Firefox X-Siege 27.5D - Review

The Firefox X-Siege 27.5D is built on a full Alloy frame. At first glance this MTB looks sleek and is lightweight. The tubes on the frame aren’t as bulky as standard MTB tubes. But the frame is strong and critical points on the frame have excess material used to make them capable of absorbing vibrations of the trail surface. The frame geometry is an ideal combination of comfort and aggressiveness with a slight bend forward to get on the handlebars from the saddle.The front suspension fork are from Suntour XCT with a 1mm travel. During the test ride this fork was smooth in functioning with good rebound and made the trail experience much safer and comfortable. The hydraulic manual suspension lockout feature was useful to make the fork rigid for faster rides on flat surfaces.

Shimano's Tourney at the front and Acera at the rear as derailleurs, completed the gearing department on the X-Siege 27.5D. Tourney at the front was an entry-level component while the Acera at the rear was mid-level. During the test ride these gears shifted smoothly without much noise and lag. The 3x8, 24-Speed combination had enough range for climbs and acceleration. The Altus M31 trigger shifters with gear indicators were easy to use.

The X-Siege 27.5D that I test rode came in a full Black frame with Orange, Light Blue and Grey as secondary colours for graphics. This hardtail MTB has so many design highlights to point out. The top tube has a cut and slant shape, which made it look sleek and sharp. The tiny black triangle pattern on the Orange part of the frame was unique and funky. The matte finish job was smooth and gave all the colours a premium look. The internal cable routing for the gear cables made the frame look neat and less clustered.

The Tektro M285 Hydraulic Disc brakes on the X-Siege provide powerful braking power and modulation, a 3-finger brake lever uses non-corrosive mineral oil. During the test ride these brakes gave consistent braking performance, simple adjustment and easy bleeding for maintece.The 68mm Alloy handlebar was wide enough to give the rider an open chested riding posture and the 31.8mm raise made the posture comfortable. The grips were a bit hard on the palms and could have had more cushioning.

As in the name of this bicycle, the X-Siege rolls on a pair of Kenda branded 27.5” x 1.95” tires. These tires were well treaded to give enough traction on muddy surfaces on the trail. The 27.5” circumference was ideal for fast riding on flat trails but the 1.95” circumference could have been bumped up to a 2.25 for better grip on moderate and bumpy trails. Nevertheless the current width makes it perfect for both urban roads and flat rough trails.The stock saddle on the X-Siege is ergonomically and scientifically designed. This saddle has a hole or a canal for two reasons; one is for ventilation, the other is to keep pressure of the delicate tissues in the crotch area. This helps in making the ride more comfortable with less friction on bumpy trail rides.