Cannondale Topstone Kingpin Review

The cannondale topstone carbon gravel offers up superb performance and the kingpin micro suspension design is impressively effective. Click here for an overview of the best gravel bike 2020 group test. Topstone carbon distills our experience making fast race bikes comfortable endurance bikes and ultra light dual suspension mountain bikes into an exceptional machine designed for maximum fun in places beyond most gravel bikes abilities or maximum comfort in more ordinary terrain.

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Review The Cannondale Topstone Carbon Gravel Bike Does It All

Cannondale Topstone Carbon Gravel Bike Rolls A New Frame With

Cannondale Topstone Carbon First Look 30mm Kingpin Suspension

Proportional response construction suspension and overall frame ride feel is custom tuned by size using different carbon layup and different tube dimensions so each size is dialed for the rider.

Cannondale topstone kingpin review. Level 5 expert. The magic is in what cannondale calls. 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. Cannondale s latest carbon framed topstone features kingpin suspension technology and a sublime ride quality james bracey december 12 2019 11 05 am ec19 adventure.

Last year cannondale launched the budget topstone with an aluminium frame and this year it has launched the topstone with a carbon frame and a radical new kingpin rear suspension design providing 30mm of compliance to deliver a gravel bike it intends to provide the smoothest and most capable ride. The slate was notably absent when cannondale launched its 2020 gravel collection last summer. Cannondale claims that. It wasn t just a gimmick.

The topstone carbon is a completely revamped version of the aluminum topstone apex1 that was introduced last summer and this one has rear suspension. Cannondale topstone is the world s 5 best gravel adventure bike. The innovative kingpin suspension system uses pivot points and apparently has the effect of running a 9mm wider tire. But the bike isn t without some major compromises though.

Cannondale has dubbed the new suspension system on the topstone kingpin suspension it is a leaf spring system and cannondale claims the absorption of the mechanism is equivalent to a 9mm. Cannondale topstone apex review. You can find out whether that goal has been successful here. The company s new gravel bike the topstone featured a soft tail rear end that uses vertical frame flex around the kingpin pivot on the seat tube to provide up to 30mm of travel at the rear axle but alas no front suspension.

The kingpin suspension system offers up to 30mm of bump smoothing suspension without the weight and complexity of a shock or linkages.