Btwin Rockrider VTT 340 Orange (2017) - Review

The VTT Rockrider 34 Orange comes with a Reinforced 661-T4T6 Aluminium hardtail frame. The frame is strong and durable at the same time. Even though this is classified as an MTB, this bicycle's major usage is on urban conditions. Yes, apart from trails this bicycle can also double up as fitness and commuter bicycle in the city and the main reason for that is the frame geometry, which is relaxed. The T-Bridge arc at the bottom of the saddle connecting the seat stays distribute the weight of the frame evenly and also helps take in vibrations of the ground easily. The slanting top tube makes this bicycle unisex, suitable for men and women riders.The VTT Rockrider 34 Orange comes with a stock Btwin U-Fit front suspension fork with 8mm travel. For an entry level hardtail MTB, 8mm travel is more than sufficient and that was justified during the test ride when I put the bicycle through some rough trails and made the suspension work to its fullest. These suspension forks also come with an innovative fork stiffness adjustment based on the rider's weight (55 to 15 kg). This makes the suspension work even more accurately.

An entry-level hardtail MTB comes always with an entry level-gearing component. The VTT Rockrider 34 Orange comes with Shimano Tourney derailleurs at both the front and back. Tourney's are the most entry level MTB gearing components in the Shimano hierarchy. During the test ride the derailleurs worked well but were a bit noisy. The gear transition was smooth at both the front and rear derailleurs and the main reason for that was the easy to use and comfortable grip shifters. Every year we think that the grip shifters could go extinct but Btwin have been using them well in their MTB's. The grip shifters did not eat up any of the handlebar grip space and also felt easy and comfortable to use.

Btwin are known for its trendy design on their bicycles and this is the case with the VTT Rockrider 34 Orange. As the name suggests this bicycle comes in a bright neon orange colour, which is flashy and is visible from a long way out. The slanting top tube, curved bottom tube and T-Bridge behind the saddle all make the frame look stylish. The minimal black graphics on the neon orange frame looks neat and contrasting with the brand and model name shown legibly.

The helical spring V-brakes on the Btwin VTT Rockrider 34 Orange has long brake shoes which makes the braking balanced and smooth. During the test ride, even when jamming the brakes the stoppage was controlled and did not result in any skidding or discomfort. The aluminium brake levers were in good reach and easy to use, requiring not more than 3 fingers to engage.The handlebar on the VTT Rockrider 34 Orange isn’t all flat and aggressive, but it has a mid-level raise from the middle making the riding posture more comfortable. The 6mm wide steel handlebar could contribute to the bicycle's weight but the handling on both trails and amidst traffic is safe and easy.

The VTT Rockrider 34 Orange comes with a pair of a newly designed Ralson 26 inch x 2.1 inch MTB tires. These tires were perfect during the test ride with button treads on the sides and the middle to give maximum traction on muddy surfaces. The wheel sets aren’t all heavy and hence can also be ridden at good speeds in the city. The Btwin ergo fit saddle on the VTT Rockrider 34 Orange was simple and functional. It had enough cushioning and was also wider which made it comfortable on rough surfaces. The overall ride quality on the VTT Rockrider 34 was comfortable on both flat trails and city roads.