Mondraker is a name that will have many riders thinking of downhill bikes and the newly signed Danny Hart, but the Spanish company's lineup of bikes actually runs the gamut of disciplines, all the way to pure cross-country race machines. The 140mm travel Foxy Carbon XR that's review here sits smack dab in the middle, with a new-for-2015 carbon frame that is said to be 400 grams lighter than its aluminum counterpart. I think it's also safe to say that its appearance is much more pleasing to the eye than previous iterations - this bike is a stunner. The Carbon XR model comes setup from the factory for a rider who prefers a spot of rowdy riding, with a 160mm travel FOX 34 Talas fork - that's 20mm more than out back - that gives it a slacker head angle than the less well endowed Foxy models, and a CTD remote that provides push-button control over both the fork and shock's compression settings while on the go.
Foxy Carbon Details• Intended use: all-mountain / trail / enduro
• Wheel size: 27.5''
• Rear-wheel travel: 140mm
• FOX 34 Talas CTD FIT, 130/160mm
• Mondraker's Zero Suspension System
• Frame material: carbon fiber
• Forward geometry
• Internal cable routing
• ISCG 05 chain guide tabs
• Weight: 27lb 5oz
• MSRP: 6,999 EUR
•
www.mondraker.com The 27lb 5oz XR model is the boss of the Foxy range, with an XX1 drivetrain, Formula T1 Carbon brakes, and FOX Factory suspension that add up to a 6,999 EUR price tag (roughly $8,100 USD, although there is no U.S. distribution at this point in time). Don't want to spend that much? There are three less expensive carbon versions, as well as three alloy Foxys, that won't lighten your wallet as much as the Carbon XR will.Frame DetailsTelling someone that Mondrakers have a distinct look to them is a bit like saying that Nicki Minaj has got her own unique thing going on. Sure, she often looks like she's an alien from some angles, but there's something there that works for me, although I can't quite put my finger on what it is. It's the same story with the Foxy, at least for me, as I'd say that while it does look a bit odd from some angles, it also has that one-of-a-kind appearance that's just staggering. The bike's front end is the most obvious standout feature, but how the top tube flows into the swing arm, with a stubby seat mast of sorts jutting up, has it looking ready for action. Tech details and other geekery aside, I don't think I'm alone in thinking that this thing appears to be pretty badass.
Mondraker's move to carbon has seen them ditch the hump at the front of the top tube, which, despite being synonymous with the brand for many years, was obviously a good move as far as appearances go. That hump is gone, and there's now a short section of carbon that joins the top and down tubes together just aft of the head tube, no doubt done to up front-end strength. All of the cables and hoses enter the down tube through ports at the front of the bike, including the hose for the Reverb Stealth, and they exit the frame at the opposite end of the same tube. It makes for a clean look, so long as you don't take a gander at the mess in front of the handlebar, and the ports should also make it easy-ish to run new cables when the time comes. There's a bonded-on down tube guard, as well as room for a large-sized water bottle within the front triangle, not something that every competitor can claim. How it's acceptable for that not to be the case still boggles my mind. Thanks, Mondraker, for using some common sense and keeping me from dying of thirst in the deserts of Arizona.
The carbon frame is said to weigh 4.62 pounds (
2.09kg) without a shock, which is 400 grams lighter than the alloy version and also four times as good looking (
I did the math). Mondraker's clearly done their homework here because that's a pretty respectable weight, and it's a figure no doubt helped along by going with a full carbon rear-end, which is something that some other brands have said isn't often worth the effort given how difficult it can be to build a reliable swing-arm out of carbon. Now I have to list off the usual design points that all bikes have these days, including the Foxy Carbon, so here goes: tapered head tube, 12 x 142mm rear end, ISCG 05 tabs, Press-Fit 92 bottom bracket, and so on.
Forward Geometry Explained
Geometry is an always evolving thing, with numbers changing over the years as designers learn what works best for how people are riding at the time. A short while ago it was a competition to see who could get their bottom brackets closer to the deck, and now it seems that mega-long front ends combined with short stems is the way to go. Kona saw the light before most others did, at least here in North America, with other brands following to some extent, but credit should go to Spain's Mondraker for being being on the bleeding edge of what is actually a paradigm shift in how geometry is looked at. They were experimenting with roomy front ends and zero-reach stems many years ago, taking it to the extreme before dialing it back a bit, but they still run some of the most radical numbers out there. The long front end and short stem combo isn't just a fad, though, as it makes a lot of sense for how many of us ride bikes.
