Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE in review

With the Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE, an E-gravel bike seems to have smuggled itself into the ranks of the test and approaches urban mobility from a more leisure-oriented perspective. Can this bike with its drop bars, high-tech components and concentrated Bosch E-power surprise us during the test?

Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best ebike of 2021 – The 19 most exciting concepts for everyday use

**Cannondale** Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE | Bosch Performance Line CX/500 Wh
17.50 kg in size M | € 9,999 | Manufacturer’s website

Has someone got lost in this group test? What is an E-gravel bike with a drop bar doing in a test of the best commuter bikes? There’s no doubt that the Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE is a unique bike and stands out from the rest of the field immediately. That said, Cannondale have another high-tech bike in their portfolio, the Mavaro Neo, which would have seemed to suit this test better. Nonetheless, we were keen to see how an E-gravel bike would perform in the commuting everyday and whether it could be a serious alternative for anyone who sometimes likes to ride off-road during their commute. Who says that no one wants to cruise to work with motor support, only to let it rip on the way home across local forest paths and gravel motorways?

Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE spec in detail

The biggest distinguishing factor of the Topstone in this group test is its drop bar, which can be both a curse and blessing. The bar provides more hand positions, increasing long-distance comfort. However, if you’re not used to road bars, using them will be about as intuitive as an iPhone 12 Pro is for a 93-year-old, requiring you to relearn things as simple as braking and shifting. Alongside the bars, the one-sided Lefty Oliver suspension fork and the KingPin suspension at the rear are also polarising. If you’re on the hunt for a packhorse, you’ll be disappointed with this E-gravel bike. Apart from two bottle cages, the frameset isn’t compatible with racks, bags or mudguards. Technologically, the Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon is a step ahead of most of the other bikes in the test, leaving some of them in the stone age.

The Topstone Neo is THE bike for tech fans. Wireless shifting? Check. Integrated navigation with the Nyon display? Check. Warnings about impending service intervals? Check again!

Alongside the electronic, Bluetooth controlled SRAM AXS groupset, which can be tuned to suit your shifting preferences via an app, the Bosch Nyon display and Cannondale speed sensor constitute further high-tech parts for navigation, tracking, indication of service intervals and much more. Solely the spoke magnet feels a little dated amongst this backdrop. If you’re addicted to tech, you’ll love this bike and should snap it up quickly: the Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE we tested is number 22 of just 100 models, weighs 17.50 kg and can be yours for € 10,000!

**As many costume changes as Ariana Grande**
Mudguards are neither mounted nor retro-fittable. If you want to arrive at the office looking clean, you can only ride when the route is clean and dry. Or you need to enjoy being able to change in 5 minutes in the toilet to avoid being late for your meeting.

**High-torque, high-tech, high-spec**
Top marks in terms of spec! More than SRAM’s AXS groupset and Bosch’s Performance Line CX motor with the Nyon display is hardly possible.

**One-legged comfort**
The Lefty Oliver suspension fork is polarising but does its duty generating comfort at the front without fuss.

Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE

€ 9,999

Specifications

Motor Bosch Performance Line CX 85 Nm
Battery Bosch PowerTube 500 Wh
Display Bosch Nyon
Fork Lefty Oliver Carbon 30 mm
Seatpost Promax SP-9032E, Carbon 27.2 mm mm mm
Brakes SRAM Force AXS 160/160 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X01/GX 1x12
Stem Cannondale mm
Handlebar Cannondale 3 420 mm
Wheelset WTB ST i25 TCS / mm
Tires WTB Resolute 650 x 42B

Technical Data

Size S M L XL
Weight 17.5 kg

Specific Features

KingPin suspension system
Lefty Oliver fork
Bosch Nyon display
dropbar setup

**I won’t carry your luggage**
Transport options? Wrong. Apart from two bottle cage mounts, you can’t carry much with the Cannondale Topstone Neo.

**I can’t stand**
The lack of a stand or mount for one means you can’t leave your bike without having something to lean it against.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	410 mm	440 mm	500 mm	550 mm
Top tube	534 mm	552 mm	569 mm	586 mm
Head tube	127 mm	158 mm	195 mm	229 mm
Head angle	71.0°	71.0°	71.0°	71.0°
Seat angle	74.0°	74.0°	74.0°	74.0°
Chainstays	420 mm	420 mm	420 mm	420 mm
BB Drop	64 mm	61 mm	61 mm	59 mm
Wheelbase	1,018 mm	1,038 mm	1,057 mm	1,076 mm
Reach	377 mm	387 mm	394 mm	402 mm
Stack	549 mm	575 mm	610 mm	640 mm

**The Christoph Kolumbus of the test**
With the Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE, you can explore paths and trails on the way home that would be unthinkable on most other bikes.

