Cannondale Topstone Neo SL 2 – Graphite

More Give. A Lot More Go.

A lightweight, capable, and versatile gravel e-bike, with the power to chase horizons, explore routes less traveled or accelerate your daily routine. 

Cannondale have done this e-gravel bike a little differently: they’ve put the drive system in the rear hub (aka hub drive) instead of in the bottom bracket/crank area (aka mid-drive). Having the motor in the rear wheel hub comes with plenty of advantages. Firstly, the overall cost of the bike is less as hub motors can be mass produced more efficiently particularly because this technology has been around longer. This allows for higher spec components beyond the motor – in this case a brilliant drivetrain. Secondly, with the power from the hub directly turning the wheel rather than a drive system sending power through the chain and cassette, you’ll also find maintenance costs lower as there are fewer moving parts which can wear out and fail. 

The Topstone Neo has all the high quality components as its non-electric Topstone counterparts. You get a gravel specific Shimano GRX drivetrain with a 11-34 cassette which will get you up climbs if you want to test yourself or you’ve gone on such a long ride, you’ve run out of battery. In fact, the Mahle ebikemotion drive system uses a lightweight 250W motor and hidden 250Wh battery which provides three levels of support. It’s there when you need it and nearly imperceptible when you don’t – and you’ll be grateful for the GRX drivetrain. Cannondale estimate the 250Wh battery to give a range of up to 75km, but this will vary with which level of support you choose. There is an integrated top tube controller to select your assist level and see your battery status, which keeps the handlebars clear for lights, bells and bike computers. 

Beyond technology, the bike frame is made from lightweight and strong aluminium alloy with full carbon forks to dampen out gravel or road noise. You also get the popular endurance fit we’re seeing with all gravel bikes now: upright enough for comfort over long journeys but forward enough for speed efficiency and stability. The Neo’s wheelbase is a few centimetres longer than non-electric Topstones thanks to the longer chainstay and longer fork rake which gives better handling considering the extra weight at the back wheel of the bike. The Topstone Neo comes with grippy WTB 42c tyres which are tubeless ready (chat to your local Alpine team about turning your bike tubeless) and internal cable routing to keep it all neat and sleek. 

If you’re keen to try going off on the gravel roads, perhaps a bit of weekend bikepacking, but might need a bit of support on the longer days or more challenging climbs, then the Topstone Neo is one of the most affordable and fun rides you could buy.