Fast enough for XC races and big enough to rip descents . We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Scores. If you’ve already claimed your disapproval of these zippy machines, whatever you do, do not take this bike for a test ride—you’ll most likely change your mind. And it shouldn’t be a surprise – it is exceptional in every way. Bosch’s Active Line Plus motor delivers up to 250 watts of pedal assist, to a maximum speed of 20 mph. The NEO SE reached an impressive 58.12 miles / 93.5km before the head unit warned me of the battery’s imminent demise and the system reverted to ECO mode – although I still managed to ride another three miles home, giving an impressive 61.5 miles / 98.97km total, and that’s with 1,182.5m / 3,879.6ft of ascent and an average speed of 15.7mph. Outfitted with a SRAM Apex 1x drivetrain, 650b wheels, and cushy 47mm tires, it’s ready to go just about anywhere you could hope to ride a drop-bar bike. Get off the road with a little assistance. It just becomes a bike, one that you can ride a little faster. I was floating along rolling terrain with ease, enjoying the feeling of a little pressure on the pedals and a brisk pace with a smile on my face. After reading our Cannondale Synapse review, you’re probably all sold on this bicycle. Cruising along the roads surrounding the Laguna Seca Raceway, I was riding like I was at peak fitness again. Synapse Neo is a sporty, comfortable electric bike for experiencing the best of road riding. But to cruise in eco mode is to get a sneak peak at what it feels like to be really, really fit. Style: Gravel e-bikeDrivetrain: SRAM Apex 1xMotor: 250w Bosch Active Line PlusBattery: 500WhMaterial: Aluminum Wheel Size: 650bTire clearance: 650x47mm. Built to explore beyond the paved and predictable, this specially-equipped version of the Synapse NEO brings amazing comfort and confidence to everyday road rides as well. The Cannondale Synapse NEO SE 650b is a versatile machine, capable of tackling rough roads, and moderate forest trails. Cannondale’s take on electric road bikes is far removed from the ebikemotion-equipped minimal-assist designs of the Wilier Cento1 Hybrid and Orbea Gain M20, or Bianchi’s road-biased Impulso E-Road. See all scores. Cannondale Scalpel SE Hits the Sweet Spot Between Race and Trail. What does that all mean for you? The Synapse NEO 2, equipped with a Shimano Ultegra drivetrain ($6200 msrp). Synapse Neo is a sporty, comfortable electric bike for experiencing the best of road riding. The on/off switch is on the top of the Purion head unit. Cannondale Synapse NEO SE Wrap Up Cannondale Synapse NEO is a reliable e-bike with high-performance specs that any enthusiast would love to have on the road. The Takeaway: The Cannondale NEO SE is the bike for riders who want the assist from an e-bike but don’t want to give up the feeling of riding an “acoustic” bike. That’s when he’s not travelling the world to test the latest kit, components and bikes. Cannondale Synapse is the world’s #4 best commuter - city bike (86 ratings + 16 experts). Yes, it’s weighty but the weight distribution (low and central) means it feels much more agile off road than an 18kg bike has any right to be. Off pavement, the versatility of this bike shone through as I took advantage of the 47mm WTB Byway tires wrapped around 650b WTB alloy hoops. |, Off-road ability, monster power, balance and handling too, BikeRadar Meets podcast | James Golding on beating cancer (twice) and trying to win the Race Across America, Bianchi's Impulso E-Road offers some serious assistance, BMC's electric Alpenchallenge AMP Road ONE gets drop bars, Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod Dura Ace first ride review, FSA/Bosch custom Ai chainset with 50/34 FSA rings, Bosch Active line Plus 250w, with Bosch Purion display and Bosch PowerTube 500Wh battery, 650b WTB STi29 TCS2.0 rims on Formula hubs, DT Swiss spokes. I rarely used it, but it’s a neat function. If you want a sportier, road-oriented bike, the Synapse NEO 1 ($6,850) is laced with mechanical Dura-Ace and 700c carbon hoops with 32mm WTB Exposure tires. GEARS … The 650b WTB wheelset and matching massive 47c WTB Byway tyres are solid choices. Simply put, it gives you a window into a world of what it feels like to have a heightened