The Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra in review

The Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra enters the test with an EF Education-NIPPO team paint job and mechanical, gravel drivetrain components. Is this the magic potion to help it beat its rivals in this direct comparison? You can find out everything you need to know here.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best road bike of 2021 – 15 models in review

For the SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra, Cannondale have thought up something special and, with the WTB Expanse 700 x 32C tires, use tires from the gravel sector. That is taken further with a 2×11 drivetrain mix consisting of Shimano ULTEGRA R8000 shifters, brakes and front derailleur, a Shimano GRX RX800 derailleur (read our review of the GRX groupset here) and Shimano 105 CS-R7000 11–30 t cassette. This combination is intended to ensure reliable performance away from perfect asphalt roads. In practice, it also proved itself in our test and was unimpressed by even the worst testing conditions. Hats off! The only flaws are the bulky hoods and the “punchy” gear ratios with the 52/36 t chainrings that require a lot of strength on steep ramps. In fact, our build reminds us closely of that of team riders Lachlan Morten and Alex Howes during this year’s Old Man Winter Rally – something we only realised after ordering the bike while looking at the @efprocycling Instagram account. Different to the team, our test bike comes with the SAVE system cockpit.

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However, the upward-facing GPS mount, limited Cannondale bar options, comparatively rudimentary cable integration and clunky looks of the stem didn’t ignite much passion amongst our test team. A different story is the speed sensor developed in collaboration with Garmin comes fitted as standard. Together with your bike computer, it provides precise information about your route, speed and impending service intervals. Our test bike was based on the SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra, costing € 5,599. Cannondale quote the additional upgrade costs as € 200, with the parts available as spares or via eBay.

Size	44	48	51	54	56	58	60	62
Seat tube	400 mm	438 mm	477 mm	515 mm	536 mm	558 mm	579 mm	600 mm
Top tube	512 mm	520 mm	528 mm	546 mm	562 mm	578 mm	594 mm	611 mm
Head tube	99 mm	114 mm	130 mm	153 mm	164 mm	188 mm	209 mm	230 mm
Head angle	70.9°	71.2°	71.2°	71.2°	73.0°	73.0°	73.0°	73.0°
Seat angle	74.3°	74.3°	74.3°	73.7°	73.3°	72.9°	72.5°	72.1°
Chainstays	408 mm	408 mm	408 mm	408 mm	408 mm	408 mm	408 mm	408 mm
BB Drop	74 mm	74 mm	74 mm	72 mm	72 mm	69 mm	69 mm	69 mm
Wheelbase	979 mm	985 mm	994 mm	1,008 mm	992 mm	1,005 mm	1,016 mm	1,028 mm
Reach	370 mm	374 mm	378 mm	384 mm	390 mm	395 mm	400 mm	406 mm
Stack	504 mm	519 mm	534 mm	554 mm	574 mm	594 mm	614 mm	634 mm

The Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra in review

With a weight of 7.89 kg in size 56 and its stiff bottom bracket, the Cannondale accelerates responsively and is light-footed enough to take a place at the front of the pack. Regardless of whether you’re on the flats or heading downhill, it generates speed willingly thanks to its aerodynamic tubeset. On steep inclines, it needs quite a lot of force on the pedals to keep it going due to the large 52/36 t chainrings, though equally, these allow you to keep on pushing at high speeds. The WTB rubber also turned out to be a swift choice of tire.

Racing on the white roads of the Strade Bianche? Hell yeah! This is the prototype for a progressive and modern all-round racer. In this build, it’s the best SuperSix that we’ve ever had in for testing!

The generous volume and reinforced casing offer some vibration damping but the tires also fill out the frame’s clearances completely and exacerbate the already significant toe overlap. Together with the internal cable routing limiting the maximum steering angle, manoeuvering and slow speeds require you to pay attention! This and very rough surfaces aside, the feeling of safety aboard the bike is high and only increases with speed. However, the sporty stiff character of the SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra has a comparatively low level of comfort in response to bigger impacts. Moreover, the direct handling is surprisingly precise despite the high-volume tires. In combination, that means the bike tends towards being nervous in more challenging situations. On the other hand, on good surfaces, the bike is confident and displays good stability. The comparatively aggressive riding position and limited extension of the seatpost due to the height of the top tube don’t improve comfort but our test crew still had a blast on the Cannondale thanks to its balanced and responsive handling! The bike stays true to its race DNA while revealing an incredible ability of transformation.

Tuning tip: 50/34 t chainring for more relaxed climbing on steep ramps

Conclusion

What will be too uncomfortable for leisure riders and tourers, and too direct and demanding for beginners, will be cause for celebration for all ambitious and experienced bike fans: this special build of the Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra is the definition of a sporty all-road bike. If you understand the tops and flops of this sporty all-rounder, have two wheelsets ready and you’ll be able to ride this frameset rapidly, 365 days of the year and always have fun.

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For more information head to cannondale.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best road bike of 2021 – 15 models in review

All bikes in test: BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE (Click for review) | Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra | Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 eTap (Click for review) | Cervélo Caledonia-5 Dura Ace Di2 Disc (Click for review) | Mason Resolution Ekar (Click for review) | MERIDA REACTO TEAM-E CUSTOM (Click for review) | MERIDA SCULTURA ENDURANCE CUSTOM (Click for review) | OPEN MIN.D. (Click for review) | Orbea Gain M20i (Click for review) | ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2 (Click for review) | SCOTT Addict eRIDE Premium (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Aethos (Click for review) | Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Disc Ultegra (Click for review) | Trek Domane+ LT 9 (Click for review) | Wilier Filante SLR (Click for review)

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Words: Benjamin Topf Photos: Valentin Rühl