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First Look: Mondraker e-prime hardtail in aluminum and carbon

04.05.2016
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High-end carbon, a suggestive frame and plus-size tyres: the brand new Mondraker E-Prime appears to live up to its name. But, alas, so does its price: the top of the range E-prime bearing the very prime tag of 7,999 €. Fortunately, for more budget conscious riders there’s a decent aluminium version too. So with the e-Prime marking Mondraker’s foray into the e-mountain bike hardtail market, here’s the lowdown:

Brand new and sexy: With price tags between 3,000 and 8,000 €, the Mondraker E-Prime is on sale now with either an aluminium or high-end carbon frame and various specs.
Brand new and sexy: With price tags between 3,000 and 8,000 €, the Mondraker E-Prime is on sale now with either an aluminium or high-end carbon frame and various specs.

Mondraker have only been active in the e-mountain bike world for the past year and completely sold out of the collection already; in fact, e-mtb sales account for 15% of their total sales already. No surprise then that they’ve decided to expand their portfolio and fill in the gaps: enter the E-Prime, a hardtail with 120 mm forks and plus-size tyres that comes in two aluminium builds, and a carbon model (Mondraker’s first carbon e-mtb). With the entry price of 3,000 € and 8,000 € for the top-of-the-range model, Mondraker have rendered it an appealing option for a huge spectrum of potential buyers.

Nice! The carbon frame has won us over right down to the smallest details, and especially the seamless design of the toptube and seatstay…
Nice! The carbon frame has won us over right down to the smallest details, and especially the seamless design of the toptube and seatstay…
... as well as the brake calipers, mounted stylishly on the inside. Note: the frame doesn’t come with any aluminium reinforcements either.
… as well as the brake calipers, mounted stylishly on the inside. Note: the frame doesn’t come with any aluminium reinforcements either.
You’ve got to admire the motor integration as well, with virtually no screws on show and minimal coverage. The CX version of the Bosch motor is only available on the carbon models, and the aluminium ones take the regular Performance Line.
You’ve got to admire the motor integration as well, with virtually no screws on show and minimal coverage. The CX version of the Bosch motor is only available on the carbon models, and the aluminium ones take the regular Performance Line.
The frame has a handful of cables going through it but these cable ports do a tidy job.
The frame has a handful of cables going through it but these cable ports do a tidy job.

Mondraker have held onto their conviction that e-mountain bikes belong on plus-size tyres, exclusively fitting the E-Prime with tyres of 2.8″. Both top-end carbon versions have undergone the same manufacturing, use the same high quality materials and the same design language as the Dune Carbon and Foxy Carbon, but certain aspects (such as the carbon layup and flatter seatstays) have been deliberated over for longer, a fact that Mondraker take pride in. Dubbed the Flat Stays, these flatter seatstays provide added flex, rendering the E-Prime ‘astonishingly comfortable’ and compliant. But we haven’t tried the bike yet, we’ll have to take their word for it until we get to test ride it, but purely in terms of design we’re loving it. It naturally helps that they’re kept the weight down, and the top-of-the-range one is just 18.9 kg in a size large with tubes.

The ONOFF Peak Carbon bars have an exemplary width of 760 mm.
The ONOFF Peak Carbon bars have an exemplary width of 760 mm.
Named the ‘Flat Stays,’ there’s added compliance in these flatter seatstays with a special carbon lay-up.
Named the ‘Flat Stays,’ there’s added compliance in these flatter seatstays with a special carbon lay-up.
At 2.8", the tyres are slightly narrower than an e-Crafty or e-Vantage, but Mondraker deliberately chose this size based on the intended uses for the bike. However, the e-Prime can also be ridden with 3" tyres or 29" wheels upon request.
At 2.8″, the tyres are slightly narrower than an e-Crafty or e-Vantage, but Mondraker deliberately chose this size based on the intended uses for the bike. However, the e-Prime can also be ridden with 3″ tyres or 29″ wheels upon request.

Not oblivious to the fact that the 7,999 € top model is likely to be out of budget for many, Mondraker have also introduced an aluminium e-Prime. Naturally, while it has sacrificed those flatter carbon seatstays, the design remains largely the same at the rear. Surprisingly, Mondraker have cited the weight of the cheapest spec version at exactly 20.0 kg.

The Matchmaker clamp does a sweet job of joining the remote lever for the dropper post and lockout for the RockShox RS1 forks (shown here) with the SRAM Guide RSC brake lever.
The Matchmaker clamp does a sweet job of joining the remote lever for the dropper post and lockout for the RockShox RS1 forks (shown here) with the SRAM Guide RSC brake lever.
Shifting comes courtesy of the X1 cassette and SRAMs XX1 groupset.
Shifting comes courtesy of the X1 cassette and SRAMs XX1 groupset.
The RockShox Reverb Stealth is only on the spec list for the top-of-the-range RR+. The other models come with a fixed seatpost.
The RockShox Reverb Stealth is only on the spec list for the top-of-the-range RR+. The other models come with a fixed seatpost.
There’s a 500 Wh battery feeding the motor, although the entry level model makes do with a 400 Wh one.
There’s a 500 Wh battery feeding the motor, although the entry level model makes do with a 400 Wh one.

Mondraker E-Prime + (Aluminium)

Motor: Bosch Performance, 400 Wh
Drivetrain: SRAM GX/X5, 10-speed
Brakes: Shimano M-396
Fork: SUNTOUR Raidon 27.5 Plus LOR
Weight: 20.0 kg
Price: € 2,999

Mondraker E-Prime R+ (Aluminium)

Motor: Bosch Performance, 500 Wh
Drivetrain: SRAM GX, 11-speed
Brakes: Shimano M-506
Fork: RockShox Reba 27,5 Plus RL
Weight: 19.7 kg
Price: € 3,999

Mondraker E-Prime R+ (Carbon)

Motor: Bosch Performance CX, 500 Wh
Drivetrain: SRAM GX, 10-fach
Brakes: Shimano M-506
Fork: RockShox Reba 27,5 Plus RL
Weight: 19.3 kg
Price: € 4,999

Mondraker E-Prime RR+(Carbon)

Motor: Bosch Performance CX, 500 Wh
Drivetrain: SRAM XX1
Brakes: SRAM Guide RSC
Fork: RockShox RS1
Weight: 18.8 kg
Price: € 7,999

We’re massively excited to see another hardtail on plus-size tyres, and can’t wait to discover whether the new carbon frame can live up to the seeds of expectation that have been planted by our first viewing. Is it going to deliver extra comfort and a better ride? We’ve already packed the e-Prime RR+ ready for testing and an exclusive review will be out soon. But no worries if you’re impatient: the Mondraker e-Prime (in all builds) is already available.

For more information head to the Mondraker Website.

Words: Andreas Maschke Photos: Noah Haxel

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