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Things are hotting up in the world of electric gravel bikes. The new Cannondale Topstone has just been released and at first glance, it looks fantastic. In this article, I will be taking a closer look at all the new Topstone range of gravel e-bikes.
Summary
Gravel bikes have seen a massive surge in popularity over the last couple of years. For me the gravel bike is the perfect solution for the road cyclist who wants to tackle more challenging terrain. Cycling is, after all about exploring your surroundings without boundaries. And the gravel bike allows you to do this.
Full-on mountain bikes are excellent at what they do, and nothing can replace a good full-suspension electric mountain bike for taking on challenging, technical trails. But when it comes to riding on the road, their extra weight can be a burden.
What gravel e-bikes do is offer a balance between on and off-road riding. Cannondale has taken the electric gravel bike to a whole new level with their 2021 Topstone range, including two versions with their iconic lefty fork.
None of these new e-bikes is cheap, but with full carbon frames, front and rear suspension and a whole host of high-tech goodies, the lines between road, gravel and MTB have become increasingly blurred.
Over the last couple of years, the Synapse Neo SE 650b has been their only gravel-specific e-bike, but this latest range shows that Cannondale means business when it comes to the increasingly lucrative gravel e-bike market. The only negative with the Neo SE was its rather heavy weight at over 18kg. I’m hoping this latest range is going to be at least 2kg lighter, considering the full carbon frame and finishing kit.
The Cannondale Topstone Neo electric gravel bike range
There are four models currently available in the new Topstone Neo range, with the Lefty 1 (below) as the flagship. Prices range from £3999 – £8000, so none of these bikes is particularly cheap. But then again, there’s nothing quite like them available elsewhere in the e-bike world.
1. Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty 1
The range-topping Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty 1 comes in at an eye-watering £8000, but what you get for your money is the most capable gravel e-bike currently available.
The Lefty 1 is just awash with all the latest technology you could wish for on an electric gravel bike. SRAM’s very latest Force/X01 Eagle eTap AXS HRD 12-speed electronic groupset is a gravel rider dream come true, combined with the 4th generation Bosch CX motor and long-range 500Wh battery – the Topstone Neo Lefty 1 is ready for some serious exploring!
Gearing is superb with a 44t front chainring combined with a 10-50 rear cassette giving all the gear range you will ever need to tackle steep technical climbs and rocky descents.
Front and rear suspension – the all-New Lefty Oliver Carbon fork has 30mm of travel, Chamber Damper with the all-Over tune, ISO High-Ride air spring and tapered steerer, 650b, 55mm offset. The Kingpin rear suspension is a great addition and there is provision for an internal dropper seat post.
All in all the Lefty 1 looks like an amazing bit of kit… but will Cannondale lend me one to try out? Watch this space!
Buy Now: Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty 1 £7999.99
2. Topstone Neo Carbon 2
Next up is the Topstone Neo Carbon 2 – this version does not have the lefty fork, so is slightly lighter. The Bosch CX motor and 500Wh battery are the same as found on the Lefty 1 range-topper. This model also uses the colour Kiox display with Bluetooth connectivity and can be connected to a heart rate monitor and companion smartphone app – there is also a USB charging port.
The NEO Carbon 2 uses Shimano’s latest GRX 2 x 11 groupset, with a 46/30 sub-compact crankset up front married to an 11-34 11-speed cassette at the rear, giving the Neo Carbon 2 plenty of gear range for those steep climbs.
3. Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty 3
Similar to the range-topping Lefty 1, the Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty 3 uses mechanical shifting via Shimano GRX 1 x 11 drivetrain. This is an electric gravel bike that means business!
This is an e-bike for serious off-road adventures, with 30mm of suspension, plenty of tyre clearance and auxiliary mounts, and e-assist from Bosch’s latest 4th generation CX motor with 500Wh integrated battery and Kiox display, this looks like one very capable exploring machine.
Features of the Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty 3
- Carbon gravel bike chassis combined with one of the best e-bike motor systems available from Bosch, create a powerful, do-anything adventure bike with excellent off-road manners.
- KingPin Suspension. Revolutionary, lightweight suspension that lets you ride harder on gravel and more smoothly on the tarmac. Better traction, better control and more comfort with no compromises.
- Lefty Oliver. The iconic lefty fork – a trademark of Cannondale for many years has been refined to make the ultimate gravel suspension fork. With 30mm of suspension and an incredibly stiff, precise-handling structure, this lightweight fork lets you push harder, and ride smoother than ever before.
- Ultimate versatility. This electric gravel bike has everything. Big clearance for big tyres. Lots of gear and storage mounts. Internal dropper seat post compatibility. Refined geometry and a confident rider position all come together to create a machine that’s stable, composed and an absolute hoot to ride!
4. Topstone Neo Carbon 4
The Topstone Neo Carbon 4 is the cheapest e-bike in Cannondale’s new range at £3999.99. Still a lot of money, but when you compare it to the slightly cheaper Synapse Neo SE 650b, it all starts to make sense.
