It has corners, and it has edges. Undeniably. Who is surprised? Mondraker designs have always been a statement against the mainstream. This also applies to the electrically assisted version of the successful all-mountain model Crafty. The avant-garde bike from Spain doesn't even try to please everyone. This is emphasised not only by the unconventional frame shapes and the bright pink lettering. The Spaniards don't shyly hide the Bosch Performance CX drive in the frame design either, but instead flange it openly and confidently onto the chassis. The 500 Wh battery also sits confidently on the down tube. The Crafty polarises. You either love it. Or not.
The geometry is as unorthodox as the look. The Spaniards call their concept "Forward Geometry", by which they mean an ultra-long front end with a short stub stem. Which brings us to the subject of handling. At 640 millimetres, the bike has an extremely long top tube. But there is no stretching bench feeling. On the contrary, you feel confident in all situations. The long front end maximises riding stability and safety. Nevertheless, there is no lack of fun and liveliness. What exactly is responsible for this remains an open question. Is it the short stem? The overall concept of angles and trail? Or the suspension, where the Spaniards don't let themselves get carried away. The fork and shock come from the crown jewel box of the Fox range. The sophisticated Kashima coating on the stanchions and the multiple adjustment options of the shock ensure hoover properties. 3.0 Plus tyres, mounted on wide, stable wheels, do the rest. As mentioned, the whole thing is powered by the powerful Bosch Performance CX system - currently the best recommendation if you expect top performance, good modulation and reliability. The drive, combined with the powerful geometry, high-traction tyres and the sharp gearing (14 teeth at the front), ensures climbing characteristics par excellence.
ConclusionAll in all, Mondraker has put together a real rocket here that we're excited about. Not least because of its rough edges.
Drive
Motor/position Bosch Performance CX/mid-engine
Max. Torque 75 Nm
Battery/display Lithium Ion, 500 Wh/Bosch Intuvia
Switching/translation Shimano XT, front 14, rear 11-speed (11 x 42)
Equipment
Frame material/sizes Aluminium S/M/L/XL
Fork/damper Fox 34 Float 3Pos Lever FIT4 Factory Kashima/Fox Float X EVOL 3Pos
Brake/disc fore/aft Sram Guide R 200/180 mm
Impellers MDK-EP1 40 27.5+ TLR wheelset
Tyres Maxxis Chronicle 3.0 TLR EXO
Info www.mondraker.com
Model E-Crafty RR+
Weight 22 kilos
Price 6699 Euro
