“Unlimited” is the label Mondraker gives to their most premium and exclusive bikes. We saw it not long ago with the Crafty Unlimited Gulf, a bike celebrating their collaboration with the motorsports brand.
Just a handful of months later, Mondraker is going Unlimited again. This time, they are celebrating a decade of the Crafty as their flagship eMTB platform. So, clearly, they went with the latest and greatest, most powerful Avinox drive unit, correct?
No. Despite the new ZENDIT having all that Avinox power, Mondraker stayed with the Bosch for the Unlimited Crafty Icon.
Why Bosch Over Avinox?
It is a good question, and one that has two answers. The first is more speculative, but I think it stands to reason. Mondraker just released a different Unlimited version of this bike in January. This was before the Avinox release, with the Crafty Unlimited Gulf featuring a Bosch motor.
Another “Unlimited” bike, released a few months later, will essentially be the same platform. Likely the same components (we’ll get into that later) and likely new paint. But the same platform, nonetheless.
But there is another reason Mondraker stuck with a Bosch motor. For 10 years, the Crafty has had a Bosch drive unit. The Crafty was an early adopter of the first generation of the Bosch Performance Line CX. Bosch designed the motor specifically for eMTB, and Mondraker saw an opportunity to build the Crafty around it.
The Crafty Unlimited Icon celebrates 10 years of the platform, something that wouldn’t have happened without Bosch.
But just because Mondraker isn’t using the new Avinox motor doesn’t mean this Bosch-equipped bike is a slouch. No, with the release of the Crafty Unlimited Icon comes a new Bosch update.
As of May, the 5th-generation Bosch CX and CX-R are getting a boost. A software update increases torque from 100Nm to 120Nm and maximum pedal assistance from 400% to 600%.
The Bosch Update
The dirty details that most will care about regarding the Bosch update are the power increases mentioned above. However, Mondraker notes that all that power doesn’t mean much if you can’t control it.
Along with the power update, Bosch is also updating/adding features to their eBike Flow app. First, the software allows the motor to pre-tension the drivetrain, which helps prevent the motor and rear wheel from freewheeling on techy bits of trail. This means the Mondraker Crafty, or any other Bosch-equipped bike, responds directly to pedal input, creating a more predictable experience.
The Mondraker Crafty Unlimited Icon will have a few other cool features thanks to the Bosch update. One addition to the app will be “Trick Check,” a new feature that tracks jump time, wheelies, manuals, and stoppies.
Bosch will continue to allow you to personalize the drive unit’s settings. Extended Boost will be available and customizable across all riding modes. The app will also now pair with Garmin devices, allowing you to monitor speed, range, and battery.
Wait, isn’t that information Bosch already displays? Well, yes, if you have a bike equipped with the Kiox 400C display screen. If not, you’ll need to pull out your phone and log in to the app, unless you pair it with something like a Garmin watch.
Mondraker Crafty Unlimited Icon
So now we know that Mondraker equips the Crafty Unlimited Icon with an updated Bosch CX-R drive unit. But the rest of the bike must be pretty special, right?
I mean, yeah. It is definitely a step up from Mondraker’s other Crafty builds, as far as components are concerned. And, from the looks of it, the Crafty Unlimited Icon receives the same build as the Unlimited Gulf, minus the matching paint.
The component highlights are an Ohlins RXF 38 M3 fork and TTX22 M.2 coil shock, set to 160mm and 150mm, respectively. DT Swiss handles the wheels, with their Hybrid HXC 1200 hoops laced to 180 hubs. The niche brake brand, Trickstuff, takes care of the stoppers with their Maxima brakes, and SRAM handles shifting with an XX-level T-Type drivetrain.
Basically, think of a top spec’d component, and it is likely the one Mondraker used on this bike.
Along with a top-spec component build, Mondraker also worked with local artists and craftsmen on frame details. From the paint to the graphics, artists like Jose Luis Romera, Elena Sanchez, and Adri Moralez spared no expense, hand-painting and designing the frame. The result is a satin-black frame with metallic holographic details.
Mondraker’s press material didn’t mention a price, but you’ve likely guessed that it is expensive. And, you probably guessed correctly. The very similar (exactly similar?) Crafty Unlimited Gulf will set you back $16,000. I imagine this bike has a similar price tag.
