Mondraker Crafty XR 2022 Review - What a ROCKET 🚀 Ship!

[@SamsBikes]

​Yo Riders 4 weeks over 300km on the Beast Crafty XR got any questions just ask

[@blondie11411]

How much does it weigh

[@The.JZA.]

I'm driving 4.5 hours to have a look at a Crafty R in 2 days. I am thinking about buying it to replace my Commencal Meta Power SX Race. I love the Commencal but the EP8 doesn't have enough power for my weight (~100kg) and I don't like how it cuts out when I pedal quickly. It's also not very efficient so the range is a bit disappointing. I would love to get the Crafty Carbon XR because it looks awesome but I don't think I can justify buying a $19,500 NZD bike haha. The Crafty R is the base model, $12,999 NZD, aluminium frame and I am pretty happy with the spec. I will change out the brakes though because I have some Magura MT7's on my old Stumpjumper so I'll switch those over before I sell it. How have you found the range to be on the Crafty? I know it's a 750Wh battery so the range is gonna be great, but obviously the bike geometry and suspension kinematics plays a role in pedalling efficiency as well and therefore range. So have you been pretty impressed with the range on the Crafty? Do you think the Alloy is good enough or should I just shell out and buy the carbon frame? The carbon frames do look damn good. I quite like the Crafty RR in Red/Black with the Fox suspension $19,000 NZD. I always found the Commencal to be a bit long in XL and it kind of hurt my back and neck. I'm 194cm tall so on the size charts I'm defintely an XL but I spoke to the guy in the shop on the phone and he said he has sold both L and XL to guys my height and he has both in stock. I'm just wondering if I should size down to get a bit more comfort i.e. less reach/stretched out riding position and maybe to make the bike feel a bit more nimble as well. Thoughts? Cant wait to see the bike in person. I hope it looks good in alloy because that's most likely the one I will get.

[@The.JZA.]

I've had my Crafty R for about 9 months and I love it. Fantastic all rounder bike. It's capable of doing anything and doing it well. Some bikes are too focused on one thing like being a sled downhill or being nimble on singletrack but then fall over when taken outside of their comfort zone. The Crafty is a super capable bike that can do anything. I can't say enough good things about it. I did upgrade the brakes to Magura MT7's though because the standard SRAM G2's were way too weak. I've done a couple of other upgrades too but nothing fundamental.

[@oliverbourne9599]

Awesome. So good to hear how you felt about the size. I really struggled choosing between M or L on paper. I'm 177cms, so based on your feelings about your L, I'm glad I went with a M XR. I'm actually coming off a Level RR, so super excited to see how this compares, as basically it weighs around 3kgs less than a Level RR !!!

[@siriosstar4789]

Great video . two things that set your videos apart from all other channels . 1- fearless at saying what you don't care for . 2- the ability to verbally express what your body experiences while riding .

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mate I really appreciate your words. I try really hard and giving the full review because these bikes are not cheap and I want to give the rider the full picture of what they might be buying.

[@simonlaw6842]

Thanks for the review Sam. I just bought the 2024 model heavily discounted and I think all your points are pretty good. I'm looking forward to trying the suspension never ridden Ohlins. We just moved back to Scotland after 20 years in Melbourne by the way, escaped dictator dan a couple of years ago.

[@siriosstar4789]

Very cool looking bike . it has my favorite frame design where the top tube extends all the way down to the wheel assembly . Also the bosch is still my favorite all around motor for power and a natural feel when pedaling .

[@brenth6732]

glad to see you took my advice and jumped on a mondraker finally!!! lol but watching your videos trips me out because spain looks so much like the terrain we have here in Sothern California...

[@SamsBikes]

hahaha Spain is amazing for riding you need to come..

[@Drcheeser79]

Great review Sam!! 👍. Looking forward to hearing more on that motor. !

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mate I start a monster motor test next week

[@ysteinm2468]

love your honesty Sam!

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mate

[@markhaylett9570]

Nice work, Sam. Very well put together overview mate

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mate this one took all week but very proud of it

[@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120]

I am buying my emtb on April and you just made it harder for me to choose! I was between the Levo and the new Rail, and now this Mondraker! Tough choice!!

[@SamsBikes]

Haha can’t go wrong with any of them

[@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120]

@@SamsBikes Yeah right!😀😃

[@andysteel6067]

Another winning review from you Sam!! Keep up the great work mate. Got my Level turning up at the end of the month. Would love to hear a review from you on that beast. Cheers 👊.... btw - Nice shoes!

[@86309]

great review as always Sam, thank you!!

