Cannondale Mavaro Neo SL 1 review: a solid, dependable commuter e-bike that won’t get pulses racing but will get the job done

Much like the speed of the steeds in question, commuter-style e-bikes are infiltrating our city centres at a slow and steady pace, very gradually earning precedence over cars. Therefore, a considerable niche in the modern bike market has been carved out for casual cyclists looking to save money on fuel or congestion charges while getting fit in the process. The Cannondale Mavaro Neo SL 1 is one such bike, and its competitive price point doesn’t detract from a dizzying array of features and a surprisingly solid spec sheet.

Construction

“Sweat free urban rides” promises the coverline, and a quick glimpse over the frame suggests that’s exactly what you’ll get from the Cannondale Mavaro Neo SL 1. An 18 kg rated rack brings up the rear, and frame bosses abound on an aluminium frame, creating a bike that looks custom-built for a trip to the supermarket or a city commute. It boasts rigid front and rear fenders/mudguards – sagaciously specced for those who want to arrive at work without sporting half of the commute on their back. Present too, are front and rear lights, the former a Lezyne Pro E115, which is a quality piece of componentry and encourages confidence about the rest of the build. The SL suffix – Super Light – though, isn’t merited. At 24kg, the Mavaro isn’t light, in fact, on the e-bike weight spectrum, it’s leaning towards the more portly end of the scale. However, for now, we’ll give Cannondale the benefit of the doubt – city commuter bikes are never going to be on the radar of weight weenies, so for now, this indiscretion gets a pass.

The drivetrain features Microshift’s eight-speed derailleur which provides a wide enough range to find optimum cadence in most urban settings. It’s a budget set-up and keeps the overall price down, but shifts were sure if not seamless, and there’s even a clutch rear mech present to mitigate chain-slap. Brakes are hydraulic so modulation is sorted and absolute stopping power, even when taking into account the considerable heft of the machine, is dialled – which, during rush-hour commutes, could save a red face and a broken spoke or two.