When curiosity goes beyond the engine
In recent months, there's been a huge amount of excitement surrounding DJI and its new Avinox system. It's probably the product that's sparked the most discussion among e-MTB enthusiasts, thanks to numbers that until recently seemed unthinkable.
The decision to test the Mondraker Zendit RR S, however, wasn't dictated solely by the desire to understand how this engine performed. There was another motivation as well.
I've always admired Mondraker's take on mountain biking. The Zero Suspension system, Forward Geometry, and that longer-than-average reach have always been hallmarks of the Spanish brand. Therefore, in addition to my interest in the Avinox platform, I was curious to see how Mondraker had developed a completely new e-bike around this system.
After several weeks of use, I can confidently say: the Zendit isn't a bike built to accommodate a very powerful motor. It's an e-MTB designed from the ground up, where chassis and assistance work in perfect harmony.
A chassis that convinces from the first meters
The Zendit is an extremely balanced bike.
The components were carefully selected and create a bike that's equally fun on climbs and descents. From the first few meters, the riding position feels natural: your torso can relax without constraints, your arms find ideal support on the handlebars, and the weight distribution immediately inspires confidence.
The very vertical seat tube allows you to maintain a central position while pedaling, improving efficiency without sacrificing comfort.
The suspension also deserves special mention. The Fox Podium and Float X setup is perfectly in line with the bike's enduro purpose. The hydraulics support the bike during major compressions without ever feeling stiff, while the rebound remains controlled. The result is a responsive, dynamic bike that feels surprisingly close to a modern mountain bike.
Downhill: the full Mondraker experience
The numbers speak for themselves: 170 mm of travel at the front and 165 mm at the rear identify a bike born to tackle the most challenging trails.
On the pitch, the Zendit delivers exactly that promise.
Even on the most technical descents we tackled during the test, characterised by natural lines, rocks and continuous changes in gradient, the bike always conveyed a feeling of absolute control.
The front end remains precise and stable thanks to the Fox Podium, while the Zero Suspension system allows the rear end to follow the terrain with extreme sensitivity without losing support as speed increases. The bike constantly encourages active riding, seeking lines, changing trajectories, and exploiting every available support.
The mullet configuration also convinced me.
It's probably the first e-bike I've tried where the 27,5" rear wheel doesn't make me miss a full 29" setup. Stability remains very high, traction is always present and the advantage in terms of agility makes the bike more intuitive when changing direction and on more technical sections.
The frame also plays an important role. The structure is rigid enough to ensure precision without being nervous. Turn entry is always smooth, the bike holds its line naturally and gives a very solid feeling.
On the downhill, all of Mondraker's experience gained in the gravity world clearly emerges.
Going uphill changes the paradigm
If the descent confirms Mondraker's DNA, it is on the uphill that the real revolution arrives.
DJI didn't just make a more powerful motor. It changed the way you experience climbing.
Until a few months ago, e-bikes were essentially mountain bikes that allowed you to tackle climbs faster and with less effort. With Avinox, the concept has changed radically.
The climb becomes an active part of the ride.
The assistance can reach up to 800% of the rider's power output, which means having an impressive amount of watts at your disposal. But it's not just a question of numbers.
You have to learn to drive it.
On technical mule tracks, like the Fontegno that I regularly use as a testing ground, but also on smoother climbs, the way you tackle the route changes completely.
Corners need to be prepared. Enter quickly, use higher gears, let the bike flow, downshift quickly, and then relaunch decisively, exploiting all the engine's torque.
Even dips and small bumps take on a different meaning. Where once they were simply rough terrain to be absorbed, today they become support points to use to lighten the bike or even to jump. The climb is no longer a transfer to the descent: it becomes part of the fun itself.
And this is probably the greatest innovation introduced by Avinox.
The Avinox engine: lots of power, but above all lots of naturalness
The most striking thing is not the maximum power.
It's the way it's delivered.
Despite the significantly higher values than we've been used to in recent years, the motor remains extremely smooth. There's no jerking, no abrupt intervention, and the pedal feel remains very close to that of a traditional mountain bike.
The assistance accompanies the pedaling rather than replacing it.
The software also represents a significant step forward.
The app is intuitive, fast, and allows you to customize virtually every parameter of the motor: from the level of assistance to the initial pedaling response, to the speed at which the support enters or exits during the rotation of the cranks. A very broad range of customization options, yet simple to use even for those who don't want to waste time in complex menus.
Another feature that I find extremely interesting concerns security.
The system integrates a true digital anti-theft system. Once a password is set, the bike cannot be used without authorization, and the location system adds an additional layer of protection. This is a feature that has been lacking in the e-bike world until now, and one that could quickly become a standard in the future.
Conclusions
The Mondraker Zendit RR S is one of the few e-bikes that, once the test period was over, I was actually sorry to return.
Not only because of the Avinox engine, which represents one of the most innovative systems in the sector today, but because the entire bike has been developed with great balance.
The chassis works, the suspension works impeccably, the choice of components is consistent with the intended use and the result is an e-MTB capable of excelling both on the most challenging descents and the most technical climbs.
If the future of e-bikes is the one indicated by Avinox, Mondraker has already demonstrated that it has found the right way to interpret it.
