The 7 Best Chinese Mountain Bike Frames for Your New Build

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Here are the best Chinese MTB frames. I included hardtail and full-suspension frames that come with at least a 2-year warranty. I’ve been monitoring the Chinese carbon scene for several years. I also read hundreds of reviews before selecting these frames.

Do you prefer short answers? Here they are:

• The best Chinese hardtail mountain bike frame is the Trifox MFM200.
• The best Chinese full-suspension mountain bike frame is the ICAN P1 (Trail).
• The best budget Chinese mountain bike frame is the Rinasclta hardtail frame.

Continue reading to learn more about Chinese carbon manufacturers, how to choose an MTB frame, and how importing products from China works. A quick heads-up before you dive in: I learned from insiders in China that Chinese brands are still behind Western ones in terms of geometries and carbon layups with MTB frames (road frames are a completely different story).

What Are the Best Chinese Carbon MTB Frames?

For the selection listed below, I selected frames only from reliable Chinese manufacturers. They offer a warranty on their products and sometimes even include crash replacement programs.

Keep in mind that the frames below are shipped from China, so delivery can take several weeks, and you may have to pay import fees (learn more).

Best for Trails

Use this ICAN discount code CYCLISTSHUB on www.icancycling.com during checkout to get 5% OFF your purchase. Share this code via email.

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Best Overall

Use this Trifox discount code CYCLISTSHUB on www.trifoxbike.com during checkout to get 8% OFF your purchase. Share this code via email.

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Best Full-suspension

Use this Trifox discount code CYCLISTSHUB on www.trifoxbike.com during checkout to get 8% OFF your purchase. Share this code via email.

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NOTE: All frames below are designed for disc brakes and thru-axles and are compatible with electric and mechanical groupsets.

Skip to the comparison table…

Trifox MFM200 Hardtail Mountain Bike Frame

MFM200 is the most popular hardtail MTB frame from Trifox. Its modern, timeless design is a good base for future upgrades, so you don’t have to worry it will be outdated in a few years.

In addition to an affordable price, this frame features a nice paint job, high build quality, a 2-year warranty, and a crash replacement program, which covers accidental crashes or misuse (big drops, rock strikes, etc.).

Trifox MFM200 was designed for up to 2.35″ wide 29-inch wheels. You can equip it with a 1X, 2X, or 3X chainring and 120mm fork.

Also available at aliexpress.com

ICAN M17 Hardtail Mountain Bike Frame

M17 is the most popular ICAN hardtail frame. It’s highly affordable, making it suitable for beginners or people who want to do an MTB build on a budget. Considering its price, it offers a high-quality finish and good quality (users report it’s stiff and durable).

It’s designed for 29″ wheels and forks with up to 120mm travel, ideal for cross-country. This frame is prepared for internal cable routing. The hidden cables will make the bike look cleaner and more elegant. A 2-year warranty and a crash replacement program cover the M17 frame to give you confidence in wilder riding.

Trifox MFM100 Full-suspension Mountain Bike Frame

MFM100 is one of Trifox’s flagship MTB frames. It is popular, notably for its high build quality, stiffness, and durability. MFM100 may remind you of Scott Spark. Although these two frames differ slightly, one likely copied the other.

Regardless, you receive a very good frame for your money. Furthermore, the MFM100 is covered by a 3-year warranty and crash replacement program. You can choose from several colors (the blue-orange is probably the most iconic) or order a custom color for an additional 350 USD.

The main downsides of this frame are the weight (MFM100 is about 400g heavier than Specialized Epic, for example) and the exclusion of some important parts (rear shock, headset, seatpost clamp, bolts, etc.), which you have to buy separately.

Also available at aliexpress.com

Combine your new frame with a pair of Chinese carbon mountain bike wheels.

QuickPro Deft XC Full suspension-Mountain Bike Frame

The Deft is the odd one out in this selection, and not just because of the price. Quick Pro operates as a full brand rather than a frame factory, with a US warehouse, sponsored teams, and a showroom you can walk into. That shows up in the numbers.

