The All-New

Moterra SL

SHOP NOW

HIGH ON POWER, LOW ON WEIGHT

The formula for full-power trail e-bikes has been set for the last few years. Slap a powerful 85nm motor and a large battery onto a standard trail bike, and voila, you've got yourself an exhilarating ride. But what if you put it on a diet, shave some weight to make it feel more lively, and just for fun, add in the geometry of a full-on downhill race rig??

The incredible team at Cannondale has accomplished exactly that with the Moterra SL. They have significantly reduced the weight of the Moterra, making it one of the lightest full-power bikes available. In addition, they have made some adjustments to the geometry, including an extremely slack 62.5-degree head tube angle, which might seem unconventional on paper but surprisingly performs well on the trail.

Scroll down.

Learn more.

GEO

WHO IS THE RIDER?

The Moterra SL best serves two riders: riders who want to avoid the big weight penalty of e-bikes and riders looking for the most confident bike in steep terrain.

Weight Weenies: The Moterra SL is one of the lightest full-power e-bikes available, making it a great choice for riders not accustomed to the weight of full-power e-bikes. While there are lighter bikes with lower power, the Moterra provides a full 85nm motor in a relatively light package. On the trail, it still offers the stable feel that full-power bikes are known for, but it feels more nimble, especially for riders used to heavier bikes. This difference may be subtle, but it can definitely make the transition from a 30lb acoustic bike to an e-bike much easier.

Thrill Seekers: For riders seeking the most confident bike for steep terrain, the Moterra SL's slack HT setting of 62.5° is absolutely insane. It positions the front wheel far ahead when going downhill, allowing the bike to roll over anything in its path effortlessly. We were initially concerned about how the bike would perform on flatter terrain, but overall, it feels like a well-designed package. It offers moderate to slow handling on slower terrain and confidently rolls over anything when going downhill.

KEY FEATURES

Style: Full-Power eMTB
Travel 160mm (Front) / 150mm (Rear)
Wheels: 29" / 27.5" (MX)
Frame Material: Carbon
Complete Weight: 19.7kg /43.4lbs
Power: 85Nm
Range: 601Wh
Size Range: S-XL
Price Range: $14,000 (Lab71) - $7,000 (SL2)
Colors: Burnt Pewter, Raw, Tiger Shark, and Candy Red.

WHAT WE LOVE

LIGHTWEIGHT

Okay, so 43 lbs isn't light compared to the current crop of lightweight XC bikes. However, for those of us who have been carrying 50lb+ full-power bikes for the last few years, a full-power bike in the low 40 lbs is an absolute revolution.

SLACK GEO

This one takes the cake in a world of brands claiming they have progressive geometries. It feels radical out of the gate but settles in when the terrain gets steep.

RELIABLE DRIVETRAIN

The Shimano EP801 is hard to beat for reliability and performance. It's made its name on countless bikes and has faithfully and smoothly made good e-bikes great.

FULL FEATURED

We can't list them all well... we could, but if If they don't convince you to order the all-new Moterra SL or visit our stores to experience it firsthand, we're not sure what will!

Motory & Battery

The Shimano EP8 is one of our favorite motors. Its smooth operation and power delivery are top of the class, and its reliability is unmatched. As with all EP8 units, you have a handlebar-mounted screen to show the system's status, making it easy to switch between its four drive modes: Eco, Trail, Boost, and TurbO. Cannondale thought outside the box to help achieve the Moterra SL's low weight and sourced a custom lightweight 600Wh battery that weighs only 3.1kg. This means you get the power and functionality of the Shimano system with a lower total weight.

Four-Bar Suspension & Flex Pivot

The Moterra SL is a 160mm front / 150mm rear platform with a tried-and-true 4bar linkage that allows the suspension to be fully active in rough terrain and free from interference from the rider or braking forces. Innovation comes in the form of reduced complexity. Their FlexPivot design removes the bearing in front of the rear axle and replaces it with a durable and flexible carbon section. Due to the limited movement in this area, they can engineer a more robust and lighter-weight link without moving parts, reducing maintenance and improving the feel of the bike's rear end. Cannondale has used this system before. Initially developed for their World Cup-winning XC bike, the Scalpel, it's already a proven design for performance and lightweight.

Slack Geometry

The extremely slack headtube angle of the Moterra has been a challenge for us to move past. At 62.5°, it is the slackest bike we have found, even compared to DH bikes. On paper, you would expect it to be intimidating for anyone not accustomed to riding Enduro World Series or World Cup DH bikes, but we have been surprised. The geometry of the Moterra instills confidence on rugged terrain, allowing us to tackle more challenging trails with ease. On flat trails, it requires a slight adjustment in riding style and more input from the rider to navigate corners, but it still feels like a capable everyday bike. For a more straightforward trail style, jump to the next section.

Adjustability

We've talked a ton about the Moterra's SL unique handling geometry, but Cannondale has also tried to give the rider a choice. Using an adjustable headset, you can steepen the HT angle by 1.2° (to 63.7°), bringing it closer to other trail bikes in the category. Likewise, while the bike is sold with MX Wheels (29" front / 27.5 rear), an easy-to-use flip-chip adjusts the bike's wheelbase and BB height to allow for a complete 29" set-up. It's the best of both worlds.

GEOMETRY

Look below to see the geo chart for a comparison between sizes.

SIZE	SM	MD	LG	XL
Wheel Size	29F/27.5R	29F/27.5R	29F/27.5R	29F/27.5R
Seat Tube Length	380mm	400mm	450mm	490mm
Top Tube Actual	537mm	559mm	584mm	621mm
Head Tube Angle	62.5°	62.5°	62.5°	62.5°
Seat Tube Angle	70.7°	71.3°	72.3°	73.1°
STandover	738mm	737mm	737mm	742mm
Head Tube Length	115mm	125mm	135mm	145mm
Wheelbase	1219mm	1248mm	1283mm	1327mm
Front Center	771mm	801mm	830mm	870mm
Chain Stay Length	449mm	449mm	453mm	458mm
BB Drop	30mm	30mm	30mm	30mm
BB Height	335mm	335mm	335mm	335mm
Fork Rake	44mm	44mm	44mm	44mm
Trail	145mm	145mm	145mm	144mm
Stack	630mm	639mm	648mm	657mm
Reach	420mm	445mm	470mm	505mm

FRAME SIZING

If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, our Customer Service can help you identify a size more specific to your body type. Call us at (866) 600-BIKE.

The Moterra SL is available in sizes S - XL.

BODY DIMENSIONs

Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.

0 products

Sort