Anyone who has ridden a traditional cross-country bike with a long stem, and then a longer-travel bike with a short stem on the same rowdy downhill, can attest to which bike felt scary and which one inspired confidence. But if using a short stem has that sort of effect, why not go to an even shorter stem? It's not quite that simple, though, because using a very short stem on a bike with standard geometry will only create one awkward riding machine that will feel too cramped, as well as not place enough weight on the front wheel for proper handling when you're climbing and descending. That means that if you want an all-around kind of bike to handle well with a short stem, it has to be designed around that idea - it has to have a longer top tube to compensate for the length lost in the stem. That's exactly what Mondraker have done with their Forward Geometry. Instead of Mondraker designing the bike around a traditional stem, they instead added length to the bike's front-center and then spec'd a short stem to balance it out. The result is that the rider is in roughly the same position, but the front wheel is farther out in front of them, and the bike's wheelbase is a touch longer.
The Foxy's Suspension ExplainedThe Foxy's 140mm travel Zero Suspension System employs two burly looking aluminum links that create a virtual pivot point out in space and connect the rear triangle to the front of the bike. Both of the links rotate in the same direction, with the longer upper link compressing the shock from above and the lower link doing the same from below. Working the shock from both ends isn't a fresh concept, but it does mean that the front triangle doesn't have to be designed to deal with the direct force of a harsh bottoming moment in the same way as it would if the lower shock mount was static, and this can lead to a slight weight savings. Mondraker makes plenty of bold claims about their Zero Suspension System, saying that it "
prevents any unwanted movements produced whilst pedalling,'' and that ''
rear brake forces do not alter the suspension system," both of which explain where the design's name comes from: zero movement while pedalling, and zero rear brake input.
The bike's FOX Float CTD shock is located about as low as possible in the frame, a move that can trick the bike into feeling lighter on the trail than it actually is, and a remote lever controls both the fork and the shock's compression, allowing you to switch them both between Descend, Trail, and Climb modes while on the move. While I do admit to generally not being a fan of such things, especially due to the rat's nest of cables that can stem from spec'ing extra buttons and levers, being able to control both ends of the bike with the push of a single button is a pretty neat feature.
Specifications
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Release Date
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2015 |
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Price
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$8100 |
|
Travel |
140 |
|
Rear Shock |
FOX Float CTD Remote LV Boost Valve Factory Kashima 200x57mm |
|
Fork |
FOX 34 Talas 27´5 CTD Remote FIT Factory Kashima 15mm tapered 160mm |
|
Headset |
Onoff Integrated tapered 1-1/8”->1/5” |
|
Cassette |
Sram XG-1199 10-42T |
|
Crankarms |
SRAM XX1 w/ 30T |
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Bottom Bracket |
SRAM PF92 |
|
Rear Derailleur |
SRAM XX1 |
|
Chain |
SRAM PCXX1 |
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Shifter Pods |
SRAM XX1 |
|
Handlebar |
Onoff Stoic Carbon 1” 740mm |
|
Stem |
Onoff Stoic FG 30mm |
|
Grips |
Onoff Paw lock-on |
|
Brakes |
Formula T1 Carbon 180mm |
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Wheelset |
CrankBrothers Iodine 3 |
|
Tires |
Maxxis Ardent 27.5 x 2.40 |
|
Seat |
Fizik Tundra2 MG |
|
Seatpost |
RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6mm |
|
| |
Climbing / HandlingAt first glance the Foxy looks like it'd climb about as well as a Top Fuel dragster goes around corners, especially given that both seem to have similar length front ends, but that turned out to be far from the case. Another instance of a bike defying expectations, really, and further proof that while geo numbers are important when considering a bike, you'll never get the full story unless you ride it. What did I expect? A handful, to be honest, and I was fully prepared to be struggling on technical challenges and be off the back on longer, smoother grinds up gravel access roads. What did I find? That the Foxy can more than hold its own against other 140mm bikes, even those with serious cross-country leanings.
