Cannondale certainly know their way around an eMTB, and the Moterra Neo 5 is another in their range that certainly delivers.
This beautiful bike handles the off-road trails majestically, without compensating on battery life or motor power.
It’s a solid, well-built all-rounder, but what makes it tick? And how does this match-up compared to some of its competitors on the market?
In our Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 Review we’ll really get to grips with this bike and reveal all you need to know before potentially parting with your hard-earned cash.
Now let’s get stuck in….
Our Verdict
A beauty of a bike, that delivers a robust ride and can take on challenging terrains. It’s a great bike to purchase if you want to step up from everyday mountain bike riding to something more serious. It’s a fantastic full-suspension two-wheeler, at a fraction of the price of many competitors, without compromising quality. It’s held back ever so slightly due to only having 140mm travel at the front end, which would put out the really serious downhill riders. However, for the majority of us, the Moterra Neo 5 will take on most challenges we throw at it. It has a decent range, excellent top speed, handles well and feels comfortable throughout.
This one’s a winner for us.
Peaks
- Price
- Robust
- Handles Well
- Versatile
- Speed
Troughs
- Weight
- Travel
- Full-charge Time
Cannondale Moterra Neo 5
Price – $4750
Weight/Frame
Heavier than most
The bike is made out of aluminium and comes in at 24kg, which admittedly, is a little chunky.
It did feel weighty to begin with compared to a carbon ride, but what that aluminium frame gives you is sturdiness and it’s certainly a robust frame.
Stability and power
Naturally the extra weight makes handling a little more challenging than lighter ranges on the market, particularly on the corners.
But you do get used to it after few runs and actually it begins to feel stable through those tricky technical sections.
The extra weight is surprisingly handy on the uphill sections. The extra oomph from its powerful motor (which we’ll come to shortly) helps you glide up even the steepest sections, and it handles the lumps and bumps well due to its robust weight.
It feels like a stable ride (once you’ve got used to its weight), and it even manages to cope well downhill and tackling obstacles.
So don’t be alarmed by that initial weight figure – after a few rides, it blurs into insignificance due to its other features.
Battery
The Moterra Neo 5 is armed with a lithium-ion 504-watt battery.
It has a stated range of up to 100km (60 miles) and that’s pretty true to life for most average conditions, so you can have a full day of fun knowing you’ll have some juice left in the tank to keep you going.
However, don’t bet on it lasting that long if you’re hammering the electric assistance on particularly steep or challenging terrain – it’s likely to die out a little before that.
Despite the decent battery spec, there is one issue – the charge time – it takes around six and a half hours to give you a full recharge, which isn’t ideal.
Motor
The Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 is geared up with a Shimano Steps DU-E700 motor, which kicks out 250W.
What does that mean?
It means it’s sure to boost you up some challenging terrain, and it handles the tricky climbs with ease.
It delivers 75Nm of torque too, which gives you a punchy kick off the line.
There are also several different modes to choose from, which you can click between using the Shimano Steps display – including Eco, Trail & Boost – giving you a choice so you don’t rinse the battery too early on in your ride.
The settings all offer something different.
- Eco helps conserve the battery and is particularly useful when on flat roads between spots, it knocks off the assistance so you don’t burn through your precious battery.
- Trail mode on the other hand is really useful on the hills and uneven stretches, it gives you that little extra oomph that you need and takes the pressure off your legs.
- Boost is your last resort option, particularly useful on steep inclines. It’s a seriously powerful kick and a helping hand when you really need it most.
In terms speed – the bike will get up to a whopping 28mph on the flat, with the assistance on full gas. Not slow by any stretch of the imagination.
Suspension
It comes with a Cannondale Tuned front and back suspension, which provides 140mm travel at the front and 150mm travel at the rear.
It’s ideal for almost all riding conditions, whether the steep old climbs or the challenging single-track descents.
This makes it a decent bet for most riders, although we wouldn’t suggest it for the more extreme riders and those riding at a very high level – as the 140mm of travel would end up limiting riders to the slightly more tame tracks and not the all-out gnarly ones.
Brakes
The Moterra Neo 5 comes with Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes, which really hit the mark when it comes to bringing yourself to a halt.
They’re super responsive and can take an enormous amount of strain, ideal on some of those fast-moving descents.
The Moterra Neo 5’s braking capabilities leave you feeling rather confident to push the boundaries.
The Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 electric mountain bike comes with 29inch x 2.3inch WTB Breakout tyres.
The 29er means its fast rolling and super quick, but you do lose out a bit with the agility and playfulness as a result.
The large tyres give you a great level of grip on the loose sections, so you feel pretty stable throughout the ride.
And the large surface area and DNA Compound soak up a lot of the lumps and bumps really well – so you feel pretty comfortable up there.
It certainly isn’t as agile as a 27.5er, but what you lose in technicality, you gain in comfort.
Price - $4,750
This is the lowest spec of Cannondale’s Neo range, and at $4,750 the price reflects that.
