MONDRAKER CRAFTY SE
Words by Drew Rohde | Photos by Sourpatch
Video by Brian Niles/Treeline Cinematics
SPONSORED CONTENT
We’ve got a special Dissected Feature this time around, and it’s one we’re really excited about. Usually, these features allow us to work closely with brands to showcase a brand new model or bit of technology before we conduct a long-term review. For this installment we teamed up with Fly Rides Bike Shop to showcase a limited edition bike AND give one away! Along with getting to ride and share this Mondraker Crafty SE (Special Edition) eBike with our readers, we’re able to share some major savings ($600 off) with a special discount code in addition to Fly Rides Share the Stoke rebate for those who don’t want to wait and see if they won a free one. Simply use code “LOAMWOLF” at the checkout on the Fly Rides USA website for $200 off.
It’s no secret that bike availability is still lacking as we come into 2022, which makes us even more stoked with Fly Rides’ generosity to give one away. The plethora of unforeseen bottlenecks in the supply chain have led to some manufacturers pivoting quickly and reacting in new ways. Mondraker is no exception and they’ve pieced together an SE (Special Edition) build of their Crafty eBike in the middle of the model year, in order to put out a new eBike under the feet of North American customers seeking a Crafty right now.
FLY RIDES USA
Fly Rides USA is a Veteran operated, eBike-only bike shop hailing from Southern California with two brick and mortar locations in the San Diego and Los Angeles areas. Fly Rides also has a robust online webstore but want to do things a bit differently when it comes to web sales and maintaining community-based relationships. They offer rebates to your local bike shop if you’re in need of a bike fit, build or warranty labor. Fly Rides’ goal is to incentivize customers to build a relationship with a local shop without worrying about having to pay more out of pocket. It’s one of the freshest concepts we’ve seen in a while that should help to give back to the local bike shops and ensure that everyone benefits. Out of their SoCal locations, Fly Rides runs a cool demo program so you can test a bunch of the best eMTBs before you commit to spending your hard-earned dollar. They sell a huge variety of brands and should have the right bike for you.
THE BIKE
Mondraker brought the Crafty SE into play in the middle of the 2022 model year with the components they had available. For the motor and battery system, the excellent Bosch Performance Line CX Cruise Gen 4 drive unit is paired with a 625Wh Powertube battery. While this battery doesn’t quite reach the capacity of what is becoming normal, the availability and reduced weight that accompanies it will be appreciated by many riders with its extra agility on the descents. The battery is charged by a 4Ah charger. Bosch’s Kiox display shows the vital information on an easily viewed screen on the bars, so you know exactly how hard you can push it on the trail and is easily toggled by Bosch’s bar-mounted selector.
The Crafty is Mondraker’s flagship eMTB, built around their eBike-optimized Zero Suspension system, packing 150mm of travel and a pair of 29” wheels. Mondraker’s Crafty SE is built using Stealth EVO 6061 alloy, which hosts neat features from oversized 17mm axles and MAX capacity bearings to exclusive plastic motor covers. The upper link is manufactured out of one piece of aluminum to ensure it is as rigid as possible. The frame uses all the expected fitment standards with a Boost rear axle and tapered headtube; internally routed cables; and speed sensor integrated into the dropout.
Mondraker continues to use their Forward Geometry concept for the fit of their frames. This uses relatively long reaches for each frame size, but some relatively conservative angles to offer the compromise of agility and stability that Mondraker thinks performs the best. We opted for the Medium size with its 470mm reach to avoid the limitations that a stretched out reach can produce for riders who ride technical terrain or enjoy a more lively feel. The 470mm reach is paired with 455mm chainstays and a 65.5-degree head tube angle to produce a 1,245mm wheelbase. The seating position is comfortable and upright thanks to the 76-degree seat tube angle. There’s an 18mm BB drop to produce a relatively high 350mm bottom bracket, which is great for technical pedaling trails and crawling over tall obstacles.
Though the numbers may not be the most extreme these days, they blend a balance of stability for faster sections of trail and agility to wind through more technical and tight terrain. The relatively long rear end puts the rider in a very central position between the wheels, and makes handling intuitive and comfortable, and the middle of the road seat tube angle strikes a fine balance between rear wheel grip and front wheel control when powering up the steep and tech climbs the bike thrives in.
THE BUILD
Mondraker gave the Crafty SE a build that’s been selected from available components to produce an eBike offering that is capable without being crazy. Suspension duties are handled by an eBike-tuned 160mm Fox 38 Float Fit GRIP Evol fork with a 44mm offset that is paired with a Float X LV shock.
