Cannondale Moto Carbon 2
Watch the video to learn more about the Moto’s Hatchet-Drive suspension and how Cannondale used Carbon fiber on their 6″ AM bike
It must be blast to work in Cannondale’s R and D section. The big C always seems like it has something on the go that is pushing the limits, or at least making some of their competitors scratch their heads. I think the Moto ticks both of those boxes off. Not content to slack out an existing bike and bolt on a longer stroke shock, Cannondale developed the 6″ travel Moto from scratch for last season. Never one to follow any trends, the Moto has a look that is all its own. Built from carbon fiber, still a rarity in the 6″ travel sector, the Moto uses Cannondale’s Hatchet-Drive suspension to avoid mounting the shock to the front triangle. Thru-axles front and rear, a full length seat tube, and all-mountain geometry are the other important ingredients that make up the Moto package.
Cannondale Moto Carbon 2
The Moto’s Hatchet-Drive suspension
Look closer and you’ll find that the Fox shock that handles rear suspension duties is not mounted to the front triangle, but to the black link at the top and the swingarm at the opposite end. This allows the engineers at Cannondale to accomplish two things. First, it lets them build both a lighter and stronger front triangle because it no longer has to be braced to accept any force from the suspension. Second, they have another place to control the rate of the suspension. The Hatchet-Drive is driven via a Cannondale staple, a simple and solid single pivot and a substantial swingarm.
A 12 x 135 mm rear Maxle for stiffness and quick removal
Moto Carbon 2 full specs
| Frame and Size | Moto Carbon, 160 mm |
| Rear Shock | FOX DHX 4.0 Air |
| Fork | FOX 36 Talas R, 160-130-100 mm |
| Headset | Moto 1.5″ Integrated |
| Crankarms | Shimano XT, 22/32/44 |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano Hollowtech II |
| Pedals | Crank Brothers Smarty |
| Chain | Shimano 9-speed |
| Cassette | Shimano XT, 11-34 |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM X-9 |
| Front Derailleur | Shimano LX |
| Shifters | SRAM X-9 Trigger |
| Handlebar | FSA XC-190AOS, 25 mm rise |
| Stem | Cannondale XC3 1.5″, 31.8 mm |
| Grips | Cannondale GRIND Locking |
| Brakes | Avid Elixir CR |
| Front Wheel | DT Swiss E2200 |
| Rear Wheel | DT Swiss E2200 |
| Tires | Continental Mountain King Supersonic, 26 x 2.4″ |
| Saddle | Fi’zi:k Gobi XM w/MG rails |
| Seatpost | Thomson Elite |
The rear shock attaches to the Hatchet-Drive at the top and to the swingarm at the opposite end, not to the front triangle
While there are both carbon and aluminum Motos available, the carbon frame is stunning in person and will be appreciated by any true bike nerd out there. The shapes of the tubes are eye catching, as well as the bits of unpainted carbon. Besides looking great, the carbon also allows Cannondale to build a massively strong frame without the usually equally massive weight penalty. Have a look at the immense head tube and surrounding area as evidence.
The front of the Moto features a massive oversized head tube