Is the new Mondraker Crusher the ultimate enduro e-MTB monster?
Mondraker has been flat out in the mountain bike world during 2023, dropping a huge selection of wide ranging bikes. From the Raze Carbon trail mountain bike to the whopping price-tagged Mondraker NEAT, an e-MTB that they claim sets the standard for lightweight e-MTB. It makes the Spanish giants one of the most active mountain bike brands this year, not resting on their laurels, they now drop the Mondraker Crusher, the brand's take on an enduro e-MTB that leans heavily on one of their other star bikes, the Crafty.
Back in 2017, Mondraker launched the first Crusher which was the world’s first full-suspension, full-carbon fiber framed e-MTB with an integrated battery. The all-new Crusher brings the essence of the original Crusher's DNA but also borrows geometry and kinematics from the Crafty. Mondraker says the three-build Crusher is stylish, tough and capable of anything enduro e-MTB.
So what's new? Firstly, the Crusher takes advantage of some of Mondraker's class-leading technology. The front triangle is made from Stealth Air Carbon while the swingarm is fabricated from Stealth Alloy. The brand says combining a carbon frame with a burly aluminum rear, makes the Crusher lightweight but optimized for strength.
The new Crusher comes in three builds – the Crusher RR, Crusher R and Crusher. All have 150mm of rear wheel travel and 160mm forks with burly 38mm stanchions, 4-piston brakes with 200-203mm rotors, and Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II 2.6-inch tires all aimed at aggressive enduro riding.
As mentioned, the Crusher follows the aesthetic and design language of the Crafty Carbon, so fans of the Crafty, looking for a bike with a Shimano motor, can still get the classic good looks of the Crafty. The Crusher also has the effectiveness of the brand's Zero Suspension System. Zero is Mondraker's individually designed, set up and optimized suspension system which is claimed to deliver the best pedaling efficiency and biggest hit capability across all of Mondraker's full-suspension model range.
Power for those big days in the saddle comes in from Shimano's EP801 which is the latest generation of Shimano motor. It provides 85Nm of power while weighing in at 2.7 kg, which makes it one of the lightest full-power motors on the market. Assistance is in three different modes that are Eco, Trail and Boost, each of which is configurable via Shimano’s Smartphone app.
The top-of-the-range Crusher RR comes with a Shimano XT Di2 rear mech which also offers the option of Free Shift which is Shimano's revolutionary system that allows riders to change gears without pedaling. This means the motor drives the chain without turning the cranks, allowing the appropriate gear to be selected even if, for whatever reason, you can’t spin the cranks. An example of this is if you can’t pedal at a certain point on the trail, like negotiating a big obstacle, but you need to be in a different gear for the next section of the trail, like a short sharp climb.
All three Crusher builds come with the Shimano EN600 high-contrast full-color display which shows you which of the modes you’re using as well as all of your settings menus. The modes can be switched using the bar-mounted controller, located next to the handlebar grip, which can also be used to scroll through the display menus when stationary and includes status lights to show your battery level and mode selected at a glance. All the build options all come with the same 720Wh integrated battery which will give several hours of riding.
Availability, pricing and specification
All three builds are available now with specs below priced as follows, the top of the range Crusher RR is $11,399 / £8,799 / €9,499. The Crusher R is $9,699 / £7,499 / €8,299, and the Crusher is $8,699 / £6,299 / €6,999. Check out Mondraker.com for further details.
Mondraker Crusher RR
Frame: Crusher Stealth Carbon and Stealth Alloy, e-bike optimized
Fork: Öhlins RXF 38 M.2 29, 160mm
Rear Shock: Öhlins TTX Air 205X65mm
Motor: Shimano EP801
Battery: Simplo internal 720Wh G3
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M8150-GS Di2 12spd
Shifters: Shimano XT Di2
Stem: Onoff Krypton FG 30mmBar: Onoff Krypton Carbon 1.0
Crankset: Shimano Steps XT FC-8150 e-Bike, 165mm
Seatpost: Onoff Pija dropper internal,
Saddle: FIZIK Terra Aidon X5 145mm
Brakes: Shimano Deore XT M8120, 4-piston caliper, 203mm
Wheels: Mavic E-Deemax S 29
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II 29x2.6
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Color: Translucent Red Carbon / Black / Racing Silver
Price: $11,399 / £8,799 / €9,499
Mondraker Crusher R
Frame: Crusher Stealth Carbon and Stealth Alloy, e-bike optimized
Fork: Öhlins RXF 38 M.2 29, 160mm
Rear Shock: Öhlins TTX Air 205X65mm
Motor: Shimano EP801
Battery: Simplo internal 720Wh G3
Rear Derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle
Shifters: SRAM Trigger GX Eagle
Stem: Onoff Krypton FG 30mm
Bar: Onoff Krypton Carbon 1.0
Crankset: Shimano Steps FC-EM600 e-Bike, 165mm
Seatpost: Onoff Pija dropper internal,
Saddle: FIZIK Terra Aidon X5 145mm
Brakes: Sram Code Bronze Stealth, 4-piston caliper, 200mm
Wheels: Mavic E-Deemax 29
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II 29x2.6
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Color: Denim Blue / Midnight Blue / Racing Silver
Price: $9,699 / £7,499 / €8,299
Mondraker Crusher
Frame: Crusher Stealth Carbon and Stealth Alloy, e-Bike Optimized
Fork: Fox 38 29 Float FIT GRIP EVOL, 160mm
Rear Shock: Fox Float-X LV Performance, 205x65mm
Motor: Shimano STEPS EP801
Battery: Simplo internal 720Wh G3
Rear Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
Shifters: SRAM Trigger NX Eagle
Stem: Onoff Sulfur FG 30mm
Bar: Onoff Sulfur Alloy 1.0
Crankset: Shimano Steps FC-EM600 e-Bike, 165mm
Seatpost: Onoff Pija dropper internal,
Saddle: FIZIK Terra Aidon X5 145mm
Brakes: Sram DB8, 4-piston caliper, 200mm
Wheels: Mavic E-Deemax 29
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II 29x2.6
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Color: Nimbus Grey / Vortex Grey / Bronze
Price: $8,699 / £6,299 / €6,999