First Look: Mondraker's New F-Podium

Oct 3, 2023
by Dario DiGiulio  
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Mondraker was one of the earliest brands to embrace the shift towards a more modern geometry in cross-country bikes, setting their lineup apart from the competition when those changes had not yet caught on. As the rest of the industry has started to catch up with those shifts in approach, and with five seasons on the past bike, the team at Mondraker figured it was time for an update. Lines have been refined, standards have been updated, and they've pushed the geometry even further to match an increase in travel. With better tire clearance and room for long travel dropper posts, things are looking quite modern.
F-Podium Details
• Carbon frame
• 29" wheels
• 110mm suspension
• 120mm fork
• 66.5° head angle
• 76° seat angle
• 430-505mm reach
• 435mm chainstays
• $6,299-$13,999 USD
• mondraker.com

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Looks fast.
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Sporty little shock tunnel.
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Monoblock.
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Geometry
Mondraker had a pretty solid footing to step from when it came time to design the new F-Podium, given how progressive the prior model was when it was released. Reach numbers have only increased by a few millimeters in each size, with the Small actually getting a bit shorter. Stack heights have gotten much taller, thanks to both an increase in the frame's height and the 10mm increase in fork travel.

The head tube angle has gotten nearly a degree slacker with the updated model, and the seat tube angle is slightly steeper. The resulting 65.5° HTA and 76° STA are definitely still on the radical end of things, but don't feel too extreme given the nature of modern World Cup courses. Chainstay lengths are consistently 435mm across the board, which is only a 3mm increase over the previous model. I'm curious if we'll start seeing size-specific chainstay lengths on cross-country bikes, given the clear benefits to the more gravity-oriented side of the market.

Overall, the geometry and component spec seem very well sorted, positioning the F-Podium as a capable and competitive bike on the world circuit. The bike appears to be performing well, with Ondřej Cink riding it to his current P18 in the World Cup overall.

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One-piece bar/stem combos are becoming more common on high-end XC builds. This one features a 760mm width, and 55-75mm lengths depending on frame size.
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That slightly inboard hose angle still bugs me.
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Hose angle culprit: through-headset cable routing.
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Fully fancy drivetrain.

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Full price list.

Build Kits
There are four build kits available, all featuring Mavic wheels, SRAM brakes and drivetrains, Maxxis tires, and a 50/50 split of RockShox and Fox suspension.

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F-Podium // £3,999, $6,299, €4,999

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F-Podium R // £6,299, $7,799, €6,799

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F-Podium RR // £7,699, $9,199, €7,999

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F-Podium RR SL // £10,799, $13,999, €10,999


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks XC Bikes Mondraker Mondraker F Podium


Author Info:
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Member since Dec 25, 2016
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56 Comments
  • 115 2
 Mondraker's new F-ME THAT IS EXPENSIVE
  • 15 16
 Anyone who needs a racing bike that pricy probably shouldn't even be paying for it as they'll be sponsored. If you are paying for it (and aren't rich) will you really be winning more? XC is part of mountain biking, but basically feels like a completely different activity to me than the stuff I do on my 37lb alu bike, haha.
  • 85 1
 @jesse-effing-edwards: the fact that the base model is $6300usd and comes with a NX cassette, Level T brakes, and no dropper is just laughable. Heavy ass steel cranks/cassette on a "race" bike. Just hilarious. XC crowd shouldn't have to stand for this nonsense.
  • 11 4
 @wcasson: XC is an increasingly niche market, so it makes sense that the bikes will cost more than other bikes simply because of economies of scale. But prices do seem to be getting out of hand compared to the rest of the market--a $5,700 Trek Supercaliber comes with a Reba these days :/
  • 26 0
 @facelessghost: "XC is an increasingly niche market". Not in Europe. Mondraker happens to be a european brand.
  • 1 3
 @zabala: Fair enough--I get that cycling (and the popularity of endurance sport generally) is different on your side of the Atlantic. That said, in 10 years do you think the proportion of mountain bikers riding XC in Europe will be higher or lower than it is now? It seems obvious to me that it will be lower here in the US. I wonder if the same is true in Europe.
  • 3 1
 @facelessghost: Maybe all these gravel people will get into XC bikes. I mean, if you like riding on trails, the flatbars really make life better, plus those gravel bikes have forks and discbrakes and mini droppers, it just seems like a natural progression to me. But, my rides are slow ups to fun down on a 150/160 bike, so I'm way outside the target market. I only do cardio for the fun at the end and would never jog or do road riding.
  • 13 0
 @facelessghost: Are you surrounded by gravity-oriented and technical riding? Globally, i don't think that is the norm. A lot of people only have access to XC trails unless they travel. For them, the average ride is an XC ride after work or on a weekend morning.
  • 10 0
 @wcasson: Agreed. $6,300? With the lowest crap components available from Sram? Why even bother putting this on the market.
  • 3 0
 @wcasson: yup, I can kinda understand NX cranks and shifters, but the cassette? Not only do you have to upgrade the cassette but the free hub body as well to get something reasonable weight wise. The NX crankset is only 100 grams heavier than GX and that’s mostly due to a steel chainring that’s cheap to replace. But, yes, this price point is unacceptable. Trek’s new XC offerings are way better priced.
  • 2 3
 @shorttravelmag: bro, its a $4000 frameset.....the fact they can put any functional bike out on that frame at $6300 is a testement to their resolve.

also, they are just raping the US market here, if you want to complain about something. Euro to dollar is only $1=.96EU.....so wtf is up with that is the question. I assume its tariffs or something, but that is way out of line for sure.
  • 8 1
 @dfiler: True but when I returned to my hometown and brought my rigid XC bike to ride the trails I first cut my teeth on, guess what I saw? Enduro bros with convertible full face helmets, knee pads, and 150-160mm bikes riding the XC trails that I learned to ride SS rigid bikes on 15+ years ago.

