Bicycles

Test: Cannondale Moto Carbon 1

Details

Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: Cannondale

Published on Monday, 22 December 2008 08:12

Written by Luca Salvatelli

An unique bike without limits and voted to total hiking

The Company

We have already talked about Cannondale during the test of Synapse Carbon and refer readers to explore the history of this prestigious American. For 2009 the company of Bedford certainly has not spared the news as the new Synapse, Bad Boy, the Updated models Rush, Super Six or Six. To mark the purists point out that all the models in greater technological content, such as models Super Six or Six are regularly produced in the U.S., but was relocated only the production of carbon fiber monocoque frames, for two main reasons: because Cannondale in the U.S. had no space and technology available and two because they wanted to create a line with more competitive prices compared to the models' "Hand Made in USA". Nonetheless, there is a homogeneous quality of all products Cannondale as evidenced by the "lifetime warranty" of its frames and regardless of weight, a beautiful demonstration of what Cannondale believe in the quality of its products.

Cannondale Mtb Range

As mentioned, Cannondale has a full range of bikes covering the market in a comprehensive and extensive, and range from Mtb has also always been a reference point for fans. From Hard Tail frame with aluminium or carbon, the Full both the XC, as the Scalpel for the Marathon, like Rush, to finish with a wide range of models for All Mountain, divided by different materials and technologies of construction chassis, suspension excursions and settings. In fact, we can see a model Rize, which is approaching 130 mm of travel, the model Rush Marathon races for the Moto, who with 160 mm of travel is the most extreme of the All Mountain Cannondale moving toward a bike from Down Hill (or use Gravity as Cannondale use to call). Compared to the latter remains a less extreme bike, which can also be pedalling uphill, giving up part of the suspension of movement.

Range Moto

The Range Moto is based on five different models, different assembly but all characterized by the same trip fork: 160 mm. The basis is the Moto4, the only model with aluminium frame, and then the other three models with carbon fiber monocoque frames: Moto Carbon 3, Moto Carbon 2, Moto Carnon 1 (the bike in our test) and Moto Carbon Ultimate Ltd. The differences reside in different forks and shocks, wheels and groups adopted. This leads to different final weights, but also at different prices. The quality for all models is on a very high standard, especially for models with carbon fiber chassis. For all different colour combinations and four sizes available: S, M, L, XL.

The bike we test: Moto Carbon 1

The Moto Carbon 1 is based on a carbon fiber monocoque chassis very well dimensioned to withstand the heavy loads. This is the generous steering the dinghy outside diameter of 66.6 millimeters, this has been done to tighten up to the area and allow the fork to work best. In these cases the aim is to create a structure as rigid as possible so that colleagues in the more deformable the two suspensions. This causes both to work together better and there is a power transmission to the rear wheel and a high precision driving. For the same reason, and here you see the effort to have a single integrated project and the rear suspension has received a careful study on its positioning, how the same would have to send forces to the chassis and how it should have lead to demands of the land. Cannondale has decided to bring the forces generated by the tube compresses oblique that was designed well to get a great rigidity. This solution allows for greater rigidity, but a modest increase in weight of the chassis compared to other positions, such as the horizontal or vertical pipe. Also the shock was then subject to a careful study of the levers of the rear suspension made for a progressive response to the shock of the rear wheel trips, so they can copy well as a small bump resist landings from jumps more treble. The core of the system was called Hatchet Drive, just because its shape as an hatchet. All of the bearings are sealed, require no maintenance and have low friction for allowing the suspension of work on smaller roughness. The rear swingarm is aluminium and has an asymmetrical structure to improve the weight and rigidity. It is a fairly complex structure with different points of tightening and lightening holes, you see that there was a careful study to get where resistance is concentrated strengths, then removing weight from the areas subject to less stress. The search for maximum rigidity has also affected the central box of the movement that has been the subject of a double wrapping of carbon, thus increasing its rigidity. The dinghy has a classic diameter seatpost of 31.6 mm. The fork is taken with a Fox Talas sheaths from 36 mm in diameter and travel of 160 mm, widely adjustable and can also lock the trips of 130 to 100 millimeters. The rear shock is always Fox, the model DHX 5.0 Air, also largely adjustable and fitted with locking Pro Pedal. The wheels are excellent DT Swiss EX 1750 that are adopted tires Continental Mountain King Supersonic, as far 26x2.4’’. Brakes, both discs, are the Magura Louise Carbon BAT. The pedals are CrankBrothers Acid 2.0 (not supplied the bike in test). The crank is the Shimano XTR 22-32-44, as the derailleur. The exchange and controls, are the Sram X0, as the parcel pinions 11-32; always Sram the chain. The carbon handlebar is a Gravity Carbon, while the attack is always Gravity, Light model. The seat is the model telescopic CrankBrothers Joplin (not on the bike in test), while the saddle is a Fi'zi: k Gobi XM Kium. The bike is proposed in the green-white colours (the bike test) and black. The house does not declare the weight but we have found 13.8 kg without pedals, as it was provided.

