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CANNONDALE MOTERRA NEO 4 – PRODUCT LAUNCH!

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

Launched today! It’s the new Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022 featuring a powerful Shimano STEPS EP8 motor with 630Wh battery and 150mm of front and rear travel making it more than capable of taking on some of the gnarliest, most technically demanding downhill trails out there before assisting you back to the top with ease so you’re fresh for ‘one more run’.

E-MTB technology has moved so fast over the past few years, with motors and batteries becoming more powerful and efficient, as well as being lighter and quieter too. Stood at the trail-head with your mates, waiting to hit your favourite run it’s getting harder to spot the E-MTB’s from the ‘acoustic’ bikes such are their sleek looks and almost-silent drive systems. The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is just such a bike, with that compact Shimano EP8 motor and neatly integrated battery it’s a case of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’.

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

With Shimano’s compact EP8 motor and a removable battery stowed in the downtube this is one sleek-looking E-Mountain Bike.

Cannondale have designed the Moterra Neo 4 to be a complete trail bike that’s capable of taking on fast, rolling descents and tight, technical singletrack and is packed full of all the sort of features and component specifications you’d expect from its acoustic equivalent; it’s just that this happens to be an E-MTB too. Constructed from Cannondale’s SmartForm C2 Alloy the Moterra Neo 4 features 150mm of travel front and rear with RockShox 35 Silver R, Solo Air forks upfront and a Deluxe Select R, DebonAir rear shock that has been tuned to handle the extra demands of an aggressive gravity-focused E-MTB.

When it comes to wheel size and geometry, the Moterra Neo 4 ticks all of the boxes we’ve all quickly come to expect from a modern trail bike – large 29er wheels shod with wide 2.6” Maxxis Reckon tyres, plush suspension platform and that all-important ‘trail geometry’, namely a nice slack 65.0° head angle, a long top tube and short stem, short chainstays and a low bottom bracket to keep you nice and stable at speed.

 

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

150mm travel, Shimano EP8 motor, 630Wh battery, 29″ wheels – the technical spec of the Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 ticks all the boxes.

It’s great to see the new Moterra Neo 4 spec’d with the Shimano EP8 motor; you almost have to do a double take to notice this compact motor and Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh battery stowed neatly into the frame’s downtube and bottom bracket. The Shimano EP8 motor is considerably lighter and quieter than Shimano’s previous E8000 motor, which was previously top of the Shimano range. With a magnesium drive unit casing the EP8 motor is 300g lighter than the E8000 and includes a higher power too (with a maximum torque output of 85Nm); power-delivery being noticeably smoother for a more natural ride feeling.

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

Click the link above and read our detailed review of the Shimano EP8 motor… 

Toggling through the motor’s three modes – Eco, Trail and Boost couldn’t be easier with each mode selected via the Shimano SW-EM8000-L remote switch on the left of the handle bar; there’s a Bluetooth enabled Shimano SC-EM800 display to provide you with all the on-board information you’ll need and the EP8’s software is customisable via Shimano’s own app, allowing you to fine-tune just exactly how the motor assists your pedaling.

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

Shimano’s drive system on the Moterra Neo 4 is clean, uncluttered and easy to operate even during the heat of the most technical trails.

With the removable Shimano BT-E8036 630WH battery you don’t need to have ‘range anxiety’ when riding out into the wild; with clever use of the motor and its three modes you’ll be able to take on some epic rides, assisted by the very natural-feeling EP8 motor. Despite its power capacity the battery remains relatively compact and fits neatly in the down tube; it’s quick-charging too with a 50% charge in 2.5 hours and full charge in 6 hours. The battery is quick and easy to remove, giving you the choice to charge it either on or off the bike depending on your preference and storage circumstances; if you’re travelling with your bike this versatility is useful too.

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

A removable Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh battery means the Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 has an excellent range.

 

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

The Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh battery can be charged while fitted to the bike or removed and charged separately.

 

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

Smart engineering sees the compact Shimano EP8 motor, bike’s drivetrain and rear suspension all cleverly positioned for a low centre of gravity and maximum efficiency. 

 

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4’s suspension configuration is laterally stiff to cope with the extra forces of the drive system.  

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is finished off with a simple, dependable and precise-shifting SRAM SX Eagle 12-Speed groupset with a massive spread of gear ratios from the 10-50T cassette; upfront an FSA E-Bike-specific chainset features a 34T chainring. A fast bike like this needs a good pair of anchors to help slow you down when your riding inevitably gets a little rowdy. TRP Slate G4 4 piston hydraulic brakes provide plenty of braking power in all conditions and are matched up with large 200mm rotors to guarantee you keep the Moterra Neo 4 in control at all times.

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is finished of with a brilliantly functional 12-Speed SRAM SX Eagle 12-Speed groupset.

 

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

150mm of rear wheel travel makes the Moterra Neo 4 is a very capable trail bike built for aggressive riding.

 

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

The Shimano EP8 motor is quieter and more compact than its predecessor. 

 

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

The plush RockShox Deluxe Select R DebonAir rear shock has been specifically tuned for E-MTB duties.

 

CANNONDALE MOTERRA NEO 4 RRP £5,000.00

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

The 2022 Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 will be available in-store and online soon, watch this space!…

 

Full Specification:

  • Frame: Moterra Neo, SmartForm C1 Alloy, 150mm travel, SmartForm C2 Alloy, Cannondale Tuned Suspension, removable downtube battery, internal cable routing, 148x12mm thru-axle, post mount brake, tapered headtube
  • Fork: RockShox 35 Silver R, Solo Air, 15x110mm stealth thru-axle, tapered steerer, 51mm offset
  • Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select R, DebonAir
  • Fork Travel: 150mm
  • Frame Travel: 150mm
  • E-Bike Drive Unit: Shimano EP8
  • E-Bike Display: Shimano SC-EM800, Bluetooth enabled
  • E-Bike Battery: Shimano BT-E8036, 630Wh
  • E-Bike Charger: Shimano Battery Charger 2A
  • Headset: Integrated Sealed Bearing, Tapered
  • Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed
  • Rear Derailleur: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-Speed
  • Rear Cassette: SRAM PG-1210, SX Eagle, 11-50, 12-speed
  • Crank: FSA E-Bike, 165mm, SRAM Eagle, 34T Steel
  • Chain: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed
  • Brake Levers: TRP hydraulic disc
  • Brakes: TRP Slate G4 4 Piston hydraulic disc, 200/200mm rotors
  • Wheel Size: 29”
  • Rims: WTB STX i25 TCS, 32h, tubeless ready
  • Hubs: (F) Shimano MT400, 15x110mm thru-axle / (R) Shimano MT400, 12x148mm thru-axle
  • Spokes: Stainless steel, 14g
  • Tyres: Maxxis Rekon, 29 x 2.6″, 60TPI Exo
  • Handlebar: Cannondale 3 Riser, 6061 Alloy, 15mm rise, 8° sweep, 4° rise, 780mm
  • Grips: Fabric Funguy
  • Stem: Cannondale 3, 3D Forged 6061 Alloy, 1-1/8″, 31.8, 7°
  • Saddle: Cannondale Ergo XC
  • Seatpost: TranzX dropper, internal routing, 31.6, 100mm (S), 120mm (M), 130mm (L-XL)
  • Sizes Available: SM, MD, LG, XL

 

Written By Johnny Dodgin

 

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