As the bike sharing competition entered the second half, the improvement of product maintenance and user experience became the key to success. For example, Mobike Lite, a Qingqi version, was launched by Mobike, and ofo joined hands with 700Bike to launch a new generation of bike sharing ofo Curve.
On March 30, ofo Shenzhen held the launch ceremony of new car landing, announcing that the new generation of ofo Curve was officially put into service. It is understood that this new car is based on the operation and maintenance needs of shared bicycles, maximizing the user experience while minimizing the operation and maintenance costs.
In addition to Shenzhen, ofo Curve has also appeared on the streets of Beijing recently. Let's see how this new car performs in terms of user experience and product operation and maintenance.
User experience improvement, adjustable seat with height logo added for the first time
After the first stage of financing circle, bike sharing has entered a barbaric growth. Now the competition is not just about who has put the most money into it. Faced with the colorful bike sharing, users began to choose which bike was the best to ride, and one of the key points to win users was undoubtedly the riding experience.
The biggest highlight of ofo Curve's new product this time is the addition of adjustable seats with height marks, which is the first time in shared bicycles. Personally, I think it's very convenient to adjust the seat height according to the height. It won't be too high or too low. The seat cushion won't rotate left and right during the adjustment process, and there is no need to correct the orientation of the seat cushion.
(The left picture shows the curve, and the right picture shows the previous generation yellow car)
In addition, the overall impression of the previous generation of Xiaohuang Bike is that it is light and easy to ride, but it has never been equipped with a basket. After Mobil and Xiaolan launched bicycles with baskets, ofo also began to pay attention to the needs of users. This new product is equipped with a storage basket that can withstand the weight of 5KG. It is still much easier to take a bag when going out.
In addition, this new product has also made some improvements in details, such as the handlebar design at the rear edge of the seat, which conforms to ergonomics. When carrying bicycles, this design is very humanistic; For another example, the new product adds a chain guard design integrated with the frame, which can prevent the skirt and trouser legs from being involved in the disc tooth chain when riding, so as to avoid embarrassment.
(The figure above is curve, and the figure below is the previous generation of small yellow cars)
Finally, in appearance, the new ofo Curve looks brighter and more textured than the previous generation of small yellow cars; In design, the rear fork and main beam are an aluminum tube, and the chain guard is integrated with the frame. My first feeling is that the lines are smooth and simple, and the overall feeling is very strong.
(The figure above is curve, and the figure below is the previous generation of small yellow cars)
Obvious quality improvement The frame integrated chain guard is ingeniously designed
In addition to competing for user experience, the operation and maintenance of bike sharing has been criticized. Although Xiaohuang Bike is a little better than others in riding experience, it is really not flattering in terms of product quality. In the vicinity of subway stations and other drop off points, small yellow cars with serious damage can often be seen. The common problems are tire damage, chain damage, and seat and other parts missing.
Ofo is not unaware of this problem. At the joint press conference held with 700Bike earlier, ofo counted that the operation and maintenance costs mainly come from the maintenance of tires, chains and brakes. Personally, the new ofo Curve product has improved in these aspects, and the cost has also increased a lot. Previously, some insiders guessed that the cost of the curve was at least 1000 yuan.
Compared with the old Xiaohuang car, ofo Curve gives an intuitive impression that the quality has improved significantly. The design of the chain guard and the rear lower fork is particularly ingenious, which not only looks beautiful, but also increases the strength of the whole car. In addition, the texture of the whole vehicle is also better than that of the previous generation.
(The figure above is curve, and the figure below is the previous generation of small yellow cars)
On the tires, Xiaohuang has always been a pneumatic tire, which is light to ride but has a high damage rate. This ofo Curve new product uses a PU solid inner tube+wear-resistant outer tube, which is said to be maintenance free for three years, but it is heavier than before, but I feel it is relatively light on the whole.
The chain drop of a bicycle is another problem that troubles users. Usually, you can see the small yellow cars with the chain drop on the road. The ofo Curve has added a spring guide sprocket, which can tighten the chain in real time to prevent the chain from falling. In addition, a protection device is added outside the guide sprocket, and the design of the chain guard can also prevent the chain from being hit.
In addition, the brake of Curve has also been improved to a certain extent. The brake is more agile when I experience the brake. After the drum brake is replaced, the brake is not only not easy to damage, but also better
Emergency braking in rainy and snowy weather.
It is worth mentioning that at the 2017 China IT Leaders Summit on April 1, Dai Wei, the founder and CEO of ofo, admitted in an interview with the media that he was worried about the current damage of ofo bike sharing.
At the same time, Dai Wei also said that ofo is working hard to improve its operation and maintenance capabilities, including the use of non detachable parts in the design of bicycles. Lenovo to ofo Curve's new product this time
The frame integrated chain guard design adopted seems to indicate that ofo has started to take action.
