Montra Helicon X (2018) - Review

The Montra Helicon X (2018) is built on a full aluminium alloy frame, similar to the Helicon Disc hybrid version. The frame geometry was not as aggressive as conventional road bicycles. This frame is strong with neatly welded tubes but isn’t that comfortable to ride around the city if you are looking for a relaxed ride posture. As a bicycle meant to give the rider a road bicycle experience, it is very exciting and does exactly that, but the weight is a bit on the higher side. During the test ride, climbing flyovers wasn’t the easiest but the gears compensated for that. The rigid alloy fork is bladed and along with the alloy frame it helps absorb some vibration of the surface.

The gears on the Helicon X make this a road inclined urban bicycle. The drivetrain features an entry level Shimano Tourney at the front and rear. This 2x7 Speed combination from Shimano was enough to get around the city and also sufficient for occasional long weekend rides. Do not be surprised if you feel the lack of range when going on long distance rides. The integrated Shimano ST-A7 shifters were easy to use. The conventional click button on the inside increases the gear and the paddle type brake lever decreases the gear.

The Helicon X came which we test rode came in a full chrome colour with black and red graphics. The hexagonal shaped pattern on the top tube adds a stylish outlook to this bicycle. A minor setback on this chrome colour was that the paint job wasn’t of the best quality. That being said this is one good-looking bicycle with road bicycle characteristics and the deep-dish like designed wheels enhance the overall aesthetics

The Radius Mechanical Disc brakes on this bicycle handle the stopping power. For a road focused urban bicycle these brakes were powerful enough and also felt balanced. During the test ride, the roads were a little wet and slippery but these brakes felt safe to use even on fast corners. The integrated brake levers were easy to use and accessible from both the hoods and drops.The Zoom drop handlebar is an important component in making this bicycle road inclined. The 42mm handlebar was wide enough to keep steering in-tact and was also comfortable in maneuvering through traffic with the hoods being easily reachable.

The Kenda K1176 tires on the Helicon X measured 27.5” x 1.75”. These tires are similar in threading and size when compared to the Helicon Disc hybrid bicycle. These tires had good rolling resistance on urban roads with occasional bumps and speed breakers. The XMR alloy frames were deep-dish like and aero in shape with good strength to support the tires. The Montra Commuter saddle was comfortable but would need some extra cushioning in the form a gel seat cover or a padded shorts for those longer weekend rides.