The Dune RR is Mondraker’s top-end all-mountain/enduro downhill style bike, and comes dripping in some of the slickest bits out there.
Ride & handling: At home descending crazy slopes at breakneck speeds
Saddle up, hit the hills and you’ll be in for a treat. First off, the medium sizing provides just about the perfect cockpit for our 5ft 8in test pilot. Okay, it isn’t the lengthiest on the climbs, but neutral positioning certainly makes for a great bike when things get technical or you begin to descend.
When it comes to climbing longer and less technical climbs in the granny ring, there's an unusual and unpleasant amount of pedal bob – which can be alleviated with ProPedal platform damping on the Fox rear shock. Mondraker have said they'll remedy this issue for 2012.
The Dune was never designed to be an ultra efficient cross-country climbing machine though, so with a little bit of patience, you’ll get this 13.6kg (30lb) rig up most climbs. Technical singletrack is a real blast, and the 66.6-degree head angle offers just about the perfect balance to let you tackle slower, tighter sections and still enjoy the control on faster, rougher sections.
When descending, the Dune RR comes into its own and can be piloted down some of the craziest slopes at breakneck speeds. You do get the feeling that you’re using the entire 160mm (6.3in) of rear wheel travel, but not in a bad way. There’s no savage bottom-out and it’ll tackle the rough stuff more than happily. The respectable weight makes for a machine that can be flicked around in the air or on the trail.
Frame: Unique looking chassis with crisp lines, dripping with some of the slickest bits out there
The Dune is constructed from Mondraker’s Stealth alloy tubing, which gives it a unique look, thanks in part to the rectangular (rather than circular) tubing used. Nestled at the heart of these clean and crisp lines sits Mondraker’s Zero suspension system, which pumps out 160mm (6.3in) of rear wheel travel.
This features two links that compress the Fox RP23 shock simultaneously, in a bid to rid the ride of things such as pedal kickback and brake jack, all the while aiming for good bump absorption. We should point out that our test bike came equipped with a Fox RP2 rear shock, though. A tapered head tube and ISCG mounts bolster the Dune RR’s burly bike credentials.
The standout components come courtesy of Easton and Fox. The Easton Haven bar and stem, which measure in at 711mm and 55mm respectively, feel great. The Haven wheelset is stiff and sturdy without weighing the scales down. But then you’d expect as much from a bike with the Dune RR’s pricetag. Fox’s 36 tapered fork delivers a dependable 160mm (6.3in) of travel.