It's likely one of the more efficient bikes in its class that I've spent time on, so much so that Mondraker's decision to spec the handlebar-mounted CTD remote seems a bit silly. Left full open, the Foxy takes off improbably quick and feels more like a spritely 120mm bike, enough so that I had to get a few other riders to give it a go just to make sure it wasn't the sunstroke and light beer that had me feeling things. It wasn't - the Foxy is great under power, and out of the saddle efforts will see it get up to speed like a fire has been lit under your ass. This makes crushing access road climbs a cinch, which is a great thing if that's how you access your singletrack, but it also helps your cause when you need to get up and over a jumble of roots or rocky ledges that stand between you and cleaning a trail.
| Left full open, the Foxy takes off improbably quick and feels more like a spritely 120mm bike, so much so that I had to get a few other riders to give it a go just to make sure it wasn't the sunstroke and light beer that had me feeling things. |
There's yet more surprises when you're faced with tricky ascents that test even the most skilled climbers out there, although I shouldn't be too shocked given that Mondraker's longer-travel Dune out performed my expectations in the same way when I tested it last year. A 30mm stem, 66.5 degree head angle, and 1220mm wheelbase should add up to a handful when the ups are difficult enough that trackstands and wheel-pivots come into play, but the Foxy can hold its own so long as you stay on top of it. There's boat loads of traction out back to keep you moving forward, allowing you to get up out of the saddle if you need to put in a solid burst, and that's something that really helped when I was faced with a dusty rock face that I wouldn't have been able to top if I had stayed seated.
More importantly, the extremely long front end didn't feel all that excessive when dealing with ultra-tight switchbacks, although it does require a different method at times. The best approach was to (
obviously) go as wide as possible, but then to pretty much turn in as hard and as sharp as you can while almost stopped so that the entire front of the bike swings around while the rear wheel is nearly stationary. That routine saw me get around the tightest of corners, even some that required me to pull out my old school trials card when on other bikes with more traditional geometry. And while I'm not a big fan of forks with adjustable travel (
seriously, just get used to how your bike handles), it was appreciated on the Foxy, much more so than the CTD function.
All of my climbing praise isn't going to change that fact that the Foxy most certainly does require a different approach on technical sections, which means that it's not likely going to be an ideal bike for a newer or less skilled rider that might not put in the time to figure out its eccentricities. However, a rider who can adapt to the bike is going to clean anything that they'd make on any other trail bike, and it absolutely flies up smoother climbs.
Descending and SuspensionWith its Batman-esque appearance, slack head angle, and stubby 30mm stem, the Foxy looks like a demon of a descender. And it can be, but the story isn't that simple. Truth be told, I struggled to understand how to get the most out of the black bike in a lot of downhill situations, and I went through all sorts of varying setups while trying to figure it out. Different handlebar heights, different handlebar widths, and drastically different suspension settings were all on order. What did I discover after all that? That the Foxy Carbon XR is not your run of the mill trail bike.
Speed is not just your friend when on the Foxy, it's your BFF, and the faster you go, the more natural the bike's handling will feel to you. This is because counter-steering is the best way to get the Mondraker around corners, but that's a technique that requires some commitment, so you best be on it. Get a handle on that method and the Foxy isn't the tricky machine that it can be on slower, rolling terrain. Alas, I feel like a 140mm travel bike, even with a longer fork and relatively slack angles, should be able to rip on slower trails that require some bobbing and weaving, but the Foxy just doesn't gel on those sort of trails. I constantly found myself off line and not where I wanted to be in such situations, and the front-end of the bike would feel like it was switching between biting and giving up, although running more sag out back did help the situation a bit. Go figure. I'd describe it as feeling inconsistent, which was especially troubling when in a corner that tightened up through its radius. Not the ideal bike if you do more poking and plonking than pinning.
