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Bike Perfect

Lifestyle

Paul Brett

Mondraker introduces the 2023 Raze Carbon – the benchmark for a trail mountain bike?

Mondraker Fox SRAM Maxxis RR Guy Kesteven Mavic

MTB rider on the Mondraker Raze Carbon RR SL

From the moment the Raze Carbon was launched last year it immediately became a benchmark within the best trail bike category. The Raze Carbon RR received a glowing review from our tech-editor-at-large, Guy Kesteven. Packed with standout features it was aesthetically pleasing, and super lightweight, with Mondraker Forward Geometry and the Zero Suspension System. It was a trail bike to have fun on, capable of going both up and down like a dream.

Fresh from last week's drop of the 2023 Mondraker Foxy Carbon, the Raze Carbon now receives its own 2023 version with three new models, adding to the continuously growing and impressive lineup from the Spanish brand.

The 2023 Raze Carbon comes as mentioned in three builds – the RR SL, RR and R – and all share the same Full Stealth Air Carbon frame, with 130mm of rear wheel travel paired with a 150mm fork. Mondraker says the Raze Carbon frames are the most advanced carbon fiber frames in the brand's range, using carbon manufacturing processes that make the Stealth Carbon frame not only super light but with maximum stiffness and a profile that makes it one of the most stylish-looking bikes they have created. We had a delve into some of the details and the specific differences between the three models in the 2023 Raze Carbon range.

The Raze Carbon comes in three builds: the RR SL, RR and R (Image credit: Mondraker)

Each build comes with suspension from Fox with the RR SL and RR getting the iconic Kashima finished 150mm Fox Float 36 Factory GRIP2, and the R also with the 150mm fork in the Fox Float 36 GRIP EVOL. The rear shock is the Fox Float DPS EVOL again with the Kashima finish on the RR SL and RR, with the R getting the Fox Float DPS LV EVOL.

Unlike the new Foxy Carbon models, only the RR SL comes with the Mondraker MIND system, with it being an optional extra in the RR and R models. MIND is Mondraker's own Smart Telemetry System that analyzes both front and rear suspension performance and allows any rider to set up their suspension perfectly via the MyMondraker App which gives riders plenty of feedback and post-ride data to geek out on and tune their setups.

The Mondraker Raze has finishing kit from their own ONOFF brand (Image credit: Mondraker)

All three models also benefit from Mondraker's adjustable Forward Geometry, the brand's geometric concept, which it says makes each Mondraker model unique in function and performance. Having said that the geometry remains much the same as the 2022 models with a 65.5-degree head angle and a 76.5-degree seat angle, seat tube length varies from 375mm on the small up to 500mm on the XL. The bottom bracket height remains unaltered also at 343mm axle to ground.

The RR SL and RR models are equipped with the popular SRAM GX Eagle groupset, while the R comes with NX Eagle. Fox Dropper Posts are included in the higher spec versions, with the RR SL and RR featuring the Kashima-finished Transfer Factory in various drop lengths based on size. The R bike features the Mondraker in-house ONOFF dropper.

Each model features suspension from Fox (Image credit: Mondraker)

Everyone chooses a different path for their MTB riding experiences from a full-suspension XC bike, to a big mountain enduro e-bike, but Mondraker say the aggressive trail philosophy embodied in the Raze Carbon blends effective suspension with agile and effective pedaling. It might just be the exciting and multipurpose mountain bike that can do just about anything, and as Guy Kesteven said summing up last years model, "the Raze Carbon RR makes most other bikes feel decidedly dull and I’m going to have a very hard time giving it back." We are sure he'll be itching to get his hands on the 2023 model and we hope to bring a full test ride write-up very soon.

The Raze Carbon could be the multipurpose mountain bike that can do just about anything (Image credit: Mondraker)

Mondraker Raze Carbon specifications and pricing

Mondraker will sell the Raze Carbon in the three builds mentioned all kitted out with its own ONOFF finishing kit, pricing for the RR SL at $12,999 / £9,999 / €10,399, the RR at $9,499 / £7,999 / €7,999, and the R at $7,899 / £6,399 / €6,499. Find out more on the Raze Carbon and all the Mondraker 2023 range at Mondraker.com.