Madonna V2.2 "Ride or Die" - RAAW of the Month September

The "Ride or Die" decal on the chainstay of the RAAW of the Month in September immediately makes it clear: For Moritz, the owner, biking is not just a hobby, but an essential part of life. We are all the more pleased that he chose a Madonna V2.2 as his companion for this part of his life, which we are introducing to you today.

Moritz's love for his Madonna only began a few months ago, but his passion for mountain biking started almost 10 years ago when a friend took him on a training ride. He was immediately captivated by the speed, technique, and limitless possibilities of the sport. Since then, mountain biking has become indispensable in his life: “I need something besides my everyday life that distracts and challenges me. Since 2012, it has been biking. I really can't do without it anymore,” he explains. “It motivates me immensely to always get faster and actively work on my riding technique. My goal is to get a little better with every ride.”

What is a relaxing balance to everyday life for Moritz, would probably be pure stress for many others: the 23-year-old prefers big jumps and steep descents. These were also what led him to the Madonna: “I was looking for a long-travel enduro bike that could cover everything from long days out to bike parks without having to worry about durability. The pleasantly high front, the steep seat angle, and the double-sealed bearings were decisive for my decision. Another bonus is that I live less than 10 km from RAAW HQ - so I can get uncomplicated help if necessary.” This makes him our geographically closest customer - the farthest away RAAW, by the way, is more than 18,000 kilometers away.

When selecting the components for the black Madonna frame in size M (Rocker 60), Moritz not only made sure to put together a coherent package for his intended use but also consciously chose brands with which he had little experience so far: “Fox 38 and Float X2 instead of RockShox suspension, Ergon saddle and grips instead of DMR, Continental instead of Schwalbe tires - I was up for something new and wanted to broaden my horizons,” he explains. (Note: The photos still show the setup with Schwalbe Magic Mary tires.)

Overall, Moritz's attention to detail shines through in various parts of the build - perhaps it comes from his job as a surveying technician. First and foremost, the white decals on the frame stand out. “I actually wanted to wrap the entire frame fancily. But that didn't really work out, so I ended up with the current decals," says Moritz. He also tinkered with the brakes, using the “Shigura” combination of Shimano SLX brake levers and Magura MT5 calipers, which should convince not only with massive braking power but also with an excellent price-performance ratio. The installed Trickstuff “Dächle” brake discs are slightly thicker than conventional discs and should therefore be even more heat-resistant - just right for the steep descents that Moritz loves so much.

Complete Spec List

The result is a bike that fully satisfies its owner: “My Madonna V2.2 is super stable but can still be easily lifted. Uphill, the steep seat angle is a dream - just as I imagined it!”, Moritz raves.

Although we are better known for our no-nonsense and clean design language, we immediately liked Moritz's Madonna with the white decals and coherent build. We were also thrilled by the fact that he consistently used components and brands for this build with which he had no prior experience - after all, those who stop experimenting too early often miss the best! Like the RAAW of the Month title including a 100 Euro voucher - congratulations!

Does your bike have what it takes to be "RAAW of the Month"?

Since we founded RAAW, one thing has given us a lot of pleasure: seeing where, how and by whom our bikes are ridden all over the world and how you use our frame kits to create different, individually optimized works of bike art. That's why from now on, every month we'll choose a particularly successful and exciting bike build from the community as "RAAW of the Month" and present the bike and its rider in detail on our website. In addition to glory and Insta-fame, a 100 € voucher for our online store awaits the lucky winner. Does your bike have what it takes to be "RAAW of the Month"? Check out this page to find out how to apply.