Montra Trance Pro (2017) - Review

The Montra Trance Pro's frame is made from a 661 Alloy. Over the few years since the Trance series was launched, the strength of the frame has always been a positive, the same applies to the 217 model. The Trance Pro has a frame geometry which is comfortable with a slight slant in the top tube making the riding posture less aggressive.The Trance series has 2 bicycles, the Trance Pro and the Trance. The Trance Pro which I reviewed came with a rigid fork made of steel. The steel fork is strong but adds a little extra weight to the already heavy frame of this bicycle.

The Montra Trance Pro is a hybrid bicycle focused on performance, which means that gearing is essential to the functioning of this bicycle. Montra have decided to stick to Shimano Tourney derailleurs at both the front and back. These are entry level MTB gearing which are commonly used on budget hybrid bicycles as well. These derailleurs worked well during the test ride with no major glitches. The front derailleur felt a bit slow in gear transmissions when compared to the rear. The gearing control is taken care of by Shimano Altus 21 speed shifters, which were in the perfect hand position.

The design of the Trance series of bicycles has evolved quite a bit every year in some way. The small bulge on the seat tube which came into existence last year has been continued in the 217 models as well. The bicycle which I test rode came in a full burgundy red colour with grey as the secondary colour. The colour coordinated forks and the red streaks on the saddle add to the aesthetics of this cycle. This bicycle also comes in a Black colour variant.

For commuting or fitness rides, the quality of the brakes is very important and they need to be quick and responsive. The Montra Trance Pro 217 comes with a pair of Power alloy V-brakes at the front and back. These brakes have long arms with wide brake pads which make sure the braking is balanced even when jamming them. The Shimano ST-EF5 brake levers were of perfect length and were easy to use.The XMR Alloy handlebar was comfort oriented with a slight raise from the middle. This 62mm wide handlebar made sure I was always in total control of the cycle even when cutting through traffic on city roads.

The Montra Trance Pro rolls on a pair of slick hybrid tires. This 7 x 35C tires was well supported by the double walled XMR alloy rims. During the test ride these tires felt safe when cornering and also when braking hard. Your weekend long distance rides on the Trance Pro are going to be a breeze with this wheel set. The Montra comfort saddle was ergonomically designed for a comfortable ride. The overall ride quality was smooth and fast on urban roads.