MON DRAKE RE CRAFTYXR+

£5,799 Fun and fast, but not without its laws

As usual, Mondraker supplied the longest bike on test. This has advantages, but drawbacks too, as does its suspension design.

The frame

The e-Crafty is the shortest-travel bike on test, with just 140mm at the rear. This is dished-out by Mondraker’s ‘Zero’ suspension system (which connects the front and rear triangles via two co-rotating short links that compress the shock from both ends). It uses a Bosch motor and a battery that slots into the top of the down tube.

The kit

Mondraker seldom impress with dazzling parts for the price, but the kit here is solid and well-chosen. The DT Swiss H 1900 wheels, e-specific SRAM Guide RE brakes and 11-speed NX gearing are solid, if not flashy, performers. While the 160mm-travel Fox 36 E-Bike fork has a beefed-up chassis, we can’t say we noticed a huge difference in stiffness over the standard 36 on the Cannondale, not when hidden among the other differences between the bikes. Its less sophisticated ‘FIT GRIP’ damper swallows bumps nicely but doesn’t provide quite as much support as the Moterra LT’s ‘FIT4’ cartridge.

The ride

The Mondraker is very different to ride to the other bikes here. It has a long top tube, which creates a roomy cockpit, despite the stubby stem. This gives a comfy and relaxed climbing position, especially once we’d raised the bar to its maximum height. The 75-degree seat angle is among the steepest on test too, and the suspension stays high in its travel when climbing. Along with the long chainstays (480mm), this makes it easy to keep the front wheel from lifting when cruising up steep climbs. Despite the low BB (334mm), we didn’t have many pedal strikes, thanks to the mid-length cranks (170mm) and supportive suspension. We did sump out the low-hanging section under the motor regularly, but sustained no significant damage.

There’s a lot of anti-squat built into the suspension design. In other words, it uses chain tension to keep the rear end sitting high in its travel until it’s needed. The downside is that this limits suspension movement when pedalling, causing the rear wheel to hang up on bumps. This makes pedalling over roots or rocks a bit harder than on bikes with low levels of anti-squat, like the Haibike. There’s also noticeable pedal kickback when landing jumps or if the rear wheel locks up under braking.

When rolling fast, this is less of an issue. In fact, the e-Crafty doesn’t feel

in any way let down by its shorter rear travel. The progressive suspension and the weight of the chassis make it feel stuck to the ground. Even on the kind of flat-out charges through rock gardens that the long wheelbase and slack head angle encourage, the suspension doesn’t disappoint.

When things get steep and technical, the short stem makes it easy to keep the bike balanced without having to hang off the back. This central riding position does mean the saddle is more in the way on steep stuff, making us wish for more than 125mm of drop. The Guide RE brakes are hard to fault though.

Where the e-Crafty really shines is in the corners. The long front end gives loads of room to adjust your weight distribution. Combined with the long rear triangle, this keeps the front wheel gripping in loose, flat turns. The short stem helps to quicken the steering response, making the Mondraker surprisingly nimble, and the low BB lets you carve corners with confidence. We had a blast exploring the limits of traction offered by the superb Maxxis Minion DHF and High Roller II plus tyres.

But there’s a catch. The chainstays are the longest on test and the long battery puts a lot of weight near the front of the bike. This makes it hard to pull a convincing manual or bunnyhop, unless you’re a strong and skilled rider. The Mondraker is well-suited to those who are happy to keep both wheels on the ground or have the strength to muscle it around. Otherwise, it’s a bit of a lump.

EVEN ON THE KIND OF FLAT OUT CHARGES THROUGH ROCK GARDENS THAT THE LONG WHEEL BASE AND SLACK HEAD ANGLE ENCOURAGE, THE SUSPENSION DOESN’ T DISAPPOINT

Comfortable, capable and con idence-inspiring, but it’s not easy to loft the front wheel