level of fitness. It's performance-focused, but with a slightly more upright geometry, perfect for long days in the saddle and confident handling on all road surfaces. Bump the pedal-assist up to turbo and you’ll be cruising up steep climbs with amazing ease. It packs a serious punch and offers huge amounts of fun into the bargain. If you’re a fan of e-bikes, your relationship with Cannondale’s Synapse NEO will be love at first sight. GEARS Port Credit 176 Lakeshore Rd. The stack height of 609mm sits toward the upper end of the spectrum of endurance geometry. The Byways offer a decent balance of on-road roll and off-road grip and, despite putting the wheelset through some pretty testing terrain, it stayed true and the hubs roll smooth. By entering your details, you are agreeing to BikeRadar terms and conditions and privacy policy. It's a great option, Cannondale Synapse NEO SE e-road bike review, GBP £3,300.00 RRP As well as rough gravel tracks you will be able to tackle the legendary passes of the Tour. Approaching two decades of testing bikes, Warren can be found on a daily basis riding and exploring the road and off roads of Wiltshire’s Salisbury Plain in the UK. Test du Cannondale Synapse Neo SE. For me, riding in eco mode felt like what I remembered from riding at my highest level of fitness and lightest race weight. The Synapse NEO SE, the more adventurous bike in the Synapse NEO family, is outfitted with components that are standard fare on gravel and adventure bikes. The Synapse bikes use New BallisTec Carbon as part of the build for the Synapse Framesets. Over the last couple of years the Synapse Neo SE 650b has been their only gravel-specific e-bike, but this latest range show that Cannondale really mean business when it comes to the increasingly lucrative gravel ebike market. You can move up or down through the modes using the plus and minus buttons, and on the underside you’ll find a WALK+ function, so if you’re clambering up a slope, the bike assists by driving itself. Roll through the valleys of wine country. As you shift up from ECO through TOUR, SPORT and TURBO that range drops to 28 miles, which is all very promising. With a review score of 8.2 out of 10 it’s likely that there will be lots of great detailed reviews to help you. Cannondale Synapse Neo 1 is a road bike that’s light, stiff, fast and surprisingly comfortable. Motor: The easy way to gather new experiences: Bosch Active Line Plus brings mobility to your everyday life, lets you discover the city and extends your options for spontaneous excursions. The SmartForm C1 Alloy frame features SAVE microsuspension allows more flex in the rear triangle which helps to absorb more road vibrations and improves comfort. The star of the show is the 250 watt Bosch Active Line Plus motor and 500Wh battery. The motor kicked in nicely to provide a little extra boost, but has minimal drag so you can easily ride past the 20mph limit without feeling like you’ve hit a wall as soon as you cross that threshold. My first outing on the SE was in the midst of a storm and its maiden ride was predominantly off-road – around 85 percent of the total ride was on dirt. You get 35Nm of torque in eco mode and up to a maximum of 50Nm in turbo—with tour and sport modes in between. E-gravel isn’t yet a thing, but this fun-filled machine is seriously addictive. Please review our cookie policy to learn more or to change your cookie settings. That weight combined with plenty of torque means the NEO SE holds its line brilliantly in low-grip situations, such as the chalk and mud on my test ride that can be treacherous in the wet. Even in the minimal-assist ECO mode, the torque-y, powerful Bosch system dumps very generous amounts of assistance in your path. The NEO SE reached an impressive 58.12 miles / 93.5km before the head unit warned me of the battery’s imminent demise and the system reverted to ECO mode – although I still managed to ride … May 21, 2020 The Takeaway: The new Scalpel SE is … This motor features smoother engagement than previous models, without the sometimes jerky (or “sporty”) engagement of other motors. A super-wide 47c tyre isn’t ever going to be as quick on road either. Reviews; Details. Built to explore beyond the paved and predictable, this specially-equipped