Want to cycle off-road, tackling rough trails and rocky terrain? There is a range of MTB cycles to choose from for your adventure. With bike touring becoming popular in India, and more and more mountain races being held in India every year, getting an MTB cycle is a great idea!
How to choose from a host of MTB cycles though? There are many features and price-points to look at. The price of the bike can go from Rs 30,000 to above Rs. 3 lakh in India. It depends on the Research and Development that has gone into the bike, the frame (hardtail or full suspension), material (alloy or carbon) and components (fork, derailleurs, rims, brakes, gearing, crankset, etc.).
Have a look at the top MTB cycles, curated by Cyclop experts, and find the one for you. Prices are subject to change.
Merida Big Seven 20-D MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 37,990
Good for: Relaxed body position, fun trail rides, fitness rides
Merida Big Seven 20-D is an intermediate-level 3×8-speed mountain bike at a great price. It is suited for trail riding and fitness rides. It has disc brakes by Tektro which are rare on a bike in this price range. It has 27.5 inch wheels.
It is built from a racelite 6061 aluminium frame. SR Suntour offers 100mm front suspension to tackle small bumps on trails. It has a lockout for the suspension on top of the fork for smooth surface rides.
It is compatible for add-ons like a kickstand, carrier and mudguards, and has places to bolt in extra accessories. It weighs around 15kgs.
Giant Talon 29er 4 GI MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 47,999
Good for: Off-roads, fast singletracks, XC courses, tackling trail obstacles
Giant Talon 29er 4 GI mountain bike is suited for aspiring off-road riders and XC amateur racers.
It is built from a lightweight aluminium frame. Its relaxed geometry is optimized for race performance. Its 29 inch wheels will roll over the bumps and obstacles on the trails. Its 3×8-speed drivetrain is suitable for tackling steep uphills and fast flowy singletracks alike. Its 100mm SR Suntour front suspension will dim impacts on trails.
Shimano Tourney front and rear derailleurs execute quickly. It is a perfect bike for ambitious trail riders to feel confident on loose sections on trails.
Giant Tempt 3 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 46,000
Good for: Women specific geometry, off-road, controlled trail riding, confidence inducing
Giant Tempt 3 is a 24-speed mountain bike known for its versatility. Its geometry is specifically designed for women. It is a performance-oriented mountain bike for aspiring women trail riders.
Giant Tempt 3 is a perfect companion for commutes, leisure rides or the first trail race. It has 100mm suspension to fight the bumpy off-road sections. Hydraulic brakes bring the bike to a complete halt and keep it under control on fast descents. Its efficiency is incomparable on trails.
Its shorter stem and longer top tube offer extra control and stability. It is a confidence-inspiring hardtail 2×8 setup mountain bike with 27.5 inch wheels.
Merida Big Nine 300 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 67,990
Good for: Long rides, local racing, durability
Merida Big Nine 300 is an entry-level performance mountain bike, great for competing in races or going for long rides. It is the perfect bike for anyone who wants to dive into the performance MTB bike category under Rs 70,000.
The remote lockout 100mm Suntour XCR air suspension absorbs bumps and gives a beautiful trail riding experience. The 29″ x 2.2″ Maxxis Ikon tires give a firm grip on the trails. The advanced Shimano Deore shifters are quick and smooth.
The bike is controlled by Shimano MT-200 hydraulic disc brakes. It has a 2×10 speed setup, the cassette is Shimano HG50 11-36T and the crankset is 36-22T. The lightweight and reliable TFS Merida aluminium frame is strong and durable.
Note: The small frame of this bike comes with a 27.5” wheel.
Orbea MX H30 29 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 72,599
Good for: Beginners racers, 30 gearing options, trail tours
Orbea MX H30 is a perfect mountain bike for beginners wanting to get into racing, explore the trails or go on long bikepacking trips.
This 30-speed mountain bike comes with Shimano Deore M6000 shifters. Its Shimano M315 hydraulic disc brakes and Kenda tires make it a powerful trail and touring bike. The 100mm SR Suntour XCM fork absorbs the bumpy trails and off-road sections. It comes in 27.5” and 29” wheels options.
B’twin Rockrider 50 29” RR CN MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 79,999
Good for: Mountainous terrain, racing, comfortable leisure riding
B’twin Rockrider 50 29” RR CN is suited for people who want to spend less for a high performance bike with a SRAM SX Eagle cassette and want good post-sale service.
