The Takeaway: The Cannondale NEO SE is the bike for riders who want the assist from an e-bike but don’t want to give up the feeling of riding an “acoustic” bike.
- Who it’s for: The better question is, “Who isn’t it for?”
- What we love: The pedal assist is so smooth and the motor so quiet you might forget you’re on an e-bike.
- Something we don’t: A 2x drivetrain would be a bonus in some situations.
Price: $4,400
Weight: 42 lb.
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If you’re a fan of e-bikes, your relationship with Cannondale’s Synapse NEO will be love at first sight. If you’ve already claimed your disapproval of these zippy machines, whatever you do, do not take this bike for a test ride—you’ll most likely change your mind. Bosch’s Active Line Plus motor delivers up to 250 watts of pedal assist, to a maximum speed of 20 mph. It does so in such a smooth, seamless way you can allow yourself to forget that you’re getting a little help. Of course, if you crank it up to turbo mode, it will be hard to ignore. But to cruise in eco mode is to get a sneak peak at what it feels like to be really, really fit. Cruising along the roads surrounding the Laguna Seca Raceway, I was riding like I was at peak fitness again. The motor kicked in nicely to provide a little extra boost, but has minimal drag so you can easily ride past the 20mph limit without feeling like you’ve hit a wall as soon as you cross that threshold. If you’ve ridden other e-bikes, you know that feeling, and it’s not a great experience.
The Synapse NEO SE is the dirt-curious sibling in the Synapse NEO family. Outfitted with a SRAM Apex 1x drivetrain, 650b wheels, and cushy 47mm tires, it’s ready to go just about anywhere you could hope to ride a drop-bar bike. Dirt roads and trails are a no-brainer, and thanks to the pedal assist, the fat tires are hardly a concern when you hit the pavement. In fact, you’re treated to a pleasantly comfortable ride—which you’ll pay a small price for when it comes to precise steering, but as long as you aren’t trying to channel your inner Valentino Rossi, you’ll be in good shape.
The Synapse NEO takes e-road bike riding to a whole new level. The extended range of the battery, smooth motor engagement, and quiet operation can lull you into forgetting you’re on an e-bike. It just becomes a bike, one that you can ride a little faster. If the magic of bike riding appeals to you, and you want to extend your rides to explore new territory, or simply ride your beloved routes with a little less effort and more energy to take in the scenery, the Synapse NEO may be for you.
So Smooth You’ll Forget It’s an E-Bike
The star of the show is the 250 watt Bosch Active Line Plus motor and 500Wh battery. This motor features smoother engagement than previous models, without the sometimes jerky (or “sporty”) engagement of other motors. You get 35Nm of torque in eco mode and up to a maximum of 50Nm in turbo—with tour and sport modes in between. That helps reduce the jolt, or startup behavior, that can make some e-bikes feel erratic.
Style: Gravel e-bike
Drivetrain: SRAM Apex 1x
Motor: 250w Bosch Active Line Plus
Battery: 500Wh
Material: Aluminum
Wheel Size: 650b
Tire clearance: 650x47mm
Out on the road the pedal assist blends into the background noise and leaves you with an amazingly smooth ride and a very natural cycling experience. Simply put, it gives you a window into a world of what it feels like to have a heightened level of fitness. And unlike some other e-bikes, which can leave you feeling like you’re dragging an anchor once you surpass the max pedal assist, the Synapse NEO feels natural above its 20mph limit. It just feels like you’re riding a slightly heavier than normal bike, but it still responds to pedaling input the way you’d expect a bike to respond.
For me, riding in eco mode felt like what I remembered from riding at my highest level of fitness and lightest race weight. I was floating along rolling terrain with ease, enjoying the feeling of a little pressure on the pedals and a brisk pace with a smile on my face. I could snap over little rises and keep a steady pace on long, grinding grades without digging deep into the reserves.
Off pavement, the versatility of this bike shone through as I took advantage of the 47mm WTB Byway tires wrapped around 650b WTB alloy hoops. Dirt trails were a blast and steep, sandy climbs were of no concern as I relied on turbo mode to get me over the hump.
SRAM Apex 1x
The Synapse NEO SE, the more adventurous bike in the Synapse NEO family, is outfitted with components that are standard fare on gravel and adventure bikes. SRAM’s Apex 1 x 11-speed drivetrain, with a 44t chainring and 11-42 cassette, offers a great range of gears. And don’t worry if a 44x42 sounds a touch too big for heavy climbing. Bump the pedal-assist up to turbo and you’ll be cruising up steep climbs with amazing ease. Old memories of getting dropped on the final climb back to the Laguna Seca Raceway were erased as I danced up the 16 percent grade with turbo mode-induced ease.
Apex hydraulic disc brakes and 160mm rotors are more than adequate for keeping your speed in check, which you’ll definitely need on this bike. When disengaged, the motor adds minimal friction, so you’ll get rolling much quicker than you may be accustomed to on other e-bikes.
Synapse NEO Family
If you want a sportier, road-oriented bike, the Synapse NEO 1 ($6,850) is laced with mechanical Dura-Ace and 700c carbon hoops with 32mm WTB Exposure tires. The Synapse NEO 2 ($4,725) boasts mechanical Ultegra components, 700c alloy wheels, and the same 32mm WTB Exposure tires as the NEO 1. All 3 models of the Synapse NEO have the same aluminum frame, carbon fork, and 250 watt Bosch Active Line Plus motor with a 500Wh battery.
Comfortable and Stable
On paper, the Synapse NEO resembles the acoustic Synapse in terms of reach and stack. My size large test bike had a reach of 396mm, which is squarely in the middle in terms of endurance road bikes. The stack height of 609mm sits toward the upper end of the spectrum of endurance geometry. The Synapse is virtually identical with 393mm of reach and 610mm of stack.
The major difference comes in the chainstays and, subsequently, the wheelbase. The 438mm chainstays on the NEO are considerably longer than the 410mm stays on the acoustic Synapse, and result in a wheelbase on the NEO that is 64mm longer than the Synapse. What does that all mean for you? The NEO will handle a little slower, but it will also feel more stable off-road. And with all that tire clearance and healthy amount of pedal assist, I’m willing to bet you’ll be feeling a little adventurous when you get on one of these bikes.
The Final Word
When I review bikes, I spend a lot of time trying to figure out exactly what kind of rider is best suited for a given model. Sometimes that’s an easy question to answer, other times it’s more difficult. In many cases it’s a very specific type of rider who will appreciate the bike in question. In this instance, the answer to who would love this bike is far more open-ended. When I think about who should buy this bike, I find myself asking, “Who shouldn’t buy this bike?” For commuting, for fitness, for fun, for enjoying the beauty of a bike ride, the Synapse NEO SE is wonderful. For going a little farther, for having the energy to soak it all in, or for getting back to some favorite routes than you stopped riding long ago for one reason or another, this can be the bike to take you there.
Pros
- Smooth, silent motor
- Wide, versatile tires
- Feels like a normal bike
Cons
- 1x drivetrain may leave you wanting for more gears
