Cannondale Adventure Neo Allroad ST Review

The Neo Allroad is a Class 2 electric bicycle with a 414 Wh battery and 250-watt hub motor. The rigid aluminum frame and fork ride on wide 27.5" wheels with all-terrain 2.6-inch tires. With a low, 16-inch step-through height and wheelbase shy of 46 inches, it's easy to mount and maneuver this bike. Its lightweight feel can make you forget it's motorized, and the small motor contributes more than a tailwind in pedal assist.

Performance Comparison

Ride

The ride quality of the Neo Allroad is sporty; it feels predictable and agile with a short wheelbase and upright positioning. There is no suspension other than the 27.5 x 2.6-inch tires, so the bike feels efficient but not exactly comfortable. The aluminum frame and fork transmit road and trail vibrations that aren't effectively muted before being passed to the rider. The bike reacts to cracks in the pavement or rough spots in the trail with very little compliance or flex. The larger wheels help to smooth the roll, but not to the extent that a suspension fork or seatpost might isolate the rider from those bumps. As a class 2 e-bike, the Neo Allroad comes equipped with a throttle capable of propelling the bike to 20 mph.

The components spec on the Neo Allroad aren't particularly high-end, but for the most part, they don't distract from the ride quality. The mechanical disc brakes are a low point of the build, requiring extra force at the levers and producing a vague, scratchy, arresting force. This bike is available in 2 sizes, Small and Medium, with the former recommended for riders from 5'0" to 5"7 and the latter fitting riders from 5'5" to 5'10". The adjustability of this bike is limited to 3.0 cm of handlebar height range and 17 cm of seatpost range. This means there isn't much room to adjust this bike for comfort without changing parts.

The Microshift 7 drivetrain doesn't offer much range, but the electric assist helps to mask the lack of low-end gearing. Riders looking for a hill climbing companion are encouraged to look for bikes with greater gear range and stronger motors. This bike feels best on smooth terrain without much elevation gain but will assist you in whatever adventure you choose.

Range

The Adventure Neo Allroad didn't impress us with its range. On a full charge, we were able to ride 20.9 miles with 542 ft of elevation gain before the battery stopped responding. Our range test includes rolling hills and only utilizes the bike's throttle to eliminate the variable of pedal assistance. Almost 21 miles without pedaling sounds nice, but it's at the lower end of our range scores. The Ride1Up Turris had a slightly longer range with its larger battery but also offered more comfort.

The 418 Wh battery can be charged on or off the bike; removing the battery involves unlocking it and pulling it upward from its cradle. A removable battery on an e-bike can be handy for storage, transport, and charging. Removing the battery while locking the bike makes it significantly less attractive to thieves. While we weren't impressed with its range, it's important to note that this bike is significantly lighter than most electric commuter bikes.

Power

The 250W hub motor creates subtle assistance during flat riding at moderate speeds. The throttle is useful for modulating speed, but the bike often faltered to start from a stop under its power. The Neo-Allroad reached its top throttle speed of 16.7 mph in just over 13 seconds from a rolling start; this test is usually performed from a standstill, but Cannondale's motor didn't have the oomph to get us moving. In the uphill test, we maintained a cruising speed of 8 mph and slowed to 4.4 mph in the steepest section.

The controller has five pedal assist (PAS) modes, and toggling through them is as easy as pushing the plus and minus buttons. Level 1 of assist is very mild, adding only a small amount of power to your legs. Each level gives you progressively more assistance but doesn't affect the throttle. The throttle will give you full power regardless of the pedal assist setting.

Interface

The simple interface that Cannondale chose for the Allroad is the Bafang C-11, an all-in-one display and control unit located next to the left handlebar grip. The display houses three buttons for power, up, and down functions and uses small lights that protrude through the plastic to convey information. The display could hardly be simpler with five red lights for the battery, each representing 20% of its capacity. There are also five red lights to display your pedal assist setting. We found the display almost impossible to use in the sun but adequate for shade or lower light conditions. The two buttons to increase and decrease the PAS levels are a thumb reach away, and there is a power button between them. A long push of the + button activates the headlight, and a long push of the - button activates the walk feature.

Overall, the interface on this bike is adequate but displays the bare minimum of information with its lights. The display has an IPX-5 waterproof rating, which means it can survive low-pressure water sprayed from every angle.

Assembly

This bike was purchased from REI, fully assembled with tires at the proper pressure and ready to ride. It doesn't get much easier than that; bikes purchased through REI are entitled to a year of free adjustments at more than 170 stores nationwide. Access to a nationwide network of bicycle shops is appealing, especially to people who like to travel with their bikes.

Being able to purchase this bike fully assembled and tuned increases its price but is also incredibly convenient. REI also sells a number of accessories that are compatible with this bike.

Should You Buy the Cannondale Adventure Neo Allroad?

We didn't love the Adventure Neo Allroad; the bike feels underpowered, uncomfortable, and overpriced. The small motor and battery make the bike feel lightweight and sporty, but it lacks the power to make meaningful contributions to your adventure. If you're looking for a user-friendly commuter bike that can expand your range, this one won't do much. If you're looking for a bike to put on the back of an RV for a summer adventure, this bike's lightweight could make it the perfect accessory.

What Other E-Bikes Should You Consider?

If you like the general form of this bike, check out the Ride1Up Turris that offers a larger battery, more powerful motor, suspension fork, fenders, and a nice display for several hundred dollars less. Both bikes have the same tires and wheels, while the Ride1Up is more comfortable.