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks Patrick

[@borjaisasi1537]

Great video Sam! Just bought a Crafty R, coming from a Trek Rail. Massive change on noise from the motor. Barely noticeable on the Mondraker

[@SamsBikes]

I know right! I think it must be the internal battery!

[@The.JZA.]

I'm looking at buying a Crafty R in a couple of days (gotta drive to another city, 4.5 hours away on Monday). How are you finding it so far? Would you recommend it? Any issues?

[@borjaisasi1537]

@@The.JZA. Hi there! The bike works really well so far. I had some play in the Fox 38 fork, but I solved it through warranty. Battery range could be better, the first 10% drops quickly. but I think bosch is working on a sw for the powertube 750 to solve it.

[@stefanodipascale7186]

Hi Sam... I can ask you for advice... I am 1.75 tall and I am halfway between an m and an L ... I would like to take a crafty carbon and I'm more oriented on the L... What do you think... Thank you

[@SamsBikes]

I would say if you want the bike really planted in a straight line size up if you want it more playful size down! If you can test both sizes even better

[@kurtsanabria8881]

Hey Sam great video!! The curious question here, why did this bike it is not one of the best 2022 e-bikes ?? Don't you consider this bike one of the best ones ?? Why do you think Mondrakers crafty carbon it is not that popular these days ?? I've been trying lots of ebikes and this one XR is one if not the best ebike I tested!! Regards.

[@ianswayne7296]

I can’t wait to get an e-bike. Not happening for a couple years. But will be awesome when it does.

[@billderas3420]

Great review Sam.

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks Bill

[@artificialgrassspain30]

Hey Sam. What are your thoughts on the starling with the free flow motor. I really think its a combo to watch in the future

[@SamsBikes]

I haven’t actually heard of it let me do a google

[@md.moinulislam9467]

Very smart looking emtb ever I seen....!

[@SKBoa]

Thanks mate, been waiting for this. I got myself Chaser 2022, (almost the) same frame, same motor, and luckily for me 2.7k cheaper and it actually has a better remote xD It's a great bike.

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mate I’m glad you liked it!

[@jeanmarc_in_Hudson]

Great review Sam. There are so many e-bikes with similar geometries nowadays, the TrailDuro category geo… 😊 Thanks! 👍

[@SamsBikes]

Haha this TrailDuro is catching on haha! Yep it’s a good time to ride ebikes

[@philwebb606]

Great vid Sam, I'm waiting on the alloy XR which should be here in 2 weeks

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks Phil your going to love! Order a good quality magnet water bottle and your set! Enjoy the power

[@philwebb606]

@@SamsBikes that was my next question, is that the fidlock you have on it?

[@SamsBikes]

Yep but I think I had the base model there is one with more support I think 🤔

[@chickenclips]

sick looking eeb. I'm still full sending my tank of a meta power SX, I still think 27,5" is the sweetspot for having fun on ebikes. Future of eebs looking good :) Can't wait for the Kellys review from you.... if you do one :)

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mr Lips! I wish Kelly’s would send me the bike but no such luck yet

[@oldmangnar6541]

Great review!

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks

[@beatrizgasco4776]

Great video Babe!!! I love it!!!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks my love

[@regularMattMatt]

As always Great review, Sam! i wonder if the crafty RR alloy will be close to the performance and rider experience to this XR. I was watching some video of crafty RR alloy and some had mentioned that theres a lot of rattling in the bike and they cant find it. They suspect somewhere in the battery compartment. If you can, maybe you can review the alloy version. Its more affordable to the consumer. Thanks

[@richardseller3733]

I always love the brutally honest reviews and enthusiasm but dang Sam I really wish you'd wear gloves. Hand injuries are no joke and modern medicine unfortunately can't fix everything and your hands are invaluable.

[@SamsBikes]

Mate I know what you mean I just love to ride without gloves 🧤 it’s a BMX thing I think not sure and also it makes it easier with all the camera gear but I’ll try abs start wearing them

[@richardseller3733]

@@SamsBikes I hear ya but if you find the right pair you will feel naked riding without them. We need to doing this KZbin stuff for the long haul. Think of it as investment into your own longevity.

[@jesusherrera2103]

Hola Sam, please i have a question for you because you've tested both bikes and i trust your opinion. I've ordered an Strive:on few month ago, but it does not arrive, and i don't know when... because of this i'm thinking about a mondraker crafty xr. I know that are not the same in components and prices. What do you think? should i still waiting for? Thank you so much

[@SamsBikes]

Hey mate maybe send me a private massage on Instagram and I’ll send you a voice message .

[@susanasacristantorio4705]

Wow! Thanks for the review. I wanna buy one for my husband! Could you please help me with that??

