Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS | Gravel Bikes | Cannondale. Cannondale Topstone Carbon Force AXS review. If it were a car, it’d be more of a Ferrari than a Cadillac, so its greatest appeal will be with racers and those with a need for speed. I ride the SFi in L and wonder if I should downsize the Topstone to M as some suggest? Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty pricing and availability Cannondale is rolling out three versions of the Topstone Carbon Lefty. The SRAM Force eTap AXS drivetrain looks a little plasticky, but performs well on the road. Bottom line though, if you like the bike, it fits you, and you’ve got the support of a good dealer, there’s no reason not to go with the Topstone Carbon… unless you’re dead set on running a wider rear tire than 40c. Really the feedback you have offered. Full specs, price, and weights of top-end rear suspension Topstone. The Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS that’s the subject of this review is outfitted with, predictably, SRAM’s Force eTap AXS 2x12-speed drivetrain. I mostly remedied this by installing a larger 45c version of the WTB Riddler tires that are spec’ed on the bike. Carbon Hollowgram rims add to the light and nimble feel of the bike, and the integrated SAVE handlebar and stem combo have slight aero styling more reminiscent of road bikes than gravel bikes. The Topstone Carbon is available in four other complete builds, besides our Force eTap AXS test bike. Required fields are marked *, Cannondale Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS: Checkpoint. Gravel Bikes; Bikes & Gear; I think this is a great choice for amateurs and professionals. The Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS that’s the subject of this review is outfitted with, predictably, SRAM’s Force eTap AXS 2x12-speed drivetrain. I’m a big fan of the Topstone Carbon’s handling feel, but for some it might be more of an acquired taste. While the fork is by no means harsh, there is a definite difference in the feel of bumps through the front and rear wheels. I come from riding mountain and fat bikes, so the slightly wider BB feels just fine to me. TREK Checkpoint SL 7 2021. TREK Checkpoint SL 6 2021. Keeping that rear wheel tucked up close underneath the rider goes a long way toward creating that nimble and agile feel we expect from road bikes. haul your ass up a gravel climb in the saddle, high-end gravel bikes featuring 1x drivetrains, The Topstone - A Gravel Bike With A Dropper Post, Merlin Sandstone Gravel Bike Ridden and Reviewed, Versatile Rigs, Ridden and Vetted by Our Team, The Salsa Warbird Was Born to Race Gravel, Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon 3 Lefty Review. For $4,000 you can get rolling on the Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX, featuring Shimano’s new gravel-specific groupset. Drive in pleasure! Find a bike shop near me ... registers your bike, reminds you of needed service and more, all through the free Cannondale App. $6,750.00 + Free Shipping. I plan to test ride Topstone carbon S size next week, but I’m not sure of the fit. You can easily pedal through corners that’d trip up a bike with 75mm of BB drop. It utilizes a single pivot and relies on engineered flex in the frame for the travel. So I think for the Gravel applications I anticipate it will be great. While the larger tire won’t fit in the rear of the Topstone Carbon frame, the fork passes the tire with at least 5mm of clearance everywhere. Cannondale Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS equipped with good tires WTB Riddler TCS Light. It’s an important decision that you want to get right. The first thing that jumps out is 415mm chainstays, which on their own are noteworthy on a gravel bike, where 420-440mm are more typical, but factor in the rear suspension and you do have something remarkable. Page 1 of 2Topstone Carbon – Cannondale’s all new gravel bike review. Find a bike shop near me ... BallisTec Carbon. That said, tire clearance on the Topstone Carbon frame isn’t particularly generous by modern standards. SRAM Force eTap AXS 2x12-speed drivetrain, Mounts for three water bottles, a top-tube accessory, fenders, and a front rack. The $6000 bike is equipped out of the box with a SRAM Force DUB crank and a 36t direct mount chain ring. When traversing larger bumps or extended sections of washboard, the Kingpin suspension becomes more apparent as it actively works to mute the vibration reaching the rider. Ultimately, I think a test ride is always best, but I’ve got a 33-inch inseam and am 6’1” tall. It feels smooth, but you don’t get a sense that there’s overt movement going on as you pedal. Look fast, feel fast, go fast, right? One of the more polarizing features of the Topstone Carbon frame is Cannondale’s proprietary Ai offset frame design. Any updates on the GRX build of your Topstone? Hey @Dennis – Thanks for reading, and for you your questions. 2020 CANNONDALE TOPSTONE CARBON FORCE ETAP AXS ROAD BIKE When you're riding off the beaten track, exploring beyond the horizon or tackling broken roads there can surely be nothing better equipped to tackle the unknown than the Topstone Carbon Force eTap … One issue I have with SRAM’s new eTap AXS road groups is the Flat-Top chain. The Topstone boasts 30mm of travel at the saddle, 25% of which comes from the axle says Ebert. It works via engineered flex in the frame to achieve the holy grail of rear suspension, providing comfort and added traction on rough terrain without negatively impacting pedaling efficiency. CERVELO Aspero GRX1 700 650 2020. Thanks again for your articles they were the most informative that I have read. Do you still like the bike after a year of riding? Cannondale have used their experience making fast race bikes, comfortable endurance bikes and