The trails haven't changed but the culture and fashion has. Newer riders want to look the part, even when the terrain doesn't warrant it.
  • 1 0
 @facelessghost: they know their market: upper middle class parents of high schoolers living vicariously.
  • 1 0
 But is still the lightest off-the-shelf frame out there?
  • 2 0
 @GTscoob: my local is a hardtail, knee pads maaaaaybe if you don't know the trail, kind of loop. I have seen guys pushing DH bikes up the one, 25sec rocky descent.....that is not full face territory.

people do indeed sometimes buy the bike they want to be able to ride, regardless of the fact theres nowhere to ride it.

think, 911 GT3 RS, while living in central London. lmao
  • 1 0
 @GTscoob: 100
  • 1 0
 @jesse-effing-edwards: lift lines have people on 10k DH bikes.
  • 1 0
 @enduroelite: People like spending money. There are also people with 600 dollar coffee grinders.
  • 41 2
 Santa Cruz and Scor: we have the worst value in the industry!

Mondraker: Hold my beer
  • 16 0
 More like "Hold my champagne" Big Grin
  • 3 0
 @number44: hold my churros
  • 3 0
 @number44: haha and caviar
  • 33 2
 Dear bike industry-headsets and brakes should be separated. Sincerely, everyone who wrenches on their own bike (and a bunch of bike mechanics too).
  • 28 0
 Am I the only one mentally planning where to attach glue-on cable guides every time I see a new bike these days?
  • 5 2
 My Ibis Exie came pre-installed with internal cable guide.
Wish I can remove it because it was set up for front left, rear right brake configuration but I use front right, rear left brake set up so the rear brake hose entrance on the left side is not optimal. I wish there'd be just open holes so I can decide it myself which hole for which cable/hose.
  • 11 0
 I considered that, but then decided I will simply not buy any bike with stupid cable tourism.
  • 5 0
 @Ttimer: Yea. I'm in the market for a short travel XC bike, it would've been easy to be overwhelmed by choices but headset routing really helps thin the herd. It's a pity about this bike, that polaris color is amazing.
  • 1 0
 @chaoscacca: drill two new holes?
  • 15 1
 i really dig the super thin top tube
  • 2 0
 The reason I bought the carbon Foxy! 3
  • 8 1
 Bike manufacturers out here acting liking the COVID boom, bust and then clearing out overstock at 30-40% off never happened. Just make a few tiny adjustment to already great bikes and hope there's enough buyers willing to pay exorbitant amounts.
  • 4 1
 So they're not supposed to release a new bike after 5 years?
  • 3 0
 @dfiler: That's not what I said, but their pricing is optimistic given the current market. The comment from above sums it up: "$6300usd and comes with a NX cassette, Level T brakes, and no dropper is just laughable. Heavy ass steel cranks/cassette on a "race" bike."
  • 2 0
 The big difference now is that they can adjust production volume to meet their desired price. Whereas right now, they produced far too much based on COVID projections...and now need to clear out the excess volume. If they produce only a handful of these bikes, then they'll be able to command this extremely high price point.
  • 7 1
 Why do all the photos in recent articles seem so dark? I’m struggling to see the products. Is it to hide crappy components?
  • 7 2
 Mondraker got rid of its signature lines and now it just looks like every other bike on the market.
  • 2 0
 Mondraker really does build a beautiful frame.

I still consider my wife's '18 Foxy SL 27.5" a fully modern and capable 26# trail bike with the included geo adjust. There is not another 2018 bike I would say that about, at least for a petite rider.
  • 6 0
 F-Cable tourism!
  • 4 0
 It's alright. I'm sure the cable tourism fad will be over by the time I can afford a new bike again.
  • 3 0
 @dariodiguilio Not only Ondrej Cink but also Bec Henderson who currently sits 11th in the standings. (Including a podium in the XCC at Snowshoe.)
  • 1 0
 Weird pricing. Especially since US usually does not include sales tax and EU does...And what's up with Portugal? I can fly to Lisbon and back from Amsterdam for 150 euros. Surely the transport of the bike will be less than 1300. Sounds like a free holiday if I was planning to buy the bike at full retail. Which I am not.
  • 3 0
 Big sad they went away from the body line of the top tube being parallel with the top of the rear triangle.
  • 4 0
 it says the HTA is 66.5 at the top of the article and 65.5 in a paragraph.
  • 4 0
 Looking forward to seeing one hitting up rampage.
  • 3 0
 Guaranteed that the inboard-angled brake hoses are a precursor to handlebar-routed brake lines.
  • 3 0
 it's already there on road bikes... this and worn out fork steer tubes/carbon headtubes because the cables end up moving/rubbing in there haha
  • 4 0
 At that price I expect peds to be included. #lancearmstrong
  • 3 0
 Where is the Bike, I can't see it. No really how does it look.
  • 4 0
 Yeah "F" Podiums!
  • 4 0
 So buy in Portugal?
  • 4 2
 For only $2000 more than a FACTORY EDITION 450 you can have a bike!
  • 1 0
 So what is the head angle? It's listed as a couple different numbers here...
  • 2 0
 Unpainted raw carbon finish would be nice. Add stealth decals.
  • 2 0
 A privateer/amateur would just buy a Canyon
  • 2 1
 Group think with the mtb industry paint schemes..so bizarre.
  • 1 0
 through headset cable routing.... shit!







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