The motor system of the Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE: More isn’t possible

Cannondale furnish the Topstone Neo with the latest Bosch Performance CX motor which delivers 85 Nm torque, complementing it with the brilliant Nyon display. In comparison to the older Intuvia or Kiox display of many other Bosch bikes, only the Moustache Samedi 27 Xroad FS 7 and the Riese & Müller Homage GT Rohloff HS also come with Nyon displays. Alongside its navigation features, the Bosch Nyon clearly shows all riding data, is well-positioned on the bars, brilliantly integrated into the Bosch ecosystem as well as offering connectivity with third-party services like Komoot. Much more isn’t possible! Unfortunately, the motor’s dynamic eMTB mode isn’t installed as standard, though this can be done with an update at your Bosch dealer. The control for the display and motor isn’t particularly cleverly positioned, only accessible when you’re on the tops of the bars where you’re left with your hands off the brakes. There are better concepts out there in the E-road bike sector.

The 500 Wh battery of the Topstone can be charged either in the bike or externally, being removable from the top of the down tube. Accelerating, the Bosch Performance Line CX motor is extremely powerful and crowns the Cannondale Topstone Neo as the traffic light rocket of the test field. Any vehicle will look twice when they see the neat Supernova rear light of your E-gravel bike shooting off into the distance! However, you’ll be looking for a front light on the Cannondale Topstone Neo in vain. The bike delivers power consistently and quickly reaches 25 km/h. However, riding at the assistance limit, the transition to non-supported riding is noticeable, meaning that the Cannondale won’t be the first choice for those who tend to cruise between 23 and 27 km/h. On steep slopes, you can reach your destination without breaking a sweat, allowing the motor to shuttle you up. When the motor disengages, there’s no additional pedalling resistance.

Before the car next to you even thinks about accelerating, you’ll already be out of sight. The acceleration of the Cannondale Topstone Neo is brutal!

**I can’t see anything**
You’re left in the dark when it gets dark. The Topstone Neo urgently needs a front light fitted, if you don’t want to have to rely on the headlights of the bike behind you.

Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE on test

The Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Left LE convinces immediately with a comparatively high level of comfort. The Lefty Oliver suspension fork might be on the stiffer side but it takes the sting out of kerbs, potholes and other challenges to your wrists effectively. If you like to ride demanding loops and brave the occasional detour onto rougher terrain, you’ll benefit from the expanded range of applications over gravel, roots and bumps. However, in comparison to the Specialized Vado SL, which is equipped with the Future Shock system, it draws the short straw in the comfort battle up front. The riding position is decidedly sporty, so if you start commuting without any acclimatisation, you might not manage long distances to work immediately. Similarly, the drop bars require some assimilation to allow you to have proper fun aboard the Cannondale Topstone Neo. That leaves it designated as the least beginner-friendly bike in the test!

So who would seriously consider buying the Cannondale Topstone Neo as a commuter bike? As we thought at the beginning, the E-gravel bike represents a sensible alternative for anyone who doesn’t want to work hard in the morning but wants to fly through the forest with a grin on their face on the way home. Not just the exposed riding position but also the lack of mudguards means you’ll have to take a change of clothes. While you’ll be able to save yourself a shower thanks to the motor power, you should definitely have toothpaste ready to brush away the dirt that gets stuck in your teeth during your constant grin while riding over hill and dale ;). Gravel newbies who have got used to the cockpit ergonomics will be pleased by the stable handling and the ability to be able to ride away from boring asphalt pistes into new terrain – every day and on the weekend!

Tuning tips: front light for commuting | frame bag for a minimum of transportation options

Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE conclusion

The Cannondale Topstone Neo Lefty LE isn’t an everyday ebike for Jane Bloggs or John Doe. That’s quickly clear due to the drop bar, lack of mudguards, front light or sensible luggage option. However, if you enjoy high-tech and want to discover new paths on your daily route to work, you’re in exactly the right place with this E-gravel bike and will be pleased by a high level of comfort, various connectivity features and a powerful motor.

Tops

innovative in its segment and beyond
high-tech and high-spec
off-road capabilities
lots of fun for tech-fans with riding experience
comparatively high level of comfort
connectivity of drivetrain, sensor and Nyon display

Flops

very limited luggage carrying options
not intuitive due to road bars
narrow range of applications
limited everyday practicality without mudguards, stand or front light

Rider Type

The trans-urban mile muncher 1

The stylish city explorer 2

The Transporter 3

The short distance whizz 4

The passionate recreational cyclist 5

You can find out more about at cannondale.com

The testfield