As all models’ Cannondale Moto also has a significant constructive care, hardly seems a product of a large number, as every detail is well taken care of. The frame is the dominated part by its generous size and fascinates the very rear suspension, with its leverage and complex swingarm. A bike that transmits power and substance. Nice steps cables inside the swingarm and excellent all components, high level, given the positioning of the bike at the top of the range. Excellent possibilities for adjustment of the suspension. Once calibrated the same under its body weight and your style of guide you can leave. The driving position is based on the maximum control and shows the great fluidity and rigidity of the crank and wheels. The exchange controls and derailleur are easy to operate, have a trip out and allow always changing fast and accurate. Even with the mud, or under the disjointed effort of the steps are always accurate, fast and fairly quiet. The brakes were found excellent. Once adjusted the distance of the lever knob provide easy and immediate outlet with a good effort content and scalability associated with as much power. Even in the wet or the mud return, derailleur and brakes, have maintained their benefits, confirming components of high quality reliable and secure. The wheels, and sliding, were also very strong and able to tackle even the most daring jumps and more difficult steps. Handsome and solid is the pivot of the front wheel. Tires serial I have found a good compromise suitable to all funds, not sliding on the ground very hard, you take the revenge on the land and moved loose, riding a crisis only if there is much mud. Behaviour rather than positive, however, that allows it to behave well on almost all the land. For comfort and traction is always better to keep the inflation pressure to a minimum, giving up a little bit of fluency. The suspensions are good for fluency and sensitivity settings, so it is easy to find an ideal calibration to your body weight and your driving style and pathways that will be facing. In hard and sliding paths belief to block the range of 100 mm of travel and put the Pro Pedal, resulting in a fluency and power transmission to land. But this is not the ideal use of this bike that exalts and should be purchased to deal path whereothers do not dare to go and where instead Moto is at ease. The climb toil is not much more than other models, but even if the weight is the kind of bike is always higher than a XC, but things could improve if you take a package 11-34 instead of pinions 11-32, to be able to run better legs even the more difficult by facilitating all, the neophyte, maybe that will not be forced to fall, to avoid that more trained to pick up the heart beats too. An improvement implemented with little expense and it should be clear that it is necessary only if you really deal with challenging climbs, even with a XC. Always uphill noticed how you can still fast even without the Pro Pedal entered, even if the climb is technically difficult with a very disjointed is preferable lever suspensions going to find a good traction and a perfec directionality, at the expense of a slight loss of power transmission to the rear wheel, totally insignificant on this form. Surprising in these conditions as the rear suspension can copy every disconnection, always keeping the wheel fully adherent to the ground. The only flaw is that these suspensions are not easily lockable agrees detentions and operate the controls, but we do not suffered a lot, because we believe it is unnecessary to buy a similar bike to then block the suspension. Moreover, apart from on asphalt or land really hard and compact, the power loss is minimal with suspensions left free to browse and perfectly balanced by better traction of rear wheel and the greater directionality and driving safety that is acquired. Behaviour on jumps is perfect with the bike that is balanced and suspensions that are able to cash the hardest hit with a decline virtually nothing of the frame, fork and swingarm. On fast, then, the behaviour improves thanks to a good directionality on condition of leaving the travel range of 160 mm, because otherwise the steering becomes more nervous and imprecise, and suspensions that can copy to perfection the ground making the bike very fast, but safe at the same time. In the long downhill techniques rich in curves, bumps, jumps and holes, this bike is a lightning and conduct a span above the competition for precision driving and safety. The same behaviour is found in the off-track in the woods or under in all those situations where the terrain changes constantly, with different obstacles ever and difficult. Here is the rear suspension and the quality of the fork, combined with the solid chassis, a master by allowing it to overcome any obstacle in agility with a rear wheel traction on the specimen and a perfect directionality. Comfort over long distances is good for about the suspension and chassis, coupled with the saddle, not being maybe the top, provides an excellent comfort over long distances.

Conclusions

The bike was found means for the exceptional quality that has put on display. It is a very total bike and practically without limits. All the groups rear suspension works perfectly and it is unfortunate lock with the Pro Pedal, partly because the benefits are very limited and no over very uneven. The fork is perfect and even in this case it is better to leave work for its entire length. But it is the whole bike to be perfect in its intended use: hiking to 360 degrees. The defects seem marginal but we note that it would be more appropriate to shorten the final report by taking a 34, which is not easy to block the suspension in motion (this aspect, in our view, irrelevant) and that the price is unfortunately far from the possibility of many. The latter will in Moto4 means easier to approach.

The price

The bike test has a price of Euro 5.599,00 while the other models start at a price of Euro 2.749,00 for the model Moto4. The kits have frames a cost of Euro 2599 for carbon model (with shock and serious steering) and 1999 Euros for the aluminium model (with number of steering and rear shock). Overall prices are not popular even though they are largely justified by the quality of the product, the technology of the chassis, the quality of the components used and, not least, by ensuring a life of the frame.

Positive aspects

Stiffness and solidity of the chassis
Effectiveness of the rear suspension rods
Effectiveness of suspensions
Quality construction and components adopted
Dynamic qualities
Versatility
Guarantee a life of the frame

Negative aspects

Don’t have 34 as the final gear
It is hard to block the suspension in motion
Price not available to everyone

Is suitable for

Athlete: a bike is not intended to competitions
Cycling-Hikers: is the ideal bike without limits
Women: unfortunately lacks a chassis specifically for women

For further informations:

Cannondale Europe
Hanzepoort 27
7570 GC, Oldenzaal, Netherlands
Tel: + 41 61.4879380
Fax: 31-5415-14240
Web site: www.cannondale.com
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.