I’m so glad that Jeff is now being recognised in this way. I think this was significantly better and more personable than mainstream cycling media: he actually talks about the things I care about and is a balanced reviewer. I will be watching Jeff’s new product reviews from now on: so bike brands support him and keep them coming 👍👍
100 percent! Love the product review. Just makes us feel like we are all on the same page and not just saying that we need that high priced model because the sponsors says so.
The $5500 Evo2 won’t be available until December but the Ultegra di2 build represents a nice $750 price cut from the previous Evo. I would probably buy that version and use the $10,000 savings to move to Girona for the next six months.
The evo 2 is the bike I wanted and the ones in stock in December sold out in like 2 weeks. I was told they would be in stock February 2025 🤣 like what?!?!
"They flew me out to a foreign country and paid for my trip but this review is not paid for." i am most impressed by how you could say that with out laughing out loud.
Hahah. If someone do this to me I only have good things to say about. Just like all the RUclipsrs who receive the newest phones before the others - what can they say?
Love how we judge a bike reviewer as to whether he/she was comped. But US Supreme Court Justices think they’re still unbiased when they get flown to exclusive Alaska fishing reserves and taken a half mill vacations. No bias, nothing to see here…. That said, returning to reality, love this review. He calls out the $15k rig and touts the $5.5K value proposition. Kudos!!!
I think the $15k price point is largely so you feel like you saved money when you spend $5k on a bike. Without the high end option, $5k for a bike would feel extravagant.
As everyone is saying, we really appreciate the honest review. Forget the $15K bike - it's not for racers (other than World Tour pros). What I think Cannondale deserves a TON of credit for is the $5500 Ultegra Di2 model. Specialized wants $8300 for an Ultegra Di2 Tarmac SL7 (with shallower wheels)!!! I say this as a very happy Tarmac SL6 owner (bought it used) - I'm totally priced out of replacing it with another Tarmac so Cannondale might just have scored a new customer.
I think the Lab 71 thing exists mostly to make the Hi-Mod versions seem “reasonable.” And for rich people. I think the best value is probably the Ultegra Hi Mod model just as you said. Here’s to hoping they refresh the Systemsix and make it the ultimate aero bike.
$15k… Geezus… that’s more than a new Kawasaki Ninja 1000, that comes with heated grips, cruise control, and that I don’t have to pedal to get it to move… 😂
Lol, are we kidding? 15k for a bike is an absurd price. Of course it's a pro bike, and you're free of buying it, but there is no point for 99% of amateurs to spend that much. Even the 5.5k bike is at the upper limit of what could be considered a high tier bike. The most brilliant idea that companies have come up with in recent years has been to convince amateurs that they need all the latest technology reserved for the pros. Props for the testing though, good stuff
Honest review, mad respect for that. We all know that 15k price tag isn't for gains, it's to show other cyclists. Which is OK if that is what you want.
I'd disagree. At the end of the day, the peen measuring contest is decided by whoever is the strongest/fastest on their bike. Two hours into a competitive group ride, you know who the hitters are.
Who the hell pays that kind of $$$$$ to "look" fast? This is for Lambo owners who have a cosmetic surgeon on speed-dial, a wife who sleeps in "her own" bed, and gets thankyou notes from Rapha - for buying everything and never asking "how much". Don't be that guy!
That's awesome that Cannondale flew him out and gave him a bike to make a video on. Sponsorships are awesome. Hopefully we'll see it more in races too.
I'm a Cannondale guy, and yes, the 15K bike is way over priced. But, it gives you gucci points! Jeff hit the price point mentioning the 5500 bike as the best bang for your buck in this new lineup. Upgrade as you own it. Thanks for the info and vid.
By far the BEST review, helpful for us that are looking to see how this new bike really rides. Thanks for your honest review, you are one of the few who are unafraid to speak honestly and openly, much appreciated!
I skipped the other mainstream reviews as thought they would be too biased. Saw you made one and clicked as knew you’d be honest, and I’m not disappointed
With your comment of the designs being the same, its the natural progression towards optimum aero. A great example in another field is the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight; they were made totally independently by massive car companies with huge design and engineering budgets, but when optimising for aero (for fuel economy) they both look almost identical.
Fun fact: the Prius borrowed heavily from the Carrol Shelby rear end design. Basically, the least macho car in the world was designed like one of the most macho cars in the world. The success of that squared off rear end in the wind tunnel is why most cars look the same now.
Want to be faster? Spend 3-4K on a bike and the rest on professional coaching. No bike is worth 8-15K. Invest that money in yourself - personal and physical development. That gets you places.
@@a.k.1351 yes true lol. I have an elves falath pro. And my fitness with the “just right” bike which is this one definitely gets me 1st 2nd and 3rd places in provincial pro am races in my country :] Bike only costed me 1,800$ Ps: im facing people with better records than me and im somewhat able to keep up with them and anyone of us can be the top off each other in leaderboards, theyre also using much more mainstream frame brands like specialized and scott bikes.
@@geoffwalmsley3066 ... there is also "rip off" motorbikes? So whats the difference here, other than sounds like you think bike brands aren't allowed to make expensive bikes(/bikes aren't allowed to be expensive) - aka all need to be below some price point...
There is definitely a law of diminishing returns when it comes to road bikes. The 15k bike is slightly better than 13k and 13k is slightly better than 5k. Youll have just as much fun on the 5k bike as the 15k bike.
