Down at the Eurobike Media days in Kirchberg, Tirol, the US brand took the industry by surprise with an aggressive E-MTB, purportedly boasting better handling than any other e-bike in the world. Big words, we mused, so we set out to ascertain whether the Moterra lives up to its claims.

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Cannondale Moterra LT 1 | 23.4 kg | € 5,999
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You can’t deny that the Cannondale Moterra has something special about its wide tubing and complex design. Coming in two models, this reinforced single-pivot bike won’t be winning any beauty pageants, but it is one of those niche eye-catchers that’ll catch some approving looks for the sheer ingenuity of the design.

The ‘regular’ Moterra provides 130 mm front and rear travel and rolls on 27.5+ tires.
The ‘regular’ Moterra provides 130 mm front and rear travel and rolls on 27.5+ tires.
The Moterra LT (Long Travel) comes with 160 mm travel, conventional 27.5 x 2.35“ tires and a solid spec.
The Moterra LT (Long Travel) comes with 160 mm travel, conventional 27.5 x 2.35“ tires and a solid spec.

When it came to developing the Moterra, Cannondale had three key aims: use the current top motor, make space for a bottle cage mount and create the best handling package on the E-MTB market. It’s clear that the Freiburg-based team dug deep into the box of tricks to make sure the Bosch Performance CX motor was as optimally tuned to their needs as possible.

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The issue: Right now the current Bosch Motor gives no room for play for simple integration or tuning of the drive unit. Instead it’s up to the manufacturers to adapt their bike designs to suit the motor. This is exactly where Cannondale impressed, landing on some super interesting and innovative concepts that should decisively improve the riding performance of both Moterra models with the Bosch Performance CX models.

BatStrap-Gummischutz: Ein elastisches Gummi-Band, das über den Akku gespannt und in der Skid-Plate im Tretlagerbereich eingehakt wird.
BatStrap: An elastic rubber band that is tensioned across the battery as protection.
The custom battery mount in the downtube has to be the most distinctive feature, with the so-called Torsion box not just boosting the massive chassis’ stiffness but also ensuring an optimally positioned low centre of gravity.
The custom battery mount in the downtube has to be the most distinctive feature, with the so-called Torsion box not just boosting the massive chassis’ stiffness but also ensuring an optimally positioned low centre of gravity.
Unique: The Cannondale Moterra is the world’s very first Bosch-powered E-MTB with a 500 ml bottle cage mount in the triangle. Plus, the battery can be charged while on the frame.
Unique: The Cannondale Moterra is the world’s very first Bosch-powered E-MTB with a 500 ml bottle cage mount in the triangle. Plus, the battery can be charged while on the frame.
Dank einer integrierten Kettenführung bleibt die Kette auch bei ruppigeren Abfahrten an Ort und Stelle.
The integrated chain guide ensures that the chain stays where it belongs during rough descents.

To keep the relatively exposed 500 Wh Bosch battery free from harm, Cannondale went for a protective rubber ‘BatStrap’ that’s tensioned around the battery and hooked onto the bash guard under the bottom bracket. In terms of how it works and feels, it’s definitely effective although it does look borderline rudimentary. Seeing as it doesn’t fully cover the battery at the bottom, it’ll be interesting to see how it fares on long-term test as a protective cover, and whether the battery’s lock will suffice against mud and water.

Instead of opting for the Boost hub standard, Cannondale designed the Moterra with a wider 157 mm thru-axle at the rear, similar to Scott’s approach to the E-Genius Plus. As the chainline is therefore wider, they developed the offset Ai chainring by 6 mm. There’s also a small chainguide to keep the chain on track.

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Cannondale is particularly proud of the Si motor mount.

The Si motor mount is a whooping great new addition the bike, rendering the original from Bosch redundant and allowing Cannondale to create a much more compact motor integration. The 443 mm chainstays on the long-travel Cannondale Moterra LT are a first-rate feature on this bike – more than 20 mm shorter than any of the chainstays on competing bikes. However, this super compact rear end is only designed to take 27.5 and no bigger 27.5+ tires.

Cannondale Moterra LT 1: spec, weight, pricing

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With a sorted spec that’s well worthy of its 5,999 € price tag, the Moterra LT 1’s weight of 23.4 kg is within reason. Alongside the potent FOX suspension, praise has to go the choice of sturdy Schwalbe SuperGravity tires and DT Swiss XM481 rims with a 30 mm width. Keeping up the effort, the Shimano XT brakes and XT drivetrain with an 11-42 cassette are more than satisfactory – but we’ve got to bemoan the absence of the now virtually compulsory 200 mm rotors for the rear brake!

Fork: Fox Factory 36 FLOAT FIT4 160mm, Kashima Coat
Rear shock: Fox Factory FLOAT EVOL 160mm, Kashima Coat
Motor: Bosch Performance CX 250W
Battery: Bosch Power Pack 500Wh
Brakes: Shimano XT
Drivetrain: FSA CK-745/170mm
Seatpost:KS LEV Integra dropper
Stem: Cannondale C1, 45mm
Handlebar: Cannondale C2, 780 mm
Tire front: Schwalbe Magic Mary SugerG 2.35
Tire rear: Hans Dampf 2.35
Wheels: DT XM 481
Weight: 23,4 kg
Price: 5.999 €

