Mondraker Crafty R 2022 in our E-MOUNTAINBIKE group test – The best budget eMTB under € 6,500

Love getting rowdy? In that case, you may want to take a closer look at the Mondraker Crafty R! The Spaniard enters the competition with a powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor and permanently integrated 750 Wh battery. But can it combine maximum downhill performance and excellent all-round qualities?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2022 for € 6,500 – 11 budget eMTBs in our eMTB group test

**Mondraker** Crafty R | Bosch Smart System/750 Wh | 160/150 mm (f/r)
25.50 kg in size M | € 6,499 | Manufacturer’s website

Some bikes can do a bit of everything, others are great at one thing. The Mondraker Crafty R doesn’t belong to either of the two categories. The Crafty R is radical, savage and fast and excels in two things: handling the rough stuff at high speeds. The Mondraker isn’t fussed about gimmicks and features like lights or next-level integration, and was designed with functionality in mind. Ambitious trail riders will love its rowdy character, provided they can handle it! The Crafty loves technical and challenging climbs, charging full steam ahead when other eMTBs have long run out of uphill flow. On top of that, the big yet firmly-integrated battery enables epic trail expeditions.

Clear the way! The Mondraker Crafty R on the trail

Drop the saddle and let it rip – at least that’s true for experienced riders! Although the Crafty integrates you nicely between its 29″ wheels downhill, you’ll have to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking. However, leaning forward to reach this position takes guts and commitment because the Crafty is as long as a freight train with its 470 mm reach in size M (!). In fact, it’s hard to believe you’re sitting on a size M, because it has similar geometry values as most bikes in this group test in size L! However, the bike rewards your bravery with plenty of traction at the front. Once you get used to its riding position, it’s composed and conveys huge amounts of confidence.

The Mondraker is radical, wild and fast. It loves rowdy and fast sessions on rough terrain.

The potent FOX 38 fork harmonises well with the Mondraker Crafty R, ensuring precise handling even in the harshest conditions.

The SRAM G2 R brakes don’t do justice to the character and intended use of the Crafty R. We recommend upgrading to SRAM’s more powerful CODE model.

Kamikaze: the Kiox 300 display sits right in front of the stem, where it’s exposed to impacts in the event of a crash.

Mondraker Crafty R

€ 6,499

Specifications

Motor Bosch Smart System 85 Nm
Battery Bosch PowerTube 750 Wh
Display Bosch Kiox 300
Fork FOX 38 Performance 160 mm
Rear Shock FOX Float DPX 2 Performance 150 mm
Seatpost Onoff Pija 150 mm
Brakes SRAM G2 R 200/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM NX/GX 12
Stem OnOff 35 mm
Handlebar OnOff 800 mm
Wheelset MDK EP1 29"
Tires MAXXIS MinionDHF/DHR II EXO+ 2.6"

Technical Data

Size S - XL
Weight 25.50 kg
Perm. total weight 150 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 124 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no

Hide-and-seek: the charge port sits on the underside of the down tube, where it’s exposed to mud and water.

The battery is permanently integrated into the down tube and can only be charged on the bike. If you don’t have a plug in your bike cave, you’ll have to buy a long extension cable to charge your Mondraker Crafty R.

Clearly a Mondraker, clearly an alloy bike! With its unmistakable frame details, like the sporty-looking cross brace on the head tube, the Crafty R is distinctly recognisable as a Mondraker. However, the rough weld-seams on the main triangle lack attention to detail.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	380 mm	420 mm	450 mm	490 mm
Top tube	605 mm	625 mm	650 mm	670 mm
Head tube	110 mm	110 mm	130 mm	130 mm
Head angle	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°
Seat angle	76.0°	76.0°	76.0°	76.0°
Chainstays	455 mm	455 mm	455 mm	455 mm
BB Drop	25 mm	25 mm	25 mm	25 mm
Wheelbase	1,225 mm	1,245 mm	1,265 mm	1,285 mm
Reach	450 mm	470 mm	490 mm	510 mm
Stack	622 mm	622 mm	640 mm	640 mm

