The Cannondale Moterra NEO SL really does deliver on the brand’s aim to build ‘The lightest full-power mountain bike ever’.
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By ben_haworth
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackworld.com/charged/2024/02/cannondale-moterra-neo-sl-first-ride-19-5kg-85nm-601wh/
Mmmmm. Food for thought this, as it was on my watch list.
I do wonder if there is still a bit of a stigma attached to Cannondale as you (I) don’t see many on the trails. The old “crack’’n’fail “ label still follows them around, justified or not, and those flex stays will probably do nothing to change that impression.
But it does sound like a very good overall package and not having a range extender is a bonus, IMO.
Let’s see if they start hitting discounts as other brands are seeing, until then, this is a little pricey.
Interestingly, MBR said the Magura brakes were shockingly bad.
Can you remember any frames that have suffered failures because of a flex stay design?
I'm not a fan, it usually compromises suspension performance, but I'm not sure where the concern over breakages came from.
Let’s see if they start hitting discounts as other brands are seeing
Someone posted a deal on one in his £5K ebike thread. Looked a bargain.
My (non-SL) Moterra is seen on some trails - ain't no way that thing's breaking. Built like a tank 🙂
Cannondale design/engineering make my piss boil as an engineer........but I've still had loads of them over the years.
Why not put a Horst link bearing in there rather than flexing a material that will snap at some point????? It's not like weight of a bearing and fastener makes any difference on a heavy ebike.
flexing a material that will snap
Why? This design has been in use on Moterra and Scalpel models for 4-5 years now. Yet to see any broken, but happy to be wrong.
In my sample of one, ie, my 2017 Carbon Habit with flexstays, it hasn’t snapped. I’m a clumsy 80kg and it’s survived Morzine, BPW, Dirt Farm, Solden and Antur, still going strong without any sign of failing.