Rockrider 50 29” RR CN is a single chainring mountain bike distributed by Decathlon in India. Made from a high-performance 100% aluminium frame, it is compatible with 3 wheel sizes – 27.5″, 29″ and 27.5″ plus. The 100mm suspension is smooth and agile.
Hydraulic disc brakes on this bike are quite powerful in their functioning and response. It has a 12-speed SRAM SX Eagle drive train that provides gearing for any type of terrain. The best thing about buying Decathlon products is their post-sale customer service. It comes with a lifetime warranty.
Marin Bobcat Trail 5 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 76,000
Good for: Backcountry exploration, long days of mountain adventures
Marin Bobcat Trail 5 is a pocket-friendly, high-end mountain bike designed for exceptional trail experience and long days of adventure in the backcountry.
It features a Series 2 6061 butted and hydroformed aluminum frame, and has a trail geometry with a long-ish reach, steep seat tube angles and low standover for confident and fun trail riding.
The components used on Marin Bobcat Trail 5 are quite incredible. It has a SunRace 11-Speed, 11-46T, cassette and a narrow-wide 32T chainring. Depending upon the size of the frame, the tires used are WTB Trailboss Comp, 27.5/29×2.25 for strong traction on loose trails conditions.
The front suspension is a thru-axle with 120mm travel SR Suntour, adorned with hydraulic lockout and damping adjustment. Marin Bobcat Trail 5 is a perfect choice for long adventure trail tours. It also has space to bolt a carrier for the panniers.
Cannondale Trail 3 29 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 88,450
Good for: Trail riding, big jumps, steep terrain
Cannondale Trail 3 is a beautiful looking bike with high-end components. It is best for racing and for terrain with a lot of inclines and jumps.
It is trail ready for any off-road adventure. The SRAM SX Eagle 30T crankset and 11-50 12-speed cassette make sure you will not run out of gears and desired speed.
Talking about speed, the bike is ruled by powerful Shimano MT200 hydro disc (180/160mm) brakes. It comes with 2.3” wide WTB Breakout Comp tires and tubeless ready rims. You do not need to think twice before making jumps when you have RockShox Judy Silver TK 120mm fork with remote lockout.
A very interesting feature that Cannondale Trail 3 has, is the integrated wheel sensor. It integrates with the Cannondale app to provide necessary data like speed, distance and other intelligent statistics like when to take the bike for service.
Giant Talon 1 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 59,999
Good for: Singletracks, traction, climbing
For aspiring trail riders, the bike’s geometry will give immense confidence to shred those dirt paths.
Giant Talon 1 is a proper XC trail bike built to satisfy your quench for any adventure. Built from the lightweight ALUXX-aluminium frame and equipped with 27.5” wheels and 2.4” Maxxis Ardent tires, this bike is always ready for dirt magic and singletracks.
Obstacles and bumps are soaked by the 100mm Suntour Raidon rebound adjust suspension fork. This 12-speed bike comes with the enviable SRAM SX Eagle 11x50T cassette and 30T crankset that provide a wide range of gears for any slope and power.
Trek X-Caliber 8 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 86,299
Good for: Cross-country riding and racing, bikepacking, upgradation
Whatever be your need, this bike is ready to serve – XCO racing, XCM racing, bikepacking, hours on the trails or competitive fitness ride.
Trek X-Caliber 8 packs in serious components and an upgradation potential that’s rare to find in a bike at this price.
Any bike that has 1x SRAM drivetrain, RockShox fork and hydraulic disc brakes is here for serious business. The tapered headtube allows for precise and confident handling and steering on the trails.
This bike has bolt spaces for rack mounts and rear kickstand mounts if going on a long adventure. The internal cable routing increases the life of the cables. The wheels are tubeless ready and the lightweight Alpha Gold aluminium frame is compatible for easy upgrades like a dropper seatpost and race wheels.
Merida Big Nine 600 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 1,00,990
Good for: Racing, fast and bumpy trails, aggressive position
Merida Big Nine 600 is a high performance hardtail bike, great for competing in MTB races and for rugged trail riding. Its frame is built from a lighter double-butted aluminium wall that is stiff and strong.
The 100mm travel Manitou Markhor Comp Air suspension with a remote lockout is smooth enough for big bumps and jumps. The internal cabling gives the bike a crisp look and lengthens the life of the cables.
Powered by SRAM NX Eagle rear derailleur, it is a 12-speed one-by setup bike ready to take demanding XC courses head-on. The folding Maxxis Ikon 29×2.2″ tires provide an envious grip on the trails even in wet conditions. The seat angle, head angle and the 422 mm reach make this bike more aggressive on the trails.