At $1,999 for the frameset, the Deft costs more than multiple ICAN M17s. What you get is a flex-stay XC design with 110mm of rear travel and geometry that reads like a modern race bike. A 66° head angle, 435mm chainstays, and 450mm of reach in size M put it in the same territory as bikes that cost twice as much. Quick Pro also backs it with a 5-year frame warranty, the longest in this roundup by a wide margin.

The flex-stay rear end skips the pivot near the rear axle, so there’s one less bearing to service. If you’ve ever spent a winter evening pressing bearings out of a linkage, you know why that matters.

Two things to weigh before you get excited. The Deft has no lockout remote option, which is a real annoyance if you race. And 110mm of rear travel is a bit short of the 120mm that most new XC bikes now use.

Choose from six colors, including raw carbon, and 4 sizes:

• XS / 390 (reach 400mm)
• S / 400 (reach 425mm)
• M / 410 (reach 450mm)
• L / 440 (reach 475mm)

ICAN P1 Full-suspension Mountain Bike Frame (Trail)

ICAN’s P1 trail mountain bike frame was inspired by Trek Fuel. ICAN designed it for 130mm front shock travel and 51mm rear shock travel. For comparison, the ICAN P9 (enduro MTB frame) has longer 150mm and 55mm travel.

Customers praise the P1’s packaging (the frame is securely packed in double bubble wrap and foam protection), durability, and build quality. I also haven’t found a single case of frame failure.

I should also mention that P9 is much more affordable than the Trifox MFM100, so if you have a tight budget or want to equip your new trail bike with more expensive components, you can save some money here.

You can choose from 5 sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL) and plenty of colors, including the original Khaki.

LightCarbon LCFS980 Full-suspension Mountain Bike Frame

LightCarbon has been making carbon in Xiamen for years, mostly for other brands. If you’ve bought a Chinese carbon frame with somebody else’s logo on it, there’s a decent chance it started here. The LCFS980 is what they sell under their own name.

The headline feature is the semi-hidden rear shock, tucked partly under the top tube. LightCarbon says it keeps mud and water away from the seals, which means less maintenance and a longer shock life. It also leaves more room for a bottle cage, which is the kind of practical detail XC riders actually care about.

The rest of the spec sheet is current. You get a UDH hanger, a threaded BSA-73 bottom bracket, full hidden internal cable routing into the head tube, and a chainstay protector that weighs 27g. The frame is built from Toray T700 and T800 and tested to ISO4210, and they’ve published the test footage on YouTube, which is more transparency than most brands at this level offer.

Two things to know before ordering. Rear travel is only 90mm, so this is a race bike rather than a do-everything trail bike. And the rear shock takes a 190x45mm standard mount, with the bushing kits not included.

The frame comes in UD matte, and custom paint or logos are available. Choose from 3 sizes:

• S (156-164cm)
• M (165-177cm)
• L (178-189cm)

LightCarbon offers a lot more than this one frame. Their MTB range also includes the LCFS958 trail frame, the LCFS947 and VPP enduro frames, the DH209 downhill frameset, and the LCM914 hardtail, so it’s worth browsing the full lineup before settling on a model.

ICAN P9 Full-suspension Mountain Bike Frame (Enduro)

If you are looking for an enduro frame, P9 should catch your attention. It is the best-selling enduro frame that ICAN manufactures. It is designed for 150mm front suspension and 55mm rear suspension. Logically, this is more than on ICAN’s P1 trail frame.

This frame is durable, according to customer reviews (no major issues or failures were reported), and stiff. As one owner says, it can take “everything you throw at it.”

Of course, it arrives properly packed to avoid any damage during shipping. Just keep in mind that the package includes frame, thru-axle, and headset only.

P9 is available in 4 sizes only (XS, S, M, and L), a few glossy colors, and a UD matt finish.

My Verdict

This article’s main point was not only to recommend the best Chinese carbon mountain bike frames but also to help you find reliable Chinese brands.

I don’t recommend buying unbranded Chinese carbon or counterfeit carbon products. Always make sure that the frame (or any other product) is covered by a warranty and, ideally, also by a crash replacement program.

Also, keep in mind that the delivery from China will take a few weeks, you may be required to pay import fees, and the eventual claim process is a little bit more complicated than for mainstream brands (learn more).

