Cannondale has been making the Moterra eMTB for quite a few years now. It has been updated and refined numerous times, and now, the latest version has arrived in the North American market. The redesigned Moterra comes in two travel options, standard and LT, both of which feature the Bosch Performance Line CX drive system. With the new Bosch Performance Upgrade 2.0, riders now have one of the most powerful motors on the market with up to 120Nm of torque.
The new Moterra and Moterra LT slot into the lineup alongside the lightweight Moterra SL. With the all-rounder 150mm Moterra and the 165mm e-enduro Moterra LT, Cannondale has more options for riders to find the eMTB that best suits their riding style, terrain, and preferences. Let’s check them out.
Cannondale Moterra Details
As mentioned above, the new Moterra comes in two configurations. The standard Moterra is the do-it-all version with 150mm of rear travel. The Moterra LT is the e-enduro machine with 165mm of rear travel. Both versions share the latest Bosch Performance Line CX drive unit. With the optional Bosch Performance Upgrade 2.0, riders can now boost the performance values of the drive unit up to 600% support and up to 120Nm of torque.
Most of the Moterra models come with the Bosch PowerTube 800 Wh battery for long-lasting range. The base model Moterra 4 Alloy comes with the 600Wh option. The batteries are removable and interchangeable, plus the system is compatible with the 250Wh Bosch PowerMore range extender.
The Moterra models come with varying controls depending on the trim level. The top-of-the-line Moterra 1 comes with the Top Tube System Controller w/ the Kiox 500 display and wireless remote, while the Moterra 2 uses the Kiox 300 display. The Moterra LT gets the Top Tube System Controller with remote, but no fancy display. The more affordable alloy-framed Moterra 3 uses the Purion 200, while the 4 and 4+ feature the all-in-one Bosch LED Remote.
Moterra
Cannondale calls the standard Moterra “the all-mountain adventure machine,” which is “for the seekers, the adventurers, the go-fast and go-long riders who live to see what’s over the next ridge, and the one after that.” It is available with a full carbon frame or a SmartForm Alloy, both of which roll on 29” wheels front and rear.
Like the recently launched Bad Habit enduro bike, the Moterra models use a 4-bar, or Horst Link suspension design. This controls the 150mm of rear wheel travel, which has been paired with a 160mm travel fork. Like many of Cannondale’s other full suspension bikes, the Moterra Carbon has what the brand refers to as Proportional Response design, which includes size-specific geometry and suspension kinematics.
According to Cannondale, they were able to shave nearly 1,000 grams off carbon frames used for the Moterra 1 and 2 compared to the previous model. The Alloy-framed Moterra 3, 4, and 4+ don’t get the size-specific chainstay treatment.
Moterra Geometry
The Moterra Carbon and Moterra Alloy have very similar, but not identical, geometries. One of the biggest discrepancies is that the Moterra Carbon has a 64.4-degree head tube angle, whereas the Alloy version is a touch steeper at 64.8 degrees. The other notable difference is that the Alloy frames have 455mm chainstays across all sizes, while the Carbon version increases to 460mm on the L and XL frames.
