Mondraker DUNE XR Review

Bosch is the major motor manufacturer in the EMTB world, alongside Shimano - and it's no surprise, as the SX shows. The developers at Bosch are entering the race with their first Light Motor, the Performance SX. With 55 Nm of torque, the unit sits squarely between Fazua's Ride 60 and TQ's HPR 50. However, it delivers similar power values to the popular Full-Power sibling, the Powermotor CX, with up to 600 watts of assistance. However, the Bosch SX only delivers this power at a very high cadence. To feel the full power, one must pedal at a sporty 100 revolutions per minute. The startup behavior remains harmonious. The entire motor control is very natural. While in operation, the Performance SX is quieter than the Powermotor CX, but still louder than the sometimes whisper-quiet competition from Fazua or TQ. When descending, Bosch has managed to reduce rattling compared to the CX model, although it remains noticeably audible with the SX. Fans of XXL tours are greatly restricted by the DUNE XR , because of its low range.

Even nasty descents get smoothened by the good Öhlins chassis. In comparison, it's noticeable that the direct competition mounts better chassises, thus offering significantly more control. The thick 38mm stanchions on the fork provide an extra dose of steering precision and performance. At the rear, the steel spring shock absorber provides maximum sensitivity. Bad brakes reduce the riding pleasure. Fortunately, this is not the case with the DUNE XR. With their four pistons and 2 disc brakes the SRAM brake brakes good. A nice touch: The gear and components are on a very good level. The moderate head tube angle provides a good compromise between stability and agility when going downhill. The reach is also right there in the middle ground. Hell yeah, the geometry is killer! Here the know-how of the Mondraker developers is videly visible. On the scale, the DUNE XR makes a good figure with 19,6 kg. Most Enduros are significantly heavier.