The scene was much brighter when not confined by tight trees and tighter corners, with higher speeds allowing the bike to come into its own. Again, this is because that's when you can start to either counter-steer or use the rear brake to change the bike's direction, otherwise known as skidding. I knew when I was about to start feeling my oats as soon as my eyes began to water from going fast, and that's when the Foxy comes into its own. The bike suddenly went from being a handful to a good time, almost like you just flipped the bitch switch from 'no' to 'go', at which point it was time to let it roll. Much like I discovered when I tested Mondraker's Dune last year, their Forward Geometry puts you in a very confidence inspiring position, especially when it comes to pointing it down something scary enough to make you hesitate. It was quickly obvious that there was no reason to dither, though, even if the run-out looked about as inviting as a perfectly flat parking lot, and I suspect that many Foxy riders will end up trying lines that they wouldn't if they were aboard other bikes of similar travel.
| I knew when I was about to start feeling my oats as soon as my eyes began to water from going fast, and that's when the Foxy comes into its own. The bike suddenly went from being a handful to a good time, almost like you just flipped the bitch switch from 'no' to 'go', at which point it was time to let it roll. |
The bike's Zero Suspension System is more efficient than a solar powered Prius, but it's not quite as forgiving as I would have expected. Going with a firmer spring rate, as many aggressive riders often have to do on a trail bike, makes for a bit of a harsh feeling rear end that doesn't take the edge off as it should. Thankfully, Mondraker doesn't force those who are going to smash into things on the downs (
pros and hacks alike) to run a stiff setup in order to prevent the bike from blowing through its travel - there's plenty of progression built in - so you can go well over 30% sag without worrying about clanging off the bottom. The rear end also seems to ride fairly high in its travel, and this means that the bike can feel a touch stinkbug-ish if you run less than 30% droop. I eventually settled at just over 35% sag, which sounds excessive when talking about a 140mm travel bike, but that number solved the initial harshness I was feeling, and the efficiency of Mondraker's Zero Suspension System design still had the bike pedalling like a champ. It also had a positive effect on the handling, which was the opposite of what I would have expected.
Technical Report• Maxxis Ardent Tires: I seriously don't like these when I'm on my typical rocky, rooty, dirty home trails. Never have and I doubt I ever will, which is why I was surprised to find out that they worked so well on the Mondraker when in Sedona, Arizona. They roll fast as hell, the large volume (
2.4'' front and back on the Foxy) makes for a very forgiving ride, and they seemed to work well on the local terrain. I did manage to tear a casing, though, which was a bummer. That said, Sedona is very hard on tires.
• Onoff Stoic Carbon 740mm Handlebar: Really, Mondraker? This bike needs to be ridden fast as balls but you spec a 740mm handlebar? I feel like talking about handlebar width should have stopped three or four years ago, but here we are. The 740mm width does speed up the bike's handling a touch, which can help - I know this because I swapped it out for a 780mm just to see - but the stock handlebar is just too narrow for a bike that excels on hectic terrain and at high speeds. Also, the stock Onoff Paw grips were universally hated by everyone who spent time on the bike, with the hard rubber making short work of our palms and fingers.
• FOX 34: The FOX 34 Talas 27.5'' CTD Remote FIT Factory (
and take a breath) is a good match for the bike and was very impressive on the trail. It was active but still quite supportive, and the new Talas system allowed me to drop it down to 130mm and have it still feel very, very good. In fact, I spent a load of time with the fork lowered while trying to sort out the Foxy's handling, including experimenting with this short-travel setting on some pretty rowdy downhill sections, and have to say that FOX has nailed their air-sprung travel adjustment system. I still cringe when I look at photos of the CTD remote cables, though, and I imagine riders with OCD tendencies will start twitching and stuttering with uneasiness at the same sight.
• Formula T1 Carbon Brakes: Does anyone out there still use Formula stoppers besides those who get them for free? Two other riders spent a good amount of time on the Foxy, and both felt that they would be able to go faster and ride with more confidence if Mondraker had chosen different brakes. And what about me? I think you'd get better modulation, and maybe even more power, by just using your hands to squeeze the rotor with two wooden blocks rather than sticking with the T1 Carbons. Sorry, Formula, but if I was buying the Foxy Carbon XR for myself, these brakes would go before I left the bike shop.