version of the Synapse NEO brings amazing comfort and confidence to everyday road rides as well. cannondale synapse Frame Size. On sections that in the past have had me running alongside my similarly battleship grey Cannondale Slate the NEO SE just kept on going. Your rides will go longer. Built to explore beyond the paved and predictable, this specially-equipped version of the Synapse NEO brings amazing comfort and confidence to everyday road rides as well. The NEO SE’s off-road performance is a revelation. The Synapse Neo SE is a gravel e-road bike, with the power, range and comfort to open the roads for everyone. Synapse Neo is a sporty, comfortable electric bike for experiencing the best of road riding. It's performance-focused, but with a slightly more upright geometry, perfect for long days in the saddle and confident handling on all road surfaces. The Synapse bikes feature elements that make for a sturdy, comfortable bike ride. Cannondale Synapse NEO Tech Details The key to making an e-road bike actually enjoyable to ride as we’ve experienced (unlike an eMTB) is a smooth transition on & off the pedal assist and actually a lower total power output in general. SRAM’s Apex 1 x … Buy Now. The Synapse line offers a bike with 950 grams of BallisTec Carbon. It's performance-focused, but with a slightly more upright geometry, perfect for long days in the saddle... Synapse Neo is a sporty, comfortable electric bike for experiencing the best of road riding. Price Match. The Apex rear mech can get a little sluggish when it’s caked in mud, though, and I can’t help feeling a little short-changed with Apex on a £3k/$4k bike, even with the top-notch power plant that’s built into the SE. While it doesn't spring forward with every mash on the pedals the way a stiffer carbon frame does, it still shows some nice nimble traits and … And with all that tire clearance and healthy amount of pedal assist, I’m willing to bet you’ll be feeling a little adventurous when you get on one of these bikes. West Mississauga, ON L5H 1G4 905-271-2400. mississauga@gearsbikeshop.com. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. If you’ve ridden other e-bikes, you know that feeling, and it’s not a great experience. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Lightweight XC Bike Showdown: Scalpel v. Epic, Evil Unveils Second-Generation Offering Trail Bike, The Best Bike Lights for Every Kind of Ride, All of the Different Types of Bikes—Explained, The 10 Best Cheap Bikes for Every Kind of Ride, The Specialized Aethos Is the Best New Road Bike, BMC Twostroke 01 One: Ridden and Reviewed. Reviews × Cannondale Synapse Neo SE $4,999.99. Dirt roads and trails are a no-brainer, and thanks to the pedal assist, the fat tires are hardly a concern when you hit the pavement. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. I could snap over little rises and keep a steady pace on long, grinding grades without digging deep into the reserves. Turn it on and the LCD Purion display reveals an expected range of 88 miles in ECO mode. Available at REI, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. And unlike some other e-bikes, which can leave you feeling like you’re dragging an anchor once you surpass the max pedal assist, the Synapse NEO feels natural above its 20mph limit. Crank out fast blasts after work or spend the whole weekend riding somewhere you've never been. The Synapse NEO SE is the dirt-curious sibling in the Synapse NEO family. The SRAM Apex gearing works well, and the single-ring, wide range is perfect for off-road duties. In fact, you’re treated to a pleasantly comfortable ride—which you’ll pay a small price for when it comes to precise steering, but as long as you aren’t trying to channel your inner Valentino Rossi, you’ll be in good shape. Thanks! SRAM’s Apex 1 x 11-speed drivetrain, with a 44t chainring and 11-42 cassette, offers a great range of gears. This website uses cookies for analytics, personalization, and advertising. It just feels like you’re riding a slightly heavier than normal bike, but it still responds to pedaling input the way you’d expect a bike to respond. Along the roads surrounding the Laguna Seca Raceway, I was riding like I was riding like I riding... 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