Mondraker Sly R Bike

The Mondraker Sly R Bike is built around a proposition that more power isn't always the right answer. Developed as the alloy counterpart to Mondraker's NEAT carbon light eMTB, the Sly shares the same 150mm rear / 160mm fork travel, the same Updated Zero Suspension System kinematics, and the same Forward Geometry — but wraps it in a 6061 Alloy Stealth EVO frame around a Bosch Performance SX motor and a 400Wh integrated battery. The result is an all-mountain e-bike that climbs and descends like a big-travel trail bike, and delivers a far more connected pedalling feel than a full-power machine.

Mondraker calls the frame technology Stealth Alloy EVO, and the engineering shows in ways you don't normally see on aluminum. The welds between frame tubes are finished so seamlessly they're nearly invisible — you'd have to knock on the frame to be sure it isn't carbon. Beyond the aesthetics, the frame carries internal cable routing through the headtube HHG (Hidden Cable Guide), a custom rubber chainstay protector, an integrated chain guide, and UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) compatibility with SRAM's T-Type drivetrain. The geometry is pure Forward Geometry: a 64.5° head tube angle across all sizes, a steep 74° seat tube, a 30mm stem, and reach figures ranging from 440mm on the S to 520mm on the XL. It's long, low, and slack — designed around stability at trail speeds, not around making numbers look approachable on paper.

The motor is the Bosch Performance SX: 55Nm of torque, 600W peak power. This is the key distinction between the Sly and Mondraker's heavier enduro models — the Crafty, Level, and Scree all run the full-power Bosch CX. The SX is physically smaller and lighter, and the power delivery is tuned to feel like a natural extension of your own effort. On flowy trail sections and punchy climbs, you feel the motor responding rather than leading. Via the Bosch eBike Flow app, an over-the-air software update unlocks the eMTB+ riding mode and increases pedalling support up to 400%. The 400Wh battery is integrated into the down tube and compatible with Bosch's optional 250Wh Powermore range extender for longer days. A Bosch Kiox 400C display sits flush in the top tube, keeping the cockpit uncluttered.

Suspension is RockShox front and rear: a Lyrik Base with 160mm of travel, Debon Air+ air spring, and a three-position compression lever (open, pedal, lock), paired with a RockShox Deluxe Select+ at 185x55mm delivering 150mm of rear travel through Mondraker's Updated Zero Suspension System. The single-pivot linkage prioritizes small-bump sensitivity without sacrificing pedalling efficiency across the stroke.

The drivetrain is fully wireless: SRAM S1000 Eagle AXS T-Type rear derailleur, Eagle AXS Pod MMX shifter, E.13 Helix Core E*Spec Plus crankset with a SRAM X-Sync 2 Eagle T-Type 34t chainring, and a SRAM XS-1270 10-52 cassette across 12 speeds. No derailleur cable. Braking is handled by SRAM DB8 Stealth four-piston hydraulic disc calipers with 200mm SRAM Centerline 6-bolt rotors. Tires are Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5 WT up front — 3C Maxx Grip compound, EXO+ protection, tubeless ready — with a Maxxis Minion DHR II 29x2.5 WT in the rear running 3C Maxx Terra compound and EXO+, both mounted on WTB Sportterra Tough rims with 30mm internal width.

Design Benefits

1. Stealth Alloy EVO frame — Mondraker's most advanced full-suspension alloy frame to date, with seamlessly finished welds, the same design language as the NEAT carbon, and features typically reserved for premium builds: integrated cable routing, chain guide, rubber protectors, and UDH hanger.
2. Bosch Performance SX motor — 55Nm / 600W peak power delivers a natural, responsive motor feel. OTA-upgradeable via the Bosch eBike Flow app to unlock eMTB+ mode and up to 400% pedalling support. Lighter than full-power CX motors, keeping the Sly under 21kg.
3. Forward Geometry — 64.5° head tube angle, 74° seat tube, 30mm stem, and long reach numbers create a planted, confident descending position while keeping you over the pedals on climbs. Consistent across all five sizes.
4. Fully wireless SRAM T-Type drivetrain — SRAM Eagle AXS with the S1000 rear derailleur means no derailleur cable, a cleaner cockpit, and reliable shifting across all conditions on a 10-52 cassette.
5. Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II tire pairing — The industry-standard aggressive trail tire combination, both in 29x2.5 WT with EXO+ protection and tubeless-ready construction on 30mm internal width WTB Sportterra Tough rims.

Final Take

The Mondraker Sly R is the entry point to a category of e-MTB that prioritizes ride feel over raw motor output. At $6,999, you get a frame that punches above its material class, a Bosch SX motor system with room to grow via OTA updates, fully wireless SRAM T-Type shifting, SRAM DB8 four-piston brakes, and a Maxxis tire setup ready for aggressive all-mountain terrain from day one. If you're after an e-MTB that rides like a real mountain bike with intelligent motor support rather than one that rides for you, the Sly R makes that case convincingly.