In this video, we delve into the highly-anticipated fourth-generation Cannondale SuperSix Evo platform. After much speculation, we finally had the opportunity to take an in-depth look at this new bike and bring you all the details. Sam Gupta is lucky enough to have ridden the new SuperSix Evo, and shares his first impressions in the video, so be sure to stick around for those.
The new SuperSix Evo platform features a mysterious LAB71 carbon fiber layup that has outdone the previous range-topping HiMod. The LAB71 carbon fiber layup is lighter than ever before, making the range-topping Dura-ace LAB71 SuperSix in a 56cm, come in at the UCI weight limit of 6.8 kilos. The bike has new tube profiles, which make it more aero, and the new R50 wheels are 50mm deep.
The SuperSix Evo system was developed as a whole, and all parts of the bike were optimized around the frame, including the seatpost, wheels, bottles, bottle cages, and integrated bar and stem. The new cockpit features a MOMO design logo on the side of the bars, and a redesigned D-shaped steerer which aids in the integration process and helps slim down the headtube.
In terms of stiffness, the SuperSix Evo is just as stiff as the third-generation bike, but with small technical changes such as the bike now taking a BSA 68mm threaded unit, and the steering stops being removed. The Di2 battery is now mounted low down in the down tube, just above the bottom bracket. Cannondale will also no longer be making a 60cm and a 62cm, instead, they'll make a 61cm for simplification.
Overall, the SuperSix Evo fourth-generation is not a significant upgrade from the previous model, but it has corrected everything that was wrong with the third-gen bike. It is still just as impressive to ride, and the new tweaks and features make it a more enticing option for riders.
The new SuperSix Evo platform features a mysterious LAB71 carbon fiber layup that has outdone the previous range-topping HiMod. The LAB71 carbon fiber layup is lighter than ever before, making the range-topping Dura-ace LAB71 SuperSix in a 56cm, come in at the UCI weight limit of 6.8 kilos. The bike has new tube profiles, which make it more aero, and the new R50 wheels are 50mm deep.
The SuperSix Evo system was developed as a whole, and all parts of the bike were optimized around the frame, including the seatpost, wheels, bottles, bottle cages, and integrated bar and stem. The new cockpit features a MOMO design logo on the side of the bars, and a redesigned D-shaped steerer which aids in the integration process and helps slim down the headtube.
In terms of stiffness, the SuperSix Evo is just as stiff as the third-generation bike, but with small technical changes such as the bike now taking a BSA 68mm threaded unit, and the steering stops being removed. The Di2 battery is now mounted low down in the down tube, just above the bottom bracket. Cannondale will also no longer be making a 60cm and a 62cm, instead, they'll make a 61cm for simplification.
Overall, the SuperSix Evo fourth-generation is not a significant upgrade from the previous model, but it has corrected everything that was wrong with the third-gen bike. It is still just as impressive to ride, and the new tweaks and features make it a more enticing option for riders.
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00:00 Cannondale has launched the fourth generation of the Super 6 Evo platform. For what is probably
00:05 the worst kept secret of the year, it's great that we can finally delve into the detail and
00:10 find out what the new bike is all about and put an end to the constant speculation. I was also
00:16 lucky enough to actually ride the bike, so later in the video I'll be able to bring you my first
00:20 ride impressions. Be sure to stick around for those. First off though, let's get into the
00:26 nitty gritty detail. What really is the new Super 6 all about? Well, I think we best start with a
00:33 thing which has been the source of so much speculation, the mysterious Lab 71. Simply put,
00:40 Cannondale have unlocked a new echelon of bikes above High Mod, which was their previous range
00:46 topping offering. Lab 71 has come in and put the High Mod moniker into second place. So,
00:53 a bike wearing the Lab 71 logo will make use of a new carbon fiber layup, which Cannondale are
00:59 calling their Series Zero layup. Now, I think it's fair to expect that Lab 71 logo to be popping up
01:06 on more bikes. So, think System 6 Lab 71s, Topstone Lab 71s, etc. And I wouldn't be surprised if that
01:14 moniker stretches all the way into their mountain bike range. The new carbon layup is promising to
01:19 be lighter than ever before. And this is resulting in the range topping Dura-Ace Lab 71 Super 6 in a
01:25 56 centimeter frame size coming in at the UCI weight limit of 6.8 kilos. However, there is a
01:33 little bit more to it. That's the bike as a full build. If you look at just the finished painted
01:38 frame, the difference between the Lab 71 and the High Mod is just 40 grams. To put this into even
01:45 more context, if you look at their third tier layup, which is simply called their carbon line,
01:50 the painted frame comes in at 930 grams. So, obviously, there's a much bigger gap there.
01:56 You can usually play a bit of new bike bingo on any launch. And so far, we've ticked off a big one.
