New bike day, Mondraker Crafty RR

[Gareth]

Got my new bike delivered today.

A Mondraker Crafty RR. The Mondraker section seems a bit quiet here.

It is in my garage charging, and hopefully I’ll get out on it tomorrow for a wee spin.

Initial thoughts are;

Those 2.6 tyres are very wide. The Bosch display is massive, far too big and I wish it was blue tooth like the little controller to get rid of the twin cables. Which is another thought, will the bike run without it altogether? Anyway, I’ve arranged it so it sits on top bars rather than sticking out in front.

Bike feels big and heavy. Seat post took quite a shove to lower it an inch, felt as if it was hitting an obstruction. Pulled a bit of cable through and the dropper post seems to be working OK.

Strange spongy bit in front of the shock mount above the motor which I think will just end up soaking up mud and crap.

Overall the bike looks really nice, though I don’t like white lettering on the Mavic rims.

So hopefully will see if it rides OK tomorrow, then I’ll fit my lovely mudhuggers.

 

[mkj1972]

It's a nice looking bike & Mondrecker were one of the brands along with trek & specialized & Orbea before I went for the Cannondale
I hope you have fun riding it.

 

[Spin]

The "strange spongy bit" in front of the shock mount is Moto Foam and is there to stop that area filling with mud and water which would then submerge the bearings in the lower link.
A lot of world cup mechanics use this stuff to prevent mud build up where it's not wanted. I think you'll find that it works as intended.
Check the torque of the seat post clamp , it may be too tight which will affect the function of the Fox post.
Enjoy your new bike !!

 

[Gareth]

Thanks mkj1972!



Cheers Spin! I hope the Moto Foam works. It is really wet and boggy round my way, the bike will get coated with thick wet mud on a regular basis. I was thinking that stuff will just clog up with soaking wet mud. We’ll see what happens.

I lubricated and exercised the seat post a good bit this morning. I suspect the bike has been stock for quite a while, the seat post put in dry, and has maybe begun to bond. WD40 and plenty of grease and it now seems fine. Set my height and it’ll be a long time now before I move it again.

Took it for a quick spin. I’ll need to download the Flow App, which I was hoping not to have to bother with. Turbo is Turbo – everything all the time which I don’t use much. Eco seems about right. But Tour + which I use a lot on my Cube was really not giving much more than Eco and Emtb felt just a little bit tame. So presumably I can adjust these in the flow app.

Didn’t notice any real improvement over my 625Whr Cube in terms of range, but then I was using emtb where I would often usually use Tour, so maybe some tweeks in flow app and I’ll see the range benefit of a 20% bigger battery.

Initial thoughts are, very plush ride, I think more comfortable than the Cube. Front wheel doesn’t seem to lift very easy. Super stable at speed.

Charging port cover – it is a shocker. That needs to be improved.

Tyres Maxxis Minion DHF. Not sure about these. Seem to grip OK, and maybe helping with that plush ride, but do they roll? I want range. I’m just not sure about them.

Anyway some photos before the bike gets fitted with mudguards, lights and GoPro mounts, not to mention abused. Sadly, a rubbish day, so no views to be had for some nice shots, so these will have to do……

 

[Gareth]

 

[Spin]

For charge port cover and other mods , this is the place to shop: Mondraker MODS - RIDERWALKER Bike Components

The Flow app gives so many options for modes and assistance levels , I'm sure you'll find a setup that suits.

For tyres , maybe add 5 psi for now to increase range ? Otherwise , I found Conti Kryptotals roll really well but don't buy the light casing versions. They are ridiculously thin and easily punctured by sharp stones or pointy sticks!

 

[Gareth]

Cheers Spin,

That charge port cover looks good. I notice they have relocated the charge port on their 2025 models.

Downloaded the Flow App. So I’ve boosted tour plus mode assistance by 2 and EMTB mode by 1 and will see how that helps.

Running the tyres at 30PSI front and rear. On my Cube I have a Schwalbe Magic Mary on the front and a Continental Kryptotal on the rear, a combination I find that rolls well despite both tyres chunkiness. The standard soft compound Kryptotal lasts well too. Found the Schwalbe easy to fit but the Conti a real pain. I think both are downhill casings. I hate punctures.

 

[Spin]

Great tyre combo. I have run the same , albeit with the stupid light casing Krypto on the rear that has long since gone in the bin.

