Mondraker has released a range of three electric mountain bikes under the Dune banner, each built to prioritise agile handling and a light weight. Utilising the latest Bosch Performance SX motor for power, which comes tucked into the new 2,650 gram Stealth Air Carbon frame, here the Spanish brand takes its playful geometry and enhances it around a package that will let you get airborne quickly if you’re brave enough.
Each of the builds comes with 165mm of travel on the rear, while both the Dune R and Dune RR come with 170mm forks. At the upper end of this bike range’s ability to handle larger obstacles, the Dune XR comes fitted with an even burlier 180mm fork. All of the new Mondraker bikes come in at under 20kg.
The Mondraker Dune model was launched in 2009, and the brand was convinced it was the best enduro model it produced for a very long time, so the significance of the latest Dune in 2024 shouldn’t be underestimated. Its name carries the weight of the original in 2009, and it’s an e-MTB that Mondraker is going all in on.
The power is provided by a Bosch Performance Line SX motor, providing an ample amount of 55Nm of torque, with Mondraker opting for the Goldilocks effect of not too much, not too little. This still kicks out 600 watts of peak power, rivalling the latest Moterra SL from Cannondale and its tweaked Shimano EP08 motor. In the Mondraker Dune, you get a 400Wh battery pack which on its own is capable of 1,500+ meters of climbing with four customisable assistance modes. You can add more power through a 250Wh range extender, which slots where a water bottle may go.
But what about the ride? Mondraker has opted for a mixed-wheel, mullet design, with a 27.5” rear wheel and complete 29er on the front. This makes it easier for the bike to rail downhill and much more rear-happy as you descend, sharper and pointer through corners. Mondraker’s Forward Geometry philosophy offers generous reach figures, providing more excellent stability and confidence at high speed, allowing you to concentrate on the next corner.
Both the Dune R and Dune RR have a 64° head angle (which drops to 63.6° on the Dune XR), steeper effective seat angles to keep your weight centred on the climbs and 445mm chainstays to strike the right balance between stability and agility when combined with a mixed wheel setup.
The updated Zero Suspension System keeps the shock lower in the frame and makes the swingarm more compact, resulting in increased stiffness and a reduction in overall weight. The optimisation of the kinematics provides greater initial shock sensitivity and improved shock absorbance.
If you’re interested in an electric mountain bike but unsure which to buy, Cycling Electric has a buyer guide to the best electric mountain bikes. We also have guides on the best full-suspension electric mountain bikes and the best entry-level full-suspension electric mountain bikes. The Mondraker lightweight electric mountain bike starts at £6,795 with the Dune R, £8,499 with the Dune RR, and £11,999 with the Dune XR.