Cannondale Moterra SL – In our 2024 light eMTB comparison test

The Cannondale Moterra SL comes equipped with a powerful Shimano EP801 motor and big 601 Wh battery. Doesn’t sound particularly like a light eMTB, does it? The Moterra aims to impress with its low system weight and top trail performance. But can it hold its own against the rest of the test field?

Cannondale jumped on the e-mountainbike wagon several years ago, and now they’ve joined the lightweight eMTB party too. However, the American manufacturer takes a rather different approach than many of the other competitors in this test. The Cannondale Moterra SL1 relies on a powerful 85 Nm Shimano EP801 motor and big 601 Wh battery, rather than a weak motor and small battery, all packed into an elegant carbon frame with 160/150 mm of travel and a mixed wheel configuration, with a 29″ wheel at the front and 27.5″ wheel at the rear. A flip chip on the shock mount allows you to convert it to a full 29er. Tipping the scales at 20.1 kg in size L, it might not be the lightest bike in this test, but it’s definitely competitive. Particularly exciting is the € 9,999 price tag of the SL1 version, which is just below the average in this test. But is the Cannondale Moterra SL1 worth its money, and how does it compare to the competition?

Click here for an overview of this comparison test: The best light eMTB of 2024 – 9 of the most exciting bikes in direct comparison.

What sets the Cannondale Moterra SL apart from the competition?

The Moterra SL is distinctly recognisable as a Cannondale, though it’s significantly slimmer than its siblings. The shock merges seamlessly into the seat stay and the rear suspension employs flex stays alongside the shock. In a nutshell, the chainstays taper towards the rear axle and become quite flat, allowing the carbon to flex in place of a classic pivot. Despite the big battery, which at 601 Wh is one of the biggest in the entire test field, the down tube is nice and slim. Like all the other bikes in this test, the battery is permanently integrated into the down tube, and can’t be removed for charging. The charging port on the seat tube is easily accessible, but the fiddly cover makes it a little bit finicky to use.

The battery feeds an 85 Nm Shimano EP801 motor, which is elegantly integrated into the frame and delivers 600 watts of peak power. The drive is paired with a Shimano EW-SW310 display in the top tube that shows basic system information, and also doubles as a power switch. A SC-EM800 LCD colour display next to the stem provides your riding data, such as speed, support mode and battery charge status. The support modes can be selected via the handlebar remote, which is easy and intuitive to use.

For the spec of the Moterra SL1, Cannondale rely on top-tier components, including a FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 fork and matching FLOAT X Factory air shock. Although FOX have just released a newer fork damper, both the fork and shock offer countless adjustment options and deliver a tremendous performance on the trail. Shifting is taken care of by a wireless SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission drivetrain. One small drawback: Cannondale’s in-house Down Low dropper post is one of the shortest droppers in the entire test field – at 170 mm, it doesn’t go down particularly low, restricting freedom of movement on the bike. Powerful MAGURA MT7 four-piston brakes with 203 mm rotors do stopping duties, providing powerful and reliable deceleration, even on long descents. For the wheels, Cannondale rely on robust DT Swiss XM 1700 alloy wheels and MAXXIS tires, combining a Minion DHF at the front and DISSECTOR at the rear, both in the hard MaxxTerra rubber compound and EXO+ casing. If you want to rip hard, you should upgrade to the more robust Doubledown casing at the rear, and to the softer MaxxGrip rubber compound at the front for more traction.

Tuning tip: Upgrade to the softer MaxxGrip rubber compound at the front for more traction.

Flex it! The Cannondale Moterra SL on the trail

There’s one thing the Cannondale Moterra SL1 can do: put a big grin on your face! Especially on flowing trails, it delivers insane amounts of riding fun, delivering a similar joy-factor as the Specialized Turbo Levo SL and Orbea Rise. Want to pop off natural kickers or spontaneously change direction? No problem! Thanks to the firm suspension, you can generate lots of speed by pumping through rollers and berms.

When the flow gives way to the rough stuff, the integrated riding position and high front end inspire huge amounts of confidence, encouraging you to leave your fingers off the brakes in rock gardens, regardless of your riding skills. The flex stays live up to their name and provide a pleasant amount of compliance, flexing their way through rocky terrain without passing on harsher impacts to the rider. However, the Cannondale doesn’t even come close to the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY in terms of composure. On top of that, there’s the annoying metallic clunking noise of the Shimano EP801 motor accompanying you all the way down the descents.

Uphill, the Shimano EP801 motor packs a punch, making the Cannondale Moterra SL1 one of the most powerful eMTBs in the entire test field, alongside the other Shimano bikes and the GIANT Trance X Elite, thus allowing you to reach the trailhead without breaking a sweat. The rear suspension generates ample traction and only bobs slightly, making it easy to negotiate even steep technical climbs on loose terrain with nasty roots. The balanced comfortable riding position also makes the Cannondale a good companion for long days in the saddle.

Despite its powerful motor and large battery, the Cannondale Moterra SL1 manages to pack everything into a slim package.

Who should take a closer look at the Cannondale Moterra SL?

The Cannondale Moterra SL is a great choice if you’re looking for a lightweight e-mountainbike with powerful motor assistance. At its best on flowing trails, the Moterra SL1 is a good choice for beginners and advanced riders who want to have fun both uphill and downhill. However, if you’re looking for maximum composure for extremely technical trails, you’re better off looking for other bikes, like the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY.

Our conclusions about the Cannondale Moterra SL

The Cannondale Moterra SL1 impresses with a modern look, high-quality spec and impressive trail performance. The good-natured handling makes it suitable for riders of all levels. Thanks to the powerful motor and comfortable riding position, it’s also an excellent companion for long days in the saddle. Only the short-travel dropper post and irritating rattling noise of the motor spoil the overall impression slightly. The Cannondale is a strong all-rounder and can keep up with the best bikes in the test. However, it was not quite stand-out enough to win the test.

For more information, visit cannondale.com

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The test field

Click here for an overview of this comparison test: The best light eMTB of 2024 – 9 of the most exciting bikes in direct comparison.

All bikes in test: Cannondale Moterra SL1 | GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 V2 | Mondraker Dune RR | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K | Orbea Rise | Santa Cruz Heckler SL XX AXS RSV | SCOTT Voltage eRide 900 Tuned | Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL | YT DECOY SN

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Words: Mike Hunger Photos: Peter walker