Cannondale Moterra NEO 3: Too Much Fun

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by Kyle Fisher, PCI #1693
Lehigh University (PA) Police Department

After years of languishing in the background, e-Bikes have soared into the realm of public safety cycling and are gaining in popularity. Many officers have already witnessed the advantages first-hand, or at least read about the potential benefits. With the introduction of the e-Bike training module into IPMBA’s curriculum, it is safe to say e-Bikes are here to stay. Three IPMBA instructors from the Lehigh University Police Department hesitantly tested their first e-Bike in the fall of 2019. The bike was a Cannondale Moterra NEO 3. Armed with a “Purist Cyclist” mentality and every reason to despise e-Bikes, the instructors decided to “give it the old college try”.

The Cannondale Moterra NEO 3 hosts dual suspension, with a RockShox Revelation suspension sporting 140mm of travel in the front, and a RockShox Deluxe R rear shock sporting 130mm of travel. The tires are MAXXIS 27.5 x 2.6” tubeless-ready knobbies, which make them great for off-road. The drive train features a Sram NX Eagle 1x12 system. At the heart of the bike is a Bosch Performance Line CX motor that provides great power for any patrol area. The motor is a pedal-assist, which means pedaling is essential to utilize its full potential. The bike never feels underpowered with its four support modes ranging from Eco, Tour, eMTB, and all the way up to Turbo. The lowest mode, Eco, is enough to power you through your whole shift. We have found that, for where we ride, placing the bike in Tour mode feels efficient yet natural. The eMTB mode is an adaptive power mode which reacts to rider input. Turbo mode gives you an ultra-shot of assist to enable you to climb steep hills rapidly or sprint quickly down a flat road. These settings, as well as the battery life remaining, can be read from the handlebar display. The battery is built into the down tube, which makes for a sleek design and a low center of gravity, keeping it nimble with refined performance.

The bike was offered to us as a demo by Cutters Bike Shop in Southside Bethlehem with one piece of advice: try to beat it up! So that’s what we did. To our amazement, we tackled every obstacle and challenge that we came across on patrol. Our test included riding the famous trails of “South Mountain.” While in motion, the weight of the bike was undetectable as we tackled every climb, jump, and turn flawlessly. We then realized we were having too much fun and got back to testing the IPMBA curriculum. We were amazed that our slow speed and patrol skills were not affected by the additional accoutrements customary of an e-Bike.

After catching our collective breath, because the bike doesn’t do all the work for you, we made a decision. The Lehigh University Police Department purchased four e-Bikes that get regular usage across a wide spectrum of experienced riders.

Now I must discuss the negatives of this bike. There’s only one as far as I can tell and Cannondale needs to take full blame for it: you won’t be able to get officers to stop riding it. We had officers who hadn’t voluntarily ridden a bike in years fighting over it. To solve that problem, we just ordered more! However, the Cannondale Moterra NEO is not ideal for every police department. Our department patrols hills, city streets, multiple sets of stairs, off-road trails, athletic complexes, etc. As a jurisdiction with diverse terrain, it works great for us. The dual suspension, large tires, and weight of the bike won’t be as good a fit for a jurisdiction comprising mostly city streets or urban developments.

Information on pricing, purchasing, and local retailers can be found on Cannondale’s website. The bike retails for $4,200. Once you add pedals, lights, a rack, and a bag, don’t be surprised to surpass the $5,000 mark. You may need a donation or two from an organization that emphasizes community policing with a willingness to support the cause.

As of this time, Cannondale is not a member of the Product Purchase Program, but we can always hope for that one day. If you have any questions regarding the accessories we utilized to make it patrol ready, feel free to contact us.

Kyle is a Lehigh University Police Officer, IPMBA Instructor, maintenance officer, and avid cyclist. He can be reached at kwf317@lehigh.edu.

Photo courtesy Kyle Fisher.

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