02:03 Less weight. But what about the others? Is it more aero? Of course, it's more aero. Cannondale
02:09 are claiming that the new fourth generation is 12 watts faster at 45 kilometers an hour or 28 miles
02:15 an hour than the third generation. And this is thanks to some new tube profiles, which in some
02:21 parts look flatter and more stretched out. One thing Cannondale were pretty keen to make clear
02:27 is that the bike was developed as a whole and all of the parts that the bike comes with were
02:32 optimized around the frame. So, the seat post, the wheels, the bottles, the bottle cages,
02:37 and the integrated bar and stem were all developed at the same time. In my opinion,
02:43 it did give them quite a few places where they could tweak things to find that extra speed.
02:47 I'll touch on some of the key improvements. Yes, those bottles are now aero and currently
02:53 are still UCI legal. But as we all know, that could change at the drop of a hat.
02:58 The new R50 wheels are unsurprisingly 50 millimeters deep and different bike builds
03:04 come with either the SL or S versions, with the difference mainly coming down to weight.
03:09 The bar and stem, well, that's slightly more interesting. Eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted
03:15 this Momo design logo on the side of the bars. So, what's that all about? Well, Cannondale says
03:22 that it's partnered up with the automotive brand Momo to create a new cockpit. In my opinion,
03:28 this really is just a bit of marketing. Cannondale has it well within their ability to create the bar
03:33 themselves. And really, it just looks like they've licensed the Momo logo to create a bit of a
03:39 narrative. I will say this, the crazy paving garden path pattern on the top of the bars could
03:45 split opinion amongst buyers, but it is certainly eye-catching. Along with the new handlebars comes
03:51 a new D-shaped steerer, which aids in the integration process and helps slim down the head
03:56 tube. A vast improvement on the third generations. So, we've checked off the aero box in our game of
04:03 new bike bingo, but what about stiffness? That is always a common one. Well, here, Cannondale
04:10 aren't claiming any improvement. They say it's just as stiff as the third generation. And in my
04:15 opinion, that is absolutely fine. I owned the third generation of the bike and not once did I
04:21 ever think, "Oh, this would be better if it was stiffer." So, quite frankly, I think they made a
04:26 good call here. In terms of changes, that really is it bar some very small details. For example,
04:33 the bike now takes a 68mm threaded BSA bottom bracket. The steering stops have been removed,
04:39 which is great. And the Di2 battery is now mounted low down in the down tube,
04:45 just above the bottom bracket. And Cannondale will no longer be making a 60cm or a 62cm frame.
04:53 Instead, they'll just be making a 61cm for simplification. But that's about it. As mentioned
05:00 earlier, the stiffness has stayed the same, as has the geometry, as has the tyre clearance at 34mm.
05:06 When you look at both third and fourth generations together, they aren't a world apart. It feels
05:13 much more like a 3.5 generation has been released, rather than an all-new bike. They've taken
05:20 everything that was wrong with the third generation and corrected it. And the result
05:24 is something which now is a lot more enticing. So, that's all the techie stuff out of the way.
05:30 But what's it like to ride? Well, no surprises here. It feels like the old Super 6. I'm never
05:37 going to claim that I could feel the 12 watt increase in efficiency. I'm sure I only hit the
05:41 magic 45km/h a handful of times. The bike still embodies everything that was good about the third
05:48 generation. It climbs well, the wheels are easy to spin up, and the bike feels good at low speeds.
05:54 And if you want to open up the taps and push it further down the road, well, it's only going to
05:58 invite you to do that. Quite frankly, for a bike which has the third generation Super 6 as its
06:03 prelude, it was never going to be bad. It's very hard to find any criticism with the ride itself.
06:10 What about prices then? Well, here's a graphic to show you the worldwide pricing.
06:14 There's a couple of key things to note. Yes, it is a lot of money. The previous top-end
06:20 high mod retailed at £11,500. But now the new top-end high mod comes in at £10,500. And the
06:28 Lab 71 has come in at £12,500. Builds start at £6,250 here in the UK, and that will be for a
06:37 12-speed Ultegra Di2 option. And you can get the bike with the new surround force for an extra £500.
06:46 The bikes have a smattering of paint options, the majority of which look pretty smart.
06:51 Availability is going to differ across the globe. But if you're after a Lab 71 bike,
06:56 then do be quick because they're only being produced in limited quantities.
07:01 What do you think about the new Super 6 Evo 4? For me, it represents an evolution rather than
07:08 anything groundbreaking and new. But as all bike brands hone in on what looks to be the best bike
07:14 design for the majority of roads, I guess it's inevitable that the jumps in progression will
07:20 become ever smaller and those designs will start to look even more similar. Of course,
07:26 the limits of physics and the UCI are the same for everyone. If you enjoyed the video, then please do
07:32 drop it a like, subscribe to the channel for more content, and I'll see you again very soon.