Mondraker’s Forward Geometry combined with plus wheels sounds like a recipe for stability and speed. But would it all come together on the trail?
The frame
The Crafty is the only full-alloy frame on test. What’s more important is the stretched-out top tube, which gives a roomy riding position and allows use of a super-short stem. Down below, Mondraker’s Zero suspension system delivers 140mm of travel with a great balance of pedalling efficiency and suppleness.
The kit
The wheels are the heaviest here, at 2,295g, and the frame’s 12x157mm rear hub spacing means you’re stuck with them (unless you opt for a custom build around a DH hub). They’re 40mm wide though, and have proven resilient. Shimano gearing and SRAM brakes is an odd coupling but both perform well. Fox provide the suspension – the topspec version of their 34 fork and a non-Kashima Float X EVOL shock.
The ride
Straight away, the Crafty feels different to any other bike. Even with a 30mm stem, the really long reach (530mm on the XL frame) throws open your arms to give a dynamic riding position that’s a breath of fresh air for tall riders and has won fans among shorter testers too. This opens up the lungs when climbing, even with the saddle shunted forwards on the rails to maximise the seat angle, which is already the steepest on test. Combined with the efficient yet supple floating-shock suspension, this made the Crafty the comfiest climber when things got steep and technical, despite it being the heaviest bike on test.
The short stem makes the steering quicker and more predictable. Along with the steep 68.5-degree head angle, this helps override the effects of the long wheelbase and produces a surprisingly agile ride – the long Mondraker even tackles tight switchbacks with confident agility. For anything other than DH bombing, the long front centre provides bags of loose-ground stability and a planted feel, despite the steep head angle and fairly high BB.
That steep head angle does somewhat hamper the performance of the fork though, making it harder for it to absorb square-edged hits and more likely to flex backwards. Fox’s 34 isn’t the stiffest or bestdamped fork anyway, so the front end felt quite harsh on the fast and rocky Sanremo trails, limiting the bike’s obvious monster-trucking potential. We’d happily sacrifice some nimbleness for a slacker head angle for ploughing through rocks – an angled headset would be a great upgrade, as would a stiffer fork.
Thankfully, out back the Zero suspension works with the Float X shock to deliver excellent sensitivity, with a supple beginning stroke and just enough support through the mid stroke. It’s also really stable and efficient under power without being too restricted by chain growth.
Maxxis’s 3in Chronicle tyres lack cornering bite and were noticeably driftier than the others here in UK soil and Italian dust alike. The Crafty’s long geometry extends the margin of error between initial slide and washing out though, and they do roll fast, bagging us a couple of KOMs on our local test route.
We’re not fans of the own-brand grips and 760mm bar, and couldn’t find a comfy position for the Shimano shifter next to the SRAM brake lever. The Guide R brakes performed brilliantly in Sanremo though, where all the Shimano stoppers developed a little bite-point inconsistency.
Stable geometry and beautifully balanced rear suspension make the Crafty a stonkingly fast descender and a comfortable climber too. For relatively mellow UK trails it’s an absolute blast, but when things got seriously rough the flexy fork and steep head angle were frustratingly limiting. With an angled headset and a cockpit swap, we reckon you’d have a truly astonishing enduro weapon on your hands.
HIGHS
-Roomy geometry breeds speed and comfort both up and down
-Superb rear suspension balances efficiency and sensitivity
LOWS
-Steep head angle hampers performance in the rough
-Weighty wheels and proprietary rear hub standard are a pain
Fast, agile, confident and comfortable, but we’d slacken it out to release its full potential
WEIGHT 15.1kg (33.lb)
FRAME ‘Stealth Evo’ aluminium, 140mm (5.5in) travel
SIZES (TESTED) S, M, L, XL*
FORK Fox 34 Float FIT4 Performance, 140mm (5.5in) travel
SHOCK Fox Float X LV EVOL
HEADSET FSA No.57, integrated
WHEELS :
HUBS MDK Disc Pro
RIMS MDK-EP1 40, 40mm (internal)
SPOKES CN stainless, 32
AXLES 15x110mm F, 12x157mm R
WHEEL WEIGHT 2.61kg F, 3.31kg R (including tyres)
TYRES Maxxis Chronicle 27.5x3.0in
CRANKSET Race Face AEffect SL, 30t/
BOTTOM BRACKET Race Face X-Type
DERAILLEUR(S) Shimano Deore XT SGS
SHIFTER(S) Shimano Deore XT (1x11)
CASSETTE/CHAIN Shimano Deore XT, 11-42t/Shimano HG600-11
BRAKES SRAM Guide R, 180mm rotors
BAR/STEM/GRIPS Mondraker, 760mm/Onoff Stoic FG, 30mm/Onoff Diamond lock-on
SEATPOST/SADDLE RockShox Reverb Stealth/Mondraker custom
Price 5550$