The 7 Best Chinese MTB Frames for Your New Build (2023)

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Here are the best Chinese MTB frames. I included hardtail and full-suspension frames covered by 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.

You can be confident that they are safe to ride because they were stress-tested in-house and proven by riders worldwide.

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.

Let’s dive in!

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What Are the Best Chinese Carbon MTB Bike Frames?

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

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

NOTE: All frames below are designed for disc brakes and thru-axle 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 by Trifox. Its modern, timeless design is worth upgrading in the future, so you don’t have to worry it will be outdated in a few years.

In addition to an affordable price, this frame will surprise you with its nice paint job, high built quality, 3-year warranty, and also the 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

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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.

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Trifox MFM100 Full-suspension Mountain Bike Frame

MFM100 is one of Trifox’s flagship MTB frames. It is popular, especially thanks to its high-built quality, stiffness, and durability.

MFM100 may remind you of Scott Spark. Although these two frames differ slightly, one is most likely a copy of the other.

Anyway, you get a pretty good value 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 extra 350 USD.

The main downsides of this frame are the weight (MFM100 is about 400g heavier than Specialized Epic, for example) and some important parts (rear-shock, headset, seatpost clamp, bolts, etc.) are not included, so you have to buy them separately.

Also available at aliexpress.com

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

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ICAN P1 Full-suspension Mountain Bike Frame (Trail)

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

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

I cannot forget to mention that P9 is also 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 bucks here.

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

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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 the 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 is shipped 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.

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Rinasclta Hardtail Mountain Bike Frame

Rinasclta carbon products are known for their customizability. And this frame is no exception. You can choose either a matt or glossy finish or upload your own design for an extra charge of around 150 USD (depending on the number of colors, etc.).

From my experience, communication with Rinasclta is very good and quick so if you have any questions regarding the custom paint job, feel free to reach out to them.

If you care about the weight, you will be pleased that this hardtail frame is much lighter than Trifox MFM200 or ICAN M17.

Of course, this frame was properly tested (20,000 cycles), and according to Rinasclta, it is one of their best-selling MTB frames.

There is one uniqueness, though. This frame was designed for 130mm suspension travel, which is a little more than standard XC bikes (learn more).

This frame comes with a thru-axle, clamp, headset, and hanger. You can choose one of the four sizes (S 15″, M 17″, L 19″, XL 21″).

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Rinasclta Full-suspension Mountain Bike Frame

Although Rinasclta names this frame as an enduro frame, its maximal front suspension travel of 120mm falls more into the trail bikes category.

However, this does not change the fact that this full-suspension frame offers a great price-performance ratio. The packing includes rear suspension DNM AOY-36RC 190*51mm shock, headset, thru-axle, seatpost clamp, and bottom bracket.

According to the owners, the frame feels stiff and lightweight. It comes well-packed to avoid any damage during transport.

The only minor challenge you may experience is with internal cable routing. Otherwise, you should not encounter other issues during your build. If you are looking for a full suspension carbon frame for a budget, this one is the one.

Choose from 3 sizes (S 15″, M 17″, L 19″) and 2 finishes (matt or glossy 3K). You can also upload your own design for a fee (around 150 USD).

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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 eventually also with 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.

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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 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 basic two types of MTB frames – hardtail or full suspension.

If you are 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? You have to make sure they are compatible with the fork travel that the frame allows. For your easier orientation, I included the fork travel ranges into 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 features 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 Option

Did you find a frame you like? Great, all you have to do is to 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. A lot of Chinese manufacturers offer the possibility to do a custom paint job for you. 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.

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Chinese Carbon MTB Frames FAQ

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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.