ultra-light dual suspension mountain bikes to create a bike designed for maximum fun in places beyond most gravel bikes' abilities. The alloy Topstone M size was just fine and comfortable, but the carbon Topstone M size was too big for me. I have a fat tire bike also so I definitely appreciate large tire volume for snow, sand and shock absorption. Force eTap AXS 2×12 drivetrain There is no coincidence in the order of reviews that I publish based on my gravel field test. The Topstone Carbon is a completely revamped version of the aluminum Topstone Apex1 that was introduced last summer—and this one has rear suspension. Kingpin suspension gives riders 30mm of travel with no linkage or shock. A trail of only 58mm is also much closer to what you might find on a road bike than a heavy-duty gravel bike. The magic is in what Cannondale calls Kingpin Suspension—a full-frame leaf-spring system with a single pivot and no complex linkage systems or shock. The Topstone Carbon takes every (meager) watt of energy I have and makes the most of it, thanks to the stiffness Cannondale engineered into the massive downtube and chainstays. Building on the popularity of the Topstone that Cannondale introduced last summer, this new Topstone Carbon turns it up to 11 with a lightweight carbon frame and a groundbreaking leaf-spring suspension system that offers 30mm of travel at the saddle. Condition: New Model: Topstone Carbon. 1. Brand: Cannondale, Product: Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS Topstone is pure gravel goodness. On steep gravel climbs you’ll really notice the extra traction and power transfer. As you mentioned, the Topstone carbon is too big, especially with a long reach and higher seatpost position. I’m 5’8” and typically ride Cannondale M sized bikes. A 2x drivetrain, courtesy of SRAM’s Force eTap AXS groupset, is a very welcome addition. For open minded gravel cyclists not encumbered by traditional expectations, it can be a one way ticket to gravel nirvana. The rear HG hub has proven DT Swiss internals as well, so it should be solid for a good long time. For those considering the Topstone Carbon to pull double duty as a gravel and cyclocross bike, the higher bottom bracket could be a difference maker. The Hollowgram Si carbon handlebar flexes a bit more than normal bars, but in terms of overall impact absorption, the rear end is doing more to smooth the ride. Since you rode it a lot maybe you can advice. The most incredible part of this suspension system is the way it’s far less active when you’re out of the saddle, roughly 70 percent less travel than when you’re seated. The Topstone Carbon SRAM Force eTap AXS is the flagship of the new carbon gravel bike line. Have been looking at Gravel bikes for a few months. Be sure to post an update with how it rides for you, please! Shifting is solid and dependable, if a bit noisier than an equivalent Shimano drivetrain. The 2020 Cannondale Topstone AL 105 is a nimble gravel bike with a carbon fork, aluminum frame, and Shimano 105 components. Brand: Cannondale, Product: Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS Topstone is pure gravel goodness. Cannondale Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS [German] Level 2 expert It scores highly with a balanced seating position and high comfort, especially on very rough ground, where the superior damping properties of the Kingpin suspension become noticeable. Here’s the latest update on our experience with this groundbreaking new gravel bike. Obviously the Hollowgram 22 wheels on the Topstone Carbon are built around this different dish. In the meantime, head over to Cannondale.com to learn more about each of Cannondale’s alloy and carbon Topstone models. Those few watts may come in handy after hours of toiling away at Dirty Kanza. The S size may be too tight. Rear Derailleur :SRAM Force eTap AXS. $6,749.99. Cannondale Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS Gravel Bike 2020. Have a great weekend. CANNONDALE Topstone Carbon Force eTap AXS 2020. Last week, I test rode both Topstone alloy model and Topstone carbon model. If not, do you think it’s likely to be an issue for shorter riders? The slightly higher BB height also gives me the ability to rip through our local singletrack on the way out and/or home from gravel rides without fear of clipping a pedal in corners. For someone (like me) who has several gravel and/or road bikes in their quiver, the offset frame limits the ability to swap wheels among bikes. A lot of gravel bikes right now, although truly versatile, still have major shortcomings at either the rugged end or the paved end of the riding spectrum. The 71.2-degree head tube angle isn’t particularly aggressive, but with 55mm of offset in the fork, steering from center is quick, light and easy to control. Thanks for reading! When combined with engineered flex in the seat tube, top tube and seat stays, and the Kingpin pivot atop the seat stays, the frame effectively isolates the rider from the typical jarring and abuse a rider would take on an ultra-stiff frame. SRAM FORCE ETAP AXS. Did you happen to measure it? The Topstone Carbon takes every (meager) watt of energy I have and makes the most of it, thanks to the stiffness Cannondale engineered into the massive downtube and chainstays. Tyres: WTB Riddler TCS Light, 700 x 37c, tubeless ready. Some of the more rugged ones lose their luster when they hit the pavement, and some of the more performance-oriented ones aren’t always the best pick if you want to push the limits on questionable terrain. 2×12 drivetrain that Cannondale put on the top of the line Topstone Carbon is on the opposite side of this spectrum. When we talk about the travel, in this case it’s important to note where that travel is being measured. 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