Mondraker Crafty Carbon 2026: Five Builds of the Bosch-Powered eMTB Compared

Introduction

Mondraker’s Crafty Carbon brings together 150 mm of rear wheel travel, 29-inch wheels and Bosch’s fifth-generation Performance Line CX motor in a package that straddles the line between trail and enduro riding. The newest version of the brand’s Zero suspension layout drops the shock lower in the frame, and the line-up runs to five builds with prices from £6,299 / $6,799 up to £11,799 / $11,999.

This guide covers what every Crafty Carbon shares, then walks through each build so you can see where the money goes and which one matches the way you ride.

What Every Crafty Carbon Shares

The motor is Bosch’s fifth-generation Performance Line CX. Output figures carry over from the previous generation at 600 W peak power and 85 Nm of torque, but Bosch says the newer unit provides better ride feel and less noisy chatter than the motor it replaces. A hill hold mode is activated by holding the minus button, which stops the bike rolling backwards before you start pedalling or when using walk mode.

Battery capacity is the other defining decision. The Crafty Carbon takes either a 600 Wh or an 800 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery hidden in the down tube. The battery is removable and the compartment is shielded by a carbon cover. The smaller capacity is not reserved for cheaper bikes: the range-topping Crafty Carbon RR SL runs the smaller battery as part of its weight-saving specification.

If you need more range, a Bosch PowerMore range extender adds 250 Wh and mounts in place of a bottle cage. Mondraker has left room for two bottles, or for one range extender plus one bottle, and there is a tool mount on the underside of the top tube.

On the bars, the Bosch Purion 400 display uses a 1.6-inch high-resolution, high-contrast screen for readability and shows metrics including speed, range, battery life and the selected assistance mode. There are four assistance modes, and all of them can be customised through the Bosch eBike Flow app.

Frame, Suspension and Geometry

The Crafty Carbon front triangle is built from Mondraker’s premium Stealth Air carbon fibre. Higher-end models extend the composite construction to the rear end, while most builds use Stealth Alloy for the seat stays and chain stays.

The headline design change is the latest incarnation of the Zero suspension linkage, which places the shock significantly lower in the frame than on the previous model. The linkage passes through the seat tube, and moulded plastic guards fill the gaps between frame sections to help keep water and trail grime away from the shock. Mondraker says the lower position lowers and centres the mass of the linkage and the shock, a move aimed at optimising handling.

The Zero layout uses two swing links. One joins the seat stays to the seat tube, and the other joins the chainstay to the bottom bracket. The shock floats, with the lower link driving the bottom of the shock and the upper link driving the top. A flip chip in the linkage slackens the bike further for steeper terrain.

Cable routing is a choice rather than a fixed design: run the internal routing through the headset for the cleanest look, or use the more traditional ports on the head tube.

Geometry is an evolution of the previous Crafty rather than a clean-sheet redesign. The head angle has gone from 65.5 degrees to 64.5 degrees in the standard setting, and the linkage adjustment slackens it further to 64.15 degrees. The effective seat tube angle is steep at 77.6 degrees, which keeps seated climbing comfortable. Five sizes are offered: small, medium, medium-large, large and extra-large, one more than before. The new medium-large size allows the extremities of the size range to be more extreme while still offering accurate fitting in the middle. Reach on a large grows by 10 mm, from 490 mm to 500 mm, and chainstay lengths are size specific: 455 mm on small, medium and medium-large, and 465 mm on large and extra-large. The Crafty Carbon is 29-inch wheel specific with clearance for tyres up to 2.6 inches.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon

The range opens at £6,299 / $6,799 with the Crafty Carbon, the most accessible way into the platform. It carries the same Stealth Air carbon front triangle, 150 mm of rear travel, 29-inch wheels, Bosch Performance Line CX motor and Zero linkage as the rest of the family, so the geometry and ride character stay consistent from the bottom of the range upwards. Where the builds separate is in the components bolted to that frame and in the battery you choose.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon R

Priced at £7,699 / $7,999, the Crafty Carbon R pairs a carbon front triangle with an alloy rear end. Suspension comes from a Fox 38 Performance fork with 160 mm of travel and a Fox Float X Performance shock. This is the build to look at if range matters most, because it ships with the larger 800 Wh battery. A SRAM GX AXS transmission handles shifting and Maven brakes handle stopping.