 

[Gareth]

Second ride out on my Mondraker. Finding the bike very comfortable.

Need to get that cover ordered for the charge port ordered – the Mondraker cover is a disgrace.

Not blown away by the range, doesn’t really seem any more than my 625 battery in the Cube. Maybe the battery needs to be cycled or the emotor bed in, but I thought I’d notice a difference but nope, not really. Got home with 15% battery left had expected more.

Don’t know how anybody rides without mudguards, not in Scotland in anyway. What a mess. Mudhuggers will be fitted shortly.

So anyway, got up the hill I wanted to take some snaps of my lovely new shiny bike before I fit mudguards etc and start abusing it.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

They really do make lovely looking bikes.

 

[Spin]

I have had zero issues with the standard charger port but I live in a much drier place than Scotland

 

[Gareth]

Cheers HandsomeDanNZ

I have had zero issues with the standard charger port but I live in a much drier place than Scotland

Yes. I already have an issue it! The cover just doesn’t want to sit snugly into the charger port, and both my rides out on it the socket has got soaked.

I’ll get one of those Riderwalker Port covers you linked to Spin. Plus the mudguards will be going on shortly that will help.

For much of the winter I’ll be using my old Cube Action Team, so the Mondraker will be being kept nice for the spring and summer. But yes Scotland is wet all year round, so I just hope this Spanish designed bike is up to the job. We will see.

 

[Spin]

I'll admit , refitting the rubber cover does take some finesse but it seems a lot of people have problems with it , so I won't judge

 

[Mikerb]

dont know the details of the charging port on this bike but on every bike I have bought I make my own cover to go over whatever flimsy rubber or plastic is fitted as standard. I use Neoprene held onto the frame over the cover with hd velcro. OK you may not like the aesthetics but my priority is waterproofing not looks. I did that on a Levo, on my wife's Cube and also my Whyte E160 RSX.

 

[Gareth]

I'll admit , refitting the rubber cover does take some finesse but it seems a lot of people have problems with it , so I won't judge

I see, so the stupid thing does fit in there, I just need a bit more patience I guess.

dont know the details of the charging port on this bike but on every bike I have bought I make my own cover to go over whatever flimsy rubber or plastic is fitted as standard. I use Neoprene held onto the frame over the cover with hd velcro. OK you may not like the aesthetics but my priority is waterproofing not looks. I did that on a Levo, on my wife's Cube and also my Whyte E160 RSX.

Sounds interesting, any snaps?

 

[Gareth]

OK I spend a few minutes looking at and fiddling with the charging port cover. It is quite amusing that where you would expect 4 screws to hold the port in, there are only three as one hole is used as the securing point for the rubber cover. Terrible design.

Anyway, quickly lost patience with it. The Riderwalker thing looks good, the web site seems OK etc, so I have ordered one. Just wait for it to arrive now.

 

[Mikerb]

I see, so the stupid thing does fit in there, I just need a bit more patience I guess.



Sounds interesting, any snaps?

 

[Gareth]

Cheers Mikerb

Your Whyte looks as if it has a decent cover as it is. But hey doesn’t do any harm to go belt and braces.

 

[Mikerb]

Cheers Mikerb

Your Whyte looks as if it has a decent cover as it is. But hey doesn’t do any harm to go belt and braces.

I agree, it is a soft rubber cap and perfectly waterproof although I have another (2024)E160
rsx with exactly the same arrangement except the cap seems to have some additional stiffening and I am sufficiently confident in that not to cover it.
The one on the pictured RSX seemed a little to easy for passing trailside shrubbery to open, so made the cover for it. It has stayed clean and dry despite riding in some prettty filthy conditions!

 

[K_Zissou]

Hay Gareth

Lovely RR there my man, that blue/black/white colour way 🫠.

Chiming in abit late to the party but that ride walker cap for the charger port is the way to go for sure, I got an identical one and swapped it out after seeing a vid from Mctrail rider’s utoob channel, muuuuch better. Got mine from Etsy and saw a lot more from reputable sellers so it’s a common placed 3d printed thing that people are using.

How’s your time with the bike abit more into your savage Scottish winter?
Range improved a lil after tweaking some settings?

