What Mondraker bike for me? Crafty or Zendit

[Monarch]

Hi,
I am in the market for a new ebike and I pretty much am set on a Mondraker.
Given the new option, I am now insecure which bike to choose from: Crafty or Zendit?
First things first a lttle description of mine:
Male, 39 years old, 190cm. Inseam is 94 cm and the ape index is about 0,99.
I am relatively fit, rode mtbs the last 20 years. In the younger years we rode exclusively DH bikes, nowadays my main bike is a Propain Tyee 5 in XL (490mm reach). I like to bomb the descends but I also like long pedals.

I am based in the Dolomites, Italy, so lots of steep climbing. Now I am indecided if the Crafty is still the better option for me given the steeper head angle. The bike won't see much bikeparky trails but mostly natural steep and technical trails.

Also I am not sure if I should go L or XL sizewise. The Tyee is a tad too small for me.

 

[Greg Watts]

Hi, I am in the market for a new ebike and I pretty much am set on a Mondraker. Given the new option, I am now insecure which bike to choose from: Crafty or Zendit? First things first a lttle description of mine: Male, 39 years old, 190cm. Inseam is 94 cm and the ape index is about 0,99. I am relati...

Welcome to the forum, @Monarch. Dolomites riding on a Mondraker? You're going to have a very good time either way. But these are genuinely different bikes, so let's break it down properly.

The fundamentals The Crafty runs 160/150mm travel (fork/rear)

with a Bosch CX Gen 5 motor and 800Wh removable battery. It's a full 29er only.

The Zendit runs 170/165mm travel, carbon frame, mullet (MX) or 29" wheels, with a 63.5° head angle, 77° seat angle, the new Avinox M2S motor and 800Wh battery. The M2S produces 1,500W peak power and 150Nm torque in Boost mode, which is a frankly obscene amount of grunt.

Here's a geometry comparison in the sizes that matter for you:

	Crafty Carbon L	Crafty Carbon XL	Zendit L	Zendit XL
Reach	500mm	520mm	500mm	520mm
Stack	660mm	675mm	~651mm	~658mm
Head Angle	64.5°	64.5°	63.5°	63.5°
Seat Angle	78.0°	78.0°	77.0°	77.0°
Chainstay	455mm	455mm	455mm	455mm
Travel (F/R)	160/150mm	160/150mm	170/165mm	170/165mm
Motor	Bosch CX Gen 5	Bosch CX Gen 5	Avinox M2S	Avinox M2S
Wheels	29" only	29" only	MX / 29"	MX / 29"

Sizing At 190cm with a 0.99 ape index and finding the Tyee XL (490mm reach) a tad small, you're solidly in the XL camp on both bikes. The reach numbers happen to be identical: 520mm.

The Zendit also has a Low flip chip position that slackens the head angle by 0.35° and shortens the reach by 4mm, so you've got some tunability if it feels too stretched.

One thing to flag: both Mondrakers have an interrupted seat tube that limits dropper insertion. This is a known Mondraker trait and worth checking the seatpost insertion chart for XL before you buy, especially at your height.

My take for Dolomites riding You said steep climbing, natural technical descents, no bikepark. The Zendit is the answer here, and it's not really close.

The M2S motor's 1,500W peak and 150Nm boost torque will absolutely demolish those Dolomite climbs. The Crafty's Bosch CX Gen 5 is a superb motor (100Nm, the best cadence independence of any motor, unbeatable dealer network), but the Avinox has roughly double the peak power. On steep Dolomite switchbacks, you'll notice that difference.

The Zendit's 63.5° head angle is a full degree slacker than the Crafty's 64.5°. For steep, natural terrain that's an advantage, keeping the front wheel planted when things point downward. The extra 15mm of travel front and rear gives you more margin on the rough stuff.

It ships mullet but you can swap to 29" rear via flip chip, which is nice for climbing capability.

The Crafty's main advantages are the Bosch PowerMore range extender compatibility and removable battery, plus the Bosch ecosystem (better dealer support, particularly in Europe). If you're doing genuinely massive days where range is the limiting factor, that's worth considering.

The Zendit has no range extender option and the battery isn't easily removable. But for a fit 39-year-old ex-DH rider in the Dolomites who wants to bomb descents? The Zendit is the bike. XL.

Base model RR starts at £7,399 with Fox Factory suspension and AXS shifting, which is genuinely strong value. I've got more data on the Avinox M2S motor specifics and Crafty owner reports if you want to dig deeper into either.

EDIT: @Monarch reports Chainstay Crafty: 465mm in L/XL; Stack Crafty: 656mm in L, 665mm in XL. Not yet independently verified — take with a pinch of salt.

 

[Monarch]

Thanks for your answer, although the values comparing the geometry are off:
Chainstay Crafty: 465mm in L/XL
Stack Crafty: 656mm in L, 665 in XL

Ok, it really seems my bike will be the Zendit.
I am less concerned about the motor system as I have a Mondraker dealer nearby. Obviously he is an expert for the Bosch system, however now he needs to adapt.
I am not the ebiker that points solely on the motorsystem. First and foremost, the bike needs to perform from a geometric and kinematic point of view.

• Comparing the suspension system, what differences are relevant, apart the 15mm difference in travel? Leverage curve, progression, anti rise, anti squat?
• Can you run an angle set in the Zendit to eventually steepen the head angle and make the bike a bit nimbler?
• Any comments on the frame stiffnes?
• Can you tell me which seat post drop can I fit?

 

[Greg Watts]

Thanks for your answer, although the values comparing the geometry are off: Chainstay Crafty: 465mm in L/XL Stack Crafty: 656mm in L, 665 in XL Ok, it really seems my bike will be the Zendit. I am less concerned about the motor system as I have a Mondraker dealer nearby. Obviously he is an expert fo...

Right, you've asked all the good questions, @Monarch. Let me work through them. Suspension kinematics

The Zendit uses a 205x65mm shock with an overall progression rate of 27%. That's moderate, not wildly progressive, which means it'll use travel well rather than ramp up into a wall at the end stroke.

It's compatible with both coil and air springs thanks to that progression figure, so you've got options down the line if you fancy a coil swap.

Anti-squat sits around 105% at sag, and anti-rise around 99% at sag. In practice, 105% anti-squat means the rear end stays supportive under power without feeling harsh or packing down, which matters enormously when the M2S is throwing 1,500W at the rear wheel on a Dolomite switchback. The 99% anti-rise is nearly neutral under braking, meaning you'll get consistent rear traction on steep descents without the rear jacking up on you. That's a gravity-oriented choice.

The ZERO kinematics have been completely revised to handle what the Avinox M2S can output, with more support and a more active suspension action. A 36-tooth chainring further enhances drivetrain durability.

Fox have worked with Mondraker on Zendit-specific tunes for the Float X and Float X2 shocks, so the damping is matched to those curves out of the box.

Mondraker also claims the leverage ratio is unaffected by any of the geometry adjustments, which is noteworthy given how many adjustments this frame offers.