Is Cannondale's new Moterra SL the lightest e-MTB ever?
The full-power e-MTB weighs just 19.5kg!
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Building an electric mountain bike that rides and feels like a regular mountain bike is usually the result of one attribute – weight reduction. And Cannondale, with its all-new Moterra SL, has joined the weight-saving rat race claiming its new e-mountain bike weighs just 19.5kg.
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Donning 150mm of rear suspension and 160mm of front, Cannondale credits the adoption of the FlexPivot technology found on its Scalpel cross-country bike as part of the Monterra SL's weight reduction. This flex stay replaces the Horst link, ditching the extra weight and maintenance of bearings. The brand says that this design also allows its engineers greater flexibility (no pun intended) to tune the suspension kinematic even further.
2024 Cannondale Moterra SL_Beauty (6).jpg, by Liam Mercer
The bike also benefits from Cannondale's Proportional Response approach that customises everything from its suspension kinematic right through to its chainstay length for each frame size. That's all in a bid to provide a similar ride experience regardless of the frame size a rider picks.
On the subject of geometry, the Moterra SL is impressively progressive, featuring a mega slack 62.5-degree head angle, a figure that's often reserved for DH bikes. The bike's headset cups offer 1.2-degrees of head angle adjustment, in case that's too slack for you. Cannondale's press release doesn't say much else about geometry, but we're promised long reaches, and steep seat tubes, and its front-centre and rear-centre measurements are size-specific.
2024 Cannondale Moterra SL_Portugal_Lifestyle Photography (15).jpg, by Liam Mercer
The Moterra SL is equipped with a flip-chip that allows the user to pick from a mullet setup or a full 29-inch wheel size.
Cannondale's latest e-bike employs a Shimano EP801 motor that knocks out 85Nm of torque and 600 watts of max power, and it comes sorted with custom ride modes for this bike. That's combined with a 601Wh custom battery that claims a 70km range and a weight of 3.1kg, including the wiring harness.
2024 Cannondale Moterra SL_Beauty (5).jpg, by Liam Mercer
The brand will be bringing four models of the Moterra SL to the UK, including a top-shelf LAB71 build. All of which use Shimano drivetrains, Fox suspension, and Maxxis tyres. that's apart from that Moterra SL LAB71 which rocks a SRAM XX Eagle T-Type drivetrain and SRAM Code Ultimate Stealth brakes.
Prices start at £6,550 and go up to £12,500.
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