Overall, Chinese carbon products often provide a better price-value ratio for the money, but it is necessary to buy them from established manufacturers and brands.

How to Choose the Best Chinese Carbon MTB Frame?

Before you click on the “BUY” button, you should take into consideration a few things. This section will guide you through the Chinese carbon MTB frame selection so you can spend your money wisely.

I explain what the Chinese carbon market offers and what features to be aware of when choosing a mountain bike frame for your new build.

Brand

Hardtail or Full-suspension

You can choose from the two basic types of MTB frames – hardtail or full suspension.

If you have not decided on what type of MTB you want to build, check the following table that summarizes the pros and cons of both types.

Frame Type

So which type to choose? Simply put: the more challenging the terrain you want to ride, the more you will appreciate the longer suspension travel.

Learn more about mountain bike types.

Recommended Wheel Size

Some frames are designed for different wheel sizes, even when they fit larger/smaller wheels. This is to maintain the best riding and handling characteristics possible. This means that if the frame is designed for 29er wheels, it is probably not a good idea to equip it with 27.5er wheels.

Fork Travel

Do you have a fork (or a shock suspension) already? Make sure it’s compatible with the fork travel the frame allows. For your easier orientation, I included the fork travel ranges in the main features of all frames in this selection.

Mbr.co.uk doesn’t recommend running more than 20mm over the intended amount. You also shouldn’t use a shorter fork for a frame designed for a longer fork. Otherwise, the bike’s riding characteristics will be bad, and riding such a bike in demanding terrain may be dangerous.

The table below shows standard fork travel for various mountain bikes.

Head Tube

According to Bikeradar, the standard steerer diameters are 1”, 1 1/8”, 1.25”, and 1.5”. Most modern frames feature tapered tubes that provide better steering stiffness and save some weight.

You have to make sure your fork is compatible with the head tube. If your fork has a smaller diameter, you can use conversion headsets, but why make things more complicated?

Bottom Bracket and Groupset Compatibility

The groupset compatibility (whether you use electric or mechanical, and 1X, 2X, or 3X chainring) is luckily much simpler.

Most modern carbon mountain bike frames are compatible with mechanical and electric groupsets from brands like Shimano or SRAM.

Trail, enduro, and downhill MTBs almost always feature a single chainring drivetrain. If you plan to do your own build, I assume you don’t go for 2X or 3X chainrings because they don’t bring many benefits for experienced riders. However, I would like to point out that lower-end (hardtail) mountain bikes can come with a 2X or 3X drivetrain.

Seatpost Size

According to mbr.co.uk, seatpost come in three main diameter sizes (27.2mm, 30.9mm, and 31.6mm).

The 27.2mm are not very common anymore. If you want to use a 30.9mm seatpost for a 31.6mm seat tube, you can, but you have to use a seatpost shim.

Some Chinese bikes come with a seatpost clamp, but not always. Keep this in mind when ordering all parts for your build.

Rear Dropout

There are different axle standards. Basically, there is a traditional quick-release axle (QR) or a thru-axle.

Most carbon frames in this selection are compatible with thru-axles. Make sure you choose the right axle length and diameter compatible with your current wheels (or with wheels you want to buy).

I recommend this MTB Axle Standards Guide from BikeRadar if you want to find out more about this topic.

Weight

Depending on the type of frame, size, and even the painting, frames’ weight will vary. Logically, full-suspension frames are heavier than hardtail frames. Just like a larger frame size is heavier than a small one.

The lightest frame available may not be the best choice for your MTB. Other features like durability and stiffness are also very important.

Size & Color Options

Did you find a frame you like? Great, all you have to do is choose the right size. Feel free to use this mountain bike size calculator to get the recommended bike size depending on your inseam length.

The color is up to your preference. Many Chinese manufacturers offer custom paint jobs. You upload your own design, and they take care of the rest. Of course, this service costs something extra (a few hundred dollars depending on the number of colors, etc.). This is a paid service and is not included in the price of the frame.

Chinese Carbon MTB Frames FAQ

This post is regularly updated to provide the most up-to-date product tips. If you find a product that is not up to date, please contact me.