Congrats on the invite, it's is brilliant that we can get a real user of the specific product, rather than I am an enthusiast / journo review. You are spot on the bottles, if you are in a race and are caught drinking when someone sends it, trying to orientate a bottle back into the cage is just a tad difficult.
I love how he doesn't just say like oh buy the top-end ones you must buy this to be faster but instead, he puts himself in the shoes of consumers and he goes through all aspects like price comfort, and motive for purchasing certain types of bikes really love these types of videos I wish there were more videos of him reviewing bikes and that more companies would get him to check bikes for them honestly, I would kill to be able to test bikes too lol glad to be able to see an amazing person be able to live my dreams 🥲haha but all said really love the video and can't wait for more
Very nice work Jeff! I heard about your channel through Alon, and every time I check out a new episode, everything you say, is grounded, informed, and no-frills pragmatism, done in a very likable and approachable way. I'm a fan!
@@the.communist As you know, Cannondale had a rough start introducing their new bike design/geometry from Supersix 2018-2019/SystemSix. They even tried to have a quirky/unique design (Palace and Rapha). Just to test the market. But aside with those, nothing new. But with these, lineups. I can say it's getting their groove back. Also, agreed with the pricing. Definitely not for us, hopefully they can have other selections that can match the needs/wants of majority of buyers.
@@the.communist Prices are ridiculous only if you look at the highest end. The 5500 one, in today's market, is pretty well priced. You get the latest Ultegra Di2, carbon wheels, carbon handlebars, integrated cables (with a nice solution at that, apparently), good tyre clearance and a nice looking (IMO) frameset. In today's market that's pretty good. I think, off the top of my head, it undercuts most other brands in this "tier" of bike. Of course, the quality of the standard components remains to be seen, but it seems like a good deal in principle.
This made my day.... seeing Jeff on a Cannondale. I switched to Cannondale from Specialized about 3 years ago and have been very happy. Definitely underrated bikes. $15k for a bike is a lot, yes. But the world has gotten more expensive. Everything is ridiculous now. One thing I've noticed about Cannondale is that they take their time before releasing new iterations of their models. This is good because when you buy Cannondale you know you are getting a bike that will be relevant for at least a decade. For example, the SystemSix when it was released in 2019 made the fastest aero numbers in the tunnel. Now, in recent days only 1 or maybe two bikes have beaten it officially and only by a single watt. 5 long years later. The SuperSix was one of the first bikes to have Truncated airfoil tube shapes and now most of the other manufacturers have followed suit. I'd go out on a limb to say that if you go back to 2019 and look at the SystemSix and SuperSix models and compare them to todays bikes, you'll find that most of the new bikes actually look more like Cannondale. Not the other way around.
Great video, man you guys fly. I've already ordered the $5,500 EVO 2 and am glad you recommend it. Helps me think I made the right decision. Looking forward to my first real road bike.
Nice video I’m always blown away why SCOTT doesn’t get the recognition they deserve for their cockpit integration on all of their road bikes. You can messily swap out the stems to you’re correct size without having to bleed the cables etc. Their one piece bar stem that comes on their mid tier bikes is also incredible at that price point. This new cannondale looks amazing though, definitely one to consider.
We all moaned about pressfit not because it's intrinsically bad but because frame tolerances were hit and miss. Pressfit is actually better for carbon frames if the frames are made to spec. I can tell you from my time as a mechanic that bonded threaded sleeves in carbon frames can be a problem down the line. The bonding can fail over time due to pedalling forces, degregation of the bond and insertion and removal of the bottom bracket. I saw a number of road frames that failed due to the stresses and strains of riding and maintenance. Trying to get said frames warrantied was difficult to say the least, I'm looking at you, Trek.
Jeff, Really cool you were in Girona. I was there last July and did some good rides, including that winding one you rode. Epic for sure. Great job as always
Yeah, when you get up to this kind of price point, a lot of the bikes start to blend together. They have to, though. It makes me think of F1 or stock cars. Under the body there are differences, but they tend to all look very similar by design.
I've learned to be cautious when spending on a bling bike these days and not focus too much on the paint and groupsets. They make a difference sure, but I want to be sure that frame is built to spec. Sprinting on it is good test to judge frames but it's what you can't see that makes the quality argument. Is the bottom bracket machined center? Are there voids in the layup? And definitely - if -only- spending 5k on the lower tier bike, how do the layups compare in quality to those the mold was designed for? Different fibers behave differently especially in tight radius curves.
@@charliedillon1400 true,l true. We are all lucky to have a variety of viewpoints to judge. Jeff's is good from a cyclist's view. Hambini makes a lot of good engineering points and is certainly entertaining but I'm not always on the same page with him either. (though I do run one of his BBs and would highly recommend them!)
Seems 15K is becoming the new normal for high end. S-works SL7 (Dura-Ace) is 14.5K now. With "lower" end models also rising by quite a bit it's hard to shake the feeling that the bike industry is pricing people out of the sport.
things will settle down eventually I hope. Given that you can get a CF frame for a few hundred dollars, even a high end bike shouldn't cost that much...
I think it's unfair to say that they are "pricing people out of the sport". Carbon bikes are now cheaper than ever before, you don't have to go for the top tier models or even the middle tier models. I have a 2000€ carbon bike and it is an awesome bike. I can still keep up with the fast guys who ride more expensive bikes. I also know people who ride 800€ aluminium bikes and they still can ride as fast and have as much fun as the rest of us.