The drivetrain and brakes come from SRAM, in the form of their G2 R 4-piston brakes that clamp onto 200mm Centerline rotors, and a SRAM GX Eagle derailleur with NX Eagle shifter. The brakes are certainly a point of contention, as we don’t believe G2 brakes should be spec’d on any eBikes, especially ones at this price point. Race Face Aeffect 165mm eBike cranks drive the motor, and Mavic E-Deemax wheels with their ID360 ratchet system are shod with a 2.6” Maxxis DHF/DHR combo in EXO+ guise. Finishing kit is handled by Mondraker’s in-house OnOff components, with their Sulfur 31.8mm Alloy bar and FG 30mm stem; and Pija dropper post with 125mm(S)/150mm(M)/170mm(L/XL) drop.
This Special Edition Crafty build has a minimum retail price of $8,399/7,999, but thanks to a collaboration between Fly Rides USA and The Loam Wolf, it can be yours for as little as $7,799/7,399. Simply use code “LOAMWOLF” at the checkout on the Fly Rides USA website for $200 off, and then take advantage of their “Share the Stoke” rebate, where you get a whopping $400 back in your bank account for sharing the stoke on Instagram or Facebook, and on one of their selected forums. That’s $600 in savings just for being rad. Plus if you subscribe to our YouTube channel and leave a comment on this video, you’ll be entered to win a free Mondraker Crafty SE in a size of your choice.
THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION
As with all our Dissected Features, these are not intended to be reviews or endorsements of the bikes however we like to share our initial impressions of riding the products during the filming process. On our initial rides aboard the Mondraker Crafty SE we quickly learned the handling, maneuverability and overall fit and feel of the bike. With a 5’11” height, the 470mm is a touch short which combined with the relatively steep 65.5-degree head tube angle had some twitchy over/under-steering moments that we’ll look to improve upon as we grow more comfortable and accustomed to this bike. We knew it would be a tough decision between the 470mm Medium or 490mm Large, but still think we made the right call for our tighter, technical terrain.
On those types of trails, the ones with steep climbs, technical up and overs, switchbacks and other challenging moves, the shortness and steep front end had us carrying more speed and snapping the bike around. Speaking of carrying speed, Mondraker’s Zero Suspension platform is certainly on the efficient and stiff side of the spectrum. It’s not uncomfortable in the saddle however if you ride hard-packed trails with washboard braking bumps or sharp-edged rocks, the suspension will likely feel a bit harsh off the top, requiring some tuning attention. After only a couple rides, we’ve not yet finalized our tune, but are excited to load this thing with volume reducers to soften up that initial stroke and increase sensitivity while still keeping the bike playful and poppy. It is a fast, fun and playful bike for sure and we hope to get the rear shock tune improved a bit for our terrain. We’d likely swap the brakes out too if we were going to be spending a ton of time hitting gnarly DH trails, but think this is probably an eBike that’s better suited to being an all around trail shredder than a self-shuttle DH eMTB.
Stay tuned for our long term review and be sure to enter to win one for yourself here!
MSRP: $8,399/7,999
Weight: 56 lbs 3oz
Website: FlyRidesUSA.com
GIVEAWAY RULES
1. Giveaway is only open to legal residents of the U.S.
2. Must be at least 18 years of age or older.
3. No purchase necessary to enter.
4. Giveaway will run from Feb 8th, 2022 to March 8th, 2022.
5. Winner will be randomly selected within a week after giveaway ends.
HOW TO ENTER:
1. Subscribe to the Loam Wolf’s YouTube Channel
2. Leave a comment below the video.
Frame: 6061 Alloy Stealth Evo, e-Bike Optimized Zero Suspension, 150mm
Fork: Fox 38 29 Float FIT GRIP EVOL Performance, 160mm, e-bike tuned
Shock: Fox Float-X LV, 205x65mm
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX Cruise (20mph) GEN4
Battery: Bosch Powertube 625Wh
Display: Bosch Kiox
Charger: Bosch 4Ah
Brakes: SRAM G2R, 200F/R Centreline rotors
Handlebar: Onoff Sulfur 1.0 double butted 6061 alloy 31.8mm, rise: 20mm, width: 800mm
Saddle: Fizik Terra Aidon X5 145mm
Seatpost: Onoff Pija dropper internal, 31.6mm, S 125mm, M 150mm, L/XL 170mm
Shifter: SRAM NX Eagle; 12s
Stem: Onoff Sulfur FG 30mm 0°, 6061 forged alloy
Rims: Mavic E-Deemax 30 29, 30mm internal width, sleeved aluminum, 28 spokes
Hubs: Mavic E-Deemax, Boost, Instant 360 ratchet (9°), IS 6 bolts, Straight pull
Front tire: Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.6, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+, 120TPI, folding
Rear tire: Maxxis Minion DHR II 29×2.6, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+, 120TPI, folding
Cassette: SRAM PG 1210; 11-50T
Cranks: Race Face Aeffect ebike, 165mm
Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle; 12s