Otherwise, the numbers appear to reflect the bike’s trail/all-mountain intended use quite nicely, with relatively standard reach measurements and adequately steep effective seat tube angles. It comes in S, M, L, and XL. Check out the charts below for all the details
Moterra 1: $10,499
- Frame: Carbon
- Battery: 800Wh
- Fork: Fox Float Factory 38, Grip X2, 160mm
- Shock: Fox Float X Factory
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT Di2 M8260, 11-speed, hardwired
- Brakes: Magura Gustav Elite 4-piston, w/203mm rotors
- Wheels: Reserve 30|HD AL w/ DT Swiss 370 hubs
- Tires: Continental Kryptotal F/R, 29 x 2.4”, Enduro Soft
- Dropper: Cannondale DownLow (drop length varies by size)
- Colors: Matte Black, Tiger Shark
Moterra 2: $8,299
- Frame: Carbon
- Battery: 800Wh
- Fork: RockShox ZEB Select, 160mm
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore Di2 M6260, 11-speed, hardwired
- Brakes: Magura Louise Elite 4-piston, w/203mm rotors
- Wheels: WTB ST i30 Tough TCS w/ Shimano TC500 hubs
- Tires: Continental Kryptotal F/R, 29 x 2.4”, Enduro Soft
- Dropper: Cannondale DownLow (drop length varies by size)
- Colors: Matte Black, Moon Rock
Moterra 3: $5,899
- Frame: SmartForm C1 Alloy
- Battery: 800Wh
- Fork: RockShox Psylo Silver RC, 160mm
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select
- Drivetrain: Shimano CUES U6000, 11-speed
- Brakes: Shimano MT520 4-piston, w/203mm rotors
- Wheels: WTB ST i30 TCS w/ Shimano TC500 hubs
- Tires: Continental Kryptotal F/R, 29 x 2.4”, Enduro Soft
- Dropper: Cannondale DownLow (drop length varies by size)
- Colors: Chalk, Obsidian
Moterra 4+: $4,799
- Frame: SmartForm C1 Alloy
- Battery: 800Wh
- Fork: SR Suntour Zeron 36-X Boost, 160mm
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select
- Drivetrain: Shimano CUES U6000 LinkGlide, 11-speed
- Brakes: Tektro Gemini SL 4-piston, w/203mm rotors
- Wheels: WTB ST i30 TCS w/ Shimano TC500 hubs
- Tires: Schwalbe Magic Mary Performance, 29 x 2.4”
- Dropper: Cannondale DownLow (drop length varies by size)
- Colors: Tiger Eye, Obsidian
Moterra 4: $4,499
- Frame: SmartForm C1 Alloy
- Battery: 600Wh
- Fork: SR Suntour Zeron 36-X Boost, 160mm
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select
- Drivetrain: Shimano CUES U6000, 11-speed
- Brakes: Tektro Gemini SL 4-piston, w/203mm rotors
- Wheels: WTB ST i30 TCS w/ Shimano TC500 hubs
- Tires: Schwalbe Magic Mary Performance, 29 x 2.4”
- Dropper: Cannondale DownLow (drop length varies by size)
- Colors: Tiger Eye, Obsidian
Moterra LT
LT stands for long-travel, and the Moterra LT bumps up to 165mm in the rear and a 170mm fork. With this e-enduro bike, Cannondale went with a mixed wheel/mullet configuration to give riders a little more butt clearance and maneuverability in the aggressive terrain this bike was designed for. It comes in carbon-only and features Cannondale’s Proportional Response design with size-specific geometry and kinematics. Speaking of, the LT reportedly has a more progressive leverage ratio to go along with the coil shock that comes stock on the complete build.
Geometry-wise, it’s quite similar to the standard Moterra with a 64.4-degree head tube angle and 77.5-degree seat tube. With the smaller rear wheel, the chainstays are a bit shorter at 445mm on the S and M, growing to 450mm on the L and XL. Check out the chart below for more.
Moterra LT 1: $8,499
- Frame: Carbon
- Battery: 800Wh
- Fork: Fox Float Performance 38, Grip, 160mm
- Shock: Fox DHX Performance Coil
- Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type, 12-speed
- Brakes: TRP EVO Pro 4-piston, w/ 220/203mm rotors
- Wheels: DT Swiss H 1900 Spline w/ DT 370 hubs
- Tires: Front: Schwalbe Shredda Radial 29” x 2.5, Rear: Schwalbe Albert Radial 27.5” x 2.5”
- Dropper: Cannondale DownLow (drop length varies by size)
- Colors: Black, Tiger Shark
Moterra and Moterra LT: Availability
The new Moterra and Moterra LT are available now. Head to the brand’s website or your local Cannondale dealer to learn more.
