Mondraker has stormed back into the dirt jump arena with the KAOZ — a purpose-built 26in single-speed hardtail engineered around barspins, pool drops and pump-track laps rather than borrowed from a trail frame.
Mondraker re-enters the dirt jump arena
Spanish brand Mondraker is best known for World Cup downhill and its long-travel Forward Geometry enduro bikes, but the new KAOZ drops it straight into the playground: dirt jumps, pump tracks and skate parks. It joins the brand's gravity collection alongside the Summum DH race bike and the recently launched Anark freeride bike.
Crucially, Mondraker says it didn't just shrink a trail hardtail. The KAOZ frame was drawn from scratch to survive the repeated high compressions and flat-to-transition impacts of jumping, with the details aimed squarely at trick riders.
KAOZ by the numbers
Source: Mondraker / Bikerumor
A frame built for hard landings
The chassis is Mondraker's Stealth Alloy EVO construction: hydroformed, variable-thickness 6061-T6 aluminium. Behind the head tube sits a 'window' the brand calls a stiffness link — a brace that resists head-tube twist so the steering stays precise when you load the front into a lip.
The bottom bracket is a split-forged shell — a two-piece forging that ditches abrupt welds and stress risers for better fatigue life. Brake hose runs internally through Mondraker's Silent Core system, with deliberately extra length wrapped around the head tube so the bars can spin freely for barspins and tailwhips without tugging the line. Sliding dropouts with an integrated brake mount keep chain tension and rotor alignment in sync as you adjust the rear end.
“Steering is accurate and responsive, all the time.”
Geometry, sizing & spec
View data table
| Size M | Size L | |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 415 mm | 440 mm |
| Top tube | 599 mm | 623 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1057 mm | 1082 mm |
Frameset vs complete build
| Frameset | Complete build | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (EUR) | €699 (~R13 100) | €2,199 (~R41 200) |
| Price (USD) | $899 (~R14 800) | $2,599 (~R42 900) |
| Fork | — | RockShox Pike DJ, 100mm, Charger damper |
| Drivetrain | — | Truvativ Descendant 165, 30T / 12T single-speed |
| Wheels | — | DT Swiss D1900 Classic, DT 370 hubs |
| Tyres | — | Maxxis DTH 26x2.3, tubeless-ready |
| Rear brake | — | SRAM DB8 4-piston, 160mm |
| Weight | 2,435 g (frame) | 11.2 kg (size M) |
What the press says
First impressions from the cycling media
Independent verdicts from across the cycling press — follow each link for the full review.
Distinctly Mondraker, purpose-built for play
“A play bike built for dirt jumps, pump tracks, and skate parks, the KAOZ is made for creative riding and self-expression.”
Read the full reviewSolid kit; pricey but in line with the segment
“Equipment without any obvious weak points.”
Read the full reviewA genuinely purpose-built dirt-jump frame with thoughtful, trick-focused details. The premium price and the narrow colour and size spread are the only real hesitations.
The case for and against
- Purpose-built dirt-jump frame, not a rebadged trail hardtail
- Trick-friendly details: Silent Core routing for barspins, the head-tube stiffness link and a split-forged BB
- Genuinely rideable complete spec — RockShox Pike DJ, DT Swiss wheels, SRAM DB8
- Sliding dropouts keep chain tension and brake alignment in sync
- Light for the category at 11.2 kg in size M
- 26in and single-speed only — no wheel-size or gearing options
- Just two sizes (M/L); smaller riders are left out
- Superblack is the only colourway
- Premium pricing — "no bargain" in the segment, per BIKE
- Frameset or complete only, and rear-brake-only (normal for DJ, but worth knowing)
Price & South African availability
Mondraker lists the complete KAOZ at €2,199 (~R41 200) / £1,999 (~R43 500) / $2,599 (~R42 900) and the bare frameset at €699 (~R13 100) / £629 (~R13 700) / $899 (~R14 800) (the USD complete figure comes from Bikerumor). It launched on 4 June 2026 and is sold through Mondraker dealers in the Superblack colourway only.
South African pricing depends on the local Mondraker importer and the exchange rate, so treat the euro figures as a guide rather than a rand price. We'll surface any live ZAR listings from our catalogue below as stock lands.
Tap to vote — see how readers lean
Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mondraker KAOZ full suspension? +
No. It's a hardtail with a 100mm RockShox Pike DJ fork up front and no rear shock — standard for a dirt jump bike.
What wheel size does it use? +
26in only, on DT Swiss D1900 wheels with Maxxis DTH 26x2.3 tyres. There's no 27.5in option.
Can I run gears on it? +
No. The KAOZ is single-speed only (30T chainring, 12T sprocket). It uses sliding dropouts to set chain tension and has no derailleur hanger.
What sizes are available and who do they fit? +
Two: M with 415mm reach and L with 440mm reach. Both share the same 565mm stack and 68.5° head angle.
How much is it and when can I buy one? +
Complete €2,199 (~R41 200) / £1,999 (~R43 500) / $2,599 (~R42 900); frameset €699 (~R13 100) / £629 (~R13 700) / $899 (~R14 800), from 4 June 2026 via Mondraker dealers. South African pricing depends on the local importer.
Sources & further reading
- Mondraker Re-Enters the Dirt Jump Market With the All-New KAOZ — Bikerumor
- KAOZ — official product page — Mondraker
- Mondraker KAOZ: one gear, 26 inches and the licence to fly — BIKE
- 2026 Mondraker Kaoz — specs & geometry — Vital MTB
- Best dirt jump bikes — Bike Perfect
- How to choose a dirt jump bike — BikeRadar
The KAOZ is a credible, purpose-built return to dirt jump for Mondraker rather than a token rebadge — the stiffness link, split-forged BB and barspin-ready Silent Core routing show real intent, and the complete build's Pike DJ / DT Swiss / SRAM spec is genuinely rideable out of the box. It isn't cheap, the colour and size choices are narrow, and 26in single-speed keeps it firmly in the specialist lane — but for riders who live for airtime, that's exactly the point. South African buyers should watch local importer pricing closely.
