Montra (TI Cycles, India), has come out with a bunch of MTBs recently -- there is the sub Rs20K Rock series (Rock, Rock1 & Rock1Plus), plus the 3series (3.2D) and 4series (4.2HD).
Currently, just the Rock1 seems to be listed on their website, though few days back, the 3.2D and 4.2HD were also listed. I suppose it's still early days, and they are yet to sort out their website.
All these models were released in the last few months. I've seen all of them at RR Cycles, Madivala (Bangalore) store. A friend of mine picked up the Rock1Plus few weeks back, on my recommendation. :) The 3series and 4series bike look quite good too -- their pricing is yet to be sorted out, from what I was told.
While I've not done a head to head comparison between these bikes, and the ones from foreign brands, from a quick look at some specs (like derailleurs), the bikes seem to be significantly cheaper that similar bikes from foreign brands -- which should not be surprising, since these India made bikes would be exempt from some of the duties (which were increased couple of years back) on imported bikes. (Ofcourse, other than the frame building, and assembly, most of the other components would still be imported, and would entail the duty on parts.)
So, after enduring a lot of heartache for the past ~2yrs due to the increased duties on imported bikes, urban Indian bikers -- atleast the entry to mid level ones -- can now take some heart I suppose, in the fact that they again have some good MTBs to consider, in the sub Rs20K and sub Rs35K range. (The latter, based on my anticipated pricing of the 3.2D and 4.2HD bikes.)
And also curious to see what non MTB models Montra comes out with in the (near) future. Maybe a steel bike too, who knows? :)
-{db}.
