Cannondale Moterra SL 2 Review

In the automotive and motorcycle world, Japan has always had a reputation for being a breeding ground for excellent engines. Shimano is doing its utmost to live up to this reputation in the e-bike world with the EP801 engine. Even nasty steep sections are effortlessly climbed by the motor. The Shimano EP801 conveys a riding feeling. The short range unfortunately limits the tour radius quite significantly. The battery is securely attached to the down tube and cannot be removed for charging or storage.

A good chassis sits in rugged terrain and generates plenty of traction. That's exactly what the good Fox chassis in the Moterra SL 2 hits. Especially for heavy riders, the Cannondale brakes could be a problem. With four pistons they only decelerate averagely. Taking a holistic approach also includes looking at the gearing and components. The components are of good qualtiy and offer no reason for criticism here. The handling of the bike is pleasantly balanced due to the moderate geometry. This allows you to intuitively control the bike over the trails. The bottom bracket is high, which costs handling points. This tends to make the rider stand on the bike. On other EMTBs it feels better integrated. Overall, the geometry does not seem to be up to date anymore. The competition is significantly more modern in this regard.