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So yeah... I own a Mondraker! Dunno why, but it's a brand that has always evaded me until now...
So it's a 2025 Mondraker Crafty R... I have swapped out the XT components and replaced with SRAM Eagle 90 drivetrain and Hope Tech4 V4 Brakes, swapped the Deemax's out for my DT 350's on FR541's, put all my usual contact points on and have now upgraded the fork with the GRIP X2 damper after a couple of initial rides on the stock fork...
So I've had it a couple of weeks now and already done 140 miles on it. It's no lightweight at just under 25kg (inc pedals), but that's with DH strength wheels, Super Gravity tyres, and 800Wh battery etc... But what a bike!!!
For reasons I couldn't understand until I actually measured it myself (it came up smaller than the geometry chart suggested), I found my 2023 Orbea Wild a bit cramped and though I loved its suspension and Bosch motor, the reality was it was too small for me and I needed a larger size, and the through headset routed cables and fixed 750Wh battery quickly became annoying...
So when I saw Mondraker had brought in a new M/L size for 2025 that on paper looked like it should fit like a glove, and they'd dropped headset routed cables too as well as introducing a user removable battery, my interest was piqued. Managed to get a sit on one to confirm the sizing was spot on, so ordered one... The base model... Knowing I'd customise it myself anyway.
So how does it ride...? Well yeah... It's a weapon! Reviews suggested Mondraker's zero suspension system punches above its weight and I can't disagree. The longer 455mm chainstays weight the front a bit more than I've been used to on most of my previous bikes, the overall feeling is of a very well balanced bike that rips corners and just wants to go faster everywhere! Every ride so far I've set PR's on it, it just felt so immediately familiar straight away that it was uncanny!
Oh and can only say great things about the new Gen5 Bosch CX too... Wasn't sure I'd notice much difference over the already very good Gen4 motor, but this is definitely a lot quieter (quietest eBike motor I've ridden yet), but it also seems to be more efficient with battery management and much smoother when pedalling past peak torque (I have quite a high cadence naturally) and feels a touch less draggy when you hit the 25km/h limiter too...
This video explains very well how I feel about it too to be honest... Well worth a watch if you're considering one.
I'd never been a fan as such but i rode the Dune RR (i think it was) and it was a lovely thing. Rode beautifully, although it should as it was pretty darn expensive, but they do cheaper ones too. My only concern is/was that the lower linkage is pretty exposed to the elements and looks like a 4 bearing maybe even a 6 rather than the 2 on some bikes.
As the owner of 2 Mondrakers, I fully approve. Really like the look of the new Crafty and seems like it rides as good as it looks.