MONDRAKER CRAFTY RR
£6,499 We see if the Spanish brand’s trademark stretchedout geometry makes for a well-rounded e-bike
Mondraker offer seven
Crafty e-MTBs (three aluminium, four carbon fibre), with the whole range designed for all-mountain/ enduro riding. While the alloy versions forgo the brand’s clever MIND device (an integrated data logger that helps you set up the suspension), they still get stretched-out ‘Forward Geometry’ and Bosch’s impressive Gen 4 motor.
THE FRAME
The Crafty RR is the mid-range alloy model. You get the same twin-link Zero Suspension system used on the carbon bikes, which delivers 150mm of rear wheel travel. The shock doesn’t pierce the seat tube as on Mondraker’s non-electric bikes, but still anchors to (and is compressed by) the lower link. Enduro MAX sealed cartridge bearings with 17mm pivot axles are used to keep the back end feeling smooth and as flex-free as possible.
Driving the Crafty RR is the formidable Bosch Performance Line CX motor, one of our favourites. This is powered by their 750Wh PowerTube battery, which is integrated so can’t be removed from the frame. The charging port on the underside of the down tube is easy to access, but the rubber cover has a tendency to fall open. A Kiox 300 unit displays all the relevant ride data while you’re on the trail.
Mondraker’s Forward Geometry concept means that even the medium frame we tested gets treated to a lengthy 470mm reach and is designed to work with a stubby 30mm stem. This stretched-out front end is paired with a 455mm rear centre (effective chainstay length) in a bid to create a well-centred feel on the bike. The Crafty has a 65.8-degree head angle and we measured the seat tube angle at 75.4 degrees (with the top of the saddle 700mm from the centre of the bottom bracket), which is slightly slacker than stated. A 350mm BB height may not sound that low, but when combined with the stretched-out wheelbase, it doesn’t feel too tall.
THE KIT
Considering its lowly position in the Crafty range, the RR really does pack a punch. Alongside the impressive motor (which you can monitor and tune via Bosch’s eBike Flow app), you get top-spec Factory-level Fox components – a stiff 38 fork with GRIP2 damper, a Float X shock and a Transfer dropper post. Our 68kg tester had to run the damping adjusters on both the fork and the shock fully open, so lighter riders may struggle to find a good set-up without a retune.
SRAM provide their GX Eagle rear mech and shifter, paired with an NX Eagle chain and 11-50t cassette, and also their Code R brakes. It’s a pity Mondraker haven’t specced a 220mm front rotor to boost braking power. The Mavic E-Deemax wheels have a 30mm internal width and work well with the Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II 2.6in tyres.
THE RIDE
The Crafty is a comfortable climber, thanks in part to its long 625mm effective top tube length. While the seat tube angle may not be the steepest, the extra room encourages you to keep your weight over the front of the bike, which meant we never struggled with front-wheel lift on really steep inclines. It helps that the power from the Bosch motor is applied incredibly smoothly, no matter which mode it’s in or what cadence you’re pedalling at. In fact, we ended up living in the ‘eMTB’ mode – which automatically toggles through the settings as the terrain changes – because it works so well. (We achieved a range of 39.2km with 1,804m of climbing in this mode.) Not only is that power delivery smooth, but it’s also predictable, which makes awkward moves through janky uphill rock sections that bit more manageable.
On flatter trails, we were surprised by how responsive and agile the Mondraker felt. The stiff frame and supportive, progressive suspension help it to ride like a lighter bike, making it less of a handful on longer rides or when tackling slower, more technical bits of trail. Get the Crafty pointed downhill, and the confidence is there from the get-go. The geometry positions you nicely between the wheels, which takes some of the effort out of cornering. And, despite the BB looking high on paper, the handling through the turns never felt nervous. Rougher trails do transmit more feedback through to the rider than we expected, though. We dropped the fork, shock and tyre pressures, which helped improve comfort and didn’t seem to affect how the bike handled bigger hits.
While the Mondraker’s long back end and wheelbase do mean that manuals require a bit of muscle, the taut feel through the frame, supportive suspension and stretched-out geometry all help to make the Crafty a bike that’s easy to ride and get along with.