Congratulations on the next step and recognition as “media”! It’s come a long way. But I do miss the narration and off the cuff audio delivery especially in the 2018-19 days, abit more raw but yet humble and more natural. Not that there’s anything wrong with the current version though! $15k for a bike? Welp. Save it for full FSD! 😂 I think the value add to this review was suggesting a “mere mortal” bike at a range that’s more reasonable and 1/3 of the lab 71!
Lab71, You are paying the extra because it is basically the same bike that -- EF Education-EasyPost (men’s) and EF Education-TIBCO-SVB (women’s) team's use. I can only dream of owning such a beast. 🤩
Cannondale as jeff knows full well being a savvy businessman , as all bike manufacturers know, make top end silly priced bikes so you buy into the idea your "affordable " bike is such a sweet sweet deal
The main goal of a 15k bike is to make a great impression and sell more 5.5k and less bikes. That is why they don't invite influencers to ride the next tiers' bikes. Basically, it's advertising on wheels.
Everything is more expensive and bikes are no exception. They are definitely pushing the envelope on pricing. Doesn’t matter much as 99 are not in this market. The 5K bike is interesting.
Joke's on you, sun doesn't rise right now until like... 6:30. 😀 But seriously, great video, and I've been impressed watching over the years how the quality of your videos just keep getting better and better. Thrilled you got to head out to Spain to try out Fast New Bikes!
I lifted a small version of this frame today at a shop, unbuilt. Felt about the same weight as every other high end frame. Definitely doesn't scream, $15k bike.
I would rather get a Cervelo Soloist at a more affordable price & better performance. Same parent company. Almost similar seat post and seat tube designs but Soloist has a more aero head tube and down tube design. You guys missed that!
Man that was an amazing vid - especially the ride and metrics. Really great job. I am a cross fit athlete who is new to triathlons and in process of buying a mid tier bike. I am down to the new SL7 expert and the EVO 1. I really like the design of the 10r frame on the SL7. It seems more aero than the EVO 1 with the narrow and rounded down tube. In contrast, the EVO 1 down tube is wide and flat. But, Cannondale offers substantially more for less. The EVO 1 comes with new SRAM Force AXS group, an aero cockpit and innovative delta cable routing - all for 6500 USD. A comparable SL7 would be 9000USD; and is therefore the lesser value proposition. In the end, I will likely purchase the EVO 1. Thanks for the great content. J
Bit late to the party, but....... SL7 has somewhat wide down tube as well. And I've seen discuss on WW forum that in wind tunnel test the new SystemSix matches Venge, which would put it slightly above SL7 when it comes to aerodynamics. I guess it's thanks to the narrow head tube of the Cannondale
Is Hi Mod a better frame than the regular old? Is it faster and more fun/alive? Or is it really just weight, as to which I’d care less? Same question as to S Works. Someone told me there is a subtle diff in ride. Snappier.
Great review, thanks! Be interesting to compare this to something like the new state bicycle undefeated carbon frameset to see what you are getting for the extra money.
Really well made video Jeff and honest opinions all the way. The paintjob of the “low” tiered models is not of my liking. I own the previous model on a black that pretty much resembles the top one and I think they could have done a better job on the Ultegra models in terms of color. Looks cool other than that
Nice video, thank you. I bet Cannondale could drop prices a lot if they didn't spend so much flying the press to amazing locations around the world to show off their bikes 🤣 It was great that you recommended the 5K model instead.
Brands need to market their product, whether it’s a traditional launch like this or ads, it’s the cost of doing business. otherwise there’s no awareness and no sales.
for most companies, the highest tier of products are just decoys, a comparison to trick consumers into thinking their lower end products are “good value”
my dads old ss evo from 2013/14 or so is still one of my fav bikes to ride its got one of the earlier gen di2 (electronic, not wireless) and honestly it sometimes feels quicker than my sram red dogma F12. would be fun to try out one of these new ones
stoked for you NorCal, you deserve to jump into this game "soft partnership" if that's the direction you decide to go, but these two statements are at odds: 1. "Cannondale flew me out" 2. "Cannondale gave me nothing to review this product so it's unbiased" 🤔
He answered you above. Flying folks to launches is a cost of doing biz. Otherwise, no media awareness. Cheaper than shipping everybody a new bike to test. Also, Jeff goes to great lengths to disclose the paid flight and accommodations. Finally, the proof is in the review. He is candid about the$15k halo Lab71 vs teh $5.5K Ultegra. He also says “new bike, new roads,” and then gives his impressions with that caveat and with watts/speed and against a Velo rider whom he judged to be fit and skilled. Excellent review without the 20 minutes of throat clearing nonsense in most vids telling us the color of the backside of the derailleur and other irrelevant trivia. Kudos Jeff.
$15k, JUST to go back to the BSA BB standard 🤣🤣🤣. The cycling industry doesn't know what to do with themselves anymore. We've had all these bottom bracket standards in the past decade. The cycling industry is a clown show.
These bikes are never worth their money. When you argue that you are paying for innovation in engineering, you are always paying for the engineering of what the UCI allows, and never for the full engineering of what would be possible without UCI rules. On top of that most of these Cycling firms don't even build their own stuff anymore. So the innovation/engineering argument falls on it's head from the start.
