Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX in Review

The Topstone Carbon has been part of Cannondale’s gravel portfolio since summer 2019 and aimed to cause a stir on the gravel scene with its KingPin suspension system. You can find out whether that goal has been successful here.

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**Cannondale** Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX | 8.73 kg (size L) | € 3,799

Cannondale claims that its engineers worked for a whole four years on the Topstone Carbon frameset. Amongst other challenges, that was due to the ambitious goal to create the most comfortable gravel bike on the market. With up to 30 mm of “travel”, the KingPin system is supposed to be its key to success. The design of the carbon layup in the top and seat tubes allows the main triangle to deflect and act as a leaf spring which is compressed as a result of the increased vertical compliance of the seat- and chainstays. To allow for the 30 mm travel, a pivot connecting the seat stays to the seat tube provides extra freedom of movement. The tubeset used is proportional to each frame size in order to provide consistent performance of the maintenance-free suspension design for different sized riders. Our bike was built up with a 2x groupset consisting of Shimano ULTEGRA R8000 shifters, Shimano ULTEGRA RX derailleur and Cannondale Hollowgram cranks with 46/30 t chainrings, with Shimano ULTEGRA brakes and 160 mm rotors at both ends providing the stopping power. The new design language of the Cannondale is immediately recognisable despite the minimal branding, with an appealing colour palette that varies depending on the component spec. Our bike was also kitted out with Hollowgram 22 Carbon wheels, 700 x 37C WTB Riddler tires and weighed in at 8.73 kg in size L. In this configuration, the Cannondale Topstone Carbon costs € 3,799 and is available in five sizes from XS to XL.

**Helmet** POC Ventral Air SPIN | **Glasses** 100 % Speedcraft | **Jersey** Have a nice day T-Shirt | **Shorts** Rapha Randonee Shorts | **Socks** Rapha Pro Team | **Shoes** Specialized S-Works Recon

The Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX in detail

Drivetrain Shimano ULTEGRA R8000 with ULTEGRA RX derailleur
Gearing 46/30 t and 11-34 t, 2×11
Brakes Shimano ULTEGRA R8000 hydraulic, 160/160 mm
Handlebar Cannondale 3, 420 mm
Stem Cannondale 2, 100 mm
Seatpost SAVE Carbon, 20 mm offset
Wheels Hollowgram 22 Carbon
Tires WTB Riddler 700 x 37C

**Included**
The Cannondale comes with a Garmin speed sensor as standard, which lets you check how far you’ve ridden and the service intervals of the bike through an app.

**Double-threaded**
The mounts on the fork have threads on both sides to offer maximum compatibility for accessories.

**Maintenance-free**
According to Cannondale, the KingPin system requires minimal maintenance with large service intervals.

**Supported**
The Hollowgram 22 Carbon rims have an internal width of 25 mm, offering more support to the tires and resulting in more grip.

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	410 mm	458 mm	505 mm	553 mm	600 mm
Top tube	525 mm	544 mm	561 mm	579 mm	596 mm
Head tube	97 mm	131 mm	165 mm	198 mm	232 mm
Head angle	70.0°	71.2°	71.2°	71.2°	71.2°
Seat angle	73.1°	73.1°	73.1°°	73.1°	73.1°
Chainstays	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm
BB Drop	69 mm	64 mm	61 mm	61 mm	59 mm
Wheelbase	999 mm	1,010 mm	1,030 mm	1,040 mm	1,060 mm
Reach	368 mm	377 mm	385 mm	394 mm	402 mm
Stack	518 mm	549 mm	579 mm	610 mm	640 mm

The Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX in review

In comparison to its competitors, our testers found the Topstone Carbon to be an agile accelerator. It shines in terms of efficiency on the flats and uphills. Going downhill and at high speeds on compacted terrain, the settled ride results in a lot of confidence and lets you ride to the limit of you and the bike’s abilities. However, as things get more technical or very rough, the small tire volume and the high centre of gravity become the Cannondale’s worst enemy. With a relatively small bottom bracket drop of 61 mm and the relatively high front-end, the bike tends to topple into slow-speed or tight corners.

**Tuning tip**
Change wheelset and tires for 650 x 48B option to expand capabilities

On long open gravel tracks, the Cannondale will lull you into a gravel trance

However, that doesn’t happen on wider corners or at high speeds – which is exactly where this bike’s strengths play out. The KingPin system doesn’t affect pedalling efficiency and results in a definite boost in comfort on bigger impacts. Smaller and high-frequency vibrations are effectively damped by the tire-wheelset combination and SAVE carbon seatpost. However you should take note that unlike suspension forks, shocks or comfort systems like the Specialized Future Shock 2.0, Cannondale’s suspension only has an effect when you’re seated. However, for longer tours where you spend a lot of time in the saddle, the KingPin system provides an undeniable boost to your comfort.

Conclusionn

With the Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX, the American brand has introduced a coherent concept that is happiest at high speeds on open gravel roads! If you’re looking for a comfortable and quick bike that sits between the all-road and gravel categories, the Topstone is a well-considered package with innovative features. However, its slightly limited performance on rough and challenging terrain ultimately impacted negatively on the bike’s final evaluation from our test crew.

Tops

good stability at high speeds
high level of comfort
coherent component spec

Flops

unstable at slow speeds and through tight corners
noisy internal cable routing
feels out of its depth on challenging terrain

Riding Characteristics

Agility

cumbersome
playful

Stability

nervous
confident

Handling

demanding
balanced

Fun factor

boring
lively

Value for money

terrible
very good

Technical Data

Cannondale
Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX

Size: XS S M L XL
Weight: 8.73 kg
Price: € 3,799

Indended Use

Smooth tarmac 1

Allroad/Gravel 2

Everyday/Commuting 3

For more info: cannondale.com