Are light EMTB’s for everyone? | Understanding the Tech

There is a lot of choice in the world of electric mountain bikes, but the light weight EMTB class is often misunderstood.

As a taller and heavier rider, Doddy has generally run full power bikes - but is now a convert on the ultra minimal TQ lightweight system.

In this video Doddy share his thoughts on why the lower powered motor system works so well for him.

#MondrakerBikes #MondrakerDNA #mondraker #mountainbike #enduro #mtb #mondrakerbikes #mountainbiking #enduromtb #emtb #uci #mtblife #mtb #mtblove #bikepark #racing #freeride #freeridemtb #downhill #downhillmtb

[Loamrider]

I’m proud owner of one of these bikes. It puts literally a permanent smile on my face while riding my Neat RR SL. Great bike

[cliffsangelsphotography]

TQ for the win. I have the Trek Fuel EXe and i love the TQ system

[fcsaldanha]

Hey Doddy, just wanted to say that your switch to Mondraker and your passion for the Raze made me buy one and I'm absolutely in love.
Regarding the light eMTB, I´m still not there, but I´m 100% sure that it will be the future for me! Thanks for your great work! Cheers

[johnssmith]

I'm with you on this Doddy, the Raze and the Neat are my favorite Mondrakers

[PavelChernov-zfwq]

Nice to see you back in action, Doddy! Really enjoy your videos and I am also a happy owner of Mondraker bike.

[PM_]

Hey Doddy, great content as always. I recently attended a Mondraker demo day and tried the Crusher RR for the majority of the time and had a quick blast on the Neat RR SL I think it was a great bike but coming off a full fat e-bike it felt so underpowered. I was in the wrong mind set so I’m now going to get booked in for another tester of the Neat, this time with an open mind. 👍🏻

[simonpage]

Good to see you I need to investigate Mondraker further 😁

[callaway]

The TQ motor is so underrated. I think many people have mental hurdles that prevent them from getting it. But for anyone that wants a real bike experience, yet increased range and endurance for your body, the TQ system is it.

[SubmarinersDive]

Professor Doddy has resurfaced! Subscribed brother! 😂

[stevekitchin]

Good to see you Doddy. The bike looks great but also very impressed with your solo creator skills.

[Pedalsome]

Just purchased a Dune XR…game changer, a new level of fun. Love it.

[joesulak]

I've ridden a full power eMTB (SC Heckler) for a few years, have over 3000 miles on two Hecklers and love the bike. My LBS had this bike in a new demo fleet and suggested I give it a try. To be honest, I don't like the idea of underpowered ebikes. I feel if you're going to do it, go all in. Get the full speed and power, full throttle fun of the big motors. That said, once I got on this Mondraker I instantly fell in love. I've ridden the Specialized Turbo Levo SL and the Mondraker with the TQ motor feels light years ahead. Smoother. Quieter. Power feels far more naturally applied to your personal pedal stroke. And then there's the Mondraker geo. They nailed this as it climbs with easy, tight and techy with rocks and trees to navigate, no problem. The descents feel like you're on a safe track to the bottom. It let's you rip without too much concern for what's in the way.

Mondraker, you made one bad ass SL eMTB!

[LawrenceMacMacster]

It doesn't look like an ebike. 👌
And it's silent 😍

[davefreeman]

I have the Trek Fuel EXE and absolutely love the TQ system, one massive advantage of this system also Doddy is that the motor carries an IP67 waterproof rating which is a rare find compared to other motors which makes it perfect for UK conditions 👍

[kevingreen]

After riding my Trek Rail for a few years now and loving it, I bought a Trek fuel exe for a great deal with the same motor as yours and now I’m falling back in love with putting effort in!

[fud]

That NEAT is easily the best looking e-bike out there....I'd have mine in black..ha!

[cornishcactus]

I felt the same as Doddy.
I'm about the same weight (tho more cake based) so figured I'd just overwhelm a low power bike.
I've now demoed Most of the Whyte range over the last few years and have come to the same conclusion.
The 180 in XL was a weapon, an absolute tank that just remained planted. It was stupidly quick but totally useless for the rides we do.

The 160 and 150 both in Large, my normal size, were similar although the 150 was the new 24 version.
Both had good power, the 150 very much a spin to win for the motor but as a ride (in my hands) it felt heavy and cumbersome on flow trails.
The spinning to get thrust also meant I was always in too high a gear to get a boost out of slower corners or too low on faster parts and then getting too much torque. I'm sure as you learn the bike you'll change into the right gear during a run but on my T130, I hardly ever change gear mid run.

The 140 in XL then, a revelation! It felt like it had as almost as much power as the 150 on the fireroad climb but it delivered it better and went faster for the same effort ( tyres and a few kg lighter? )
On the flows it just did, it was agile and fun. I was doubling a small set of rollers that I can't do on my lighter T130,
I haven't been able to point any of the bikes at a steep tech climb but then I don't do those and I have no doubt in the right gear and spinning away the 140 would do just fine.
I might not as much range as a fitter lighter rider but I'll get more than I do on my normal bike.
In short if enjoying trails with playful bikes is your thing rather than enduro bashing, then these bikes are for you.
Just because a motor means you can over bike doesn't mean over biking is the right way to go.

I'd like the try the Neat for the same reason I really wanted to try the E140.

[RideTheAlps]

I bought 2 Neats, for my girlfriend and me. :) Unfortunately there are not frames available in Switzerland, so I bought 2 Neats RR SLs, and then teared them down to replace the cockpit, dropper, wheelset, main sprocket etc. to get it down to below 17 kg which I somewhat failed to achieve but at least it is still a proper Enduro bike with Code Ultimate Brakes etc. since the level was sooo frightening. The TQ50 is amazing, I know the company for electronics (one of our customers for 20+ years) since a long time and I have worked in electric power steering motor control so I know the topic. The power is absolutely sufficient even for me in the alps if you have a basic fitness.

[phmtb]

I've had full fat and went and bought an orbea rise, brilliant bike! But when all your mates are on full fat it's a struggle on even the shortest climb compared to them

[kentnilsson]

👍Nice with Mondraker is that you can by a frameset of these two nice SL bikes and built your own Dreams bike😅.
I would choise this Mondraker Neat and put on a 170mm Öhlin RXF36 fork, Roval carbon wheels and XTR group set😁.
I started with a Canyon spectral ON 9.0 2019 that I put a Öhlin 170mm coil front and rear.
Next bike was a Orbea Rise M20 (rs 60Nm) carbon, that I rebuilt to XTR, DT swiss 1200 carbon wheels, Öhlin RXF36 170mm on the front and 216x63mm Öhlin STX22 on rear.
My Next bike became 2 pc Specialized SL 1.1 frame kit, when was half the price when the new 1.2 came out. This bikes is similar with XTR, Roval/Dt swiss, but one have a Fox Factory 36mm/170mm fork and teh other one have Rockshox Lyrik Ultimate. This is the Dream bike that I drivning most of the time😂.
I had to tyr a Full power Emtb, so I bough one Yamaha moro that I'm now waiting for the Öhlin RXF36 170mm fork, the Fox Factory coli 216x63mm damper and some Marvic Deemax PRO Sam Hill Alu mullet wheelset, the XTR comes later😋.
I put XTR 10-45T with a chort cage on all of my 5 Emtb😉