The popularity of foldables is growing at a fast pace, with more and more engineering and design patents coming from companies to tackle each other down. Allen Sports has caught the attention of this market and even though you might not know it as a cycle brand, Allen is one of the best rear carrier maker whose parts are used by several top brands.
The Allen Sports Urban X 7-Speed has been introduced by the company as a mid-level competitor in the market. It has been designed in Massachusetts and produced in Taiwan. The Urban X7 makes a great cycle for city or urban, as the name says, riding.
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Rating:
4.90 / 5.00
Price:
$$$ on Amazon (September 12 2015)
Warranty
The frame (alloy or steel) is warranted for life by Allen and will be replaced if any manufacturing error or riding fault occurs during any point in the bikes life.
The fork and other components (excluding those which can wear) have a warranty of a single year from the date of purchase.
Warranty can only be availed by the first user of the product.
Make sure you write down the serial number on the frame to the warranty page as wear and tear can eradicate the print.
Pros and Cons:
Lightweight Seat Post Is Poor
Stylish Handle Post Is Poor
Quick Folding Can’t Stand When Folded
Durable
First Impression:
The bright and shiny paint on the body is a definite eye catcher!
Detailed Review:
The bike can be ordered off Amazon web store. It is currently enjoying a sweet 284 dollars off its original price, which is pretty exciting (Note: You can use the saving to upgrade the bike parts!). Your order arrives in a big brown stock box with a red Allen logo printed on its side. Out of the box, almost everything is fine. However this is subject to shipping handling and you may also get damaged items which would need tuning and fixing. You may require to adjust the tightening of the handle bar and the brakes. Check the tires for the need of inflation. The pedals are different than usual and you can learn how to use them in the Quick Start Guide. The instruction manual is very thorough and you will probably not need to Google any stuff as everything is mentioned in the manual, including safety precautions which you should know about.
The frame is made from aluminium 6061, which is a lightweight yet extremely sturdy metal. This would allow you to enjoy a safe and confident ride while having the portability due to its lightness. The geometry is well thought out and allows easy hopping in and out. The bright paint on the body is an automatic mood lifter and has been professional finished, with no wear even after regular use. Of course this depends on how properly you use your bicycle.
The 7 speed system from Shinamo helps to run the bike. Shinamo is a known brand in this industry and its products are known to be reliable and long lasting. The gears shift easily and have no clicking sound. The speed range is enough for you to climb up and down small to moderate hills and glide on the streets.
The brakes are present on the handles (calliper brakes). They are strong and responsive, however sometimes you might need to adjust them before riding out.
The wheels are 451 mm in size. Even though small in contrast to full sized wheels, they allow great handling and let you pass tight spaces and make sharp turns. However beware of speeding over a pot hole or a road bump, as you can misbalance and tumble. You need to pedal more to cover the distance due to the small size, but you have greater steering control. Rest assured, the tires are of good quality – not the best – and do their job well. You should not require to maintain or inflate them regularly if you ride under normal conditions.
The saddle is good. It is from the DDK range, similar to what is on the urban single speed. The seat is adjustable and you can also change the height of the seat post. Hence there is little chance of you riding in an awkward body position. The seating has been to give you an upright and clear view, perfect for city needs. The seat needs proper care as the cover can get worn out pretty quickly especially under direct sunlight and heat.
The handle bar post is also adjustable allowing you to get a better grip, especially as the shifters and brakes are both on the handles.
Allen has introduced patented release levers which let you quickly wrap the bike within 15 seconds. With practice you will be able to do it even more quickly. The handle bar stem lock is not centred which might make you think of it as a manufacturing fault, however it is the design and works that way. There is almost no force required when folding like on other folding bikes, and the frame is still very sturdy. Since it is light weight and takes very little space, you can carry it around and store it in tight spaces without any hassle.
The bike has front and rear reflectors for night riding.
There is not much to complain about the Urban X7. However, there does seem to be a big issue regarding quality control which has been noticed by the company. Therefore you might have a totally different experience regarding the product if you get a faulty one. The plus side is that the Allen customer service is extremely helpful and will replace your faulty product right away.
The seat post also has issues with its clamp as it slides down the hole and needs to be tightened before every ride sometimes which gets very annoying.
Specifications:
- Tires: 20″ x 1-3/8″
- Valve on tires: Schrader
- Weight: 25.6 lbs. (11.6 kgs)
- Handlebar Post: adjustable Alloy one piece
- Handlebar: Aluminum Alloy
- Wheel Size: 451mm
- Folded size: 85 cm x 35 cm x 70 cm
- Front Brake: WinZip
- Rear Brake: WinZip
- Rims: GLEDE Alloy
- Crank Set: Samox
- Shifter: Shimano Tourney Revo Shifter
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano RD-TZ40 seven Speed
- Pedals: Folding
- Kickstand: inbuilt
- Brake levers: Alhonga
- Saddle: DDK 3166
- Seat post: Aluminum Alloy
- Fenders don’t seem to be enclosed
- Frame: 6061 Aluminum Alloy
- Colors: Blue, Orange
- Forks: 6061 Aluminum Alloy
- Speeds: 7
- Recommended Rider Height range: 4’11” to 6’7″ (150cm to 200cm)
- Max Rider Weight: 242 lbs (110 kgs)
Conclusion:
Allen has done a satisfactory work on the product. The Urban X 7 is a good bike for its price and is recommended if you are looking for a mid-level commuter bike with very few compromises.
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