Cannondale's Electric Trail Mountain Bike is all set for the future
The Moterra 2 has good componentry and the integrated Bosch system, leading to innovative and clean design and a well balanced electric trail mountain bike from Cannondale.
The Bosch PowerPack
The initial standout feature of this eMTB is the quite unique placement of the 500W Bosch PowerPack battery on the frame - integrated and inset low into the frame, from below. Cannondale have been able to do this while keeping the frame more narrow than some other e-bike brands, nice design-wise and while riding.
The battery is protected from impact and rock strike by a high density rubber 'Bat-Strap'. Kind of like something Batman would have right?
The battery is easy to remove when transporting the bike or for recharging - or if you don't want to remove the battery you can plug the charger in directly through a cut-out on the frame.
Better eMTB Frame Geometry
The battery placement puts it very close to the Bosch Performance CX electric motor which is low and rotated - tipped forward as many of them are in the newer models of all brands that use Bosch, allowing for better weight distribution in the bike and a shorter chain stay.
As we know the trend across the board in mountain bike frame geometry is for longer reach along the top tube and shorter chain stays which makes for nimble cornering and great traction.
Because the battery is slung below the frame there is now room on the frame for a bottle cage which is not always possible on other full suspension eMTBs.
Good Spec For eMTB Trail Riding
The Cannondale Monterra 2 has 130mm air travel front and rear. Both wheels have quick release levers. The bike also comes with a mechanical dropper seat post.
On front gearing there is a small sprocket which makes for easy climbing and in the rear is 11 speed Shimano SLX which offers you a great range.
The frame comes with rubberised slap-guard to protect the frame from the chain nicking it.
The brakes are hydraulic SLS disk brakes with finger adjust on the levers and Ice-Tec Heat Sink technology to dissipate some of the heat that disk brakes can generate, an especially good idea on the e-MTBs.
Bike Spec for the 2018 Cannondale Moterra 2
| Frame | Moterra, 130mm, 27+, SmartForm C1 Alloy, Torsion Box downtube, Si motor mount, carbon link |
| Forks | RockShox Revelation RC, 130mm, B+, Solo Air, Tapered steerer, Boost 15X110mm, Maxle Lite |
| Rear Shock | RockShox Monarch R, DebonAir, 130mm |
| Motor | BOSCH Performance CX 250W |
| Battery | BOSCH PowerPack 500Wh |
| User Interface | Bosch Purion Display |
| Charger | BOSCH 4A |
| Rims | WTB Scraper i45, 27.5, 40mm inner, 32h, tubeless ready |
| Hubs | Formula Disc - 110x15 front, 157x12 rear |
| Spokes | DT Swiss Champion0 |
| Tires | Schwalbe Nobby Nic SnakeSkin, TL-Easy, folding, 27.5X2.8”, tubeless ready |
| Pedals | N/A |
| Crank | Cannondale EC3, w/ Ai offset ring, 15t |
| Chain | Shimano HG601, 11-speed |
| Rear Cogs | Sunrace, 11-speed, 11-42T |
| Derailleur | Shimano SLX, Shadow Plus, 11-speed |
| Shifters | Shimano SLX, I-Spec, 11-speed |
| Handlebar | Cannondale C2 Alloy, 9 deg, 15mm rise, 780mmh |
| Grips | Cannondale Locking Grips |
| Stem | Cannondale C1, 6061 Alloy, 1-1/8”, 31.8, 5 deg, 60mm |
| Headset | Tange Seiki 1-1/8 to 1.5”, integrated |
| Brakes | Shimano SLX hydro disc, Ice-Tec 180/180mm |
| Brake Levers | Shimano SLX hydro disc |
| Saddle | Fabric Scoop Elite |
| Seatpost | Kindshock LEV Integra, 31.6, 125mm (M), 150mm (L) |
| Sizes | Only the Medium & Large available in NZ. |
| Colour | Stealth Gray with Hazard Orange and Anthracite Gray - Gloss |