According to tour magazin’s test, the super six evo is rather unstiff compared to other tour bikes. They say the sl8 is stiffer and they also present data
Nice video Jeff. But the video solidifies my decision to go with a chinese brand winspace, with their winspace hyper wheels, di2 ultegra and other s works bits and bobs. Cost less than 6000 usd. But good luck to those who don’t mind to spend on a super bike that costs more than a motor super bike 😂😂😂
Ok Jeff, What’s your take on CANNONDALE’S handling abilities compared to Specialized ? I’ve purchased 9 road bikes in my 23 year journey as a racer/ cyclist and all 9 were Cannondales. My favorite of all the CAAD Series is the CAAD 7 ❤ @NorCal Cycling 📌
Had a CAAD 10 with Mavic carbon hoops. It was a blast. Rode the Super6 lowest 105 spec today. Felt similar, but faster. Loved it. May be replacing my Orca with an Ultegra build Super6.
Help me out here... how are the cables going THROUGH the headset bearing the "right way" vs passing into the frame without going through the headset bearing? I cannot see any advantage. My bike (Orbea Orca) passes them through the headset spacers but outside the bearings and into the frame. I can easily pack the bike for travel and make all necessary changes without the headset ruining my life. Through the headset bearings sounds far worse to me at least.
Any comments regarding the compliance or comfort of this bike? I know it's not an endurance bike but i hear it's actually quite comfortable. Any thoughts? I have a deposit on the exact bike you recommended, the lower tier super six evo 2
I feel like 5.5k somehow is a tad above a budget option.. For almost 6k I'd definetly assume to basically get TDF grade material with ultegra equipment no matter how expensive they choose to sell their top end whatever
is the FORK still restricted to 45 degree angle only? D sharp fork similar like the BMC....BMC did a recall in 2019 due to D fork issues.... well done Cannondale!!!!
I’m so glad that Jeff is now being recognised in this way. I think this was significantly better and more personable than mainstream cycling media: he actually talks about the things I care about and is a balanced reviewer.
I will be watching Jeff’s new product reviews from now on: so bike brands support him and keep them coming 👍👍
hear hear!
100 percent! Love the product review. Just makes us feel like we are all on the same page and not just saying that we need that high priced model because the sponsors says so.
The $5500 Evo2 won’t be available until December but the Ultegra di2 build represents a nice $750 price cut from the previous Evo. I would probably buy that version and use the $10,000 savings to move to Girona for the next six months.
$15K seems crazy for a bike, but the $5.5K model is actually a pretty good deal compared to most brands.
yup. Spend the rest on training camps, fits, diet, coach. Much greater difference :D
Brilliant!!! Well said!!!
The evo 2 is the bike I wanted and the ones in stock in December sold out in like 2 weeks. I was told they would be in stock February 2025 🤣 like what?!?!
"They flew me out to a foreign country and paid for my trip but this review is not paid for." i am most impressed by how you could say that with out laughing out loud.
Hahah. If someone do this to me I only have good things to say about. Just like all the RUclipsrs who receive the newest phones before the others - what can they say?
Love how we judge a bike reviewer as to whether he/she was comped. But US Supreme Court Justices think they’re still unbiased when they get flown to exclusive Alaska fishing reserves and taken a half mill vacations. No bias, nothing to see here…. That said, returning to reality, love this review. He calls out the $15k rig and touts the $5.5K value proposition. Kudos!!!
Another great video Jeff, you know you've "made it" on social media when Cannondale flies you to Spain!
Why is the gap between the rear tire and the frame so large?
clearance for bigger tires
I think the $15k price point is largely so you feel like you saved money when you spend $5k on a bike. Without the high end option, $5k for a bike would feel extravagant.
As everyone is saying, we really appreciate the honest review. Forget the $15K bike - it's not for racers (other than World Tour pros). What I think Cannondale deserves a TON of credit for is the $5500 Ultegra Di2 model. Specialized wants $8300 for an Ultegra Di2 Tarmac SL7 (with shallower wheels)!!! I say this as a very happy Tarmac SL6 owner (bought it used) - I'm totally priced out of replacing it with another Tarmac so Cannondale might just have scored a new customer.
I think the Lab 71 thing exists mostly to make the Hi-Mod versions seem “reasonable.” And for rich people. I think the best value is probably the Ultegra Hi Mod model just as you said. Here’s to hoping they refresh the Systemsix and make it the ultimate aero bike.
Pretty sure lab71 system six is on the horizon
@@NorCalCycling great review, by the way. An updated SystemSix would be an awesome Crit bike
lab 71 is for marketing purpose to showcase that canondale is a top tier brand!
$15k… Geezus… that’s more than a new Kawasaki Ninja 1000, that comes with heated grips, cruise control, and that I don’t have to pedal to get it to move… 😂
I didn't even know heated grips existed now! that's mind blowing yo
The f that's dirt cheap for a 1000cc! In my country it will be triple expensive!
@@yukiko_5051 where are u from? Jupiter?
@@the.communist A third world called Indonesia
Frame is similar to Canyon CF SLR … Aeroad model.
