With its new Tesoro Neo Carbon, Cannondale introduces a state-of-the-art urban e-bike with Bosch’s new Performance Line SX motor that is both powerful and very light!

Some may see this bike as the successor to the Cannondale Quick Neo EQ, which was something of an insider’s tip among the powerfully motorized but still comparatively light e-bikes. We tested the bike here and were pretty convinced. Over the years, however, the bike has hardly received any updates and has now disappeared from the range. So it’s all the more pleasing that a brand new alternative has been introduced in the form of the new Tesoro Neo Carbon.

The highlight of the bike is its low weight, which is said to be only around 16 kg for the top model. Remarkable, especially as the Tesoro Neo is equipped with full commuter equipment including mudguards, lights, a kickstand and a pannier holder at the rear wheel!

Cannondale pulls out all the stops to keep the bike as light as possible: therefor both the frame and fork are made of carbon. In addition, the new Bosch drive, which together with the 400 Wh battery only weighs 4 kg — but with a torque of 55 Nm offers a decent performance. However, the weight saving is also the reason that the battery is firmly integrated into the frame and therefore cannot simply be removed for charging. What is interesting, however, is the option of using Bosch’s new PowerMore 250 range extender with its 250 extra watt hours on the bike.

The operation of the drive system is pleasantly unobtrusive integrated with Bosch’s System Controller in the top tube and the Mini Remote on the handlebars. There is no traditional display on the tidy cockpit, but it can be retrofitted from Bosch’s Smart System. Also a nice touch: at least on the top model, cables and lines disappear directly into the frame on the stem in keeping with the times.

For the launch, Cannondale is offering the Tesoro Neo Carbon in two trim levels:

• The Tesoro Neo Carbon 1 comes with electronic SRAM X1 Eagle AXS drivetrain with 12 gears in the color Stealth Grey
• The Tesoro Neo Carbon 2 comes with the mechanical SRAM Apex Eagle drivetrain, also with 12 gears in the color Storm Cloud

The rest of the equipment is identical on both bikes and includes 37 mm wide Vittoria Terreno Zero tires, a Lezyne Hecto StVZO E65 headlight, aluminum mudguards with integrated rear light and pannier holder as well as a Selle Royal Vivo Active Ergo saddle.

In view of the small differences between the two models, the price difference of 900 euros is quite significant — so you will need to invest a lot in the electric gearshift, the cable integration in the cockpit or the paintwork. But even apart from that, the Tesoro Neo Carbon is no bargain: the price for the more affordable Tesoro Neo Carbon 2 is 4,999 euros , while the top model Tesoro Neo Carbon 1 costs 5,899 euros.

A similar bike is offered by Rose with the Backroad Plus Flatbar EQ, which is around 1 kg heavier, but also offers a significantly more powerful drivetrain with 85 Nm torque — read our full review of the bike here. And the aforementioned Quick Neo EQ with its aluminum frame was heavier, but also significantly cheaper. So we have to wait and see if Cannondale will add more affordable models with conventional frames to these new carbon bikes.