Cannondale Moterra: spec, weight, pricing

Cannondale Moterra 2

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Fork: Fox Factory 34 FLOAT FIT4 130mm, 3Pos-adjust
Rear shock: Fox Factory FLOAT EVOL 130mm, Kashima Coat
Motor: Bosch Performance CX 250W
Battery: Bosch Power Pack 500Wh
Brakes: Shimano XT
Drivetrain: FSA CK-745/170mm
Seatpost:KS LEV Integra dropper
Stem: Cannondale C1, 60mm
Handlebar: Cannondale C2, 780 mm
Tires: Schwalbe Nobby Nic SnakeSkin 2.8″
Wheels: DT XM 551
Weight: 22,4 kg
Price: 5.999 €

Cannondale Moterra 2

Moterra 2

Fork: RockShox Yari RC, 130mm, B+, Solo Air
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch R, DebonAir, 130mm
Motor: Bosch Performance CX 250W
Battery: Bosch Power Pack 500Wh
Brakes: Shimano SLX 203mm/180mm
Drivetrain: FSA CK-745/170mm
Seatpost:KS LEV Integra dropper
Stem: Cannondale C1, 60mm
Handlebar: Cannondale C2, 780 mm
Tires: Schwalbe Nobby Nic SnakeSkin 2.8″
Wheels: WTB Scarper i45
Weight: 22.6 kg
Price: € 4,999

Cannondale Moterra 3

Moterra-3-NBL

Fork: RockShox Sektor Silver RL, 130mm, B+, Solo Air
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch R, DebonAir, 130mm
Motor: Bosch Performance CX 250W
Battery: Bosch Power Pack 500Wh
Brakes: Shimano Deore 180mm/180mm
Drivetrain: FSA CK-745/170mm
Seatpost:Cannondale C3
Stem: Cannondale C1, 55mm
Handlebar: Cannondale C2, 780 mm
Tires: Schwalbe Nobby Nic SnakeSkin 2.8″
Wheels: Cannondale Beast
Weight: 23.4 kg
Price: € 3,999

Geometry of the Cannondale Moterra

Cannnndale Moterra

Size S M L XL
Seat tube 400 mm 440 mm 480 mm 520 mm
Top tube 574 mm 601 mm 631 mm 658 mm
Head tube 110 mm 122 mm 134 mm 134 mm
Head angle 67° 67,5° 67,5° 67,5°
Seat angle 75° 74° 74° 74°
Chainstay 457 mm 457 mm 457 mm 457 mm
BB height 34,7 mm 34,7 mm 34,7 mm 34,7 mm
Wheelbase 1.172 mm 1.183 mm 1.214 mm 1.241 mm
Reach 414 mm 425 mm 452 mm 479 mm

Cannondale Moterra LT

Size S M L XL
Seat tube 400 mm 440 mm 480 mm 520 mm
Top tube 556 mm 586 mm 616 mm 643 mm
Head tube 110 mm 122 mm 134 mm 134 mm
Head angle 66° 66° 66° 66°
Seat angle 74,8° 74,8° 74,8° 74,8°
Chainstay 443 mm 443 mm 443 mm 443 mm
BB height 35,7 mm 35,7 mm 35,7 mm 35,7 mm
Wheelbase 1.157 mm 1.189 mm 1.221 mm 1.248 mm
Reach 396 mm 423 mm 450 mm 477 mm

First Ride: Cannondale Moterra LT

Once on the trail it’s hard to deny that some real mountain bikers played a major hand in this bike’s conception: the balanced handling dishes out lots of confidence. We set the sag at 30%, which saw the Moterra stay planted and keep its smoothness at high speeds for a good while.

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The ultra stiff chassis needs a firm hand over roots and bits of gnar. This sort of level of stiffness isn’t that forgiving to rookie errors.

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Our worries fortunately proved unfounded: the ‘Torsion Box’, which is positioned really far towards the front on the downtube, isn’t likely to be shifted if things get in its way. Steep drops and steps are well within the Moterra’s range of comfort.

Despite the Moterra LT’s aggressive-looking figures on paper, its riding position is fairly moderate. The 66° head angle is great for flat section and technical climbs too.

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Even with those short chainstays, the front stayed glued to the ground on steep climbs. As tends to be the case for E-MTBs, just switch down a level of pedal-assist and pedal a bit more gently so that you won’t risk losing too much traction on nasty climbs.
The motor’s design is fairly open, which hints at a fairly high likelihood that you’ll be spending a while on your hands and knees to keep it clean after rides in the mud.

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Conclusion: Cannondale Moterra LT 1

‘Form follows function’ is the best way to describe the Moterra LT. Irrefutably a pleaser when it comes to technology, the US brand have come up with some brilliantly clever design features – some sophisticated and others more rudimentary. And while we’re convinced that the price tag of 5,999 € is worth it for the spec and technologies, we’re a little put off by the seemingly absent finish that you’d expect for that much cash. We reckon this bike will be a bit like marmite: you’ll either love it or hate it.

For more information head to: Cannondale Website.


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Words & Photos: Robin Schmitt

About the author

Robin Schmitt

Robin is one of the two founders of 41 Publishing, a visionary and go-getter. While he now enjoys every second on the bike – whenever his busy schedule allows – he used to race against the clock at enduro events and a few Downhill World Cups. Besides that, Robin practises kung fu and Zen meditation, plays the cello or with his dog (which actually belongs to his girlfriend), travels abroad and still reviews numerous bikes himself. Progressive ideas, new projects and major challenges – Robin loves exploring undiscovered potential and getting to the bottom of new trends.