We test the Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 2, an eBike for trekking and urban cycling

For many people, trekking is not very well known, but more and more are being seen on the streets and roads of our country and we are sure that it will be a type of bike that many enthusiasts will choose when buying a multi-purpose urban bike. In this line we have been able to test the Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 2, a perfect eBike both for daily tasks and everyday commuting as well as to put the saddlebags and spend a weekend riding.

Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 2: versatility, aesthetics, comfort and power  

The Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 2 is an electric Trekking bike with front suspension and 29" wheels. For those who are not familiar with this modality, it is about making outings in which you can combine all types of terrain, paved roads, tracks, etc. and in which the aim is to enjoy the environment, to create an adventure regardless of the time invested in making the journey.

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The Tesoro Neo X 2 is made from SmartForm C1 aluminium alloy for stiffness and durability, ideal for housing the Bosch Performance Line CX 250W mid-motor and removable Bosch 625Wh battery. Internal cabling leaves few wires exposed and helps to clean up the lines of a robust and elegant bike.

The frame design follows the lines of a hardtail MTB, with a geometry that's focused on a comfortable and safe ride. The 67° steering angle, very much in keeping with current trends, coupled with the 100mm SR Suntour XCM 34 suspension fork means you'll be encouraged to go off-road. The pedalling position is comfortable and the bike sits quite upright, which improves your field of vision if, for example, you're riding between cars. Not to mention the improved pedalling performance that comes with a 74° down tube angle.

There is also the option of choosing the Remixte version, where the horizontal tube drops down to end at the centre of the down tube to make it easier to get on and off the bike.

The position of the motor and battery leaves the weight of the Cannondale Tesoro Neo X centred making it easier to move the bike as well as gaining poise. Another advantage of having this weight configuration is when using the pannier rack, as if the motor were on the rear hub the weight distribution would be shifted more to the rear.

It maintains Cannondale's own Ai concept, shifting the drivetrain to open up the rear triangle for a wider wheelbase, while also achieving shorter chainstays for increased agility.

Its 29" wheels, mounted with WTB rims and Shimano MT400 hubs are an essential part of its versatile character. They will make it easy to ride comfortably, as well as fast once you gain inertia. Perhaps it is not the most appropriate wheel size if you move around cities with many changes of direction, but if you are in a more open environment you will gain in speed.

The heart and soul of the Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 2 is the Bosch Performance Line CX 250W motor, powered by the removable Bosch PowerTube 625W/h battery housed in the down tube. It performs exceptionally well, delivering up to 85 Nm of torque for powerful acceleration, enough to negotiate any slope even when carrying an extra load on the bike. Operation is smooth and ideal for this modality. In the new version of this motor, the sound has been reduced, which also makes it more pleasant to pedal with less noise.

The customised battery cover is perfectly integrated into the frame and keeps the battery protected. In addition, the motor also has a protective plate underneath to prevent it from taking any kind of knocks.

Operation is controlled from the Bosch Purion display next to the left handlebar. From here it is possible to adjust the 4 assistance modes: Turbo, eMTB, Tour and Eco, which progressively vary the level of assistance from more to less respectively. This display also shows information on speed, battery level, kilometres... You can even turn on the lights or activate the assistance that helps push the bike when you ride.

According to the manufacturer, it is capable of a maximum autonomy of 170 km, a surprising figure in the e-bike sector. But if you need even more, the frame of the Tesoro Neo X comes with a pre-installation for a second battery to be placed on the down tube.

A robust assembly for all kinds of situations

As far as assembly is concerned, the Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 2 comes equipped with a Shimano Deore groupset with a 10V cassette with 11-42 rollout and 38-tooth chainring, a combination in line with the versatility sought in this bike and with which you can reach any destination you set your mind to.

The Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes may seem insufficient when it comes to stopping this bike, but it's compensated by 180 mm discs both front and rear for progressive braking. It's not an e-bike intended for high-speed riding, so you won't have to brake hard either.

As mentioned above, a very important feature of the Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 2 is comfort, and to make it even more comfortable it has been fitted with a suspension seatpost. It has a firm feel and there's no swaying sensation while pedalling. It's a component that will have its detractors, but we've found it to be a positive point, especially when you're out on long days of riding on bumpy trails.

