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Bike Perfect

Lifestyle

Paul Brett

Mondraker's Dune enduro MTB is back from the dead and returns in a brand-new guise

Mondraker Bosch Dune SRAM Öhlins Fizik Maxxis

Mondraker has expanded its lightweight electric mountain bike range with the launch of the Dune, as the Spanish brand's well-regarded analog enduro bike is now reborn as an e-MTB. It has a claimed weight of under 20kg and features the lightweight Bosch SX motor and battery system. Mondraker is no stranger to the SL (super light) electric mountain bike category having launched its Mondraker Neat last year which weighed in at under 18kg.

The best lightweight e-MTB genre continues to grow with almost weekly models dropping as the best mountain bike brands showcase their lightweight offerings. Recent launches and claimed weights include the Whyte E-Lyte 140 Works at 17.4kg, the Norco Fluid VLT at 18.1kg, and the Scott Lumen at 15.5kg. So Mondraker's latest e-MTB has some big competition to make the grade in the very busy electric MTB market, and here are the headline details that caught the eye of the new Dune.

Despite being an e-enduro contender, the Dune is firmly in the SL e-MTB category weighing in at under 20kg (Image credit: Mondraker)

Mondraker says the Dune is ‘the natural evolution of Enduro’ and borrows from the Neat in certain areas, such as lightness and agility. However, the Dune takes its own trail by offering power and performance similar to longer travel bikes like its Mondraker Crusher e-MTB.

The Dune is built around the brand's Stealth Air Carbon frame which is claimed to weigh in at a feathery 2,650 grams (without the shock). The frame also showcases Mondraker's updated Zero Suspension – the Dune has 165mm of rear-wheel travel which is matched with either a 180mm fork on the top-of-the-line XR model, or a 170mm fork on the RR and R models. The suspension on all the bikes is specifically tuned for a hard-hitting, lightweight e-MTB.

The Dune has top-spec suspension from either Öhlins or Fox (Image credit: Mondraker)

Zero Suspension

Dune takes advantage of the all-new kinematics offered by the Zero Suspension System. The newly updated design keeps the shock lower in the frame and makes the swingarm itself more compact resulting in a claimed increase in stiffness and adding to the overall lightweight of the bike. Optimized suspension kinematics also claim to give greater initial shock sensitivity and improved shock absorbance.

Forward Geometry

There are four frame sizes (S-XL) and the reach is from 445mm to 505mm with 20mm increases. The top-of-the-line Dune XR has a 180mm fork which means those reach numbers dial back by 5mm. It also slackens the head angle by 0.4 degrees. On the Dune XR that figure is 63.6 degrees, and 64 degrees on the Dune RR and R. Elsewhere, other geometry numbers of note are the 350mm bottom bracket height (353mm on XR), and the same 445mm chainstay length across all models and sizes. Seat tube angles are 73.6 degrees on the XR, and 74 degrees on the RR and R.

The Dune has the latest Bosch SX motor and an integrated 400Wh battery (Image credit: Mondraker)

Bosch SX power

Unlike the Neat which uses a TQ-HPR50 motor with a 360Wh battery, Mondraker has gone with what is rapidly becoming the standard choice for lightweight e-MTB – Bosch’s SX motor. It's powered by an integrated 400Wh battery which gives the Dune 55Nm of torque and 600W of peak power. The Bosch motor swaps some of the TQ’s size and weight for extra power and battery capacity which is claimed is ideal for the Dune’s intended use.

The Dune has double the power, more torque, and more battery capacity than the Neat. To further boost the range, there is the option of adding (at extra cost) the PowerMore 250Wh range extender which takes the battery capacity to 650Wh and gives riders a light e-MTB with the range offered by the best full-fat e-MTBs.

The bike uses a Bosch Performance SX System Controller positioned on the top tube, which allows easy access to turn the motor on or off, select the assist modes, and check the battery charge level. It's also paired with a wireless bar-mounted remote. There are four different riding modes: Eco, Tour+, eMTB and Turbo. Mondraker also adds the Kiox 500 screen fitted as standard on all Dune models which provides even more information on ride stats for data geeks.

Kiox 500 screen fitted is fitted as standard on the three models (Image credit: Mondraker)

Pricing, spec and availability

All models are available now and priced as follows: Mondraker Dune XR at $16,499 / £11,999 / €11,999, Mondraker Dune RR at $12,999 / £8,499 / €9,499, and finally Dune R at $10,999 / £6,799 / €7,999.

The three builds all have the same 165mm of rear travel, the Stealth Air Carbon frame, and all three come in mullet (MX) mixed-wheel configuration. The Dune R and RR come with 170mm forks, while the Dune XR comes fitted with a burlier 180mm fork.

For specs on all models see below or head over to Mondraker.com for full details.