Lol, are we kidding? 15k for a bike is an absurd price. Of course it's a pro bike, and you're free of buying it, but there is no point for 99% of amateurs to spend that much. Even the 5.5k bike is at the upper limit of what could be considered a high tier bike. The most brilliant idea that companies have come up with in recent years has been to convince amateurs that they need all the latest technology reserved for the pros. Props for the testing though, good stuff
This is how bike reviews should be. Regular guy(ok, above average crit specialist), being honest cuz he knows his audience. Thanx, Jeff.
Honest review, mad respect for that. We all know that 15k price tag isn't for gains, it's to show other cyclists. Which is OK if that is what you want.
I'd disagree. At the end of the day, the peen measuring contest is decided by whoever is the strongest/fastest on their bike. Two hours into a competitive group ride, you know who the hitters are.
The ultimate marginal gain is a lighter wallet
Who the hell pays that kind of $$$$$ to "look" fast? This is for Lambo owners who have a cosmetic surgeon on speed-dial, a wife who sleeps in "her own" bed, and gets thankyou notes from Rapha - for buying everything and never asking "how much". Don't be that guy!
i rather ride a beachcruiser with a pound of cocaine than spend it on a bike to look cool i can FEEL COOL
@@isitrachelorj3953 wait, sleep is important to me
That's awesome that Cannondale flew him out and gave him a bike to make a video on. Sponsorships are awesome. Hopefully we'll see it more in races too.
I don’t believe he gets to keep the bike
Bro your profile pic fooled me for a minute lmao
@@uituituituituituit So u are using fucking light mode???
I'm a Cannondale guy, and yes, the 15K bike is way over priced. But, it gives you gucci points! Jeff hit the price point mentioning the 5500 bike as the best bang for your buck in this new lineup. Upgrade as you own it. Thanks for the info and vid.
5500 for a bike is an exageration, 15k is utter madness.
how times has changed few years ago you could get 3-2k bike top mechanical Dura Ace carbon 7kg or even sub
@@turtleneck369 , 3k was never a durace price. Show me your evidence. 3k was like good frame with 105 or basic frame with ultegra.
'But, it gives you gucci points!' What has become of cycling if you think this is a good reason...
@@turtleneck369 💀💀
By far the BEST review, helpful for us that are looking to see how this new bike really rides. Thanks for your honest review, you are one of the few who are unafraid to speak honestly and openly, much appreciated!
I skipped the other mainstream reviews as thought they would be too biased. Saw you made one and clicked as knew you’d be honest, and I’m not disappointed
With your comment of the designs being the same, its the natural progression towards optimum aero. A great example in another field is the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight; they were made totally independently by massive car companies with huge design and engineering budgets, but when optimising for aero (for fuel economy) they both look almost identical.
Fun fact: the Prius borrowed heavily from the Carrol Shelby rear end design. Basically, the least macho car in the world was designed like one of the most macho cars in the world. The success of that squared off rear end in the wind tunnel is why most cars look the same now.
both japanese tho
God thats alot. This is becoming almost car engineering. If not, rocket science.
It's turning into bullshit
Want to be faster? Spend 3-4K on a bike and the rest on professional coaching. No bike is worth 8-15K. Invest that money in yourself - personal and physical development. That gets you places.
@@a.k.1351 yes true lol. I have an elves falath pro. And my fitness with the “just right” bike which is this one definitely gets me 1st 2nd and 3rd places in provincial pro am races in my country :]
Bike only costed me 1,800$
Ps: im facing people with better records than me and im somewhat able to keep up with them and anyone of us can be the top off each other in leaderboards, theyre also using much more mainstream frame brands like specialized and scott bikes.
Kawasaki ninja 1000cc, 160mph, 0-60 2.5 seconds, £11000,this is the reason the cycling industry is in crisis,complete rip off.
@@geoffwalmsley3066 ... there is also "rip off" motorbikes? So whats the difference here, other than sounds like you think bike brands aren't allowed to make expensive bikes(/bikes aren't allowed to be expensive) - aka all need to be below some price point...
Congrats, glad you had this opportunity and brought us this video
There is definitely a law of diminishing returns when it comes to road bikes. The 15k bike is slightly better than 13k and 13k is slightly better than 5k. Youll have just as much fun on the 5k bike as the 15k bike.
im sure i had more fun testriding the 150$ bmx for the kids
Congrats on the invite, it's is brilliant that we can get a real user of the specific product, rather than I am an enthusiast / journo review. You are spot on the bottles, if you are in a race and are caught drinking when someone sends it, trying to orientate a bottle back into the cage is just a tad difficult.
The weight savings is likely due to less resin in the frame. Less resin means more chance of the frame cracking.
I love how he doesn't just say like oh buy the top-end ones you must buy this to be faster but instead, he puts himself in the shoes of consumers and he goes through all aspects like price comfort, and motive for purchasing certain types of bikes really love these types of videos I wish there were more videos of him reviewing bikes and that more companies would get him to check bikes for them
honestly, I would kill to be able to test bikes too lol glad to be able to see an amazing person be able to live my dreams 🥲haha but all said really love the video and can't wait for more
Very nice work Jeff! I heard about your channel through Alon, and every time I check out a new episode, everything you say, is grounded, informed, and no-frills pragmatism, done in a very likable and approachable way. I'm a fan!
Big shout out to Cannondale! They're having a comeback!
Great colorways also!
PS: Still miss a rim brake version :(
A comeback? On what? Ridiculous prices?
@@the.communist As you know, Cannondale had a rough start introducing their new bike design/geometry from Supersix 2018-2019/SystemSix.