In the trekking bike segment there are a number of components that cannot be missing, such as lights, mudguards, pannier racks... In this case it is fitted with a set of Herrmans H-Black MR4 lights at the front and H-Trace Micro at the rear. They are easily switched on and off from the Bosch Purion controller on the handlebars. The lighting is more than sufficient for our rides, although from our point of view we'd place the front light a little higher, as the front mudguard itself casts a shadow just in front of the wheel. To ensure better visibility there are reflective strips on the down tube and shoulder straps.

The Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 2 is equipped with Tubus Wingee mudguards made of metal. Their integration with the rest of the bike is on another level. They fit perfectly, are friction-free and, above all, are rattle-free when riding over bumps and potholes.

And of course, it comes with a rear-mounted luggage rack that can hold up to 20 kg of cargo. It's ideal for carrying what you need when you're planning a multi-day ride. The panniers can also be easily attached to the pannier rack to keep your belongings even more protected and tidy.

Another extra is the built-in kickstand on the left chainstay, a component that will make it easier to leave our bike parked, either when riding to work or when loading the pannier rack.

As usual in the medium-high range of Cannondale, the front wheel is equipped with the sensor developed by the brand itself in collaboration with Garmin. This once linked with our Smartphone we will have the possibility of obtaining precise information of speed, time, route and distance, in addition to registering your bicycle to obtain reminders of maintenance, information on the suspensions... Although many of the data already have them in the display Bosch Purion, it serves as a good complement of this one.

Riding the Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 2

At first glance it may look big and therefore clumsy, but just get on and start riding and you realise how easy it is to handle. Its comfortable riding position, with an upright posture, adjustable even more with the adjustable handlebar stem, gives us a wide field of vision, which will make you want to spend hours of enjoyment on this bike.

Despite being focused on trekking, we can say that its character is very versatile and goes beyond the rides on roads and unpaved tracks. The 24.6 kg it weighed on our scales put it close to any e-MTB, giving it a wide range of response in all situations.

In the time that we have had it, we have used it in a wide variety of situations, moving around the city to commute to work, going out for a few hours for a ride, the odd route with a little more difficulty and even to go shopping for bread. Although what we have really enjoyed the most is putting some saddlebags on it.

Its autonomy never seems to end, even if we play with the different assistance modes, we will have enough battery for the whole route.
Its configuration makes it suitable for riding on almost any surface. That's why when we've ridden on the road and found an unpaved track, we didn't hesitate for a second to ride it. This bike brings out the explorer spirit that every biker has inside.

Its 2.25" wide Schwalbe G-One Allround Performance tyres, fork and suspension seatpost make it a pleasure to ride away from the road. At first we were skeptical about the performance of the suspension seatpost, because even though it's a bike that's not designed for maximum performance, we thought it would be more noticeable when pedalling. However, as we accumulated hours of pedalling, we realised that it is a component that gives a plus of comfort which is appreciated especially on long routes.

Due to its reasonable resemblance to an MTB, we can manage quite easily in most of the unpaved sections, as long as they are not too difficult.

For city centre riding we would have been better off with a smaller wheel size to gain more agility, but when you're out on an avenue you'll appreciate the advantage of 29" wheels. It is also true that their size may not be the most appropriate for this purpose, although we have to say that for us it has not been a disadvantage. Despite the mixed tyres, they are quite quiet when riding on asphalt.

On longer journeys, where you have to cover a lot of kilometres on the road, this wheel size is worthwhile with a pleasant ride. What's more, we remember the regulations that limit the speed of e-bikes to 25 km / h, because honestly, 5 or 6 km / h more would give us a plus when it comes to move in these sections. However, this is not something we can blame this bike for.

Conclusions

This is an e-bike aimed at cycle touring or trekking, which stands out for having a robust aluminium frame, with a Bosch motor that offers the necessary performance to make us enjoy our routes.

It is easy to ride, with a comfortable riding position that will allow us to spend hours pedalling. It is very versatile, capable of handling any terrain with complete ease, and is even a good companion for commuting to work.

It is fully equipped with mudguards, lights, luggage racks and more, so you won't miss a thing on your rides. 

The 4,399€ price tag puts it on a par with premium models in this segment, which is to be expected given the quality of the frame and the equipment that goes with it. Still, we think it's a worthwhile investment for those who see cycling as a way of life.