[@SamsBikes]

Yes send me a message on Instagram and we can set up a zoom chat

[@ivanbayarri2807]

would like to see the difference with the level rr with 1800mm 170 mm

[@nauer87]

Great vídeo Sam!! Where are you riding? I heard it was the North of Madrid and would like to try that trails!

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks Juan this Hoyo amazing trails

[@BSE75]

Sam woud you go for the XR with the 170mm or RRSL and less weight? :P

[@rickbault1221]

Great review! Beautiful bike. I like the rear suspension actuation. Wondering if the odd rebound issue is affected by foot and pedal placement? If the bike is super sensitive to pedal weighting I would imagine it could affect the rebound action or frame flex both on takeoff and landing. Any thoughts? Water bottle placement certainly isn't a plus. It appears that there are so many great bikes this year!

[@SamsBikes]

Hey Rick yes it’s a looker and wow it’s moved as well! The strange kick back went away after 3 rides and I just put it down to getting used to a bike and there differences

[@kevinmortimer1883]

excellent review as ever Sam, it is quite the looker in a market of automatons. quite surprised no LS rebound on ohlins. do they offer coil springs either end as an option?

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mate on the XR it’s only Air but the Level is coil on the back

[@Cr00codillul]

Sooner or later, the headset will need a replacement and with this new frame (without the vents like the old carbon frame) you are stuck with the Acros headset that really sucks. I have the 2020 model and i have routed the cables in the vents and I put a normal Cane Creek headset that is waay better than what Acros gave.

[@roddas26]

That bike looks sick.

[@McCoy343]

Hey Sam. Cool video as always! Are you going to test the new Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay in the future?

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mate when they send me the bike yes but they need to reply to my 20 emails first

[@McCoy343]

@@SamsBikes Hey Sam, thanks for the quick reply. I hope they reply to every single email of yours. 😉 And hopefully they’re sending you a bike. This bike would be one of my favorites for 2022. Looking for a quite bike on the downhills. Cheers mate.

[@MarcolinoMTB]

In my opinion, the range test battery will be very interesting but it will surely amaze us ... I was undecided between her and the Levo S-Works gen3 ... dictated more for a market discussion and assistance, I took the Levo ... Between this Crafty and Levo which one would you choose?

[@SamsBikes]

Hey mate thanks for the kind works, it’s so hard they are both fantastic bikes. I would say for a outright war I’ll take the crafty but for fun playfulness I’ll take the Levo

[@epgca1]

I would like to see you compare the XR with the RR and SL

[@SamsBikes]

Me too haha let’s see if we can make that happen

[@Bubs941]

How tall are you. Just wondering about sizing. I’m 6’1. Just wondering on L or XL. Thanks

[@jonnywalker169]

Great review how heavy is it ?

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks 23kg

[@jonwhite182]

Best looking eMTB with a Bosch motor IMO.

[@JoseCastillo-cn4dc]

Looks nice , to bad ebikes are expensive, hence just one bike for me

[@OG_SQUID_MTB]

Why isn’t there a water bottle mount on the down tube ? Looks like there’s plenty of room .

[@SamsBikes]

Not sure it’s their own design

[@SUPERCOOLZZ]

9m drop?! I want to see what that looks like! Surely not to flat :D

[@SamsBikes]

It was a step down I’ll go shoot it next time I’m out! It was bloody scary and my mates didn’t film it :(

[@robinowens9661]

What a beauty!

[@SamsBikes]

You know it

[@vaughanboyce3702]

Good review....

[@SamsBikes]

Thanks mate

[@Nico-kt4st]

That frame is a work of ark

[@SamsBikes]

Totally very sexy bike!

[@ilhamsusanto5708]

You should review Polygon mt Bromo

[@SamsBikes]

Yea na the 500wh is too small for my liking

[@johnmccool7551]

I was all in until the battery being a non removal type .oh well maybe 2023.

[@nickcob7076]

Wow! I want one!!

[@SamsBikes]

Not a problem Nicko yo got the money king of Hoyo

[@nickcob7076]

I think the Mondraker is the king now. 😀

[@hendrikl.3731]

The remote is really ugly😂

[@SamsBikes]

It really is sorry but I have to say it how I see it

[@Perception_]

ebike... Ok, I'm outta here.

[@SamsBikes]

See you in a few years champ

[@Perception_]

@@SamsBikes ebike is blasphemy and you are not my friend. Promoting for people to give up is just sad. Survival of the fittest is the only thing I support.

[@Eggmanrj]

I used to think that. Just had a quadruple bypass. Converting from XC bike to Crafty RR. Can’t wait, just want to roar up those hills again. Aerobically I just plan going up more times and further distances as my improving fitness allows me.

[@ivanbayarri2807]

looks like a perfect enduro racing machine.