Montra Trance (2018) - Review

The Montra Trance is built around a strong aluminum alloy frame. The frame strength can be felt when riding, thanks to its top and bottom tubes, they are of the right size, not too bulky nor too sleek. The frame does feel heavy when pedaling but that helps withstand the vibrations of the surface. The riding posture was straight and comfortable. The bulged seat tube has become a signature in the Trance series and it helps add strength to the frame.The Trance comes with a Zoom front suspension fork. The 5mm travel, while not being the smoothest, is the bare minimum and was enough for the usual potholes and speed breakers on city roads.

This Trance 218 like the other variants is also equipped with Shimano Tourney derailleurs at both the front and rear. These derailleurs were just enough for the short commutes and the leisure long rides. There were no major negatives in the gear shifting department which was assisted by a 21-Speed Shimano EF-5 trigger shifters. Tourney's are the most basic gearing component for a bicycle and for the price of this bicycle and its characteristics, an Altus upgrade would have been a major positive.

The Montra Trance which I test rode came in a full metallic blue frame with subtle white graphics at a few places. The matte finish paint job was of great quality which made the bicycle look premium. The welding on the tubes were neat with no unnecessary welds marks left behind. This bicycle comes in just this 1 colour variant.

The Trance is equipped with a pair of standard V-brakes at the front and rear. These brakes with long lever arms and pads do help with quick and balanced stoppages in the city. The lengthy brake levers were in easy reach from the bar grips. The difficult decision for a buyer would be whether to upgrade to a Trance D with disc brakes for an additional Rs.1,15. I would say it definitely makes sense to skip the Trance and choose the Trance D as the disc brakes are better in performance and also installing disc brakes later on the V brake version might be tricky and will surely cost more than Rs.1,15.The XMR handlebar was 6mm in width which made for a comfortable riding posture. The grips on the handlebar didn’t have a palm support and hence would require some extra support to keep the palms pain free on longer rides.

The Kenda K934 7x35C hybrid tires have great rolling assistance on flat tarmacs and provided enough traction on both wet and dry urban roads. Also these tires are capable of taking the weight of the rider plus some luggage in case of touring without affecting its balance and strength. The XMR saddle is all about comfort. It is wide and well cushioned to keep you comfortable on the saddle for long hours with ease. The overall ride quality was comfortable on smooth and rough urban roads.