Sub 20kg 2020 Mondraker Crafty Carbon Launched

Mondraker’s range of e-MTB now includes the 2020 Mondraker Crafty Carbon, the world’s lightest Bosch powered e-MTB.

To say that Spanish bike maker, Mondraker, has fully embraced the e-Bike would be an understatement. The pedallers of Forward suspension and radically sloping top-tubes have a whopping 13.. no wait scratch that, a whopping 16 e-MTB’s to choose from. That makes almost 1/4 of all bikes in the Mondraker e-Bikes, that’s a pretty hefty number and one that’s expected to grow.

Taking the e-MTB range from 13 to 16 is a trio of 2020 Mondraker Crafty Carbon e-MTB’s. The Crafty already launched as an alloy bike earlier in the year with Bosch Gen 4 power and motor system, but this carbon model builds on that bike while dialling the ‘Wow’ factor to a lofty 11.

The 2020 Mondraker Crafty Carbon isn’t simply a carbon version of the alloy bike, but a no-holds-barred carbon e-exotica-MTB, one that Mondraker claims to be the lightest on the market.

To be clear, Mondraker claims that the top of the range Carbon Crafty RR SL is the worlds lightest, Bosch Gen 4 CX powered e-MTB on the market, with a claimed with of just 19.3kg with a 500Wh battery or 19.9kg with the full-size 625Wh battery. There are lighter-weight e-MTB’s on sale, for example, the Bulls Wild Flow at 16kg, but that has half the power and half the battery capacity and runs a Fazua system instead. So the sub 20kg claim is very impressive considering the battery and motor used.

Getting the weight of the new carbon e-MTB to such a low figure requires a complete carbon frame, carbon top-link, integrated (read non-user removable) battery, a new carbon layup process, and a nice smattering of carbon components here and there too.

The new frame uses a technology called Stealth Air. Mondraker says it’s their most advanced carbon technology to date and uses a selection of high modulus fibres and a complete layup to achieve a low-weight without sacrificing reliability of stiffness. Each of the 3 Crafty Carbon e-Bikes launched use the same Stealth Air Carbon manufacturing process so even if you opted for the ‘cheaper’ R spec bike you get the same frame, motor, and battery as the flagship bike.

The new frame design features the similar Mondraker look but has been updated to make the most of new OEM parts and improve battery efficiency. For example, a couple of air intakes are fitted to either side of the frame close to the head-tube. These pull in cool air to ensure the internal battery doesn’t overheat. Warm air is exhausted via a 3rd scoop located on the top of the downtube close to the motor.

Also up at the front end of the bike is a new Arcos custom headset and larger diameter 1.5in steerer tube for the 160mm, 44mm offset, Fox 36 forks. This is the first time we’ve seen this on a bike that’s available to buy and it means Mondraker can divert cables and hoses through the headset then internally for a cleaner look. That said given the fact that the battery is none removable we do wonder how user-friendly this is when it comes to maintenance time.

Scoot to the rear of the Crafty Carbon and you’ll see Mondraker’s new suspension platform that was already seen on the alloy Crafty. The new e-MTB specific suspension system offers 150mm of rear-wheel travel and uses a longer lower link and new shock location. The idea behind the new system is to offer better all-around traction, improved pedal efficiency, better small bump compliance, stable platform while retaining some progression.

Following on from the past 8 years of Forward geometry, the 2020 Crafty Carbon boasts a steep 76 seat tube, slack(ish) 65.5 head tube and long 455mm chainstays. The 29er gets decent reach figures too with a small frame boasting 450mm of reach and the largest XL 510mm.

Specifications of each of the new Crafty Carbon e-Bikes is filled with Fox, SRAM, and DT Swiss components and as you would expect from such a lightweight Mondraker, pricing is pretty high with the entry-level R spec bike costing a cool £7,199, while the flagship SL tops out at £10,799 with AXS gear and a carbon wheelset.

Full specifications of each bike can be found below, and if you would like to know more about this superbike then read our first ride review here.

2020 Mondraker Crafty new features

NEW E-MTB FULL SUSPENSION RANGE WITH 160 MM FRONT AND 150 MM REAR SUSPENSION TRAVEL
3 MODELS: CRAFTY CARBON RR SL, CRAFTY CARBON RR, CRAFTY CARBON R
4 SIZES: S / M / L / XL
STEALTH AIR CARBON TECHNOLOGY
MONDRAKER 29” FORWARD GEOMETRY
NEW E-BIKE OPTIMIZED ZERO KINEMATICS
POWERED BY BOSCH PERFORMANCE CX GEN 4
POWERTUBE INTERNAL 625 WH BATTERY SYSTEM
COOLING AIR FLOW SYSTEM
FULL CARBON MONOBLOCK TRUNNION UPPER LINK
1X12 DRIVETRAIN SPECIFIC DESIGN
HHG INTERNAL CABLE GUIDE WITH ACROS ICR (INTEGRATED CABLE ROUTING) HEADSET
OVERSIZED PIVOT THRU AXLES AND ENDURO MAX BEARINGS
INTEGRATED DROPOUT SPEED SENSOR
INTEGRATED & DEDICATED MOTOR COVERS
BOOST HUB SPACING 148X12 & 110X15 MM
NEW SILENT CHAINSTAY CUSTOM MADE RUBBER PROTECTOR
1.5” HEADTUBE/POST MOUNT REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Mondraker Crafty Carbon R Specifications

