2023 Mondraker Dusk R E-Bike

Mondraker delivers yet again with excellent geometry. The DUSK R fits true to size and offers an impressive balance of stability and agility. Despite being used to mullet setups on my other trail and enduro bikes, I found the DUSK R corners just as well—if not better—which impressed me from day one.

The bike comes equipped with reasonably good components for the price, but I did make a few upgrades. The stock cockpit wasn’t comfortable for my preferences, so I swapped it out. I also replaced the rear shock, as I felt the stock option limited the bike’s potential. To avoid bottoming out, you’d have to compromise on grip and comfort, which didn’t work for me. With these tweaks, the DUSK R is an outstanding ride. I also upgraded the brakes and fork, but this was purely a personal choice since I had higher-spec components available from a previous build. The stock brakes and fork perform more than adequately and would serve most riders just as well.

Unfortunately, I’ve had repeated issues with the battery and motor on this bike. The first failure was attributed to moisture causing a short circuit (according to the seller after repair), and the seller replaced and isolated some cables. However, I found their advice—suggesting I avoid charging the bike after wet rides —odd, as bikes like these are supposed to be largely waterproof.

The problem resurfaced after only three rides, despite avoiding wet or muddy conditions, which leads me to believe the issue wasn’t properly resolved. Sending the bike back for repairs a second time is frustrating, especially since I’ve owned it for a year, and it’s been out of commission for four months during that time. Whether this is a design flaw or just a bad batch, I can’t say.

That said, I enjoy the bike overall, so much so that I even purchased another one for my dad. I hope his doesn’t experience the same issue. As for the Shimano STEPS EP801 motor, it’s intuitive and an improvement over the previous generation, though a bit noisier than Bosch’s offerings.