• Crankbrothers Iodine 3 Wheels: These things look badass on the Foxy, don't they? More importantly, I had zero troubles with them during my time on the bike. They were still arrow-straight when it was time to ship the Foxy back home to Spain, and I didn't hear a single ping out of them during the test period. Did I mention how cool that look on the bike?
Pinkbike's Take: | The Foxy Carbon XR is a bit hard to pin down. Its radical Forward Geometry inspires confidence in some situations, yet left me frustrated in others. A 140mm travel bike should be an all around badass, even if it has a longer-travel fork, and the Foxy is just too focused on all-out speed and rowdy terrain to wear that label. Straight up, those who ride slower, flatter trails won't be doing themselves any favours by being on the Foxy, but someone who's all about going as fast as possible (and has the trails to match) will find a good partner with the Spanish machine. It has plenty of character, and while it's clearly not perfect, it will be for the right rider. Just make sure that's you if you're considering the Foxy Carbon XR. - Mike Levy |
Visit the high-res gallery for more images from this review
I used the 'old' non radial master cyclinder The One's, I bought my bike used with them, they were crap... And then those were the top of the line Formula sets.. hilarious
fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/358/1/f/imperial_vs__metric_by_nekit1234007-d5p0ou5.png
It's annoying for conversions, sorta. But if you don't like imperial, try following a metric recipe!
@bentplate There is no "beauty" in Imperial measurement. Everyone's feet and thumbs are different sizes. This is a terrible way to measure objects and is far from practical.
Boiling/freezing point of water in Fahrenheit = Stupid. Torque values in foot-lbs, in-lbs & in-oz = Stupid. 36 inches = 3 feet = 1 yard = Stupid. Drill sizes are in numbers (larger the number, smaller the drill) as well as letters = Stupid. WTF thread major is a #00-90? (double ought ninety) = Stupid. Thread pitch measured by # of threads per inch = Stupid. Imperial is just plain stupid. As Americans shouldn't we be glad to rid ourselves of the Imperialist non-sense?
@Reverie2Reality, no shit. It's an approximation. IMO English threads are way more versatile than metric. When you're trying to eek out all the strength you can in something, having fine, extra fine, and coarse thread options is very handy. Drill gauges, however, are stupid.
The reality is it doesn't matter how you measure things as long as you're all on the same page as to what it means.
Comments like this are so tiresome. Tell Graves that 740 is too narrow
I'd also like to see that when an individual reviewer doesn't completely gel with a bike to go back to the manufacturer, get some input and then see if that changes anything, whether it be bike set up or ride style. It is a shame to see slightly negative reviews and pigeon hole bike based on one person's quick opinion.
Very entertaining read though
That said, they are a fit item, & should change size as frame size goes up. Somebody who rides a small is unlikely to want a 780mm bar, someone who rides an XL isn't likely to want a 680mm.
For my 7,000 euro, the bike should leave the store with all the contact points sorted for my physique and preferences at no extra cost or hassle.
Just tried your test which, seems logical. Now where do I find some 840mm bars?
Bars can be too wide though because a person with a small frame trying to manipulate (say) 800mm bars is going to run out of body-English/reach. This is shown by doing a push-up by putting your hands close to as far apart as they will go: firstly, it is much harder and secondly you will get very little vertical movement.
The key point of going from 2x10 to 1x10 is to simplify the riding experience and reduce the clutter. It probably appeals to some and thats cool but as far as I am concerned, adding remotes defeats the purpose. I'm fine with a reverb remote because it is an accessory you will actively manage but lockout and CTD? Really? Maybe it is just my area that doesn't warrant it but it seems like a solution looking for a problem.
For my 7,000 euro, the bike should leave the store with all the contact points sorted for my physique and preferences at no extra cost or hassle.
Only annoying thing about the ROs is the lever design, the blades develop significant play if you use them alot and there really isnt much to do besides buying new master cylinders which sucks.
2 full seasons, over 150 park days plus alot of pushbike/shuttle and they work more or less as day 1. May be luck but I sure do appreciate gear that just takes the abuse and works.
Zero Suspension, Forward Geometry, Crankbrothers Iodine, Maxxis Ardent 2.40... everything is perfect, except the price and that cable mess in the front of the bike.
