Cradiac Gunner Pro vs Montra Downtown : Comparison Review of Best Hybrid Cycle Under 20000

The Cradiac Gunner Pro and Montra Downtown are two popular hybrid bicycles in the mid-range segment. But before comparing their components, there is one important point to understand: these two bicycles are not exactly direct competitors.

The Cradiac Gunner Pro is a suspension-fork hybrid designed with comfort in mind, while the Montra Downtown uses a rigid alloy fork and is more focused on speed and efficiency. So, this is not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison.

Still, let's compare the important components and see where each bicycle has an advantage.

1. Frame, Gears and Brakes

Both bicycles use alloy frames and come with a 21-speed drivetrain. Both also use JAK mechanical disc brakes.

So, at a basic level, the two bicycles are quite similar. The bigger differences start appearing in the drivetrain and overall design.

2. Rear Derailleur: Acera vs Altus

The Gunner Pro gets a Shimano Acera rear derailleur, while the Downtown uses Shimano Altus.

Acera is technically the better component. However, for normal commuting, fitness rides and everyday cycling, Altus is more than sufficient.

You may notice a difference in refinement, but for most riders, it will not be a dramatic real-world difference.

3. Front Derailleur: Altus vs Tourney

This is a more meaningful difference.

The Gunner Pro uses a Shimano Altus front derailleur, while the Downtown uses Shimano Tourney.

Altus generally offers smoother and more precise front shifting. Tourney is perfectly usable, but the Gunner Pro has an advantage here.

4. Freewheel and Shifters

The Gunner Pro does not clearly list its freewheel specification. Based on its 21-speed setup and pricing, it is likely using a freewheel rather than a cassette. Based on my previous experience with Cradiac bicycles, I would expect a Sunrun brand freewheel here.

The Downtown gets a Shimano freewheel, which is a clear advanatage as shimano freewheels / cassettes offer much better durability.

For shifters, the Gunner Pro uses Shimano EF500, while the Downtown is listed with Shimano Altus Rapid Fire. In my understanding both are exactly same.

5. Chain: An Often-Ignored Component

One interesting advantage of the Downtown is its KMC Z7 chain.

Chain quality is often overlooked when people compare bicycles. Riders usually focus on the rear derailleur or shifters, but the chain has a direct impact on shifting performance and drivetrain life.

A good-quality chain can offer better durability and more consistent shifting over time.

6. Crankset: Shimano vs Gear Ratio

The Gunner Pro gets a Shimano 28/38/48T crankset, while the Downtown uses a 24/34/42T crankset.

Having a Shimano crank is definitely a positive for the Gunner Pro but it is just half of the story. Gear ratios matter as much as the component brand (if not more).

The 28/38/48 is a high speed setup & in my opinion feels slightly counterintuitive on a suspension-based, comfort-oriented hybrid. 

So, while having Shimano crankset is an advantage, it adds very little value to rear riding experience and hence I will keep both bicycles at same level here.

One important update: We noticed that Cradiac has recently changed the Gunner Pro's crankset from Shimano 28/38/48T to a Prowheel 24/34/42T setup. This makes much more sense to us for this bicycle. With this change, the comparison becomes even more straightforward — both bicycles remain at the same level here, with no clear advantage to either one.

7. Hubs and Handlebar

The Downtown uses Shunfeng hubs, which are decent mid-range hubs known for reasonable reliability and smooth operation. The Gunner Pro's hub specification is not clearly available.

The Downtown also gets an alloy handlebar, while the Gunner Pro is listed with a curved handlebar and models I've seen typically use steel.

An alloy handlebar is lighter and does not have the same rust concerns as steel.

8. Which Bicycle Is Better Overall?

The Gunner Pro's suspension fork adds both weight and cost, but it can make the bicycle more comfortable on rougher roads. If you are looking for a more relaxed and comfort-oriented riding experience, the Gunner Pro makes sense.

The Downtown takes a very different approach. Its rigid alloy fork keeps the bicycle lighter and more efficient, making it better suited to riders who enjoy faster, smoother road riding.

But what I like about the Downtown is its choice of components.

It does not focus on adding components that simply look good on a specification sheet. Instead, it seems to put money into components that can have a more meaningful impact on the overall riding experience.

For example, instead of upgrading the rear derailleur from Altus to Acera, Montra uses a KMC Z7 chain. Instead of using an Altus front derailleur, it uses a Shimano freewheel. It also gets a decent crankset, Shunfeng hubs and an alloy handlebar, along with the rigid alloy fork.

Individually, these differences may not look very significant. But when you put them together, the result is a well-thought-out and well-rounded bicycle, particularly for someone looking for a speed-oriented hybrid.

This is also why I would not recommend choosing a bicycle simply by counting how many Shimano components it has. A higher-level derailleur may look better on paper, but the overall combination of components matters more.

9. Final Verdict

If both bicycles are priced exactly the same, I would look at them this way:

Choose the Gunner Pro if comfort, suspension and rough-road capability are your priorities.

Choose the Montra Downtown if you want a lighter, faster and more efficiency-focused hybrid for smoother roads.

Neither bicycle is universally better. The better choice depends on what you ride, how you ride and how much you are paying for it.