You get a full carbon frame, with KingPin rear suspension (and 30mm of travel) 2 x 10 speed Shimano GRX gravel-specific groupset with an FSA 46/30 sub-compact crankset and 11-34 rear cassette.
There aren’t any weights available yet, and until I can get my hands on one to test I can’t confirm the weight, but I would imagine it should come in at around 16kg, which is incredibly light for a Bosch-powered mid-drive electric bike.
This model uses the same 4th Gen Bosch CX motor and 500Wh battery as all the others, although the display is the black and white Purion display which has been around for years – dependable and functional.
Conclusion
At a first glance, the new 2021 Cannondale Topstone Neo range of electric gravel bikes looks incredibly promising. They offer the kind of performance and off-road capabilities that were only dreamed of a few years ago and represent a true fusion of mountain bike and road bike technology.
But where does this new range fit into the great scheme of things and who is going to want one?
Serious gravel riders, explorers or even daily commuters – make no mistake, these bikes are packed with more tech than is currently available on the majority of gravel e-bikes.
I’m really excited about this new range of gravel e-bikes and I will see if I can get hold of one of these to test out in the coming weeks. When I get a chance I will do a full write-up and YouTube video – Watch this space.
Please feel free to leave any comments below and I will try and reply within 24hrs. Thanks for reading.
What are these bikes like though for lifting over gates/stiles/walls? Are they manageable or impossible for 1 person?
Hi Gregory,
I would liken it to lifting a steel touring bike with a loaded pannier bag. The Topstone weighs a bit more than my old Galaxy Touring bike. The underside of the top tube is flat and there is a recess so it’s also fairly easy to shoulder the bike if required.
Hi
I’ve been looking at this Topstone Neo range, which could be ideal for rides I do into the Peak District, but found discrepancies in the gearing figures that could be critical in deciding which version to buy.
Cannondale say on their own website that the Topstone Neo 2 and 4 have 48/32 chainrings. Whereas UK online shops such as Tredz and Sigma list the front chainrings as 46/30, as does your description. If 46/30 is correct then a bottom gearing ratio of 30:34 would almost match my current aluminium-non-e-road-bike’s 30:36 which gets me up most climbs here. Thus I could limit the powered usage during my average 50-75 mile routes – without getting delayed climbing and keep some power in reserve to get me back home.
Also concerning the Neo 3 – 44t vs. 42t? With 44t the ratio would be 1+ so I’d be hoping it’s 42t to get a 1:1 ratio with the 11-42 cassette.
Is there the possibility for you to find out which are correct? Perhaps it is different for the UK/European markets?
Thanks
Hi Ron,
I’ve checked quite a few online retailers and they all specify the FSA 46/30, but Cannondale do state 48/32 on their UK website. I have a Cannondale dealer, local to me, but they don’t have any Topstones in stock at the moment to confirm this (they told me to call back on Monday). Shimano specifies the 2 x 11 GRX rear derailleur as having a low capacity of 34T, so in my experience it should handle an 11-36 cassette without any compromise in shifting quality (with ‘b’ screw adjustment).
Regarding the 1 x 11 GRX Topstone Neo 3, there’s also conflicting info – 44t on Tredz, Rutland etc and 42t on Cannondale! Either way, you could potentially swap out the front chainring (or request the supplier does it as a gesture of goodwill). I’ve just upgraded to SRAM 1 x 11 on my e-bike with an 11-42 cassette and stock 44t chainring (Shimano Steps E6100, 504Wh battery) and I still get just over 100 miles to a charge with about 9000ft of elevation gain using only ‘eco’ mode. I can still pedal up a 10-15% climb without the assist (if I have to), but it feels like I’m pedalling a laden touring bike!
Sorry I couldn’t give you a more definitive answer, I’ll let you know what my local shop says when they get back to me on Monday.
All the best,
Tony
I am 50 years old, my hardcore mountain biking days are behind me and I’m flip-flopping between my ancient rigid GIANT ColdRock from early 90’s, my customised 2005 Scott Expert racing hardtail and my 2011 Specialized Tricross (depending on why I’m out and which group of friends or family feel like leaving me in their dust). It strikes me that I could eBay all my old bikes, save up a bit and invest for the next 10 years in a bike that has everything covered, even my knackered old legs. I’m not bothered by the cosmetics – probably a functions of it’s utility. Looks like its in a niche of it’s own – I’m in!
Hi Alun,
Thanks for your comment. I’ve a friend who’s just taken delivery of Lefty Carbon 3 and their first impression is the same as mine, it’s a ‘jack of all trades’. Tarmac, mud, gravel, green lanes – anything you can throw at it. I’ve ridden loads of different bikes / e-bikes and there’s nothing quite like the Topstone, it’s definitely in a class of its own.
Cheers,
Tony
Well that took a savage beating with the ugly stick!
Yep, it’s a bit of a Marmite bike!