That’s on the cheaper end of the scale for a full suspension e-bike, so it feels marketed towards people who want to step up from an everyday e-MTB/mountain bike and get into the more serious side of riding. It isn’t, though, an elite rider’s bike.
Considering it’s a Cannondale, and their fantastic reputation in the e-MTB market, the Moterra Neo 5 is still a decent steal.
Moterra NEO 5 Facts & figures
Now let’s look at the nitty gritty.
| S | M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Tube Length (cm) | 43.0 | 45.0 | 48.0 | 51.0 |
| Top Tube Horizontal (cm) | 57.9 | 60.4 | 62.9 | 65.6 |
| Top Tube Actual (cm) | 53.9 | 56.2 | 56.8 | 61.7 |
| Head Tube Angle | 65.0 | 65.0 | 65.0 | 65.0 |
| Seat Tube Angle Effective | 76.0° | 76.0° | 76.0° | 76.0° |
| Seat Tube Angle | 71.0° | 71.0° | 71.0° | 71.0° |
| Standover (cm) | 72.7 | 73.5 | 74.5 | 77.0 |
| Head Tube Length (cm) | 11.5 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 12.4 |
| Wheelbase (cm) | 120.9 | 123.4 | 125.9 | 128.8 |
| Front Center (cm) | 75.6 | 78.1 | 80.6 | 83.5 |
| Chain Stay Length (cm) | 45.5 | 45.5 | 45.5 | 45.5 |
| Bottom Bracket Drop (cm) | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Bottom Bracket Height (cm) | 35.0 | 35.0 | 35.0 | 35.0 |
| Fork Rake (cm) | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Trail (cm) | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 |
| Stack (cm) | 61.7 | 61.7 | 61.7 | 62.6 |
| Reach (cm) | 42.5 | 45.0 | 47.5 | 50.0 |
Full Specs
| DETAILS | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Moterra Neo |
| Model Name | Moterra Neo 5 |
| Model Code | C69201M |
| FRAMESET | |
|---|---|
| Frame | 50mm travel, SmartForm C2 Alloy, Cannondale Tuned Suspension, removable downtube battery, internal cable routing, 148x12mm thru-axle, post mount brake, tapered headtube |
| Fork | SR Suntour XCR LO Boost 29, 140mm travel, 15mm thru axle, tapered alloy steerer |
| Headset | Integrated Sealed Bearing, Tapered |
| Rear Shock | X-Fusion 02 Pro RL, Rebound and Lockout |
| E-SYSTEM | |
|---|---|
| Drive Unit | Shimano STEPS DU-E7000 250W |
| Battery | Shimano STEPS BT-E8035, 504Wh |
| Charger | Shimano Battery Charger 2A |
| Display | Shimano SC-E7000, Bluetooth enabled |
| DRIVETRAIN | |
|---|---|
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore M6000 |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore M4100, 10-speed |
| Chain | Shimano Deore, 10-speed |
| Crank | FSA Shimano E-Bike, 165mm, FSA Megatooth, 34T |
| Rear Cogs | Shimano HG500, 11-42, 10-speed |
| BRAKES | |
|---|---|
| Brakes | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc, 180/180mm RT10 rotors |
| Brake Levers | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc |
| WHEELS | |
|---|---|
| Rims | WTB STX i25 TCS, 32h, tubeless ready |
| Front Hub | Shimano MT400, 15x110mm thru-axl |
| Rear Hub | Shimano MT400 12×148 |
| Spokes | Stainless Steel, 14g |
| Tires | WTB Breakout, 29 x 2.3″, DNA Compound, Comp Level, 30TPI |
| Tire Size | 2.3 |
| Wheel Size | 29 |
| Front Tire | WTB Breakout, 29 x 2.3″, DNA Compound, Comp Level, 30TP |
| Rear Tire | WTB Breakout, 29 x 2.3″, DNA Compound, Comp Level, 30TPI |
| COMPONENTS | |
|---|---|
| Handlebar | Cannondale 3 Riser, 6061 Alloy, 15mm rise, 8° sweep, 4° rise, 780mm |
| Stem | 3D Forged 6061 Alloy, 1-1/8″, 31.8, 7° |
| Grips | Cannondale Locking Grips |
| Saddle | Cannondale Ergo XC |
| Seatpost | TranzX dropper, internal routing, 31.6, 100mm (S), 120mm (M), 130mm (L-XL) |
| EXTRA | |
|---|---|
| Extra 1 | Pre-installed light cables |
How does the Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 compare to the Neo 3?
For us the Neo 3 is better suited for someone wanting to switch to really serious riding.
The Neo 5 is a brilliant bike, but it lacks in some areas that hardcore riders would need.
That doesn’t mean it’s a bad bike, it’s just made for a different level of riding and the price reflects that.
