First Look: Mondraker Zendit with 1300W Avinox M2S Motor

Mondraker powers up.

There’s a bit of an arms race going on in the e-MTB world right now, with companies vying for their share of the wallet with more and more sophisticated motor and battery systems. Avinox has of course been leading the charge over the past 12 months – and today, the goal posts are moving again. Mondraker stands ready to ship their first Avinox-equipped bike, and they have skipped right to the head of the line by deploying the all-new M2S powerplant. 130Nm of torque (150Nm in boost mode) and a whopping 1300W of peak power allows this new motor system to deliver up to 800% of assistance, while retaining the slim form factor that keeps the bike’s frame proportions in check. The race is on!

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Mondraker was founded in 2001 by Miguel Pena (CEO) and Paco Sanchez (owner and president). Miguel was the driving force behind the brand, and Miguel came from racing, so this was always part of Mondraker’s DNA. Working with legends like Cesar Rojo and Fabien Barel, Mondraker was also at the forefront of the modern MTB geometry evolution – who can forget those first “Forward Geometry” bikes that would still be radical by today’s standards. Fabien Barel’s 2009 DH prototype had a head angle that could be adjusted down to 61 degrees (we even heard talk of 59 at the time)! Pushing the introduction of longer reach numbers and shorter stems, the Forward Geometry concept found its way into the mainstream in 2014, with the first iteration of the Foxy trail bike.

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That first Foxy certainly wore its name well - photo by Johan Hjord
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It was a peek at the future back then - photo by Johan Hjord

Today, Mondraker has grown considerably, employing around 250 staff worldwide with the majority working at the headquarters and main assembly site in Alicante, Spain. The flagship building is a futuristic concept that meshes well with the overall philosophy of the brand and its image. It also allows Mondraker to keep a very close eye on quality, as all their bikes are assembled here after frames and components are delivered in, mainly from Asia of course.

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Always a formidable presence at the races, this day the team truck was also dominating the main building :-)

A second Alicante building is home to the “Blue Lab”, Mondraker’s in-house paint facility. The team here has two main jobs; coming up with paint jobs and designs for the production models (which are then handed over to the factories in Asia for mass-production), and working on special paint projects like the “Unlimited” range. Having such a facility in-house also means Mondraker can address potential transit blemishes on new frames without having to send them back to Asia, as well as work on other paint corrections and warranty cases.

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Between 40 to 60 dual-sided workstations support the main assembly process
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Zendit - the Power Part

The Zendit is a ground-up redesign, built around the all-new Avinox M2S motor system. Mondraker went with the 800Wh option for the battery - it is internally integrated and needs to be charged via the bike. Looking under the hood of the new powerplant, the M2S puts out significantly more oomph compared to the already class-leading original Avinox motor, to the tune of 130Nm of torque (150Nm for up to 60 seconds in boost mode) and 1300W of peak power (with the ubiquitous and by now somewhat comical 250W “nominal power” rating applied for good measure). The new motor uses the exact same mounting points as the old one, but there are some other subtle differences in the overall form factor. In terms of management, the system relies on the same, 42-point wheel speed sensor that allows it to be very precise and reactive in how it delivers all that power, coupled with the advanced algorithms that we know and appreciate from the original system.

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Like on the first gen, the M2S system is controlled by the same two wireless controllers on the handlebars, with a new touchscreen display taking pride of place in the toptube. The screen itself has been updated and it now also features a USB-C port that can handle up to 65W of external power delivery for charging your phone or even your laptop from the bike. Of course, the system still pairs up with the Avinox app to allow even deeper access to all the features, like tuning the motor response in the various ride modes, or managing the digital motor lock and anti-theft features.

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Avinox Ride Modes

ECO
Efficiently enhance long-range riding. Features lower assistance for tackling flatter terrain.

AUTO
Utilize the multi-sensor fusion to automatically and continuously adjust assistance based on riding resistance.

TRAIL
Aimed at mixed technical trails, enabling riders to effectively overcome terrain challenges.

TURBO
Assists with steep climbs and empowers riders to navigate challenging obstacles and terrain.

BOOST
Up to 60 seconds of 150Nm torque and max 1300 Watts power output for extreme terrain.

Avinox M2S Early Ride Impressions

We have had the opportunity to test the new Avinox system on board the Pivot Shuttle AMP’d that also launched today. Our tester's limited time was primarily focused on getting acquainted with that bike’s handling, but it also gave him the opportunity to experience the M2S. To sum up his impressions: "From the first pedal stroke of the M2S I was met with an overwhelming level of refinement. This system is capable of producing a hilarious amount of torque on a dime and can do so while delivering unparalleled traction control. The customizable OLED touch screen display and wireless mode selectors add to the overall experience. The Avinox App, which is mandatory to pair to the motor in the first 100km, gives the user free reign to customize their bike, including setting the rear wheel size and exploiting various levels of integration, including heart rate and GPS. With the Avinox system available on 19 bikes and counting, there is now a clear front runner in the e-bike arms race. No side by side testing with other motors yet but if I were a betting man I’d put my money on the Avinox."

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Zendit - the Bike Part

The Zendit features 165mm of rear travel and is optimized for a 170mm fork. The standard configuration is a 27.5/29 mullet, but it can take a full 29-inch rear wheel as well thanks to a flip chip by the BB area that lengthens the chainstay by 7mm but otherwise leaves the kinematics and the geometry unchanged. There is also a flip chip in the lower shock mount which provides geometry adjustment to the tune of 0.35 degrees for the head angle and 5mm of BB drop.

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On the geometry side, Mondraker has recently been moving to 5 sizes on several models in the range, and that also applies to the Zendit. The reach ranges from 440mm to 520mm in steps of 20mm. The headangle sits at an aggressive 63.5 degrees with the flip chip in the taller position, dropping down to 63.15 if you do indeed flip that chip. The chainstays clock in at a generous 450mm (with the flip chip in the taller position) in the three smaller sizes, growing to 455mm on the L and XL. You can add a further 7mm with the chainstay flip chip if you want to run a 29-inch rear wheel.

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Looking over the rear suspension platform, the Zendit uses Mondraker’s well-established “ZERO” layout.  It is comprised of two co-rotating links and a shock that floats between the the rear triangle and the rocker link, developed in order to optimize everything from small-bump compliance to big-hit resistance. The linkages move on Enduro Max bearings that are all the same size, which makes it easier to source and manage replacements when the time comes for a little TLC. The suspension curves show 27% progression in the main leverage ratio, with anti-squat and anti-rise “tuned for the application”. 

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In terms of construction, Mondraker says this is their most advanced and sophisticated frame to date. It weighs in at 3000 grams including all the hardware (size M/L), and features fully guided internal cable routing throughout (with headtube routing, thankfully). To achieve the low weight, even the rocker link is full carbon. There’s a generous helping of rubber and plastic protectors in key spots, and an integrated rear mud guard helps keep the shock clean. Naturally, the frame also integrates perfectly with the new Avinox M2S motor and battery system.

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Worldwide Pricing

There will be three build levels of the Zendit on offer, worldwide pricing will be as follows:

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Mondraker Zendit XR Specs

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Mondraker Zendit RR S Specs

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Mondraker Zendit RR Specs

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More information available at mondraker.com.

Photos by Mondraker unless otherwise noted


View key specs, compare e-bikes, and review the new Mondraker Zendit in the Vital MTB Product section.


Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (contiguous U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free standard UK delivery on orders over £50.
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