Mondraker - the Spanish bike brand from Alicante has been synonymous with mountain bikes since its launch. Initially, it made a name for itself with brute downhill bikes, later adding slim cross-country bikes to its portfolio and most recently motorised siblings with more or less suspension travel. Now, however, Mondraker is venturing into something special: a gravel bike with an electric drive. The Mondraker Dusty is presented as a fast, aggressive E-gravel bike that is designed to appeal to mountain bikers in particular. The Dusty has a few arguments in its favour - we have already tested it on a few up- and downhills in the hills of the Alicante hinterland.
The Mondraker Graveler is now coming to selected dealers. There will be three model variants: Dusty XR as the top version, RR as the middle and the Dusty R with the most affordable components. So far, we have ridden the top model, which is characterised above all by a gravel bike suspension fork, electronic shifting and electric Vario seatpost. However, all three Mondraker Dusty models have the same motor, which we will be talking about here.
The Mondraker Dusty XR gravel e-bike
The Mondraker Dusty is certainly not the first gravel bike with an e-bike motor on the market - there are already bikes from Rose, SpecialisedCannondale, Giant, Merida... The Mondraker Gravel is also not the first bike with a rear hub motor, many remember the beginnings of e-bikes, in whose rear wheels rotated pizza-sized and heavy hub motors. But: Mondraker claims to have developed an exclusive version of the Mahle X20 e-bike motor and therefore probably one of the lightest motors on the market. And the Spaniards claim to have developed the e-gravel bike from their mountain bikes. The geometry and range of use are based on Mondraker's "Forward Geometry" and are accordingly: long reach (even longer than on an MTB), short stem and a slack head angle should enable the Dusty to master even rough single trails with calm and confidence. "Confidence inspiring" is what the developers call it.
Especially the Rockshox Rudy suspension fork with 40 millimetres of travel filters out many a small obstacle on the way up, while the top model Dusty XR forgives a few inaccuracies on the way down and finds its way through gravel and rocks. When the going gets too steep, the built-in electric Rockshox Reverb XPLR AXS Vario seatpost to get air under your bum. Its stepless retractability is a feature that also contributes greatly to safety on a gravel bike. Because even on flat, fast trail sections, a few centimetres more space above the saddle is helpful.
The frame, constructed from the "Stealth Air Carbon"The high-quality carbon fibre, which is also used for the Mondraker XC hardtails Podium, for example, does not initially indicate that the Dusty is an e-bike. The silhouette with the familiar, ultra-slim top tube has also been realised here. The frame kit alone weighs 1298 grams.
Gravel and MTB combined on one bike?
The battery permanently installed in the down tube does not detract from the graceful appearance. But above all the short chain stay with 425 millimetres and the 70 degree steep steering angle contribute to the smooth running of the e-gravel bike. Up to this point, you can draw comparisons with a (long, flat) MTB hardtail, including chainstay protectors and 12 mm thru-axles. But then Mondraker gives its newcomer for 2023 holes for the attachment of two bottles, mudguards and a pannier rack. The frame is at least compatible for a 2x drivetrain - but all models are fitted with 1x12 drivetrains. There will also be a collaboration with Apidura on frame bags specially designed for the Dusty. The high-end E-Graveler Dusty XR also wants to go on bikepacking trips.
Mondraker Dusty XR: The Mahle X20 motor pushes gently
The Mahle rear hub motor is rarely used in the MTB sector and is also not a mass product in the road bike segment. Mondraker had already fitted a Mahle Ebikemotion X35 to its children's MTB F-Play. The Mondraker Dusty comes in all three versions with the new X20 e-bike motor, which has 350 Wh available in the battery on the note, with a weight of 3.6 kilos. The hub motor delivers 23 Newton metres of torque in three progressive support levels - which, according to the manufacturer, corresponds to 55 Nm on a mid-motor. According to Mahle, this should generate 200 to 250 watts of additional power when pedalling. An optional range extender (1.1 kg, 499 euros according to the manufacturer) adds another 171 watt hours to the system, which is around 50 per cent more than the main battery installed.
On the sometimes very rocky and steep climbs in the coastal mountains of south-east Spain, support is a lot of fun. Mondraker states that up to 180 kilometres and/or 2400 metres of elevation gain are possible with the frame battery. However, the impression of a medium-fit, medium-heavy test rider was that with the preset parameters of the motor characteristics and when using mainly the second and occasionally also the third speed setting, the battery ran out after a good 50 kilometres and 1600 metres of altitude. According to a sample calculation by Mahle, the X20 e-bike motor should provide 200 watts of additional power with 100 watts of rider input and 250 watts on top with 400 watts of input. The developers call this "progressive support". However, the position of the motor on the rear wheel makes it feel significantly less powerful off-road. But this is to be expected with 55 Nm of torque, and is also intentional on the part of Mondraker: the aim is to create an unobtrusive impression of support, made for sporty gravel biking - the suspension fork can also be locked, which provides a road bike feeling on the road.
