Worried you’ll get stranded in the middle of nowhere when your eMTB battery cuts out? You might very well do so. But Cannondale says its new Moterra Neo “empowers” riders to go farther into the bush than ever before…
(Get it?)
Cannondale Moterra Neo Bosch-powered eMTB
With a Bosch Smart System, the bike can punch out around 80 miles on a single charge. And to make sure every rider as comfortable as possible all the way out and back, Cannondale scales each Moterra Neo sold with its Proportional Response sizing.
The dual-suspension line comes in multiple formats across carbon and alloy frames.
“We designed Moterra Neo with every rider in mind ensuring this is the bike that new and season Cannondale fans have been asking for,” said Scott Vogelmann, Cannondale Global Director of Mountain Product. “The eMTB category is one of the fastest growing segments in cycling, empowering riders to explore and challenge themselves on trail in new ways. With a forward-thinking, rider-experience focused approach, we designed Moterra Neo with a more powerful drive unit, all-new features and updated geometry.”
Bosch Performance CX-powered
The Moterra Neo’s focal point is its Bosch Smart System powertrain. It consists of Bosch’s most powerful eMTB drive unit, the max 85Nm torque Performance Line CX, and a 750Wh battery.
It’s not the highest-capacity battery we’ve ever seen on an eMTB, but a 40-mile mid-ride turnaround point ain’t bad. The Performance Line CX, meanwhile, can boost your output by up to 340%, yet aims for an intuitive acceleration feel for the rider.
Geometry and Cannondale Proportional Response
The bike’s geometry relies on Cannondale’s Proportional Response methodology. The research that produced it landed a few years ago — for a thorough run-down, check out Jessie-May Morgan’s explanation here.
In a nutshell, Proportional Response seeks to optimize geometry, chainstay length, and suspension layout for every rider regardless of their height. To do it, they poured lab research and real-world testing into figuring out precise geometry and angles for each frame size.
For a eMTB trail bike, the Moterra Neo gets a fairly slack head tube angle of 65°. A steeper 77° seat tube angle should support pedaling efficiency and rider control during climbs.
Suspension, other key features, options
A low center of gravity, thanks to “rotating” the motor in the frame, should also help riders feel confident on brappy trails. So should the generous suspension travel — most models get 150mm front & rear, while some come with 170mm in the front & 160mm out back.
A sealed cover helps protect the battery from the elements, and a flip-open port allows easy charging port access. To limit snags, a concealed stem hides direct-route cables inside.
Some Moterra Neo models come with a 1,000-lumen MTB headlight by Lezyne, rear fender mount, and kickstand.
Cannondale Moterra Neo eMTB – Pricing, options & availability
The Cannondale Moterra Neo starts at MSRP $4500 (alloy) and scales all the way up to $8,600 – with increased squish and a carbon frame at the top of the line.
They’re all available starting today at your local Cannondale bike shop.
