FIRST RIDE: Mondraker Overhauls Its Crafty Full-Power eMTB

Mondraker's Crafty has been a cornerstone of their eMTB lineup for nearly a decade, and for 2025, it's received a complete overhaul. From motor integration to geometry, every detail has been refined in collaboration with Bosch to create an e-MTB that excels as much at technical climbs as it does on descents. Has Mondraker unlocked the secret formula, setting a new benchmark in e-MTB performance? Let's take a close look to see what we uncovered on our first ride. 

Highlights

• 29inch inch wheels
• 150mm rear wheel travel // 160mm fork
• Stealth Air carbon frame (carbon frame with alloy rear triangle on select models)
• eMTB-specific ZERO suspension design
• New BOSCH Performance Line CX Motor
• 800Wh Removable Battery
• 250Wh Range Extender compatible  
• 4 customizable assistance modes
• Internal cable routing with Hidden Housing Guide (HHG)
• 2 Bottlecage mounts for range extender & water bottle
• UDH equipped
• 5 sizes (S-XL)
• Claimed Weight 52.7 lbs (23.9kg)
• Price as tested $7,999 USD

What's New?

Crafty, Mondraker's flagship enduro eMTB, was redesigned specifically to excel equally in climbing and descending. It features a refined 150mm platform and Bosch's latest CX Line motor with two new removable Bosch battery options, 600Wh and 800Wh. 

The 2025 Crafty retains the 29-inch wheels from the prior model, but any resemblance pretty much ends there. The new Crafty lineup spans five builds tailored to specific rider preferences and price points. The top-end Crafty RR SL build retails for $11,999 and comes with a 160mm FOX 36 fork, 600Wh battery, and lighter components. The $9,999 Crafty XR bumps the fork up to a 170mm FOX 38, while the $8,999 Crafty RR S uses a 160mm FOX 38, with both builds utilizing a 600Wh battery. The $7,999 Crafty RR, which we tested, and $7,199 Crafty R use a 160mm FOX 38 and 800Wh battery for extended range. For those who wish to build their own Crafty, a frameset retails for $6,999. Mondraker will continue to sell the previous generation Crafty Race for $6,799, but it includes the old suspension layout, full alloy frame, and Bosch's Gen4 CX Race motor. 

The RR SL, XR, and RR S are built with Mondraker's Stealth Air Carbon frame. The remaining models incorporate alloy rear triangles. The carbon frame's familiar "pocket" behind the headtube remains, but that's where the similarities to the prior Crafty begin to fade. 

Mondraker has also expanded the size range to five options—S, M, M/L, L, XL—ensuring a more tailored fit for riders. The addition of an M/L size bridges the gap for more riders, while two chainstay lengths (455mm and 465mm) further enhance ride-specific geometry. Each size frame features size-specific components to fine-tune the rider experience—our medium test bike, for instance, was equipped with a 38mm rise bar to match the trend towards higher bars. 

The frame now includes an adjustable geometry flip chip that allows the head angle to change by .35 degrees and the bottom bracket to drop 5mm. The stock high setting places the head angle at 64.5 degrees, a full degree slacker than the previous model.

The cables are routed internally with a hidden guide system, entering the front of the headtube rather than the headset to simplify maintenance, but an internal headset routing option is available. 

Suspension Design

Mondraker has updated its ZERO Suspension design with new kinematics, changing the shock position to achieve an increased leverage ratio for a more supple ride. The anti-squat has been reduced to improve traction when pedaling hard or using the motor's aggressive Turbo mode. Mondraker collaborated with FOX to create a custom tune for the Float rear shock, designed to aid compliance and suppleness, especially when seated. As a result of Crafty's new suspension design, the insertion length of the seat post is limited by the interrupted seat tube. 

Bosch Performance Line CX System

Rather than simply adopting an off-the-shelf Bosch motor for the Crafty, Mondraker worked closely with Bosch to develop the third-generation bike as a full-performance package. This collaboration reflects a decade-long partnership between the two brands, dating back to Bosch's early days in the cycling market. Mondraker's CEO and founder, Miguel Peña, highlighted the depth of this relationship, even inviting Bosch eBike Systems CEO Claus Fleischer to join the Crafty media camp. 

The Performance CX Line motor offers 85nm of torque, 600 watts of power, and up to 340% assistance. The battery is removable, aiding in the transportation of the bike and adding the option to easily swap batteries. Crafty is also compatible with Bosch's PowerMore 250Wh add-on range extender via the bottle cage. Thirsty riders need not compromise their bottle or salty snacks as the Crafty incorporates two water bottle cages on the frame.

Bosch's motor serves as the heart of the Crafty, with four assist modes and numerous customizable options. We won't get into all the details since we covered most of them at the time of the motor's release earlier this fall, but it's worth mentioning the motor's ability to adapt rider input to trail performance. 

Sensors precisely measure the rider's input more than 1,000 times per second. The sensors include a high-resolution cadence sensor and precise torque measurement technology. Sensors also measure acceleration and rotation speeds, recognizing inclination and tilt angles as well as vibrations, so the motor "knows" how steep the ascent is and what type of terrain the rider is navigating. We'll discuss more on how this correlates with the Crafty below.  

A new Purion 400 display accompanies the Performance Line CX. Optimally protected behind the handlebar, the 1.6-inch display offers data such as speed, range, power, and total distance.

