Mondraker Sly Review

Light EMTBs ride brilliantly, but they have always been too expensive. Now even Mondraker, a boutique brand, is introducing an affordable light alternative. Our test reveals how the new Mondraker Sly rides and where compromises need to be made compared to the absolute luxury bikes.

The Mondraker Sly is the budget-friendly version of the Mondraker Neats. The travel measures 160 mm at the fork and 150 mm in the rear, and the geometry closely follows that of the carbon model, with even the aesthetics being remarkably similar. To achieve this, Mondraker has smoothed the weld seams on the main frame. At first glance, you wouldn’t notice that the bike has an aluminum frame. However, this fact is undeniable on the scale. Compared to the Neat top model, you have to accept 2.8 kilos of extra weight.

With 20.8 kilos, the bike is no longer an absolute lightweight. The extra weight, compared to the Neat, largely stems from the frame. The 400 battery and the Bosch SX motor weigh only about 350 grams more than the TQ HPR 50 system.

The second major downside you have to accept on the trail is the soundscape. While the TQ HPR 50 motor is whisper quiet both uphill and downhill, the Bosch SX is clearly audible in both situations. Downhill, the gearbox of the Bosch SX rattles, and uphill there’s a noticeable whir. However, the Bosch SX supports with up to 600 watts, which is significantly stronger than the TQ. This fact should not be overlooked in the comparison.

Because the 600 watts that the motor releases at a high cadence are on par with many full-power motors. For comparison: the TQ motor delivers a peak of 300 watts. Despite the lighter weight of the Neat models, more sweat flows on the way to the summit with them than with the Sly. Thanks to the power of the SX motor. And finally, Bosch has the Purion 400, a suitable display for sporty riders, which sits well protected between the handlebars and stem. Combined with the Mini Remote, the Bosch system doesn’t add excessive bulk.

The question of whether a 20.8-kilo EMTB can still be called a Light EMTB is indeed legitimate. After all, Orbea, Amflow, and Cannondale have already shown Full Power EMTBs under 20 kilos this year. Although all of these are in the €10,000 price range, they impress with excellent handling despite having powerful motors and 600 Wh batteries. Even if the Sly tips the scales a bit more than the current technical spearhead, it doesn’t show any weaknesses in handling.

In the M/L size, which our test bike was, the reach comes in at a normal 480 mm. The head angle is also not extreme at 64.5 degrees. There is no flip chip for geometry adjustment on this bike, but we didn’t miss it. Whether you’re on slow, more technical terrain or blasting through flowy sections, you always feel in control.

With the riser handlebar, the front end comes up quite high, providing an upright seating position and, above all, a sense of security on steep terrain. Despite the high front, the relatively long wheelbase of 1265 mm on our test bike gives the feeling that pressure is evenly distributed between the front and rear wheel. With a central position between the two contact points with the ground, the bike is easy to maneuver precisely through the terrain.

During the test, we switched directly to a 25 kg full power EMTB, and the difference in handling became quite clear. While with the heavier bike you have to ride much more proactively to avoid missing brake points, you can fully focus on the here and now with the Sly. The bike effortlessly handles any maneuvers you want to perform, without any complaints. It would be a lie to say you don’t feel the 2-3 kg extra weight compared to the Neat Carbon bike. However, the handling of the Sly is much closer to that of a light EMTB than a full power EMTB.

The Fox Performance suspension is the entry point into the sporty Fox suspensions. Compared to the top-end suspensions, the dimensions of the stanchions and the shock remain the same, but the damper cartridge has a simpler design. This is primarily noticeable from the outside due to the fewer adjustment options. Although the high-end suspension components offer more nuanced adjustability with high and low-speed compression and rebound settings, this doesn’t always provide an advantage. If you mess up the setup, you might end up performing worse than with the factory settings of the Performance suspension components. Both the fork and the shock respond excellently and build up a lot of grip. The slightly progressive operation of the rear triangle holds back reserves when things get intense. Mondraker has achieved a first-class kinematics here.

The GX Transmission system is the perfect choice on the EMTB, as it shifts even under full load. For more information, check out our extensive Transmission test. Sram’s Code brakes decelerate adequately at all times with the 200mm rotors. For more braking power, an upgrade to Sram’s new Maven or a Magura 4-piston system is recommended. The Maxx Grip tire compound on the front wheel provides surprisingly good grip even in wet conditions. However, we experienced a flat tire on the rear wheel with the Exo+ casing. The bike encourages you to push the limits. A flat is not unusual in enduro riding. With a stronger casing, this incident probably could have been avoided.

The Mondraker frame is top-notch in terms of craftsmanship and has an aesthetic appeal. Besides that, there are a few technical quirks worth mentioning. The cables don’t run through the headset, but instead enter the frame through ports on the head tube. However, if desired, there is the option to route the cables through the headset for a cleaner look. Small fenders protect the shock from dirt while riding. On the underside of the top tube, there’s the option to mount an additional bottle holder or a tool mount.

This option is certainly useful. If you want to mount a range extender, you can still bring along a water bottle. Fans of longer rides won’t be able to avoid the topic of range extenders. The 400 Wh battery in the downtube offers only a limited range. In turbo mode, the battery is empty in 1000 m of elevation gain, sometimes even less. At lower support levels, you can achieve 1500 m. For more, one must invest an additional €450 in a range extender with another 250 Wh. The battery in the downtube cannot be quickly swapped. It is fully integrated and can only be replaced by removing the motor. Not an action for everyday use.

With €6,999, our test bike costs €1,000 more than the Sly R. With the arrow symbol , you can also pull individual models into comparison with any other bike from our extensive market overview. Particularly exciting is the comparison with the lightweight Full Power options on the market. The Cannondale Moterra SL and the Orbea Rise LT. Or the Neat. We’ve also provided you with the Neat models here again.