Urban life can be a pain in the neck, especially when you have to commute through the busy streets. The subway is bustling with weirdos, the taxis are always late, there are constant traffic jams, and walking can only get you too far.
In short, there’s no transportation mode you can fully rely on to get to work on time every day!
Except maybe…what if you get yourself a battery-powered two-wheeler? Think about it, you can ride in the bike lanes, cut through a park, and never have to worry about rush hour traffic again!
Allow us to introduce you to the Cannondale Canvas Neo- a fully-baked urban bike that comes with all the bells and whistles to revolutionize how you run your daily errands in the city. But we know you’ll need more convincing than that, right?
The Canvas Neo review below will tell you all you need to know about the bike, and how it can transform your urban life.
Frame
The Canvas Neo boasts a practical build that was engineered for daily use. The frame is made out of SmartForm C1 aluminum alloy to go with a BallisTec carbon fork. This helps to deliver a lightweight bike that is sufficiently sturdy to cope with everyday use.
The geometry of the bike includes a long wheelbase and a very steep top tube that gives the Canvas Neo an unique look while making for easy mounting and dismounting. We enjoyed its upright yet sporty riding position that is well complemented by the riser handlebar.
The Cannondale Ergo Urban saddle is wide enough to keep you comfortable but not too wide to chafe your inner thighs from continuous and daily riding.
At a glance, the Canvas Neo is as charming as any other bike. It sports a seamless design with thick tubing for sturdiness.
The frame and fork boast a high-gloss finish, and this blends in well with the matte black on the other bike attachments. We also liked the reflective stickers on the frame, fork, and tires, which should enhance your safety on those evening errand runs.
The Canvas Neo only weighs 44 pounds. It is as sturdy as it is agile and the large grippy 29ers it rolls on excel on the urban tarmac.
Extra Features
This bike has all the makings of the ultimate urban bike. It’s been slapped with all the extra features for your city commute, taking its practicality to a whole new level.
For one, the bike comes with pannier racks that are mounted on either side of the rear wheel. Each rack can hold a bag of up to 8kg, which should come in very handy when you have a load to carry to or from town (by the way, this bike has a 150kg carrying capacity, including the rider weight).
The front triangle also leaves enough room to mount two water bottle cages, ensuring that you don’t die of thirst as you maneuver the busy city streets.
The manufacturer knew you’d be running errands early in the morning and late into the night, that’s why you get bright front and rear lights to help with visibility and safety on the road. This is further enhanced by the reflective accents on the frame, fork, and tires.
A pair of fenders at the front and back cover the wheels fully and will prove crucial when it rains and you have to ride in wet conditions. You won’t have to worry about arriving in town looking all greasy and messy!
As if that’s not enough, there is a wide-bottomed kickstand that will be useful when parking the bike or when you want to load some cargo on the bike.
Motor
The Cannondale Canvas Neo is equipped with a powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor with a 250W capacity. The motor is neatly tucked away keeping the drive unit low and forward. This keeps the centre of gravity low and allows for shorter chainstays for improved handling.
With 75Nm of torque and up to 340% of pedal-assistance, you’ll have an easy time clearing those climbing city lanes and getting to your appointments on time. The motor is also very efficient and ensures that you get more range out of the battery.
A compact Bosch Purion display on the bike is very user-friendly and allows you to switch between riding modes which will provide you with the required pedal assistance. The display unit is also used to switch the lights on or off.
You can view important information about your trip including the distance traveled, speed, as well as battery status to keep you updated at all times. This ensures that the battery doesn’t run out without you knowing.
On the downside, the motor was a little bit too noisy for comfort and probably a bother to the pedestrians we passed.
Battery
There is a 500Wh Bosch PowerTube battery pack fitted on the Canvas Neo. The battery offers a range of 40 miles, which should see you clear most of your errands for the day.
However, there’s an interesting feature that you should know about. The frame allows you to add a spare battery parallel to the integrated battery, which gives you twice the riding range.
The battery is also removable and can be charged both on and off the bike for your convenience. However, before removal, it must be unlocked at the battery lock and this serves to protect it against theft.
Included in the bike package is a Bosch Standard 4A Charger, which can fully recharge the battery in just 4.5 hours. This is actually quite impressive and very fast by industry standards.
Speed and Brakes
The Canvas Neo is pretty quick! You can achieve a top speed of 28 mph on, so there’s nothing to slow you down on the smooth city tarmac. The Shimano Deore gearing system allows you to shift seamlessly between the 10 gears.
Luckily, you don’t have to worry about skidding off the road on those sharp turns. This is thanks to the Shimano hydraulic disc brakes that offer good braking performance, even in wet situations.
Tires
This bike rolls on a set of Schwalbe G-One Speed Performance tires that are unrivaled on the urban streets. The 29-inch tires are big and chunky to keep you comfortable during those occasional bumps on the road.
They are relatively smooth and roll easily on the level paths, providing a great compromise between grip and speed.
Post-Test Summary: Cannondale Tesoro Neo Pros and Cons
So, what impression does the Cannondale Canvas Neo leave on you?
If you asked us, we think this bike is one of the best bikes available for daily urban use.
It is full of practical features that are suited for urban operation. From a pair of fenders and lights to a kickstand and incredible carrying capacity, you’ll be able to run your daily errands efficiently.
The powerful motor and battery complement the whole idea of “living life on the fast lane” that is city life. The top speed of the Neo is the fastest you can get from an electric bike and effective brakes have been included to ensure that you never lose control of your ride.
The only complaint is that the motor can be a little bit noisy. Also, the bike is pretty expensive; you’ll have to dig deep into your pockets to afford it.
What Do I Like about Cannondale Canvas Neo?
PROS
What Don’t I Like about Cannondale Canvas Neo?
Cons
Canvas Neo Family
Conclusion
Overall, the Cannondale Canvas Neo was designed to take the stress out of urban living. Whether you need a bike for your daily commute to work or an easy way of running your errands in town, this bike will fit in naturally.
It has all the features for a practical urban bike, and more. If you can afford the Cannondale Canvas Neo, it will go a long way to cut down your commuting struggles in the city!
Read next: Cannondale E-bikes round up review
Our Rating - 87/100
The Cannondale Canvas Neo stands out with a wealth of urban-friendly features that make it the ultimate city bike. It is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a battery-powered two-wheeler to change your morning commutes for the better.