Coming from a Cannondale Prophet with Lefty Max 140mm Carbon, allready with 27,5 wheels,I´m sure this bike is changing my riding style, for better!!!
When I went full gas (on really scaring speeds), it started all make sense and the bike seems to love it... It's agressive like hell and bites you to get more speed. Is not for the faintheated.
One (another) really impressive detail is that is like an XC top gun on the climbs. So easy and so fast, with minimal effort. That thing, in my opinion, is really remarkable!!!
This is a bike for people with some extra large balls where performance is a priority!
Of course, and I agree, brakes are crap! And price is a bit (a lot) hight...
I would liked to have had Mikes comments on using the 10 / 20mm stem options. Stock they come with 30mm but the reach is long enough for some riders to be able to use the shorter stems.
I find my Dune (2015 version) handles twisty single track really well so I don't get Mike's negative comments on this. You need to change riding style, it pays to be weight forward and more aggressive in the corners.
Somebody told me that Formula is not what it used to be? I can't comment on that but my three year old Formula One's are going strong. have plenty of power and nice feel.
If I was getting the a Foxy I would want to look at changing the shock for a BOS Vip'r, X-Fusion or a Monarch. Some dealers will do this at no extra cost if you ask them.
At High speed descends it was really good and I felt really confident on it, but when speeds were slower I also felt like it was really harsh and didn't have any grip. I tried a lot with the shock, but couldn't really get it to work better.
I didn't have to deal with it very long though, as the cage around the shock cracked... well it was more of an explosion, all 4 rods were completely bend and broken.
The trail was pretty technical and had some rocks, but just usual stuff, not too wild and I didn't do a big huck, it just came out of no where.
Well, now I've got a Banshee Spitfire (old version), it has 10mm less travel, pedals way better and feels like 20mm more on the descends, I couldn't be more happy!
I like how the new Mondrakers look, but I don't think I'll ever buy one again. If it would have performed better, maybe, but the overall experience was just too bad.
Most of them need bleeding out of the box to function properly, which is why you read a lot of reviews saying how crappy they feel. They need to be ridden several times for them to "settle" which isn't really a good quality for the price. Their ergonomics are off, they don't have a straight pull line, which means that your finger pivots as you pull the lever. Not good.
Bleeding them is a pain as well, to get a perfect bleed you must remove the caliper and the cable to get a straight line so the bubbles can come out. Then put it all back and pray for it to not need another go.
To be honest, only the top of the line brakeset is OK. And thats top dollar.
They are the prettiest to look, but unfortunately thats about it. Quality is meh, even the mid range brakes feel a bit, poorly made.
Nowadays there are many brakes in the market that offer a much better value, (SLX, Elixir 7, Tektro Auriga) for much less of a price and many that give you that bling factor (XTR, Hope, Magura) that make Formulas look years behind. Im not saying they are rubbish, but they are definitely not the best out there considering their competition.
I wonder since most of the Foxys are 140/140 front and rear and only the XR alloy and carbon come specced with a 160mm that the balance harder to get and affects that consistency of feel you mentioned or lack of, it would be good to do a comparison test with a 140mm Foxy which from the RR models down are!
and all 140/140mm front and rear. 160/140 to me would suit a certain terrain or rider, I would also like to test it with a 150mm setting on the fork on the XR that might give best of both and not have such an em balance and not be so hit and miss?
Most dont seem to get the XR models were always aimed at the top rider, not the rider with the biggest wallet!, hence origonally only XRs came with fwd geo and the Zero stems. That changed in 2014.
Just my 2c
The bike is brilliant though.
Fair enough.
the frame is a new project , more performance but is trail bike !!
..7000 euro ?!?!?.....one Yamaha Xjr 1300cc IS MORE ECONOMIC
Said nobody ever.
XT and XTR brakes are a gift from the heavens. Formula is utter trash by comparison. Reaching down and pinching your rim with your fingers is on par with Formula brakes compared to XT/XTR.
And I guarantee neither of you are skilled enough riders to tell the difference between two and one piece calipers when braking, that's laughable.
Shimano is highly regarded as having fantastic modulation. You must be confusing it with Avid lol
Sorry, I'll just buy a car.