**Helmet** Troy Lee Designs A2 | **Glasses** 100% Speedcraft | **Jersey** Troy Lee Designs Sprint Ultra
**Shorts** Troy Lee Designs Flowline | **Kneepad** Troy Lee Designs Stage
**Shoes** Five Ten Freerider Pro Primeblue | **Socks** Adidas Crew
**Gloves** Troy Lee Designs Flowline

Radical, wild and fast! – The new Mondraker Crafty R

The Mondraker Crafty R loves to explore the extremes. Thus, it’s hardly surprising that it comes to life on straight high-speed sections, where it leaves behind the competition in a cloud of dust. Throw a few rocks into the mix and the Mondraker still has you covered, offering enough reserves with its potent and defined suspension. Additional damping is provided by the 2.6″ MAXXIS Minion DHF and DHR II EXO+ tires with hard MaxxTerra rubber compound. The burly 38 mm stanchions of the 160 mm FOX Performance fork ensure precise handling for rowdy riding manoeuvres, especially with heavy riders, while somehow compensating for the spongy feel of the wide tires. When the trail gets tighter, there are definitely nimbler bikes in this group test. Despite its hefty 25.5 kg weight, the Crafty R is easy to manoeuvre and highly responsive in experienced hands. Here only the SRAM G2 R four piston brakes with 200 mm rotors rob you of confidence, delivering too little braking power and thus failing to live up to the downhill-oriented character of the bike.

But rowdiness goes both ways with the Mondraker. Even uphill, the Crafty R plays out its strengths, with its powerful Bosch motor pushing you to the trailhead and the wide rear tire generating sufficient traction. Despite the slightly rear-heavy pedalling position, the efficient rear suspension sits high in its travel, preventing the front wheel from lifting off the ground, while the Crafty integrates you nicely between its wheels. For short riders, this position can be uncomfortable on long distances, mainly due to the huge reach. Generally, we would recommend downsizing with the Mondraker.

The Mondraker Crafty R pulls through the forest like a chainsaw, allowing you to negotiate obstacles with extreme confidence. However, someone else cut the trees next to the test track!

Trimmed for functionality – The Mondraker Crafty R in detail

With its unmistakable silhouette, the Crafty R is distinctly recognisable as a Mondraker. While the exposed weld seams instantly reveal the nature of the material used, the alloy frame impresses with good workmanship and a very robust look. In visual terms, motor integration isn’t at its best, because it looks as if the 85 Nm Bosch Performance Line CX motor is just hanging off the bottom bracket. The motor draws its power from a 750 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery integrated permanently into the down tube, meaning that you can’t charge it off the bike. The charge port is oddly placed on the bottom side of the down tube, where it’s bombarded by water and mud! Just as exposed is the Bosch Kiox 300 display, which sits proudly off the stem and at an angle, where it’s particularly vulnerable to impacts in the event of a crash. Quite frankly, we’d expect more attention to detail with the most expensive bike in the entire test field, which retails for € 6,499. Quite clearly, the strong focus on performance has forced Mondraker to compromise on aesthetics and integration.

Tuning tips: different Kiox 300 display holder | upgrade to SRAM Code RSC brakes for more stopping power

Qualities

Design

Quality

Usability

Value for Money

Beginner-friendly

Expert-ready

Intended Use

Everyday use

Touring

Flowtrails

Fast & rowdy

Technical climbing

Conclusion

The Mondraker Crafty comes to life on technical trails and fast gnar. Here, it convinces with excellent composure, leaving behind almost the entire test field in a cloud of dust. With its powerful motor, the Crafty R grinds its way up the mountain as if possessed, always generating sufficient traction. However, looks and integration were strongly compromised, failing to live up to the € 6,499 price tag and thus spoiling the overall positive impression! For tours, moderate trails and beginners, there are significantly better bikes in this group test!

Tops

very composed
composed handling downhill
intuitive climber

Flops

SRAM G2 R brakes lack bite
permanently integrated battery
display exposed to impacts and at an angle

You can find out more about at mondraker.com

The test field