Outlier Vail Demo Review: Mondraker Foxy and Dune

If you haven’t heard of Mondraker mountain bikes, listen up!  The company from Spain is now in the US and incorporates some VERY interesting designs.   During this year’s Vail Outlier Off Road Mondraker made its first public US appearance and we were there!  What’s so special about these bikes you may ask?  Mondrakers “Foward Geometry” is the current hot geometry trend that not many American companies have fully embraced – yet.  The reaches are inches longer than most giving the ability to run stubby 30mm stems with loads of room to move around on the bike.  Some describe this geometry as the holy grail of confidence inspiring geometry.  Mondraker states “Forward Geometry main advantages are an increased safety and confidence riding steep chutes even at high speeds, more reactive, precise and direct handling, more uphill precision and more stability in technical and rough terrain with better grip and improved control overall.”

Both the Dune and Foxy share 27.5″ wheels and very similar geometry despite suspension travel differences.  Here’s a little video to give you a little more info from out experience in Vail this fall.

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Mondraker Dune RR

The Dune RR is what Monderraker calls “Super Enduro” with 160mm rear and 170mm front travel.  I would say this IS the big boy bike.  It wants to be pointed towards the steepest, roughest terrain and just plow over it all!  As expected the bike felt very stable and begged to let the brakes go.  This is the bike for those looking for a weapon on the gnarly rough, steep and fast terrain.

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Mondraker Foxy RR SL

The Foxy is more my style bike being more agile and lighter than the Dune.  With a claimed weight of just over 26lbs, it was very snappy going up and while throwing it around on the downhill.  With 150mm’s of travel front and rear, this is a very capable bike that can be at home on backcountry epics as well as the rowdiest terrain.

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Was I blown away with the bikes?

It’s refreshing to see new companies enter the US market with such forward-thinking design.  I REALLY liked both the Monderaker Dune and the Foxy and would love to spend more time on them.  I don’t think that a couple of hours riding both bikes are enough though.  A little more time to dial in suspension and get used to the unique geometry is needed to tell if my mind is blown.   I liked the Foxy a bit more for its agility and felt that it was more than capable for my needs.  Surprisingly I didn’t feel like either bike was too stretched out despite their mega reach.  My fingers are crossed that I have the opportunity to jump aboard the Foxy for an extending period in the future.

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