New Mondraker Crafty Carbon inherits seat-tube splitting Zero Suspension System and boasts Bosch’s latest Performance Line CX motor

Spanish brand’s flagship electric mountain bike places rear shock lower in the frame

Published: Thursday, 24 October 2024 at 14:00 PM

Mondraker has released its new Crafty electric mountain bike with an updated Zero Suspension System and the latest Bosch Performance Line CX motor.

The new bike spans the trail and enduro segments, featuring 150mm of rear-suspension travel matched to a 160mm fork – or a 170mm fork on the Crafty Carbon XR.

Mondraker has maintained its iconic Zero Suspension System, while incorporating Bosch’s latest 85Nm Performance Line CX motor.

The Crafty runs on 29in wheels, with no option for a mullet setup on the rear.

Mondraker offers the bike at six spec levels, with prices starting from £6,299 / $7,199 / €7,199 for the Crafty Carbon R.

The range-topping Crafty Carbon RR SL is priced at £11,799 / $11,999 / €12,999 and features a weight-saving spec that swaps out a 38mm-stanchion fork for a 36mm-diameter Fox Factory 36.

All models feature a carbon fibre front triangle, with higher-end models also using carbon rear ends.

We had a chance to ride the bike at the press launch, so be sure to read our first-ride impressions of the Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR.

Dissected seat tube

The range-topping Crafty Carbon RR SL features a team colourway. Mondraker

Mondraker’s premium Stealth Air carbon fibre is used in the construction of the Crafty’s front triangle, with the higher-end models also featuring the composite on the rear end.

Most models, however, use the brand’s Stealth Alloy structure for the seatstays and chainstays.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR SL Zero Suspension System — The linkage is made from Stealth Air carbon on the top models. Mondraker

The new Crafty has inherited Mondraker’s latest Zero Suspension System, which sees the shock placed lower in the frame, dissecting the seat tube.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR being ridden on clay trail in woods — The Zero Suspension System is said to add more suppleness to the rear shock by compressing it from both ends. Mondraker

Moulded plastic mudguards feature on the frame to prevent water and trail grime from affecting the shock’s effectiveness.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon with Zero Suspension System — Mudguards are used to keep spray and mud away from the shock. Mondraker

This design places the shock significantly lower than on the previous model and supposedly helps to centre weight, improving the bike’s handling.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR in the woods — The Low setting on the flip chip slackens the head angle to 64.15 degrees. Mondraker

The linkage features a flip chip that slackens the bike, making it more aggressive on steeper terrain.

Unlike some geometry adjustments, this doesn’t enable you to run a 27.5in rear wheel.

Latest-generation Bosch motor

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR with Bosch Performance Line CX motor — A bash guard protects the Bosch Performance Line CX motor from rock strikes. Mondraker

Bosch’s latest Performance Line CX motor is located in the bottom bracket area, with the motor featuring the same 600W peak power and 85Nm torque figures as the previous generation.

The new motor is said to provide a better ride feel and less chatter than the one it replaces.

Powering the motor is either a 600Wh or 800Wh Bosch PowerTube battery hidden away in the down tube.

This is removable, with the battery compartment shielded by a carbon fibre cover.

Unlike other manufacturers, the smaller battery size isn’t reserved for the cheaper bikes in the range, with the top-of-the-range Crafty Carbon RR SL featuring the smaller battery to save weight.

Whichever model you buy, you can add 250Wh via an optional Bosch PowerMore range extender.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR SL head tube with Bosch Purion 400 — Bosch Purion 400 takes up less space on the bar compared to the brand’s previous displays. Mondraker

Bosch’s new Purion 400 display is housed out of the way, under the handlebar.

This shows key metrics such as speed, range and battery life – as well as other data such as the assistance mode.

The bike has four assistance modes, all of which can be customised using the Bosch eBike Flow App.

Finishing touches

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR cable routing — You can run your internal cabling through the headset or the head tube. Mondraker

Mondraker has left plenty of space in the front triangle, with room for two bottles (or one range extender and one bottle), as well as a tool mount on the underside of the top tube.

Rather bizarrely, the bike gives you the option of running the internal cable routing through the headset or ports on the head tube.

Like many enduro electric mountain bikes, the Crafty has large tyre clearance and can run on 2.6in tyres.

Geometry

	S	M	M/L	L	XL
Seat tube length (mm)	380	410	435	460	490
Top tube length (mm)	581	596	618	640	662
BB drop (mm)	-25	-25	-25	-25	-25
BB height (mm)	350	350	350	350	350
Chainstay length (mm)	455	455	455	465	465
Effective seat tube angle (degrees)	77.95	77.95	77.95	77.95	77.95
Head tube angle (degrees)	64.5	64.5	64.5	64.5	64.5
Fork offset (mm)	44	44	44	44	44
Wheelbase (mm)	1240	1255	1280	1314	1338
Head tube length (mm)	120	120	130	140	150
Reach (mm)	445	460	480	500	520
Stack (mm)	638	638	647	656	665

Edit Table

The Crafty is available in five sizes; S, M, M/L, L and XL – one more than the previous model.

Mondraker says the new M/L size allows for the extremes of the size range to be more so, while still offering accurate fitting in the middle.

Chainstay lengths increase through the size range, with sizes up to and including M/L measuring 455mm, and the L and XL models measuring 465mm.

Geometry has slackened, with head angles down from 65.5 degrees to 64.5 degrees compared to the previous model in the standard setting.

The new bike can be slackened further to 64.15 degrees using the geometry adjustment in the linkage.

Reach measurements for an L-sized frame have increased from 490mm to 500mm on the new bike.