Cannondale Moterra Carbon SL 1

Cannondale Moterra Carbon SL 1 - The new generation of Trail E-Fullys: Full power, but light!

An agile trail bike with a powerful full-size E-drive and weighing less than 20 kilos? Wow, what Cannondale is presenting here with the new Moterra is a real challenge! Instead of following the trend towards throttled motors and small batteries, the US manufacturer has developed its very own concept. At its heart is the super-light Series 1 carbon frame with 150 millimeters of rear suspension travel, combined with a 160 mm suspension fork. A potent chassis that offers incredible reserves for a trail bike. Two factors reduce the weight: the FlexPivot rear triangle, which manages with fewer spherical bearings. And a battery with newly developed cells that can store more energy per kilo. The latest generation of the Shimano EP8 motor called 801 is decisive for the thrust, but Cannondale has refined it with a custom tuning. Instead of the usual three support levels, there is an additional trail mode that uses the motor's power even more efficiently. In general, up to 85 Nm of torque is available.

The SL 1 version of the Moterra comes with exquisite equipment that will make your mouth water. In addition to the Fox Factory suspension elements, the wireless Sram XO Eagle drivetrain is particularly impressive and is unsurpassed in terms of precision. The drivetrain also works with the new T-Type technology (transmission), in which the rear derailleur sits directly on the thru-axle of the rear wheel. This means that defects such as a bent or even torn derailleur hanger are a thing of the past. Ex works, the Moterra rolls on an agile mullet wheelset (mixed wheel) with a 27.5-inch rear wheel and 29-inch front wheel. However, you can also ride the Moterra with a 29er rear wheel. The linkage lever of the rear triangle can be adapted to the changed geometry with the help of a rotating FlipChip. Have we already mentioned the Magura MT7 disc brakes with 4-piston technology?

Innovative carbon frame with FlexPivot rear triangle

The US manufacturer Cannondale has made a name for itself in the scene over decades with its own technologies. One of the innovations from the laboratories is the FlexPivot rear triangle. Thanks to flexing chainstays, there is no need for a joint at the rear dropout. This saves weight and provides stability. Next up is the proportional response design. Geometry and kinematics are individually adapted for each frame size so that every rider sits on the bike in the best possible way. We have already mentioned the customizable geometry on the rear triangle. But that's not all: the steering angle can also be varied by around one degree with the help of rotating headset bearing shells. That doesn't sound like much, but it is definitely noticeable on the trail. A slacker steering angle provides more directional stability, a steeper one more agility. All in all, these details make the new Moterra one of the best E-Fullys on the market.