Giant Fathom 29er 2 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 1,14,999
Good for: Narrow trails, jumps, steep downhills
Giant Fathom 29er 2 is best for riders who love to hit the trails in mountainous terrain and to jump!
Giant Fathom 29er 2 comes with updated geometry and more possibilities on the challenging XC trails. Its Suntour Raidon 32 XC LO-R, 100 mm travel suspension is efficient on the uphills and smooth on the downhills. The bike comes with a 10-speed Shimano HG500 11-42T cassette and Praxis Cadet 30T crankset. The chainring of 30T could be small for intermediate to advanced riders but that’s easily switchable.
The one-finger Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc (Front: 180mm, Rear: 160mm) brakes are powerful enough to tackle steep downhills. The 29-inch wheels and Giant XCT disc tubeless rims are strong enough to bear major impact.
One really good thing Giant Fathom 29er 2 is that it comes with a 30.9mm Giant Contact Switch Dropper seatpost. It is very beneficial for those fearsome steep downhills sections on the trails and jumps.
Scott Scale 940 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 1,59,100
Good for: Racing, steep uphills, strong impact resistance
Scott Scale 940 mountain bike is best suited for people for whom winning is everything. Best for really steep terrain, the bike is lightweight with high-end components.
It is a world-class bike used by top racers. Scott Scale 940 brags an ultralight carbon frame, SRAM Eagle drivetrain, RockShox suspension and Syncros components. Now, never fall short of gearing options on any rideable terrain with a SRAM NX XG1230, 11-50 T cassette and a SRAM NX Eagle DUB Boost 32T crankset.
The 31.6mm x 400mm seatpost provides strong support. It has remote front suspension lockout and internal cable routing. It is a strong and durable bike that shows no mercy in the challenging XC races.
Weighing around 12.1kgs, it is a bit heavier given the components and the price. With a few upgradations and tweaks, it can be converted into a mean machine.
Giant Anthem 29 3 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 2,41,999
Good for: Marathon, XCO and stage racing, trails and rugged terrain
Giant Anthem 29 3 is best suited for people who like to take on the marathon races and technical XCO (Cross-country Olympic) races alike. This dual suspension bike is capable of taking on rugged trails and terrain with stability and proper control.
Giant Anthem 29 3 has a lighter and stiffer frame than the previous versions of the Giant’s ALUXX aluminium frameset. It has wider hubs for better control and efficiency on the trails. The geometry is aggressive for efficient pedaling and fast climbing.
The Shimano Deore 2×10 shifters fire up quite smoothly. The Shimano CS-HG500, 11×42 cassette and Shimano Deore, Boost, 26/36 crankset provide many gearing options to tackle any terrain from steep uphills to fast flat singletracks.
The Giant XCT 29 tubeless ready rims are strong enough to endure high impact and are equipped with the best Maxxis Recon Race 29X2.25, foldable, EXO, tubeless tires. The rear suspension allows for a more controlled trail ride and is easy on the lower back. The front suspension is RockShox Recon RL with 100mm travel and takes the bumps and jumps quite swiftly.
Merida One-Twenty 7.500 MTB Cycle
Price: Rs. 1,55,490
Good for: Trail racing, jumps, off-road traction, precise control
Merida One-Twenty 7.500 is best suited for anyone wanting to switch to a dual suspension bike from a hardtail. It is best for smooth trail experience and technical races.
Merida One-Twenty 7.500 comes with a Superlite 16 Aluminium frame, which basically means the wall of the frameset is thin but super stiff. This makes the bike highly suitable for races and long hours on the trails.
The Suntour Unair rear shock absorbs the saddle bumps to a smooth riding experience. The front suspension is Suntour Raidon34 fork with 130mm travel that makes the bike ready to tackle trails with big jumps and gaps.
The 20-speed drivetrain allows gearing for any kind of terrain and quick descends. The wide Maxxis Forekaster 27.5″ x 2.35″ tires combined with hydraulic disc brakes make it the best bike for trail racing.
So here you go. Choose the best mountain bike that suits your next trail adventure or race. Keep in mind your purpose with the bike first, as there’s no end to spending on a mountain bike! However all the fabulous features that come as you go higher up in price do make the ride sweeter.
Buy with the help of a bike specialist on Cyclop.in. Choose the best bike for your needs.
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thank u for writing such an informative blog.