At first glance, the newest Cannondale road bike looks just like that – a road bike. But look closer, and you may start to notice the details of a bike that is hiding a little extra boost beneath its carbon fiber skin. Starting with the new SuperSix EVO road bike platform, Cannondale has given it the Neo upgrade turning it into a fast and sleek e-road bike along the way.
Opting to use the Mahle ebikemotion X35 250w system, the EVO Neo adds just 7.7lbs (3.5kg) with the addition of the electronic assist. That includes a 250Wh battery that’s tucked into the downtube and a rear hub drive motor that claims to be low drag.
That internal battery should be good for around 75km of range, but if you need more there is an external Range Extender available as well. This ‘water bottle battery’ mounts in the rear cage, and plugs into the charging port below. Technically, the Range Extender charges the internal battery as you ride, giving you an additional 208Wh of battery power. This almost doubles the range but does add an additional 3.6lbs (1.64kg) to the bike.
Cannondale has a done a great job of keeping the design of the bike extremely streamlined with hardly any exposed cables and a simple iWoc top tube controller to manage the levels of assist and system controls. Additional control is provided through the ebikemotion app. In North America, the system will provide assisted riding up to 20mph.
Theoretically, it seems that since the motor is located in the rear hub, you could swap out the rear wheel for a standard rear wheel and drop a good bit of weight while turning your e-bike into a standard pedal bike. You’d still have the additional weight of the downtube battery, but it seems like you’d end up with a respectably light human powered bike that could also be an e-bike if desired.
However, the rear spacing of the frame is listed as 135mm, meaning you’d need a 135 QR hub 12mm rear hub which might be tough to find.
That leaves the frame clean of any additional wires and allows the truncated airfoil shapes to keep things aerodynamically efficient. Just like on the SuperSix Evo, a HollowGram SAVE System Bar combines an aerodynamic integrated design with integrated spacers and a bar top that can be rotated up to 8° in pitch. This is found on the EVO Neo 1 and 2 models only.
You’ll also find details like Speed Release axles, the 27 KNØT seatpost, flat mount brakes, and the Cannondale Integrated wheel sensor. The frame and fork are designed around 700c x 28mm tires with 6mm of clearance for sure footed traction on the road and a comfortable ride.
Offered in three models, prices start at $4,500 for the Neo 3. The SuperSix EVO Neo 2 jumps to $6,500, and the SuperSix EVO Neo 1 tops out at $10,000 which also breaks the 25lb barrier at 24.9lbs (11.3kg).
