Cannondale Refines its Top E-Mountain Bike Moterra Neo

A few months ago, Cannondale presented its Lab71 label. Since then, the manufacturer has been bringing selected bikes from its range onto the market in special editions under this kind of sub-brand. Cannondale describes Lab71 quite modestly with the slogan: The best of the best. Now, for the first time, an ebike appears in this series – the Cannondale Moterra Neo Lab71.

Cannondale Moterra Neo Lab71

The point of departure for the new model is the Moterra Neo Carbon range. This was also completely revised last year and is meanwhile powered by the Bosch Smart System. Its top model, the Moterra Neo Carbon 1, is already excellently equipped at a price of 7,999 euros. But that hasn’t to be the end of the story, has it?

Ready for the race track

And indeed, Cannondale’s upgrades are by no means just nice-looking embellishments, but measures that raise the ebike to a new level. This is first and foremost evident in the electric drive. The Bosch Performance Line CX has been replaced by its big brother, the Bosch Performance Line CX Race, which is designed for professional sports. At 2.75 kilograms, it weighs about 150 grams less than its better-known counterpart and is thus the lightest motor in the Bosch range.

Bosch’s top model Performance Line CX Race

More decisive than the weight advantage, however, is its exclusive Race mode. It boosts the power you put on the pedals by a maximum of 400 percent. With the “normal” Performance Line CX, the multiplication is limited to 340 percent. Bosch only produces a limited number of the Race. The majority of these go to professional teams in various racing series. This gives a series model like the Cannondale Moterra Neo Lab71 a certain exclusivity.

Wireless luxury

The second major change concerns the gearing system. Instead of the mix of Shimano XTR and Shimano XT components used on the Moterra Neo Carbon 1, Cannondale lets you enjoy electronic shifting. For this, the manufacturer uses the highest-quality groupset from Sram, which has a Transmission rear derailleur and is approved for use on ebikes. With the Sram XX Eagle AXS, changing gears becomes a happening for those who would like to have the right gear already engaged just by thinking about it. Here you still have to press the button yourself. But after that, everything happens wonderfully quickly and precisely.

Electronically shifting derailleur from Sram’s Transmission groupset

In addition to the gears, the seat post on the Moterra Neo Lab71 does not need any cables. The Sram Reverb is operated via the familiar controller on the handlebars, where you can even select the button you want to use. The Sram package is completed by the high-quality Sram Code Ultimate Stealth. With its four brake pistons and discs that are 220 millimetres in diameter at the front and 200 millimetres at the rear, there is hardly a better system with which you can sensitively control the speed of your ebike.

Cockpit featuring Bosch Kiox 300 display

Effective improvement

Experience shows that how light a bike is and how light it feels are two different things. In order to achieve the right feeling, lightweights are needed especially where a mass rotates while riding. That’s why wheels are always a hot topic of discussion among cycling enthusiasts. Not much needs to be said about the Zipp 3Zero Moto Carbon wheelset on the Moterra Neo Lab71. If it were for eating, you would definitely want to lick your fingers afterwards. Its flat, single-walled rims have convinced in several tests with their punctual flex and the resulting enormous traction. And there’s nothing to complain about the weight anyway.

Basis with many qualities

Of course, Cannondale is not completely reinventing the Moterra Neo. For example, the heart of the bike, the frame with Proportional Response technology, remains unchanged. For some time now, the suspension has been a factor that sets the manufacturer apart from competitors. It is supposed to ensure that the bike reacts optimally during braking as well as acceleration, regardless of the frame size and the body size of the rider. Different mounting points, links and leverage ratios lead to a suspension kinematics that has its own characteristics in each of the four frame sizes SM, MD, LG and XL. Generally advantageous, no doubt. For you, however, this might be a reason to do extensive test rides on bikes of different sizes before buying.

Otherwise, the full-suspension e-mountain bike is enormously versatile thanks to its 29-inch wheels and 2.6-inch wide tyres. Together with the 150 millimetres of suspension travel on the fork and shock, nothing stands in the way of technically demanding trails, uphills and downhills. And thanks to the generous 750 watt-hour capacity, you can also enjoy longer tours with a few metres of altitude gain. You even have the option of fitting a powerful headlight with the Supernova Mini 2 Pro, so that even the sunset doesn’t have to stop you.

Bosch PowerTube 750 battery removable from the bottom

Background: What is Lab71 all about?

In February 2023, Cannondale launched its Lab71 programme. Under this name, the manufacturer sells bikes that it equips almost exclusively with high-end solutions. The result is supposed to be as light, as chic, as technically outstanding as possible and in this way set itself apart from the other series models. According to its own statement, Cannondale manufactures each Lab71 model in limited numbers and sells them exclusively through selected dealers. The name of the range alludes to the company’s founding in 1971.

Cannondale Moterra Neo Lab71 at a glance

• Frame: Lab71 Edition Full Carbon Front Triangle, SmartForm C1 Alloy Swingarm
• Suspension fork: RockShox Lyrik Ultimate
• Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+
• Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX Race
• Battery: Bosch PowerTube 750
• Display: Bosch Kiox 300
• Control unit: Bosch LED Remote
• Drivetrain: Sram XX Eagle AXS T-Type
• Brakes: Sram Code Ultimate Stealth
• Maximum permitted total weight: 138 kg
• Colour: Tinted Red
• Price: 12.999 Euro

Pictures: Cycling Sports Group, Inc.