They even tried to have a quirky/unique design (Palace and Rapha). Just to test the market. But aside with those, nothing new.
But with these, lineups. I can say it's getting their groove back. Also, agreed with the pricing. Definitely not for us, hopefully they can have other selections that can match the needs/wants of majority of buyers.
yeah i miss rim brakes road bike options its really sad
@@the.communist Prices are ridiculous only if you look at the highest end. The 5500 one, in today's market, is pretty well priced. You get the latest Ultegra Di2, carbon wheels, carbon handlebars, integrated cables (with a nice solution at that, apparently), good tyre clearance and a nice looking (IMO) frameset. In today's market that's pretty good. I think, off the top of my head, it undercuts most other brands in this "tier" of bike. Of course, the quality of the standard components remains to be seen, but it seems like a good deal in principle.
This made my day.... seeing Jeff on a Cannondale. I switched to Cannondale from Specialized about 3 years ago and have been very happy. Definitely underrated bikes. $15k for a bike is a lot, yes. But the world has gotten more expensive. Everything is ridiculous now. One thing I've noticed about Cannondale is that they take their time before releasing new iterations of their models. This is good because when you buy Cannondale you know you are getting a bike that will be relevant for at least a decade. For example, the SystemSix when it was released in 2019 made the fastest aero numbers in the tunnel. Now, in recent days only 1 or maybe two bikes have beaten it officially and only by a single watt. 5 long years later. The SuperSix was one of the first bikes to have Truncated airfoil tube shapes and now most of the other manufacturers have followed suit. I'd go out on a limb to say that if you go back to 2019 and look at the SystemSix and SuperSix models and compare them to todays bikes, you'll find that most of the new bikes actually look more like Cannondale. Not the other way around.
Ok Cannondale Marketing guy
@@MrGartenzwerg95 Oh look! A MAMIL. :D
@@Turbo329 98% of your potential buyers for this bike are MAMILs.
@@pmcmpc Fair play. :D Can't argue with you there.
Great video, man you guys fly. I've already ordered the $5,500 EVO 2 and am glad you recommend it. Helps me think I made the right decision. Looking forward to my first real road bike.
Nice video I’m always blown away why SCOTT doesn’t get the recognition they deserve for their cockpit integration on all of their road bikes. You can messily swap out the stems to you’re correct size without having to bleed the cables etc. Their one piece bar stem that comes on their mid tier bikes is also incredible at that price point. This new cannondale looks amazing though, definitely one to consider.
well done jeff, that came across as a really well balanced view point on the new evos.
We all moaned about pressfit not because it's intrinsically bad but because frame tolerances were hit and miss. Pressfit is actually better for carbon frames if the frames are made to spec. I can tell you from my time as a mechanic that bonded threaded sleeves in carbon frames can be a problem down the line. The bonding can fail over time due to pedalling forces, degregation of the bond and insertion and removal of the bottom bracket. I saw a number of road frames that failed due to the stresses and strains of riding and maintenance. Trying to get said frames warrantied was difficult to say the least, I'm looking at you, Trek.
Jeff, Really cool you were in Girona. I was there last July and did some good rides, including that winding one you rode. Epic for sure.
Great job as always
Yeah, when you get up to this kind of price point, a lot of the bikes start to blend together. They have to, though. It makes me think of F1 or stock cars. Under the body there are differences, but they tend to all look very similar by design.
I think aerodynamic and materials modeling, combined with UCI and safety regulations, has just got us to an endpoint.... for now.
@@NorCalCycling Nice paint jobs, though!
I'll take 2. Use one for a winter hack. The other one I will fit a panier use for Saturday shopping
I've learned to be cautious when spending on a bling bike these days and not focus too much on the paint and groupsets. They make a difference sure, but I want to be sure that frame is built to spec. Sprinting on it is good test to judge frames but it's what you can't see that makes the quality argument. Is the bottom bracket machined center? Are there voids in the layup? And definitely - if -only- spending 5k on the lower tier bike, how do the layups compare in quality to those the mold was designed for? Different fibers behave differently especially in tight radius curves.
Hambini is the channel for you.
@@charliedillon1400 true,l true. We are all lucky to have a variety of viewpoints to judge. Jeff's is good from a cyclist's view. Hambini makes a lot of good engineering points and is certainly entertaining but I'm not always on the same page with him either. (though I do run one of his BBs and would highly recommend them!)
Congratulations Jeff! great review!
I think if you are paying $15k it should come with wheels that have more flat aero spokes or a 5 thick spoke design to be even more stiff and aero.
Seems 15K is becoming the new normal for high end. S-works SL7 (Dura-Ace) is 14.5K now. With "lower" end models also rising by quite a bit it's hard to shake the feeling that the bike industry is pricing people out of the sport.
things will settle down eventually I hope. Given that you can get a CF frame for a few hundred dollars, even a high end bike shouldn't cost that much...
I think it's unfair to say that they are "pricing people out of the sport". Carbon bikes are now cheaper than ever before, you don't have to go for the top tier models or even the middle tier models. I have a 2000€ carbon bike and it is an awesome bike. I can still keep up with the fast guys who ride more expensive bikes. I also know people who ride 800€ aluminium bikes and they still can ride as fast and have as much fun as the rest of us.
Stop buying new
@@76844agreed. Craigslist or Fakebook Marketplace is where many of these bikes will end up for pennies on the 💵
There are plenty of bicycles in your price range.
