Two facts. Spaniards are well known for their temperament, and “restraint” is an alien word to the brand-new Mondraker E-Crusher RR+. We want to know if the bike is as fiery as it looks.
We have to tell you straight away that Mondraker’s new electric high-end carbon beauty, the E-Crusher RR+, comes at a price: exactly € 9,000. (But there is a cheaper version available too). The distinctively shaped carbon frame houses a Shimano STEPS E8000 motor while the oversized downtube conceals a fully integrated 500-Wh battery. The E-Crusher is a well-conceived design concept topped off with a stylish paint job. The distinctive hole between top- and downtube is one of Mondraker’s trademarks. Another clear and visible trademark is the Forward Geometry concept: a very long frame, a slack steering angle, and a short stem make for a stable ride while the short rear end acts as a counterbalance that delivers the necessary agility.
On paper the spec leaves nothing to be desired. A FOX Factory suspension platform with 160 mm travel up front and 150 mm at the back, a Shimano XT Di2 groupset for smooth shifting between gears on a 11–46t cassette and two 2.8″ MAXXIS Minion DHF tires paired with Mavic E-XA Elite 27.5+ wheels for optimal grip. The wheels have been developed specifically for e-mountainbikes and are supposed to be stronger and longer-lasting than traditional ones thanks to a more stable freewheel and thicker spokes on the drive-side. Ironically the brake-side spokes came loose during our test. After the test period, Mavic checked the wheel in their own test lab and figured out, that the wheel was damaged by a huge impact before our test period.
Enough with the theoretical stuff, how does the E-Crusher actually ride? In a classic mountain bike context, the Forward Geometry requires a very active riding style to get around corners confidently. The E-Crusher, on the contrary, feels rather tame. This is to ascribe to both the chainstays – which are comparatively longer than on traditional bikes (450 mm) – and the low centre of gravity of the motor, which makes the bike carve smoothly through all types of corners. Overall, the E-Crusher is superbly balanced! Even on more challenging downhills, the Mondraker remains an impressive ride with its superb handling and confidence-inspiring qualities. The short 30 mm stem lends the bike a very direct ride feeling and the 160 mm travel of the FOX 36 eats up all sorts of bumps with the appropriate sensitivity. The non-serial RockShox Super Deluxe rear shock feels overdamped, generating good amounts of feedback but lacking sensitivity. The serial FOX DPX2 shock will solve this problem.
A combination of a very comfortable riding position and great power transfer make the E-Crusher an awesome and confident climber, so even on the ugliest climbs the front wheel stays attached to the ground.
The Mondraker E-Crusher RR+ in detail
Fork FOX 36 Float Factory 160 mm
Rear shock FOX Float DPX2 Factory 150 mm
Motor / Battery Shimano Steps E8000 / 504 Wh
Brakes Shimano Saint
Drivetrain Shimano XT Di2
Seat post FOX Transfer Performance Elite
Stem ONOFF STOIC FG
Handlebar ONOFF STOIC Carbon
Tires MAXXIS Highroller II+/DHF+
Wheels Mavic E-XA Elite
Mondraker E-Crusher RR+ in geo
Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seat tube | 380 mm | 420 mm | 470 mm | 500 mm | |
Top tube | 608 mm | 636 mm | 658 mm | 684 mm | |
Head angle | 70° | 70° | 70° | 70° | |
Seat angle | 74.5° | 74.5° | 74.5° | 74.5° | 74.5° |
Chainstay | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm | |
BB Drop | -18 mm | -18 mm | -18 mm | -18 mm | -18 mm |
Wheelbase | 1201 mm | 1226 mm | 1252 mm | 1281 mm | |
Reach | 441 mm | 466 mm | 486 mm | 506 mm | |
Stack | 609 mm | 609 mm | 623 mm | 637 mm |
Conclusion
The aesthetically exciting Mondraker E-Crusher RR+ has definitely managed to impress us with its balanced, playful, and docile handling. If you’re in between sizes, you should go for the smaller one. The eye-watering price of € 9,000 might seem steep, but it’s fair when compared to other carbon competitors.
Strengths
– Futuristic design
– Balanced and safe handling
– Lush spec
Weaknesses
– Price
– Loose spokes on wheels
For more information head to mondraker.com
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Words: Christoph Bayer Photos: Antonia Buckenlei