Madonna V2 "Survival Bike" - RAAW of the Month February

The Madonna V2 of Stefan from Karlsruhe (Germany) has not only collected almost 300000 vertical meters on trails all over Europe, but it also shines with some clever details when it comes to gear storage. A true “survival bike” and a worthy candidate for the start of our RAAW of the Month series!

At first glance, Stefan's V2, which has accompanied him on his downhill-heavy adventures since 2019, presents itself low-key and all in black. "Previously I always had frames in a raw look, with the Madonna I wanted to try a new color concept," Stefan explains. "I’m really happy with how it turned out, especially now with the yellow-gold Öhlins shock as a splash of color."

The Öhlins TTX2M is far from the first rear shock that was used in his V2: “My goal with the Madonna was to explore the perfect mix of downhill performance and uphill capabilities. Therefore I have experimented a lot and tried different forks and shocks.” Until recently, a RockShox Superdeluxe coil was installed, but then a friend happened to have the Öhlins TTX22M in matching dimensions to spare. According to Stefan, the Öhlins shock elevated the bike to a "new level of performance" and has been a "real revelation." It is precisely because of feedback like this that we started to offer the Madonna with Öhlins shocks as an option in the configurator!

Can you spot the hidden spare tube?/em>

Another area of experimentation where the tires: Stefan has experimentet a lot with more-or-less lightweight models, but after too many punctures on the trail and pinched-through sidewalls, he now is back on a heavier, but more robust combination of Minion DHR2 2.3 DD Maxx Terra on the rear and Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5WT Maxx Terra Exo on the front, both without inserts.

Also the rest of the configuration is also quite impressive and is full of small adjustments and optimizations:

Pump and spare derailleur hanger on bottle cage

In addition to the excellent configuration, Stefan's Madonna V2 setup stands out for its sophisticated solutions for riding without a backpack: Thanks to a variety of smart upgrades, Stefan's V2 has more spare parts and tools on board than most Swiss Army knives. While the pump on the bottle cage is obvious, the spare shift eye next to it is less so - clever! To discover the Turbolito tube, which is hidden in the opening in the rocker, you have to look closer. But even for breakdowns that go beyond a flat tire, the bike is well prepared: Mounted inside the head tube is the OneUp Threadless EDC, a full-fledged minitool.

Almost invisible: The head tube of Stefan's Madonna V2 houses a full-fledged minitool.

In addition, a 3d-printed storage box in the axle of the main pivot (!!) accommodates other spare parts such as brake pads, spare valves for rim and fork and Maxalami tire plugs. We are thrilled, and are pleased that the amply dimensioned bearings on the Madonna offer other advantages in addition to the high durability and stiffness! Before you ask: the 3d-files for the storage box can be found on Thingiverse.

3d printed "trunk" for spare parts in the main axle

With his Madonna V2 setup, Stefan has fulfilled his dream of simply being able to "just" grab his bike, and still be prepared for almost any eventuality - no matter what trails, no matter what defects.

Perfect Summer Days? Well not only! Stefan doesn't let any weather stop him and is on the road on his Madonna all year round.

"Now in winter I could test the current setup extensively on the varied trails in Finale Ligure and am very happy with it. I think I've reached the final build for now!" Stefan tells us. How careful you have to be with statements like these becomes evident a little later when he "confesses" to us that he has since started another experiment with shorter chainstays after all. "But only out of curiosity!", he assures us. We are curious what is still to come with this build.

Pictures: Stefan Held / Instagram: @this_is_norbert

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 shop 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.