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Novara Forza Bike

Novara Forza Bike

Item # 744791
!
This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.

For your reference, this page contains historical product information.

You spoke and we listened. Finally, here's a sporty comfort bike that runs as efficiently on gravel as it does pavement!

  • Reconfigured Forza is truly all-purpose, as at home cruising a century ride as it is towing kids in a trailer or hopping curbs on the way to the store
  • With its new RST Mandy front fork and stable, puncture-resistant tires, Forza jumps from smooth to rocky surfaces with ease and confidence
  • Mandy fork provides 50mm travel to get you over life's little bumps; you can lock it out when a firm ride upfront makes more sense
  • Rugged, lightweight aluminum frame responds quickly to pedal pressure and is easily hoisted for storage or for mounting on a rack
  • ACE 17 rims and Formula Alloy hubs provide a big-wheel ride for cruising efficiently along roads and bike lanes
  • Relaxed frame geometry offers stable handling, and the Ritchey mountain flatbar places the rider in a comfortable, upright riding position
  • SRAM/Truvativ drivetrain provides 24 smooth-shifting gears for an easy transition from steep climbs to fast downhills
  • Kalloy angle-adjustable stem lets you dial in handlebar height for a perfect fit
  • Velo Plush saddle is anatomically contoured and padded for comfort
  • Accommodates a rear rack and fenders fore and aft—great for commuting or weekend getaways

After an initial break-in period you might notice your bicycle performing less responsively than the day you brought it home. Not to worry, this is typical of all new bicycles and simply reflects that cables have stretched or their housings have seated themselves into final position. To keep running at peak performance, all REI bicycles come with a FREE warranty tune-up, which should be accomplished between the first 100-200 miles of riding or after the first two months if you're accumulating miles less quickly. Contact your nearest REI bike shop for details and an appointment for this important service.

Imported.

Item 744791


An oversize shipping charge of $60 applies to this item (plus regular shipping fees). Or ship it FREE to any REI store for pickup.
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Novara Forza Bike Specs

Specification

Description

Frame6061 Aluminum
ForkRST, 63mm travel
CranksetTruvativ IsoFlow 48/38/28
Bottom bracketTruvativ
ShiftersSram X4
Front derailleurShimano C102
Rear derailleurSram X5
Rear cogsSram PG-830 11-30, 8-speed
Number of gears24
BrakesTektro V-Brakes
Brake leversTektro Alloy
RimsACE 17
Front hubAluminum
Rear hubAluminum
TiresKenda Eurotour 700x35
HandlebarAluminum flat
StemAlloy adjustable
Seat postAlloy micro-adjust
SaddleVello Fast-Comfort
PedalsPlatform
HeadsetThreadless
ChainKMC Z-72

Novara Forza Bike Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Novara Forza Bike
 
3.9

(based on 10 reviews)

90%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Durable (6)
  • Great components (6)
  • Handles well (6)
  • Attractive design (5)
  • Lightweight (4)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Commuting (9)
    • Road biking (5)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Casual adventurer (5), Avid cyclist (4)

    Reviewed by 10 customers

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    Displaying reviews 1-10

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    Sep

    7

    2007

    (10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Great Transition Bike

    By Garth

    from San Diego

    About Me Casual/ Recreational, Former avid cyclist

    Pros

    • Attractive Design
    • Combination pedals
    • Handles Well
    • Lightweight

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Commuting
      • Mountain Biking
      • Road Biking

      Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

      The Forza 2007 is great for anyone looking for something to transition from 100% mountain or 100% road bike to something capable of doing a fair amount of both. This bike is most suitable for a medium distance commute (approx. 20 miles or so one way) or recreational riding on either pavement or semi-improved trail. The tires that come with the bike are rated at 70 psi, while not exactly a high speed road tire, it is great for a soft ride on improved and semi-improved roads. When leaving the beaten path, it handles very well and although the tires are pumped up to 70 psi it does not dig nose first into lose gravel or soil. This bike also handles surprisingly well on uneven, unstable ground going up or down slopes. The Forza comes with reliable components (Shimano, RST Mandy, SRAM, etc…) that provide for shifting, braking, and general handling without any noticeable problems. My favorite component that comes with this is combination pedals. They allow a rider to clip in or use street shoes with equal ease. The Forza 2007 is a pleasure to ride.

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

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      Sep

      22

      2007

      (8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Versatile Bike for fun and utility

      By wistfully

      from Denver, CO

      About Me Casual/ Recreational

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Attractive Design
      • Great Components

      Cons

      • Heavy

      Best Uses

      • Commuting

      Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

      This bike handles the city streets like a dream. While a bit weighty, if you're going to put a bunch of racks and panniers on it for shopping and errands, it doesn't much matter anyway. The shocks absorb pot holes and curbs with ease and lock out for energy efficiency when needed. I'm a bit concerned about the front geometry since it doesn't seem to self correct as much as I would expect it to if I let go of the handlebars.

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

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      Sep

      12

      2007

      (7 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Great bike, no matter what you call it

      By DennisP

      from New Orleans

      About Me Casual/ Recreational

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Durable
      • Great Components
      • Handles Well

      Cons

      • Wrong pedal description

      Best Uses

      • Commuting
      • Road Biking

      Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

      Pedal descpription is wrong. It says toe-clips, but mine came with SPD cleats.
      Otherwise a fine machine.

