MONDRAKER SUPERFOXY CARBON R
£6,199 Sleek and boutique, this fox is a black-run bomber
Unveiled in 2012, Mondraker’s long-reach/short-stem Forward Geometry concept gave some riders a clear advantage. The Superfoxy combines this with longtravel suspension and 29in wheels to help it tackle the most challenging terrain. But its geometry is no longer that radical compared to modern competitors like Specialized’s new Enduro, so does it still have an edge?
The frame
The sleek full-carbon frame delivers 160mm of travel via two short links, which compress the shock from both ends. It comes fitted with an angled headset, which provides a 65-degree head angle in the slackest setting. The frame accepts alternative rear dropouts too, which allow the chainstay length to be increased from 442mm to 452mm. But these are sold separately (along with a zero-degree headset) for £110.
The kit
For a bike this pricey, the parts are hardly dazzling, but they all perform solidly. Shimano’s XT 12-speed drivetrain is near-faultless and SRAM’s Code R brakes are powerful and consistent. The 170mm-travel Fox 36 GRIP2 fork is a highlight, and while the Float X2 Performance shock lacks high-speed damping adjustment, this never held the bike back and made it easier to set up. DT Swiss’s E 1700 wheels aren’t flashy or fast to engage but are among our favourites for their reliability and ride feel. The 170mm-travel, own-brand dropper post worked flawlessly too, although we had to clamp it tightly to stop it slipping in the frame.
The ride
We found the rear suspension worked best with two of the three volume spacers removed, around 28 per cent sag and the low-speed compression damping wound off almost fully. This gave an impressively smooth and supportive action with plenty of bottom-out resistance. It’s an efficient bike under power, but the effective seat angle could be steeper. We found that, at 75 degrees, it put our weight too far back, making steep, seated ascents a slog even with the shock’s climb switch engaged. A stubby stem, short fork offset and not-so-slack 65-degree head angle contribute to a responsive yet stable cornering feel.
The Superfoxy’s suspension and tyres help it carry speed through corners as well as rough straights. But, at nearly 6ft 3in tall (190cm), our tester found the 502mm reach on the XL a bit cramped with the stock 30mm stem, especially when things got hectic. A slightly longer stem would help calm those sketchy moments, as would a wider and higher bar. The chainstay-extending kit improves cornering balance and predictability on the XL bike so it’d be good if it was included with this size as standard. Shorter riders may not feel the need for it. Overall, the Superfoxy offers a great balance of stability and agility, with good suspension and solid parts. SEB www.mondraker.com