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The Cannondale Moterra SL packs an 85Nm motor, 601Wh battery and 150mm of journey right into a sub-20kg package deal
Light-weight electrical mountain bikes are inflicting a buzz within the business for the time being, and the groundbreaking new Cannondale Moterra SL is just going so as to add to that hype.
Bikes just like the Whyte E-Lyte, Pivot Shuttle SL and Transition Relay are a number of the greatest light-weight electrical mountain bikes round, they usually’ve all managed to go sub-20kg… However they’re not packing 85Nm of torque or 600 watts of energy.
Now although, the Moterra SL appears to be like to have carried out the inconceivable, twinning full energy with gentle weight. An business first? Let’s see the way it’s carried out it.
Cannondale’s Moterra SL packs a punch, with a custom-tuned Shimano EP801 motor – this picture exhibits RockShox suspension, however the UK spec comes with FOX on the lightest fashions
Cannondale Moterra SL must know
- Three new fashions, the SL 1, SL2 and SL Lab 71
- Costs between £6,550 and £12,500
- Claimed 19.5kg weight on lightest construct
- Bike makes use of flex stays to cut back weight
- Customized-tuned Shimano EP801 motor
- 601Wh {custom} battery
How has Cannondale carried out it?
Let’s get straight to the purpose. The brand new Moterra SL is a light-weight eMTB however with the traits of a full powered one. So how has Cannondale managed to get this bike to weigh underneath 20kg?
Somewhat than some large declaration of weight saving like making it a unicycle or utilizing some alien body materials, it’s really the fruits of a number of smaller, dare we are saying it, marginal beneficial properties. The very first thing to notice is using Cannondale’s FlexPivot know-how. This primarily removes two pivots (and the bolts and bearings which might be wanted to make them work), and as an alternative makes use of “carbon fibre flex zones” to behave like a Horst pivot.
There’s nonetheless a four-bar suspension system, it’s simply whittled down a bit. It’s been used on the Cannondale Scalpel, the model’s XC race bike prior to now. So it’s not solely new, however new to its eMTB vary. Past this, it additionally reduces the quantity of upkeep required to maintain the Moterra SL’s suspension working easily. To this point, it’s a win-win.
The Shimano drive system is fairly neat, with the controls packed into the highest tube button and a small display screen on the bars – leaving room for some other computer systems you would possibly wish to use
Cannondale has additionally gone for a {custom} battery construct. The drive system is offered by Shimano, courtesy of the EP801 motor, which once more is custom-tuned to this bike. It has a most torque score of 85Nm and a most output of 600 watts. It’s clear the model hasn’t skimped on the precise drive system, as an alternative, Cannondale has used Shimano’s eggheads to create a smaller and lighter battery. It’s nonetheless 601Wh, so not precisely weedy – and supplies as much as 43 miles (70km) of vary from one cost.
Elsewhere weight has been saved by the suspension alternative – as an alternative of a 38 fork, you’ll discover Fox’s Float Manufacturing unit 36 up entrance, with 160mm journey. This protects roughly 250g, so it’s not precisely a mind-blowing quantity of weight, however like we mentioned – all of it provides up. The Moterra SL additionally comes geared up with lighter tyres, courtesy of the Maxxis Minion DHF up entrance, and Dissector on the rear.
All of those seemingly small selections has meant that Cannondale may fairly attainable be the primary model to interrupt the 20kg barrier with a full powered eMTB.
Moterra SL particulars
So it’s light-weight, however what else has it bought going for it?
It’s nonetheless a strong path eMTB at coronary heart, and the geometry hasn’t been compromised to replicate the desperation for weight financial savings. You’ve bought an adjustable head angle, lengthy attain, and a steep seat angle for a mix of DH and path geometries. Every geometry can also be decided by the body dimension.
You possibly can run both a 29in or mullet setup on the Moterra SL
It comes setup to run 29in wheels, however you’ll be able to change it to a mullet setup with the flip chip. The highest specced mannequin, the SL LAB71 (and likewise the lightest), makes use of SRAM’s Eagle AXS drivetrain, paired with SRAM Code Final Stealth brakes and 200mm rotors.
If you wish to make the most of the lighter weight fashions, nonetheless, you’ll must be ready to flash some money. Each the SL 1 and SL LAB7 fashions weigh underneath 20kg – 19.7kg and 19.5kg respectively. Additionally they value £8,550 and £12,500, so shopping for light-weight will value you.
If driving a motorbike 600g over 20kg isn’t an issue, then the SL 2 is extra moderately priced at £6,550. It’s essential to notice the claimed weights are all based mostly on dimension mediums for every mannequin, and with 180mm of sealant within the tyres.
The bikes can be found to order from the Cannondale web site or related sellers.
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