For riders who cover long days and want plenty of stiffness up front, this is the most straightforward combination in the range: more battery capacity than the RR S and the XR, and a 160 mm fork that suits trail and all-mountain riding. It is also the point where the component package becomes noticeably more capable than the entry build.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR S

At £8,499 / $8,999, the RR S moves to a carbon fibre rear triangle and a smaller 600 Wh battery. It also brings upgraded parts, including an XO Eagle AXS transmission, Maven Silver brakes and a lighter wheelset. The result is a build that trades some battery capacity for a lighter, more highly specified bike.

That trade is deliberate. If your rides are shorter or you are happy to add a 250 Wh range extender for the occasional long day, the RR S gives you the carbon rear end and the higher-grade drivetrain without stepping up to the XR or the RR SL.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon XR

The XR costs £9,399 / $9,999, roughly £900 / $1,000 more than the RR S, and spends that money on travel and aggression. The frame is full carbon, and the suspension steps up to an Öhlins RXF38 fork with 170 mm of travel and an Öhlins TTX22 m.2 coil shock. It keeps the smaller 600 Wh battery along with the same XO drivetrain, Maven Silver brakes and the same wheels as the RR S.

That combination points at riders who want a coil-sprung rear end and more fork travel for steeper, rougher descents, and who are willing to give up the 800 Wh battery to get it. It is the most descent-focused build in the range without moving to the weight-saving flagship.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR SL

The range-topping RR SL is priced at £11,799 / $11,999 and is built around saving weight. It swaps the 38 mm fork for a 36 mm diameter Fox Factory 36, which together with the smaller 600 Wh battery helps bring the claimed weight down to 21.4 kg. E13 carbon hoops and a SRAM XX Top Flight transmission complete the package.

This is the build for riders who care more about climbing efficiency and a lighter bike under them than about maximum travel. The 36 mm fork and the smaller battery are the two decisions that make that possible, and the drivetrain and rims follow the same logic.

How to Choose Between the Five Builds

Start with battery capacity, because it shapes everything else. The 800 Wh option on the Crafty Carbon R is the one to pick if you want the longest rides between charges without carrying an extender. The 600 Wh battery on the RR S, XR and RR SL is a deliberate weight-saving choice, and you can add 250 Wh when you need it with the PowerMore range extender, which uses the space normally taken by a bottle cage.

Then decide how much travel and how much weight you want. The Crafty Carbon R sits at 160 mm of fork travel, while the XR goes to 170 mm with a coil shock for the most aggressive descending. The RR SL takes the opposite approach, cutting weight with a 36 mm fork, carbon rims and the smaller battery.

Component level is the third variable. Moving up the range brings a carbon rear triangle, wireless SRAM drivetrains and progressively higher-grade brakes. If you plan to upgrade parts over time, the entry Crafty Carbon and the Crafty Carbon R leave the most room to do that.

Finally, check sizing. The range now runs to five sizes with the additional medium-large option and size-specific chainstay lengths, so the fit should stay consistent whether you sit at the small end or the large end of the range.

Conclusion

The Crafty Carbon is a cohesive platform. The 150 mm of rear travel, 29-inch wheels, latest Zero linkage and Bosch’s fifth-generation Performance Line CX motor are common to every build, so the choice comes down to battery capacity, travel and component level. Pick the 800 Wh Crafty Carbon R for range, the XR for travel and descending capability, and the RR SL for the lightest build. The RR S and the entry Crafty Carbon cover the middle and the entry point of the range without leaving the platform behind.