The motorized mountain bike has made a veritable triumphal march and turned the mountain bike market on its head. Sales figures are pointing steeply upwards, as are manufacturers' budgets. The trend towards auxiliary motors is not yet omnipresent on road bikes. This cycling discipline is the last bastion that seems to be resisting motorization. However, batteries, motors and displays are also making inroads here - albeit tentatively so far. The lightweight Fazua drive is celebrating considerable success. Road bikes with Fazua support achieve low overall weights of 12 to 13 kilos, as well as rather low ranges and moderate support values.

Cannondale is breaking new ground here - and not just in terms of range. The Synapse Neo has a Bosch Active Plus motor and a 500 Wh Powertube battery on board. This combo pushes the weight to just under 18 kilos - increasing the range to a solid 50 to 150 kilometers depending on the terrain, level of support or cadence. Cannondale developers are said to have achieved a range of up to 200 kilometers.

First Ride

First, the answer to an important question for an E-road bike: above 25 km/h, the Synapse Neo is comfortable to ride. The Active Plus motor doesn't generate a hint of noticeable friction (unlike pedants like the Performance CX) in off-mode without a power boost. The bike is therefore fun, sporty and comfortable to ride even at 30 or 35 km/h on flat terrain. It encourages a sporty riding style above the motor support limit and is therefore close to a conventional road bike. Because of this character, the double crankset also makes sense; if you were only cranking around below 25 km/h, you wouldn't need this number of gears.

The motor assistance is a real joy on the climbs: in Turbo mode, even the steepest climbs become flat terrain. In Tour mode, there is so much support that you can climb climbs effortlessly. The 700x35 tires already give you that gravel feeling and with the strongest support level, you can master tricky, technically challenging uphills that would be a challenge even with a non-motorized hardtail. On the downhill, the Synapse Neo flexes its muscles: Thanks to the Powertube battery and mid-motor, the center of gravity is low. The E-road bike corners well - it's a new experience to corner a bike with such good road holding at high speeds. Even in the standard version, the bike cuts a remarkably good figure as a gravel grinder, while the Synapse Neo 1 with carbon rims is completely trimmed for road riding.

The 650b version with 47mm tires offers a previously unknown and really good feeling: The Synapse Neo SE offers plenty of uphill grip and climbs climbs with roots, loose stones and steps with ease. The wide WTB tires roll well and absorb small bumps efficiently: as a result, riding on single trails that would be boring on a fully becomes a new, fun experience. The motor always provides homogeneous and unobtrusive support, but if you run out of breath for a moment, the turbo mode still pushes with great power.

How far can you go

The Synapse Neo is so much fun that you'll want to use it for hours of riding. This is where the concept reaches its limits due to the 500 Wh battery capacity. With a high support level, the battery is empty after around 50-80 kilometers in the hilly terrain typical of Switzerland. If you want to ride tours of around 80-150 kilometers - typical for racing - you would do well to keep the support level low, or alternatively take a second battery with you. The E-Road concept really comes into its own with batteries with a capacity of around 700 - 800 watt hours. As things stand today, it is advisable to be somewhat economical with the battery. Compared to Fazua racing bikes, the Synapse Neo is already entering a new dimension in terms of motor power and range. The Synapse Neo is the perfect modern companion for crisp gravel laps - or even for the fast-paced commute to work.