      Also note that this takes road-bike tires (700s) and not 26-inch mountain-bike tires. (I've seen this bike described as a flat-bar roadbike instead of a hybrid or commuter. All 3 decscriptions are probably correct.)

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (7 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

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      Feb

      27

      2008

      (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Bang for your buck

      By bike-n-girl

      from Boise, ID

      About Me Avid Cyclist

      Pros

      • Attractive Design
      • Great Components
      • Lightweight

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Commuting
        • Road Biking

        Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

        I rode several hundred miles over the summer of 2007 commuting to and from work, as well as leisure rides. This bike held up very well on the roads, and has great components that made for a smooth commute.

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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        May

        12

        2008

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Great Commuter bike with teeth!

        By Waterbearer

        from Rochester, MN

        About Me Casual/ Recreational

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Durable
        • Great Components
        • Handles Well
        • Versatile

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Commuting

          Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

          I recently purchased this bike and have started commuting to work with it. It rides smoothly and can change from pavement to gravel no problem. A really nice ride, although the shock on front could use a bit more cush. Other than that, I am having a great time getting to my job!

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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          May

          4

          2008

          (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

           
          4.0

          Nice bicycle

          By Gazelk

          from Saint Paul, MN

          About Me Avid Cyclist

          Pros

          • Attractive Design
          • Durable
          • Handles Well

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Commuting

            Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

            I bought this bike in Spring 2007 and used it mostly to commute to work--about 9 miles each way. I'm 40 years old and think this bike is perfect for commuting. The seat and mountain-bike handlebars are very comfortable and the adjustable shocks are nice if you decide to go off road. I thought the components were pretty good last year, but replaced the trigger shifters with twist-shifters this spring and like them much better. Overall, this probably isn't the bike if you feel like you need to be fast and aerodynamic, but if you want to be comfortable and still have fun going off road, this is a pretty nice bike.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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            Mar

            25

            2008

            (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

             
            4.0

            Good All-Around Bike

            By wilme2

            from Dallas, Texas

            About Me Weekend Warrior

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Comfortable
            • Durable

            Cons

            • Gear ratio

            Best Uses

            • Commuting
            • Light Road Biking

            Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

            Have had for 6 months or so. I like to ride 3 miles over to Dallas's main road biking attraction (White Rock Lake) and the streets are very poor between my house and the lake. The Forza works great - I can leave the front shock in travel mode and skip clipping in for the city/urban bump fest, then when I get to the lake lock out the shock and clip-in. This bike is NOT for serious road biking or serious mountain-biking. But it does a great job when used in the intersection of urban and road biking.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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            Jun

            4

            2008

            (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

             
            4.0

            great bike

            By jcm biker

            from northern virginia

            About Me Avid Cyclist

            Pros

            • Durable
            • Great Components
            • Handles Well

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Commuting

              Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

              I have been cycling for 15 years, almost all on a road bike. I purchased this bike to use for commuting and some off pavement trail/path riding. In the three months I have had it I have ridden over 900 miles, mostly commuting on pavement ( 20 miles round trip). I have also made several long trips (50 miles or more) on a mixture of pavement, gravel and dirt, including a two day trip on the C&O Canal trail.

              This bike has been great. I haven't changed anything on it and have not had to make any adjustments to the drive train, wheels, brakes, ect. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a bike to use on both pavement and dirt.

              Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

              (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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              May

              22

              2008

              (3 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

               
              2.0

              not very comfortable

              By Narnian Rockhound

              from Bourbonnais, IL

              About Me Casual/ Recreational

              Site Member

              Pros

              • Lightweight

              Cons

              • Uncomfortable

              Best Uses

              • Commuting
              • Road Biking

              Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

              I test road this bike, but decided against it. For a comfort/urban bike, it's not very comfortable. It has great suspension, which can be locked out if desired and that is a great feature. It also has easy, smooth shifting.

              However, the seat was very hard. It also requires a more aggressive "bent over" riding posture, which also isn't comfortable. The handle bars were also problematic - the main ones too close together. The "extra" forward facing bars had no padding or access to the brakes/shifters, and I would never use them. Another thing I didn't like was that the largest gear (near the pedals) is fully exposed, not covered or protected by anything. It also came with pedals that would allow a clip-in bike shoe - which I would also never use.

              Overall, this bike seemed more like a road bike and not as versitile or comfortable as it's claimed to be. I ended up buying a Trek Hybrid 7300 instead.

              Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

              (3 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

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              May

              19

              2008

              (3 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              Awesome Bike

              By g-money

              from Atlanta, GA

              About Me Avid Cyclist

              Site Member

              Pros

              • Attractive Design
              • Durable
              • Great Components
              • Handles Well
              • Lightweight

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Pulling my 130lb. dog
                • Road Biking

                Comments about Novara Forza Bike:

                This bike is awesome. I pull a 130 lb. old english sheep dog in a 30 lb. dog carrier. This bike has no drag and it just cruzes. No doubt I get a workout. But, I got to get a rear view mirror to remember my dog is still back there. I looked hard to find the one and I came back to where I bought my other bikes... a Trionfo and a Carema. No need to look further brothers....

                Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

                (3 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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                Displaying reviews 1-10

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