also not the most comfortable to use.The 58mm steel handlebar is shaped for comfort with a good 3mm rise from the middle to give the rider an upright riding posture. The handlebar grips had enough rubber to keep the palms gripped and also the right bar was extended enough to accommodate the rotor shifter without shortening the grip area.

The Firefox Tempest 6s rolls on a pair of 26 inch x 2.125 inch tires. These tires are well supported by alloy rims. The tires are a perfect mix between hybrid and MTB tires. Not too wide as an MTB tire but still thick enough with treads which can handle rough urban roads with ease. The wheel set was also not heavy and hence makes the ride a little faster. The Firefox stock saddle was has good cushioning and not much ergonomic shape to it. But for those short city rides this cushioning is perfect to keep you comfortable on the saddle. The overall ride quality was a little bumpy but comfortable on city roads.