Which bike is better: Forward or Stels?

Forward or Stels - which bike is better to choose? This question is often asked by novice riders who want to buy an "iron horse" in a reasonable price range, and not for 1-2 seasons, but with some prospect for a more distant future. The budgeting of Russian brands in this case is fully justified, it is quite easy to find an inexpensive bike. But what to choose if we compare the products of the most famous domestic bicycle brands? Who should be preferred, and what arguments can be made in favor of each of the brands?

The main criterion that you will have to focus on when comparing Forward and Stels bikes is not brand awareness, but the quality of their products. Here, as in any budget segment, you will certainly find your finds and grandiose failures. Comparison of technical characteristics and an objective assessment of the level of comfort help to take a sober look at the model range of each of the brands. So who deserves the greatest consumer confidence?

The creator of Forward bicycles is the Russian company “Stefi-Velo”, based in Perm (previously the plant produced bicycles “Kama”, “Parma”, “Ural”). It has been in its new status since 1999, today deliveries are established not only in the regions of the Russian Federation, but also in foreign countries, the model range includes bikes for different ages and levels of riding riders. The company has its own professional series of bicycles, and on its basis regularly upgrades serial models of the budget level.

Besides, Forward is one of the few brands to offer a wide range of products in the mountain class. Among her models you can find options for downhill, cross-country, BMX stunt bikes. Lovers of urban cycling are not deprived of attention either. For them, the company produces a wide range of road, road, hybrid bikes for different height and age.

The bicycle brand Stels managed to become popular in the wake of the mass enthusiasm of Russians for a healthy lifestyle. The first "mountain" versions of bikes were enthusiastically greeted by a teenage audience, but upon closer inspection they were little suited for off-road. The manufacturer, Velomotors, took into account the errors and today has a model range of 100 different equipment options, from children's miniature models to adult “niners”.

A distinctive feature of Stels has become minimum defective products. The company really tries to make its bikes better, but the scope of the budget segment only complicates matters. Despite a rather average level of quality, the company's products are confidently held among the best-selling brands, and even outperform their competitors at prices.

Among the advantages of Stels bikes are:

• proprietary steel frames;
• high-quality body kits;
• the presence of rigid models and hardtails;
• a large selection of adult bikes with wheels from 26 ".

Starting a comparison is always better with children's product lines. Here, the leader can safely be called Forward, a much more thoroughly designed design of his bicycles. His models are not just beautiful and bright, they also have a complete set of necessary additional options. On bicycles there are additional training wheels, chain protection, bell, trunk, comfortable grips.

Stels responds to the competitor with a fairly wide range of models for primary school children who only learn to ride on 2 wheels. Here, the emphasis is on frames, rather light options in the mountain design, with a front shock absorber and gear shifting.

To compare the teenage product line of Forward and Stels, you do not need to spend much time. Both companies quite responsibly approached the development of this segment and produce rigs for city skiing, folding models, hardtail and two-gimbal for children over 10 years old. It is interesting that upon closer examination, it will not work to find a significant difference between the bikes of the same price segment. Both the Perm plant and the Moscow Region company successfully create medium-quality models of bicycles that differ from adult rulers only in size range.

If you need to choose an inexpensive folding bike, Stels will definitely win Forward the battle for the attention of buyers. The company has a significant advantage over the competitor, including due to the ownership of the Desna brand by Velomotors, where the technology for creating transforming frames has been developed since Soviet times. The range of such bikes at Stels is really wide, there is a size range of wheels in variations from 14 to 26 ”, the emphasis is on women’s audience and people aged.

Comparison of Stels and Forward in this class is also difficult to call unambiguous. In favor of the Perm plant - a variety of choice of models, there are:

• Cruisers
• highway;
• pleasure;
• tourist;
• hybrid options.

Stels focuses on the mountain segment of the bicycle market and loses much Forward to urban class. But his equipment with a small assortment has a significant advantage - vehicles are equipped with double rims against single competitors.This makes the bike easier to carry significant loads, making it more resistant to the influence of negative external factors.

In the mountain class, Forward has a clear advantage and offers the opportunity even for beginners. try cycling in a good basic configuration and with frames "like a pro." The brand’s double-suspension is quite confident in off-road driving, not afraid of dirt and, due to the wider rims and tires, provides better cross-country ability.

Stels in the mountain class focuses on disc brakes and design in the spirit of the world's leading manufacturers. Brand bicycles do not look too corny, they have interesting frame geometry. But in conditions of downhill or off road driving in the city, such products are unlikely to argue with the lighter, maneuverable and soft Forward models during the course.

When choosing between Stels and Forward bicycles, experienced riders prefer to consider exclusively profile segments of a model range. For example, the Forward has mountain bikes with a suspension for downhill and carbon frames - pretty good for its class. Stealth relies on the ultra-budget segment and the mass buyer. He is not distracted by delights, but he tries to install lightweight frames even in affordable models and offer the maximum possible equipment.

Comparing Stels and Forward, many beginners in cycling and city skating celebrate low quality paintwork frame. But if you drive carefully and choose models not from the most budgetary series, the products of the Perm plant look better here. As for the comparison of the frame geometry, here both manufacturers offer their own engineering developments, which are quite interesting and relevant. The installed body kit is also almost identical, manufactured by Suntour, Shimano and other brands abroad.

Despite the general similarity of classes, quality and even the complete set of bicycles, Forward and Stels models are still difficult to objectively consider as competing. The plant from Perm specializes mainly in narrow areas of production, as it is actively developing a sports line. As a result, he can find a rather interesting model range of mountain bikes with carbon and aluminum frames, Shimano body kits, steps and wings already in the basic configuration.

Stels focuses on accessibility, lightness of the frame, the number of gear speeds. But other things being equal, it loses much to the competitor as the technical equipment of the bikes. If you consider only these brands, most connoisseurs will choose Forward, and fans will prefer the more famous Stels.

The following video provides a comparative overview of the two Forwars and Stels bikes.