Cannondale’s electric mountain bikes offer more power for the trail
Cannondale has electrified a significant chunk of its bicycle lineup, and now it’s determined to conquer the mountain biking world in earnest. The company has unveiled a redesigned Moterra e-bike for the harsher climbs and a brand new Habit NEO (below) that’s designed for “fast and flowy” rides — say, a trip through a winding forest instead of an arduous hill climb. Both bikes aim to make electric riding easier than before, including through raw power.
The Moterra and Habit NEO share a new 250W Bosch drive unit that promises more torque and overall power even as it reduces the weight. Cannondale hasn’t shared range figures, but it’s betting that the 500Wh and 625Wh batteries will ease range fears.
After that, changes mostly come down to purpose. Moterra riders have 160mm of travel, 29-inch wheels and “beefier” components, with the descent-focused Moterra SE packs a 180mm fork, a Super Deluxe Piggyback Shock and stickier Maxxis Assegai tires. You won’t have quite as rough a ride down the hill, then. The Habit NEO shares the same wheel size, but switches to 140mm front and 130mm rear suspension to make it nimbler. All of the new bikes tout carbon fiber frames and a “proportional response” suspension that changes with the size of the frame.
You’ll have to wait until the fall to pick up one of Cannondale’s new offerings, and it’s clear that high-performance mountain e-bikes don’t come cheap. The Habit NEO ranges from $5,500 to $7,000, and you’re looking at between $6,000 to $9,000 for the Moterra line (the Moterra SE costs $8,500). These are for riders determined to overcome most any terrain and don’t mind paying a premium.
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