Frame: Crafty Stealth Air full Carbon, e-Bike Optimized Zero Suspension System, Carbon Monoblock Upperlink, 150 mm travel, Forward Geometry
Fork: Fox Float DPS Performance, 205×65 mm
Rear Shock: Fox 36 29 Float FIT GRIP EVOL Performance, 160mm, e-bike tuned
Headset: Acros custom
Stem: Onoff Krypton FG 30 mm
Handlebar: Onoff Krypton 1.0 780 mm
Grips: Onoff Desert, 1lock-on
Dropper Post: Onoff Pija dropper internal
Saddle: Fizik Antares R7
Front Brake: Sram G2 RSC 200 mm
Rear Brake: Sram G2 RSC, 200 mm
Wheelset: DT Swiss H1900 Spline 29, 30 mm
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.6, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+ / Maxxis Minion DHR II 29×2.6, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX system Gen4, 625 Wh PowerTube battery, Kiox computer
Chainset: RaceFace Aeffect, 165 mm, Sram Eagle 34T
Chain: Sram NX Eagle, 12s
Rear mech: Sram GX Eagle, 12s
Shifter: Sram Trigger NX Eagle, 12s
Cassette: Sram XG-1230 Eagle 11-50T, 12s
Sizes: S / M / L / XL
Price: £7,199

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR Specifications

Frame: Crafty Stealth Air full Carbon, e-Bike Optimized Zero Suspension System, Carbon Monoblock Upperlink, 150 mm travel, Forward Geometry
Fork: Fox Float DPS Factory Kashima, 205×65 mm
Rear Shock: Fox 36 29 Float FIT4 EVOL Factory Kashima, 160 mm, e-bike tuned
Headset: Acros custom
Stem: Onoff Krypton FG 30 mm
Handlebar: Onoff Krypton Carbon 0.5, 780 mm
Grips: Onoff Desert, 1lock-on
Dropper post: Onoff Pija dropper internal
Saddle: Fizik Antares R7
Front brake: Shimano XT M8120 203 mm
Rear brake: Shimano XT M8120 203 mm
Wheelset: DT Swiss HX1501 Spline One 29, 30 mm
Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.6, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+ / Maxxis Minion DHR II 29×2.6, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX system Gen4, 625 Wh PowerTube battery, Kiox computer
Chainset: E13 TRS Race carbon ebike crankset, 165 mm, Shimano 34T
Chain: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12s
Rear Mech: Shimano XT M8100, 12s
Shifter: Shimano XT M8100, 12s
Cassette: Shimano XT M8100, 12s
Sizes: S / M / L / XL
Price: £8,999

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR SL Specifications

Frame: Crafty Stealth Air full Carbon, e-Bike Optimized Zero Suspension System, Carbon Monoblock Upperlink, 150 mm travel, Forward Geometry
Fork: Fox Float DPS Factory Kashima, 205×65 mm
Rear Shock: Fox 36 29 Float FIT4 EVOL Factory Kashima, 160 mm, e-bike tuned
Headset: Acros custom
Stem: Onoff Krypton FG 30 mm
Handlebar: Onoff Krypton Carbon 0.5, 780 mm
Grips: Lizard Skins DSP
Dropper post: RockShox Reverb Stealth AXS
Saddle: Fizik Antares R1 Large
Front Brake: Shimano XTR M9120 203 mm
Rear Brake: Shimano XTR M9120 203 mm
Wheelset: DT Swiss HXC1200 Carbon Spline 29, 30 mm
Tyres: Maxxis Rekon 29×2.6 tubeless ready, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+ Protection, 60TPI, folding bead
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX system Gen4, 625 Wh PowerTube battery, Kiox computer / 500Wh optional
Chainset: E13 TRS Race carbon, 165 mm, Sram Eagle 34T
Chain: Sram GX Eagle, 12s
Rear mech: Sram X01 Eagle AXS, 12s
Shifter: Sram Trigger Eagle AXS, 12s
Cassette: Sram XG-1299, 10-50T, 12s
Sizes: S / M / L / XL
Price: £10,799