Congratulations on the next step and recognition as “media”!
It’s come a long way. But I do miss the narration and off the cuff audio delivery especially in the 2018-19 days, abit more raw but yet humble and more natural. Not that there’s anything wrong with the current version though!
$15k for a bike? Welp. Save it for full FSD! 😂 I think the value add to this review was suggesting a “mere mortal” bike at a range that’s more reasonable and 1/3 of the lab 71!
Lab71, You are paying the extra because it is basically the same bike that -- EF Education-EasyPost (men’s) and EF Education-TIBCO-SVB (women’s) team's use.
I can only dream of owning such a beast. 🤩
Appreciate the honesty. too much unnecessary fluff out there from companies wanting to take your money
wow congrats on your Achievements Jeff!
Cannondale as jeff knows full well being a savvy businessman , as all bike manufacturers know, make top end silly priced bikes so you buy into the idea your "affordable " bike is such a sweet sweet deal
The main goal of a 15k bike is to make a great impression and sell more 5.5k and less bikes. That is why they don't invite influencers to ride the next tiers' bikes. Basically, it's advertising on wheels.
It seems like they are ditching the 62cm which makes me pretty worried about us tall folks ability to buy bikes in the future.
how tall we talking? 2 15 at least right?
Looks like a Giant, thanks Giant! From a Cannondale Evo Hi-mod owner.
Great and HONEST review! Thanks Jeff!!
Everything is more expensive and bikes are no exception. They are definitely pushing the envelope on pricing. Doesn’t matter much as 99 are not in this market. The 5K bike is interesting.
Joke's on you, sun doesn't rise right now until like... 6:30. 😀
But seriously, great video, and I've been impressed watching over the years how the quality of your videos just keep getting better and better. Thrilled you got to head out to Spain to try out Fast New Bikes!
Jeff, good commentary Re: diminishing returns and maximizing value with a finite budget
yep, i think the $5500 is still expensive, but great value compared to the rest of the lineup
I wouldn’t even spend $15k on a full motorcycle 😂
I wouldnt even spend 15k on a car
I lifted a small version of this frame today at a shop, unbuilt. Felt about the same weight as every other high end frame. Definitely doesn't scream, $15k bike.
I would rather get a Cervelo Soloist at a more affordable price & better performance. Same parent company. Almost similar seat post and seat tube designs but Soloist has a more aero head tube and down tube design. You guys missed that!
And the best part... the new SSEVO series will now have a threaded BB !!!
Jeff has come a long way since the early days
Man that was an amazing vid - especially the ride and metrics. Really great job. I am a cross fit athlete who is new to triathlons and in process of buying a mid tier bike. I am down to the new SL7 expert and the EVO 1. I really like the design of the 10r frame on the SL7. It seems more aero than the EVO 1 with the narrow and rounded down tube. In contrast, the EVO 1 down tube is wide and flat. But, Cannondale offers substantially more for less. The EVO 1 comes with new SRAM Force AXS group, an aero cockpit and innovative delta cable routing - all for 6500 USD. A comparable SL7 would be 9000USD; and is therefore the lesser value proposition. In the end, I will likely purchase the EVO 1. Thanks for the great content. J
Ride them. Don’t worry about the specs. Which one fits and jazzes you the most. Which one would make you ride every day?
Bit late to the party, but.......
SL7 has somewhat wide down tube as well. And I've seen discuss on WW forum that in wind tunnel test the new SystemSix matches Venge, which would put it slightly above SL7 when it comes to aerodynamics. I guess it's thanks to the narrow head tube of the Cannondale
You forgot to compare it to your current bike. Giant TCR
Lol he did not forget. No $lip of the mind here.
Great video. Love your recommendation 👍🏻
Jeff just Red Pilled the biking industry.
The crazy thing for me is not that the Hi-mod is $13k, it's that for $13k it ships with Ultegra
$13k spec gets your sram red, hi mod with ultegra di2 is considerably cheaper
Is Hi Mod a better frame than the regular old? Is it faster and more fun/alive? Or is it really just weight, as to which I’d care less? Same question as to S Works. Someone told me there is a subtle diff in ride. Snappier.
Great review, thanks! Be interesting to compare this to something like the new state bicycle undefeated carbon frameset to see what you are getting for the extra money.
Really well made video Jeff and honest opinions all the way. The paintjob of the “low” tiered models is not of my liking. I own the previous model on a black that pretty much resembles the top one and I think they could have done a better job on the Ultegra models in terms of color. Looks cool other than that
"They didn't pay me to make this video". Well, they paid you the travel. So I guess this bike is amazing
Nice video, thank you. I bet Cannondale could drop prices a lot if they didn't spend so much flying the press to amazing locations around the world to show off their bikes 🤣 It was great that you recommended the 5K model instead.
Brands need to market their product, whether it’s a traditional launch like this or ads, it’s the cost of doing business. otherwise there’s no awareness and no sales.
this review so good. i hope you do mole lot of these kind of review
$15 for a hand built super bike that sounds great! We need more bikes pushing the envelop of what’s possible!
Jeff, what software do you use to create your footage?
That paintjob is beautiful, not worth the 15k price though
Especially when there are no MyWay Options like with Pinarello
$5500 with Ultegra Di2??? That's cheaper than the Ultegra TCR! Pretty great deal!
