The first thing I noticed on the Tracer is how planted it feels. There is a solidity to the ride that goes beyond simple weight; it corners without any detectable flex and rides with a strong, confident sturdiness. Steering is precise and predictable, and while the bike’s weight is noticeable, it’s also balanced with great overall maneuverability.
The riding position sits in comfortable, slightly sporty territory, with a modest forward lean that I didn’t find too aggressive. The 710mm handlebars are a bit wider than what we typically find on bikes in this category, which contributes to the confident steering feel and keeps the cockpit from feeling cramped.
At 5’11”, I found the fit comfortable with good leg extension and a comfortable reach. The seatpost offers roughly 10 inches of adjustment in saddle height—nice and accommodating for the full recommended height range of 5’2″ to 6’5″. The mid-rise handlebar angle is adjustable by rotating the bars, which allows for minor reach changes, though handlebar height is limited without swapping the threadless stem.
Still, it is worth noting that the Tracer has only a single frame size in both of its frame styles. Considering its price point and the fact that many of its competitors offer a wider variety of sizing options for a more dialed-in and personalized fit, we hope to see Monarc branch out with more sizing options in the future.
In my experience, the ride is smoothed effectively by the combination of front suspension and tires. The front fork is an 80mm Gneiss reverse crown coil unit with lockout and preload adjustment, designed to provide comfort and crisp handling. In combination with the ergonomic lock-on rubber grips, the setup absorbs enough chatter to keep the ride comfortable on pavement, hard-packed dirt, and light gravel alike.
The 27.5×2.1″ Kenda K-Rad inches wide strike a sensible middle ground between stability and maneuverability. The checkerboard tread pattern provides enough grip for light off-road use while keeping rolling resistance low enough for efficient pavement riding. The bike felt stable and planted both on and off-road, tracking well even over areas covered by loose gravel.
Like the Tracer’s sturdy feel, its motor’s presence in the ride quality equation is hard to ignore. I found Breeze, the second assist level, to be my sweet spot; the motor delivered enough power to make the bike’s weight disappear without overpowering my effort. I’m sure than many folks, however, will appreciate the higher assist levels, where pedaling becomes nearly effortless.
As covered in the intro, the Tracer comes well-equipped with many components that are a step above what we often find on similar models. It also includes useful accessories, including integrated lights with turn signals, fenders, and an MIK HD cargo rack. The optional, high-tech accessories (tire pressure monitors, radar system, smart helmet) also seem promising, and we look forward to testing them.
Finally, the bike’s touchscreen and display menu are worth mentioning. I liked the overall presentation of the display’s information, its settings menus provided loads of customization options, and when combined with the aforementioned optional accessories, we’re hopeful that it creates a comprehensive, user-friendly, and robust user experience.
Monarc Tracer HS vs ST Version
As I mentioned above, the HS and ST versions of the Tracer offer slightly different sizing, riding positions, and color options.
The step-over frame, with its diamond frame and a standover height of around 28″, is designed to accommodate riders from 5’4″ to 6’5″. Its flatter, low-rise handlebars promote a more forward-leaning riding position (still mostly upright) that gives the bike a slightly sportier feel.
The step-thru model, on the other hand, is intended for slightly shorter riders between 5’2″ and 6’3″. Its 20″ standover height is somewhat higher than many other step-thru models we’ve tested, but it trades some ease of mounting for a higher degree of frame stiffness; as mentioned above, the Tracer is remarkably stiff and stable when cornering.
I spent most of my testing time on the step-over model, but both have a lot to love!
