Genesis Delta 20 review
Practical alloy from the steel specialists
GBP £850.00 RRP Skip to view dealsPublished:
We tend to associate Genesis with stylish, slightly off-beat steel bikes like the adventurous Croix de Fer and the racy Volare, but the British brand also produces more mainstream fare. The Delta 20 is an entry-level aluminium-framed road bike with 10-speed Shimano Tiagra components and a fairly basic spec.
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For £200 less you could have a similar bike with 8-speed Claris kit, but on paper at least, it’s this 20 that looks like the one to have.
The Delta’s frame is attractively, if not luxuriously, finished and uses two different grades of aluminium to target stiffness and comfort. It’s a fairly uncomplicated design but doesn’t look outdated thanks to a tapered head-tube and subtly varied tube profiles.
The top-tube is square-ish and slightly flattened for compliance, while the downtube morphs from a horizontal oval cross-section to a vertical one to create substantial interfaces at either end.

There’s a nod to practicality in the form of mudguard mounts front and rear, although Genesis has omitted to include bosses for a pannier rack. Fully external cabling and a threaded bottom bracket mean maintenance won’t be a chore.
At this price I don’t expect much finishing kit bling, and the alloy cockpit and seatpost are quite plain, but entirely fit for purpose.

Our test bike was initially noisy over the slightest bumps. It turned out the steerer had been cut fractionally too long, causing the headset top cap to bottom out. It’s a fault easily rectified with an extra spacer or a hacksaw, but Genesis is looking into it to make sure its mechanics aren’t making a habit of it.

With that sorted, the Delta is thoroughly likeable — it’s comfortable without feeling soft or sluggish, and the chassis is taut enough that your climbing efforts don’t feel wasted. It offers a reasonably moderate riding position that will suit most non-competitive riders.
The Tektro calipers with basic, one-piece pads don’t encourage aggressive descending but they’re not terrible. On a related note, the 12-tooth small cog on the cassette means you lose a little top end compared to the majority of road bikes with an 11-tooth but you’re unlikely to notice unless you attempt to race down a mountain.
The Tiagra groupset does a passable imitation of its big brother Ultegra, with identical ergonomics and similar styling.
The Delta 20 isn’t exceptional value for money but it gets the important stuff right. It’s a pleasant and well judged ride with some practical design features, and more importantly, it’s a lot of fun.
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Product Specifications
Product
Name | Delta 20 |
Brand | Genesis Bikes |
Available Sizes | XS S M L XL |
Rear Wheel Weight | 1900 |
Wheelbase (cm) | 100.5 |
Top Tube (cm) | 54.5 |
Standover Height (cm) | 79.5 |
Seat Tube (cm) | 48 |
Chainstays (cm) | 42 |
Bottom Bracket Height (cm) | 27.5 |
Wheelset | Alex AT470 rims, Joytech hubs |
Weight (kg) | 9.6 |
Trail | 6.6 |
Stem | Genesis AS-007 alloy, 100mm |
Shifters | Shimano Tiagra |
Seatpost | Genesis alloy, 27.2mm |
Seat Angle | 73 |
Saddle | Genesis Road Comfort |
Rear Tyre | Kenda Kriterium 700x25mm |
Bottom Bracket | Shimano BB-RS500 |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano Tiagra |
Headset Type | Prestine PT-F23 |
Head Angle | 72 |
Handlebar | Genesis alloy, 42cm |
Front Wheel Weight | 1340 |
Front Tyre | Kenda Kriterium 700x25mm |
Front Derailleur | Shimano Tiagra |
Frame Material | Delta ALX8 6066/6061-T6 doublebutted aluminium |
Fork Offset | 4.25 |
Fork | Carbon, alloy steerer |
Cranks | Shimano Tiagra 50/34 |
Chain | KMC X10 |
Cassette | Shimano CS-HG500-10 12-28 |
Brakes | Tektro R-315 |
Frame size tested | M |