Flown to Girona to ride a sweet bike!? That looks fantastic.
i feel so lucky
Super cool! Happy for ya.
Colour ways are on point.
Wow awesome, been waiting for this bike for half a year! Dale's got a spot in my heart.
That $5,500 EVO 2 model is going to fly off the shelves, come December.
Great presentation brother. Are the rear dropouts made of Carbon? (I would hope not).
Hey Jeff. Given you recommendation of the lower price point Evo and your experience on the Cervelo Soloist. Which would you recommend out of the two?
$13,500? I built my caad13 rim brake for 1/10 of that and I know which one I'd rather crash in a crit lol
They are, quite frankly, taking the piss with the pricing. My top of the range Supersix Evo in 2011 was £3,500!
It seems someone is using your reputation. Do you know NorCal cycling 2? There are some of your videos.
for most companies, the highest tier of products are just decoys, a comparison to trick consumers into thinking their lower end products are “good value”
my dads old ss evo from 2013/14 or so is still one of my fav bikes to ride its got one of the earlier gen di2 (electronic, not wireless) and honestly it sometimes feels quicker than my sram red dogma F12. would be fun to try out one of these new ones
lawyers, dentist here we go
stoked for you NorCal, you deserve to jump into this game "soft partnership" if that's the direction you decide to go, but these two statements are at odds:
1. "Cannondale flew me out"
2. "Cannondale gave me nothing to review this product so it's unbiased"
🤔
He answered you above. Flying folks to launches is a cost of doing biz. Otherwise, no media awareness. Cheaper than shipping everybody a new bike to test. Also, Jeff goes to great lengths to disclose the paid flight and accommodations. Finally, the proof is in the review. He is candid about the$15k halo Lab71 vs teh $5.5K Ultegra. He also says “new bike, new roads,” and then gives his impressions with that caveat and with watts/speed and against a Velo rider whom he judged to be fit and skilled. Excellent review without the 20 minutes of throat clearing nonsense in most vids telling us the color of the backside of the derailleur and other irrelevant trivia. Kudos Jeff.
Cannondale!?
You're doing big things!
$15k, JUST to go back to the BSA BB standard 🤣🤣🤣. The cycling industry doesn't know what to do with themselves anymore. We've had all these bottom bracket standards in the past decade. The cycling industry is a clown show.
@NorCal Cycling - How did you like riding the roads around Girona?
Can't let Chris Riekert have all the fun on the cannondales huh Jeff? 😁 Cheers mate great video
No bike is worth 15k, simple as that. It's a great video though, as always.
These bikes are never worth their money.
When you argue that you are paying for innovation in engineering, you are always paying for the engineering of what the UCI allows, and never for the full engineering of what would be possible without UCI rules.
On top of that most of these Cycling firms don't even build their own stuff anymore. So the innovation/engineering argument falls on it's head from the start.
According to tour magazin’s test, the super six evo is rather unstiff compared to other tour bikes. They say the sl8 is stiffer and they also present data
Nice video Jeff.
But the video solidifies my decision to go with a chinese brand winspace, with their winspace hyper wheels, di2 ultegra and other s works bits and bobs.
Cost less than 6000 usd.
But good luck to those who don’t mind to spend on a super bike that costs more than a motor super bike 😂😂😂
Ok Jeff, What’s your take on CANNONDALE’S handling abilities compared to Specialized ?
I’ve purchased 9 road bikes in my 23 year journey as a racer/ cyclist and all 9 were Cannondales. My favorite of all the CAAD Series is the CAAD 7 ❤ @NorCal Cycling 📌
I have the CAAD12. That's my favorite one out of all. But the 7 is good as well.
Had a CAAD 10 with Mavic carbon hoops. It was a blast. Rode the Super6 lowest 105 spec today. Felt similar, but faster. Loved it. May be replacing my Orca with an Ultegra build Super6.
Help me out here... how are the cables going THROUGH the headset bearing the "right way" vs passing into the frame without going through the headset bearing? I cannot see any advantage. My bike (Orbea Orca) passes them through the headset spacers but outside the bearings and into the frame. I can easily pack the bike for travel and make all necessary changes without the headset ruining my life. Through the headset bearings sounds far worse to me at least.
Any comments regarding the compliance or comfort of this bike? I know it's not an endurance bike but i hear it's actually quite comfortable. Any thoughts? I have a deposit on the exact bike you recommended, the lower tier super six evo 2
I feel like 5.5k somehow is a tad above a budget option.. For almost 6k I'd definetly assume to basically get TDF grade material with ultegra equipment no matter how expensive they choose to sell their top end whatever
Quick question. @3:54, what computer mount is that?
Great video. I still don’t understand why the old Super six the silver and red on with ultegra di2 is more expensive than the equivalent net model…
is the FORK still restricted to 45 degree angle only? D sharp fork similar like the BMC....BMC did a recall in 2019 due to D fork issues.... well done Cannondale!!!!
No It is not. Because they changed the shape to a triangle and run the hoses through the bearing they could remove the restriction
Is it comfortable to ride? I’m not asking if it’s an endurance bike, but compared to the Venge or SL7 which can be harsh rides, how does this compare?
How does it compare to the tcr? Be good to compare your tcr to an sl tcr
It is just a amazing bike 😍
HOW DO YOU MEASURE POWER PEDAL OR CRANK?