Mondraker Raze R Ride Review

Mondraker first piqued everyone's interest in 2016 when Danny Hart won three UCI Downhill World Cups and became the World Champion. This level of performance on the world stage could not be ignored. With their unique approach to frame design Mondraker was clearly on to something and many riders immediately wanted to ride one. At the time, finding one to ride stateside was virtually impossible. Fast forward eight years, the opportunity arose to ride the new Mondraker Raze R. Mondraker’s mid-travel trail bike is designed to fly up the hill then conquer the descents. With high expectations for this bike, the excitement was palpable to take it out and see how it performed.

First Impressions

Pedaling the Raze around it is immediately noticeable how light and agile the bike is. This build weighs in at 30lbs with pedals which is pretty impressive for a bike with a 150mm fork, sufficient tires and alloy wheels. The Raze R comes equipped with 130mm of rear wheel travel paired with a 150mm fork up front. This level of bike is generally considered a mid to long travel trail bike and slots into the “do-it-all” category.

Climbing

The Raze immediately impressed on the uphills. Mondraker's ZERO suspension platform is designed to create an efficient pedaling platform and it certainly does so.

On the ascents the bike felt efficient and generated plenty of traction. The ZERO suspension system greatly reduces pedal bob while climbing and makes for a very smooth experience. We experimented with locking out the rear shock and ultimately decided that the bike felt better in the open position. Over a long uphill the Raze felt comfortable and efficient with the bike performing very well on gradual fire road climbs and steep more technical single track.

Descending

Now comes the downhill and the Raze definitely delivered. The bike felt right at home on steep rocky descents here in Salt Lake City and was very stable at speed. Through rock gardens the bike was surprisingly composed for only having 130mm of rear suspension. In addition, the bike felt balanced considering the difference in travel front and rear. We spent some time making changes to the setup and were able to get the bike dialed-in and feeling really good in a rather short amount of time. 

In a straight line this bike is incredibly fast. Mondraker's Forward Geometry combines a long reach and wheelbase with short stems allowing the Raze to plow through rough terrain and rarely get hung up on anything. Where the bike felt very different was in corners. With a super long (490mm) reach for a size large and short snappy chainstays, cornering on this bike felt a little foreign at first. When all was said and done though, some personal best times on Strava were hit hinting that Mondraker must be doing something right.

Conclusion

Overall the Raze R is a super capable bike up and down the mountain. A very efficient climber, the Raze is more than ready to handle long days in the saddle, offers amazing stability and will not leave you wanting more when the terrain gets rough. For anyone considering a Mondraker it would be a great idea to reference the geometry of your current bike as the bike sizes slightly larger than normal. Considering the steep ascents and technical downhills here in Salt Lake City, the Raze would be an excellent choice for someone looking for a bike that offers a more versatile ride than your short-travel bike. In conclusion Mondraker’s unique approach creates a bike that is extremely quick and composed up and down the mountain.