After 20 years making frames and components for some of the biggest names in cycling, Taiwan's Trigon have now begun selling bikes under their own name. We've been impressed by the two offerings we've tested so far – the RQC-29 road bike and TTQC29 time trial machine – and their new sportive bikes look good, so we're keen to see if they can cut it off-road too.
Trigon's mountain bike line-up is very much focussed on cross-country racing, with a choice of hardtails or short-travel full-suspension bikes, with 26in or 29in wheels, all made from carbon fibre.
We've just been sent an MQC09 carbon hardtail for testing and it's no shrinking violet, partly because of its massively oversized tubing but also because of the in-your-face graphics – the company name or logo is emblazoned on every available surface.
All the latest frame features are present and correct, in the form of a tapered (1-1/8 to 1-1/2in) head tube, integrated carbon dropouts and post mount rear brake tabs, and press-fit bottom bracket. We haven't had a chance to put the MQC09 on our scales yet but claimed frame weight is 1,250g (17in, unpainted). Trigon also make an MQC09X version which uses an integrated seatmast to save even more grams.
UK distributors MotoDirect Cycle Division are offering the MQC09 as a complete bike for £2,999.99 with a RockShox Reba RLT Ti fork, full Shimano XT groupset, own-brand stem, bar, post and headset, Prologo Nago Evo X10 saddle, Jagwire cables, Intrepid M25 wheels (no, us neither) and Maxxis MaxxLite 310 tyres. It's available in four sizes: 15, 17, 19 or 21in.
