Cannondale’s new Topstone Neo is the brand’s new gravel bike and can truly claim to be of a new genre.
In an all-terrain bike market where traditional segments are being continuously redefined, the new Topstone is particularly daring: a dual-suspension gravel orientated e-bike.
The news comes alongside the launch of the new Cannondale Topstone Lefty.
The Topstone Neo combines a Bosch e-drive unit, lightweight Cannondale frameset and two rather unique cycling suspension technologies, named Kingpin and Oliver.
Mountain bikers will be familiar with the Topstone Neo’s Ocho-lookalike front fork, which is named Oliver and features 70mm less travel than the Scalpel XC bike’s single-sided version.
Although the Topstone Neo’s fork only has 30mm of suspension action, its needle bearing internals promise extremely low-friction damping, with excellent small-bump compliance.
The Topstone Neo’s rear-suspension utilises flex-stays and a seat tube pivot point to deliver 30mm of trail buzz absorption. All models within the new Topstone Neo gravel e-bike range feature active Kingpin rear-suspension, although customers will have the option on two variants, which forego the Oliver front suspension, for a traditional carbon gravel fork.
A range four Neos strong
Beyond the suspension specification, this radical new Cannondale model line is powered by a 500Wh battery pack, driving a 250w hub-motor, with both components supplied by Bosch. Pedal assistance disengages at 28mph, although it will be limited in line with your local laws, and Cannondale claims the e-bike system has an endurance of up to 79 miles.
Customers will have four Topstone Neo models in total, to choose from. The Topstone Neo Carbon 4, is Cannondale’s entry-level offering, at £4000. It features a carbon-fibre front fork and Shimano GRX400 2x drivetrain, which should enable this Topstone Neo to climb up the very steepest of fire roads.
At £4,999 you can get a Topstone Neo Carbon 3, which adds the Lefty Oliver front fork and runs a 1x11 Shimano GRX400 combination drivetrain. Add £500 more and the premium Topstone Neo Carbon 2 is yours, with Shimano GRX800 and WTB KOM Light i23 wheels.
- Cannondale releases dual-suspension Topstone Lefty
- Cannondale slackens geometry on new 2021 Scalpel
- Cannondale unveils New Moterra and Habit Neo E-Bikes
For those committed early adopters to Cannondale’s new maximum gravel bike philosophy, there is the Topstone Neo Lefty 1, positioned at £7,999. The most significant specification highlight is SRAM’s blended eTap AXS/XO1 1x12 drivetrain and brakes. Cannondale’s Neo Lefty 1 also rolls WTB ST i25 wheels, providing the best platform for WTB Resolute 650b tyres, which are sized 42c.
All Neo's have rear fender mounts, which should prove ideal for those riders intending to log significant winter mileages.
If you seek a true all-terrain e-bike, with endurance appropriate geometry and adequate damping to keep the worst trail and gravel road fatigue at bay, these Topstone Neo gravel e-bikes are a unique new product offering. Especially for those riders keen on dual-purposing their gravel/off-road bike as a commuter.
