Cannondale Moterra LT2 - eMTB Review

Cannondale launched their Moterra chassis during the Summer of 2016 - a surprise to those who are used to the brand's lightweight racing background.There is no Lefty to be found on the Moterra, but in Cannondale fashion, they integrated the battery into the aluminum chassis and then re-positioned the Bosch motor to tweak the bike's geometry.

The Moterra comes in two distinct models: the 130mm travel Moterra, and the Moterra LT, with 160mm of wheel travel and more relaxed geometry. We tested the lower spec'ed LT2 model in a large size, which is built with RockShox suspension and uses Shimano brakes and drivetrain components. The motor of choice is a Bosch Performance Line CX motor and 500wh PowerPack. Cannondale prices the more affordable version of the Moterra at €5249.




Details and Build

The Moterra LT2 is built with a 160mm-travel RockShox Yari fork, complimented by a Monarch RT Debonair shock. Components are mostly from Shimano's trusty SLX range, including brakes (200mm front and 180mm rear rotor) and 11-speed shifting. The wheelset set is a mixture of DT Swiss straight-gauge spokes, WTB i25 rims, and Formula hubs, while the tires are a Magic Mary/Hans Dampf mix from Schwalbe with reinforced Super Gravity casings. Contact points are Fabric's Scoop saddle atop a 150mm-travel KS LEV dropper post (on the large and XL models only). Cannondale's own grips lock-on to their 780mm wide C2 handlebar, and the ride is finished with a 50mm stem from Gravity. The result is an eMTB that suggests it wants to go hard.






Suspension Design

Cannondale have kept the suspension simple. The single-pivot swingarm's forward hinge-point is in line with the chain, while the rear pivot is connected to the chainstay. The top-tube-mounted RockShox Debonair damper is driven by a carbon rocker link in the same configuration as its conventional trail bike range.


Geometry



Motor

Cannondale took matters into their own hands, creating the 'Torsion Box' down tube and using a reconfigured motor mount under their 'Si' System Integration tag; Si technologies are found on many models of Cannondale. The Torsion Box allowed them to flip the standard Bosch 500wh battery unit to the underside of the frame and lower the center of gravity. The rubber 'BatStrap' protects the battery from incoming rocks and should prevent any rattling.

The Si motor mount rotates the Bosch Performance Line CX motor to create more space for a shorter (443mm) chainstay. The 12mm rear axle is the 157mm-width downhill standard, and Cannondale further guarantees a stiff rear wheel by offsetting the hub by 3mm (Ai - Asymmetric Integration) like other Cannondale bikes to improve the spoke angles and chain line.

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Climbing and Trail

Cannondale's Moterra does a good job of winching itself uphill, although being a good climber isn't its purpose. The short, 442mm chainstays cause the front wheel to wander compared to longer bikes I've tested, but the seat is suitably positioned over the bottom bracket which helps maintain balance up the steeps. If your Bosch motor doesn't already have it, upgrading the motor to the eMTB mode with a visit to the local dealer is a must. The Moterra feels like it has an automatic transmission that closely matches the rider's power output with its contribution. When pedaling gently, it eases in the boost and adds proportionality more when you are pedaling hard. This feels like it takes more human energy compared to the standard Sport and Turbo modes, but it makes feeding in the power on loose surfaces tight corners much more predictable with practice. More human power and less motor, of course, means that you can ride a little longer before emptying the electrical energy supply.



Bosh's push-button walk function is a letdown. I had trouble keeping the button depressed while maintaining a good enough grip on the handlebar to push the bike over uneven terrain. Secondly, the motor cuts out too easily - as if it was guessing prematurely that I had stopped pushing. Shimano's 'Steps' system is by far, the superior walk-assistance function.



Descending

The Moterra's suspension became more lively after adding a couple of volume spacers to the Monarch Debonair shock. As its geometry suggests, the Moterra loves heading down the hill and it really gets going when faced with tough trails. The bike is very easy to pop and play with, and quick to change direction and move around. One of the best traits is how it flows over over undulations - and yes you, can still send the heavy beasts skyward.

The Moterra works best with ridden agressively, with its rider pushing and driving the chassis into the trail. The Moterra is certainly the most accurate feeling eMTB I have played on so far. Whether that is attributed to its combination of tire and rim choice, or the stiff front triangle, the beefy Yari fork, its downhill-spaced rear hub, or all of the above, the Moterra makes it easy to pick a line and stick to it. It's hard to say if the work done by Cannondale to lower the bike's center of gravity helps or not, but the Moterra is great in the corners and quick to change between them.


Technical Report








Pinkbike's Take:

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