The single biggest thing I’ve noticed decrease range has been tyres, winter setup is assegai max grip front and back vs a 3c DD exo+ DHR in the summer (that’s a lot of letters)
I lost about 10% range when I switched to winter setup in Nov, obvs the cold afffecting battery abit and riding through softer terrain has its place in these figures too but it was certainly noticeable compared with a zippier harder compound tyre on the back.

Brakes also, how are they fairing?

I’m very lucky enough to get some industry discount and quickly swapped mine for some Hope tech 4 V4 which have been absolutely game changing, they unlocked the bike to its potential tbh.
I’m only 74kg but those srams .

Thinking of any other upgrades man?

 

[K_Zissou]

This is mine, added a one up bar and stem, swapped out some tyres, Hope tech 4 v4 brakes with 220 vented rotors f&b.
The port bung thingy, bumped fork to 170mm and added this rubberised down-tube protector thing from Zefal to help with the protection but also to block out the branding on the underside of down-tube which I didn’t care for so much aesthetically.

For 2025 I’m coil curious for the shock, a angle adjust headset to slacken it slightly and I’d like to take a look at the new max is higher 3 which look interesting.

 

[K_Zissou]

This is mine, added a one up bar and stem, swapped out some tyres, Hope tech 4 v4 brakes with 220 vented rotors f&b.
The port bung thingy, bumped fork to 170mm and added this rubberised down-tube protector thing from Zefal to help with the protection but also to block out the branding on the underside of down-tube which I didn’t care for so much aesthetically.

For 2025 I’m coil curious for the shock, a angle adjust headset to slacken it slightly and I’d like to take a look at the new max is higher 3 which look interesting.

View attachment 153033 View attachment 153034

Oh and sram GX axs which needs replacing, it’s out of warranty and the shifting has been knocked out of sync abit, long story.
Moved over from another bike.

 

[Gareth]

Lovely RR there my man, that blue/black/white colour way 🫠.

Thank you. Yours looks great too. How long have you had it? Any issues?

I only really bought mine as I expect to get made redundant sometime this year – my work has a good C2W scheme, and with my Cube being well abused I thought I might as well bag a new bike.

So at the moment she is being molly coddled. She’s kind of my Sunday bike at the moment. And with the weather, the usual winter bugs and other stuff going on I’ve not been out much. Though that needs to change!

So only been out twice on her – so she’s only done a total of 48 miles.

Fitted the @RiderwalkerMTB charge port cover – does the job. Will get some more snaps up soon. The OE cover is a sick joke!

Brakes - I thought they were fine – so far so good.

So yeah I’m still using my battered and abused old Cube, but hoping to get out more and more on the Mondraker as we move towards spring.

And yes that McTrail bought one, and with his own money, encouraged me to buy mine, that and the massive discount on them.

Which is my main worry for it, and any ebike really, how will it fair in our super wet west coast Scottish climate?

Anyway do keep posting K. Doesn’t seem to be that many Mondraker owners out there, so good to hear what others are up to and how they are getting on.

 

[Gareth]

Oh and sram GX axs which needs replacing, it’s out of warranty and the shifting has been knocked out of sync abit, long story.

Moved over from another bike.

I was very tempted by AXS. With my Cube originally having the cables down through the headset and the strong spring on modern MTB derailleurs I was developing a nasty repetitive strain injury on my right thumb. But once I had the cables out of the headset the situation with my thumb gradually improved. Which was one of the things in favour of the Mondraker, I just don’t want a bike with cables down the head tube or headset – it is just dumb.

But I still hate cables and having to index my gears due to cable stretch. So yeah still tempted by AXS. Would I right in thinking that once it is initially set up that you generally don’t need to touch it?

 

[Weeksy]

How often do you have to index your gears with cables? Maybe once every 4-6 months with 1/2 a turn?

 

[K_Zissou]

I was very tempted by AXS. With my Cube originally having the cables down through the headset and the strong spring on modern MTB derailleurs I was developing a nasty repetitive strain injury on my right thumb. But once I had the cables out of the headset the situation with my thumb gradually improved. Which was one of the things in favour of the Mondraker, I just don’t want a bike with cables down the head tube or headset – it is just dumb.

But I still hate cables and having to index my gears due to cable stretch. So yeah still tempted by AXS. Would I right in thinking that once it is initially set up that you generally don’t need to touch it?

Yeh set and forget pretty much, I’d say be more mindful when shifting under load for use with an emtb but that’s the same as any mtb tbh.