On The Trail

Mondraker recently invited us to picturesque Finale Ligure on the Italian coast for two days of testing on the new Crafty. Though Finale Ligure is a popular zone for shuttle-friendly enduro terrain, our time was mostly spent on trails with varying ups and downs, flow, and rocks, as Mondraker wanted to showcase the bike's versatility and motor performance.

A common phrase repeated during the media camp was "Uphill flow," a term coined by Mondraker ambassador Stefan Schlie, a former trials champion and eMTB advocate. Schlie, also a Bosch ambassador, played a pivotal role in the development of the Crafty, translating rider feedback to both brands in hopes of creating a complete eMTB package that would redefine how riders perceive eMTBs for climbing. 

The benefits of Mondraker's close relationship with Bosch became evident when climbing technical trails. The new motor's tune is naturally matched to pedaling cadence, delivering improved traction control and reducing the risk of losing grip — a common issue with the previous motor that tended to overrun and overpower the rider in tricky sections.

This is where the nifty aforementioned sensors come to life in these technical climbing situations, providing the proper torque for the terrain, similar to an automobile's traction control system. As a result of this traction and natural power delivery, we ascended downhill trails that, until recently, had been considered impossible to climb. We assume Bosch's decades of experience as a leading automobile electronics supplier likely played a part in these engineering achievements. 

With the 800Wh battery's long lifespan, we could set the assist mode to eMTB (purple) for nearly all sustained climbing, whether technical or mellow. Turbo was used only for the steepest, short bursts that required everything we had. Even then, eMTB mode would likely have sufficed in most scenarios thanks to Crafty's outstanding balance of power and control.

At nearly 53 pounds, Crafty is no welterweight. We expected the weight to become apparent when lifting over obstacles, changing lines, or cornering, but much to our surprise, the weight was not much of an issue. The bike was easy to get along with from the start, responding remarkably well to rider input — snappy in tight corners and playful when the trail called for it. Perhaps even more unexpectedly, Crafty's 150mm of rear travel felt like a longer travel bike when the obstacles became bigger and chunkier, and line choice was dubious. While we regularly used all 150mm, we never experienced harsh bottom-outs. Adding a bit more psi to the Float X shock than the chart recommended (ok, maybe it was the pesto pasta and chocolate cake) improved mid-stroke support and bottom-out resistance. 

We spent most of our testing in the stock high mode but switched to the low mode on rugged terrain near the end of the testing period. While not a significant difference, the bike seems to settle into the rear more, increasing compliance and maintaining momentum over square-edge hits, consecutive small bumps, and small drops. 

With only two days to test the bike, we were unable to thoroughly judge its performance on sustained technical descents. The verdict is still out on how the Crafty performs when the suspension heats up and trail obstacles become relentless to the point of death grip on the bars, however, Crafty's supple suspension left us seeking out more aggressive trails, and that's a good thing. 

Mondraker's choice of rubber is interesting in that 2.6" Minion DHF/DHR MaxTerra EXO+ tires are chosen front and rear. The voluminous widths resulted in less than desirable traction when descending Finale's rock-ridden trails, giving vague and "pingy" feedback. The MaxTerra compound only amplified that feedback on the front tire, whereas the rear tire felt balloonish — slippery and unpredictable during braking. 

Numerous editors — us included — experienced a loud rattle from the removable battery cover on the underside of the frame's downtube. Tightening the bolts remedied the situation for the remainder of the testing period. Aside from the battery cover, we did not experience any other unexpected noise, and overall, the bike was remarkably quiet. The Bosch motor is one of the quietest full-power motors on the market. 

The $7,999 Crafty RR's spec is well chosen. With an easy swap to better tires, Crafty's component choice should strike a proper balance for most riders. Other than the loose battery cover issue and several cracked plastic motor undercarriage protectors, we do not have any long-term durability concerns. 

Despite the shorter-than-usual seat tube, we had no issues getting our saddle out of the way on descents while achieving full extension for the climbs, but taller riders may. 

What's The Bottom Line?

While two days of testing isn't enough time to properly judge a bike's performance, what we can take away from our experience is that Mondraker has developed an eMTB package with little compromise — a hard-hitting 150mm travel bike that climbs as impressively as it descends and delivers serious fun while doing it. The geometry is well-suited to enduro terrain and, matched with Bosch's evolution of the Performance Line CX motor, marks a significant milestone in the capabilities and fun factor of full-power eMTBs.

Our only disappointment was not having enough time to find the limits to Crafty's suspension. We left the beautiful Italian coastline craving more bump-eating descents, jumps, margarita pizza, and croissants. Nonetheless, our first ride on the new Crafty was a clear testament to a formidable platform that only wants to say "YES" to any obstacle it encounters. 

For more information, please visit mondraker.com

Read Mondraker's complete Crafty press release 

About The Tester

Rick Reed - Age: 41 // Years Riding MTB: Who's counting? // Height: 5' 9" (1.75m) // Weight: 142 pounds (64.4kg)

A veteran of the bike industry, Rick "E" Reed is a regular contributor to Vital. Rick enjoys riding fast tech, backcountry singletrack, and bike parks, occasionally sharing his chocolate with a select human being or two (you know who you are). He resides in Reno, Nevada, with his terror dog, Zuul.