So let’s look at how they compare.
| Model | Battery Life | Charge Time | Battery Power | Frame | Motor Torque | Weight | Suspension | Top Speed | Gears | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neo 5 | 100 km | 6.5 hours | 504 Wh | Aluminium | 60 Nm | 24 kg | Full (150 mm travel front, 140 mm rear) | 45mh/h (28 mph) | 10 | $4,500 |
| Neo 3 | 108 km | 4.5 hours | 625 Wh | Carbon Fibre | 85 Nm | 23 kg | Full (150 mm travel front & rear) | 32km/h (20 mph) | 12 | $5,800 |
Price comparison via: https://mtbdatabase.com/e-bikes/
As you can see, the reason you’re paying less for the Neo 5 is clear – less battery life, longer charge, different frame material, not quite as powerful etc.
So, if you’re regularly looking to manipulate your way down tricky terrain, we’d suggest the 3 over the 5.
For most riders, though, the Cannondale Materra Neo 5 will absolutely suffice.
How does the Moterra Neo 5 compare to other brands?
We’ve completed our Cannondale Materra Neo 5 review, but let’s now compare it to some of the other bikes out there by different manufacturers.
We’ve picked a handful of bikes that aren’t a million miles apart on price, but all offer something a little different.
Let’s take a look:
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Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 v Giant Stance E+2
| Model | Battery Life | Charge Time | Battery Power | Frame | Motor Torque | Weight | Suspension | Top Speed | Gears | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neo 5 | 100 km | 6.5 hours | 504 Wh | Aluminium | 60 Nm | 24 kg | Full (150 mm travel front, 140 mm rear) | 45mh/h (28 mph) | 10 | $4,500 |
| Stance E+2 | 105 km | 2~3 hours | 500Wh | Aluminium | 70 Nm | 24.4 kg | Full (130 mm travel front, 120 mm rear) | 32km/h (20 mph) | 12 | $6,100 |
Summary
The Materra Neo 5 has a higher top speed, greater travel distance, and isn’t too dissimilar on battery life and torque.
Although it’s seriously far behind in full charge time. We’d suggest the Giant Stance E + 2 for a more beginner or intermediate level of riding, although that price is pretty eye-watering. The Stance E + 2 is $1,600 more – and we find it hard to argue that it’s worth the extra money.
The Materra Neo 5 comes out on top for us here.
Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 v Canyon Neuron ON6
| Model | Battery Life | Charge Time | Battery Power | Frame | Motor Torque | Weight | Suspension | Top Speed | Gears | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neo 5 | 100 km | 6.5 hours | 504 Wh | Aluminium | 60 Nm | 24 kg | Full (150 mm travel front, 140 mm rear) | 45mh/h (28 mph) | 10 | $4,500 |
| Neuron ON 6 | 100km | 7.5 hours | 630 Wh | Aluminium | 85 Nm | 25.1 kg | Full (130 mm travel front & rear) | 25km/h (15.6 mph) | 12 | $4,000 |
Summary
These bikes aren’t too dissimilar on price, but the Canyon takes longer to charge, has less travel and is far slower.
The Canyon would suit to an intermediate rider, meanwhile the Materra Neo 5 would be far better for someone who really wants to get stuck into some more tricky trails.
The extra travel means it can handle some pretty serious routes and it can take them on much faster too.
Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 v Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC SL
| Model | Battery Life | Charge Time | Battery Power | Frame | Motor Torque | Weight | Suspension | Top Speed | Gears | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neo 5 | 100 km | 6.5 hours | 504 Wh | Aluminium | 60 Nm | 24 kg | Full (150 mm travel front, 140 mm rear) | 45mh/h (28 mph) | 10 | $4,500 |
| Stereo Hybrid 140 | 257 km | 6 hours | 750 Wh | Carbon Fibre | 85 Nm | 25 kg | Full (150 mm travel front & rear) | 25km/h (15 mph) | 12 | $5,438 |
Summary
The Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 offers you a heck of a lot more range – a maximum of 257km on the flat according to Cube, which is enormous.
It’s also carbon fibre, so better to throw around those challenging sections in the gnarliest of terrain – great for the very experienced riders amongst us.
But it’s slower than the Materra Neo 5, doesn’t weigh too dissimilar despite that carbon frame, and it takes about the same time to charge.
The Neo 5 is nearly $1,000 dollars cheaper too.
It’s the Neo 5 for us if aren’t looking to go on some seriously long rides using the assistance.
Final thoughts
There you have it – our Cannondale Materra Neo 5 review.
Overall, this is an excellent bike and a genuine all-rounder. It will tackle the climbs well, the single-track descents efficiently, has a decent range, great top speed, breaks well and corners well.
You can’t say all of that about many e-MTBs.
Now listen, it isn’t going to tackle the elite-level gnarly downhill routes as well as some bikes, but it will be perfect for most types of riding.
And just look at that price – for a Cannondale e-bike that’s absolutely cracking and we consider it a bargain considering what it offers.
We hope you’re now furnished with all the info you need about the Materra Neo 5.
Now get out there and give it a spin yourself.