We can confirm this impression. The first support level is a gentle tailwind that helps you pedal smoothly when you're going up and down a little. The second pedalling level has significantly more pressure. However, when used over a longer period of time, it feels as if your own legs are providing the power. The motor is barely audible - it perhaps sounds most like the sound of high-chamber carbon rims in motion - and is only noticeable when you switch it off or throttle it down. The Mahle motor also doesn't "pull" on the chain like mid-engines with a lot of power do. And it doesn't rattle either. This means that steep climbs can be climbed with a good dose of sporting ambition, with the feeling that the motor's thrust is coming "out of the bike". The third speed setting lights up pink on the LED display embedded in the frame and is noticeably more powerful than the second. After the first test rides, we would change the parameters in the setting here slightly: On steep sections, you shift to an easier gear, which the motor interprets as less pressure on the pedals and also reduces its assistance. However, using Mahle's very comprehensive "MySmartBike" app, it shouldn't be a problem to change the cadence and torque settings.
The Mondraker Dusty is also equipped with all the peripherals of the Mahle X20. In addition to the display in the top tube, which indicates the assist levels in colour and can be used to switch them on and off, the Dusty has two small switches for the assist levels, which are attached to the handlebars with a rubber band. The control centre is the computer, which is fitted as standard on a Garmin mount and also displays the support levels and changes them using buttons. It also displays various system and journey data such as battery status, remaining range, distance travelled, time, wattage and more. The Mahle X20 can also be paired with Garmin sat navs and smartwatches such as the Fenix 7 - which worked flawlessly.
First ride impression of the Mondraker E-Graveler
The Dusty XR from Mondraker rides like a lively hardtail with a very firm suspension fork on trails and rough paths. Which in this case is a positive, because on the one hand it actually has a balanced centre of gravity (quite centrally above the bottom bracket) and is not weighed down in one direction by the hub motor or the battery. You can easily pull it into a bunny hop to jump over obstacles with ease. The 40 mm of the Rudy suspension fork feels very progressive: it absorbs slight bumps sensitively - but we didn't notice any bottoming out even when riding harder. Together with the geometry of the Mondraker E-gravel bike and the dropper post, there is rarely any uncertainty, even on steep single trails or rocky sections. But: Dear mountain bikers, we are talking about a gravel bike and not an all-mountain bike. A solid riding technique is a prerequisite.
However, this also reaches its limits when the 45 mm wide Maxxis Rambler no longer grips, for example on deep gravel or loose soil. Once they start to slip, whether sideways or in the direction of travel, you have to come up with something. Above all, however, the road bike handlebars represent a change for die-hard MTB riders. When Mondraker presents itself as a target group, it must always be mentioned that the change from the upper to the lower grip should not only be made when it's already getting down to business on the trail. Otherwise it gets tricky. The position of the arms is also different to the MTB flatbar and places a muscular strain at the start - which can also be a safety aspect. On the other hand, the Mondraker Dusty allows you to "blast" down mountain roads all the more confidently or speed down classic gravel roads because it still feels like it has plenty of reserves. It should also be mentioned here that the electronic Sram X01 drivetrain and the Rockshox Reverb seatpost work absolutely smoothly.
The Mondraker Dusty XR E-gravel bike in detail
- Frame: Dusty Stealth Air Carbon, internally routed cables, integrated battery, 12 x 142 mm rear thru-axle, 1x and 2x compatible, flatmount brake mount, integrated speed sensor in dropout
- Suspension fork: Rockshox Rudy Ultimate, 40 mm travel, 12 x 100 mm thru axle, 45 mm offset
- Variable seatpost: Rockshox Reverb XPLR AXS, 27.2 x 400 mm
- Brakes: Sram Force Etap AXS
- Gear system: Sram X01 Eagle AXS, 1 x 12-speed
- Shift lever: Sram Force Etap AXS
- Rims: Mavic Allroad Pro Carbon SL Disc
- Motor: Mahle X20 Drive Unit, XDR freewheel
- Battery: Mahle X20 IX; 350 Wh
- Bottom bracket: Mahle DUB Pressfit, incl. torque sensor
- Tyres: Maxxis Rambler 700 x 45, tubeless ready
- Weight: 13.8 kg
- Price: 9999 Euro
- Sizes:
S = 440 mm seat tube length (1.58 - 1.68 metres tall)
M = 460 mm (1.67 - 1.76 metres)
L = 500 mm (1.75 - 1.86 metres)
XL = 530 mm (1.85 - 1.95 metres)
Other models of the Mondraker Dusty
All three equipment variants of the Mondraker Dusty are based on the same frame made of Stealth Air carbon fibre, equipped with the Mahle X20 e-bike motor with a permanently installed 350 Wh battery. The cheapest Dusty R is equipped with a Sram Rival 1 x 11 drivetrain, MDK-XG1 wheels, narrower Maxxis Rambler EXO 40 mm tyres and OnOff components. The medium model Dusty RR comes with Sram Rival ETAP 1 x 12 gears, Mavic Allroad Disc wheels, Maxxis Rambler EXO tyres and components from OnOff. The top model that we have already been able to ride, Mondraker Dusty XR, rides with a Sram Force ETAP AXS 1 x 12 drivetrain, Mavic Allroad Pro Carbon SL carbon wheels, 45 mm wide Maxxis Rambler EXO tyres, a 40 mm RockShox Rudy Ultimate suspension fork, and a Rockshox Reverb XPLR AXS dropper post with 75 millimetres of travel.
All models are initially available from selected dealers with immediate effect. The Mondraker Dusty will be available in more shops over the course of the year.
Marc Strucken
Editor
