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Cannondale 2013 launch: 655g SuperSix Evo Black

Two new SuperSix Evo framesets added for next year, one is lighter and the other is more affordable

On the sun-drenched slopes of Deer Valley Park, Utah, Cannondale opened the doors to a room that contained the US company's complete 2013 range of bikes, and taking centre stage was the new family of SuperSix Evo bikes.

The SuperSix Evo was launched last year, the latest evolution of the model that has been in Cannondale's range since 2006. Several years in development the frame marked a significant leap forward for the company, as it weighed a mere 695g. That put it instantly in an elite group of frames vying for the title of lightest production frame in the world.

Never one to rest on their laurels, Cannondale have grown the Evo range with the addition of two additional models. First is the Evo Black, a frame that uses a nano resin (where carbon nanotubes are fused with the resin, the bonding agent between the tubes), making the overall frame lighter. Cannondale's product manager Henning Schroeder tells us this sheds about 40g from the previous Evo, making a real world weight of 655g. The same treatment has been applied to the fork which is some 10g lighter.

Cannondale will offer the new lighter frame in its new 'Black' edition, a stealthy finish with decals blacked out and a few highlight decals. They drew inspiration from the high-end automotive world (think limited edition Lamborghini's) and finish the frame with equally impressive components, though they stayed clear of venturing into exotic parts.

So a build featuring a full Shimano Dura-Ace 11-speed groupset and Enve wheels, bars, stem and seatpost with custom decals to match the discrete details on the frame. Even with 'stock' components, the weight of this bike is just 5.2kg (11lb).

If you're wondering if this is the bike Peter Sagan and the rest of the Liquigas team are riding, we've been told by Cannondale that they're riding the currently available Evo Hi-Mod.

More affordable Evo Carbon added at lower price point

While pushing the Evo as light as they could realistically go, Cannondale realised there was an opportunity to offer a version of the frame that more of us can afford. The Evo Carbon was born. Rather than the expensive high-modulus carbon of the current Evo Hi-Mod, it makes do with an intermediate modulus carbon, keeping the price down.

Weight rises, about 950g painted, but they reckon the stiffness still hits the same targets as the Hi-Mod, due to clever placement of multiple layers of the carbon used.

All other details on both frames carry over, including internal cable routing for the rear brake only, skinny chainstays, huge diameter downtube and BB30 bottom bracket.

Cannondale haven't confirmed UK prices yet, we'll get those to you as soon as we're told. With the current Evo Hi-Mod frameset costing £2,300, we're hoping the Evo Carbon comes under the the £2K mark, and we won't ever get into hazarding a guess for the Nano.

SiSL2 483g cranks launched

Cannondale also launched the latest iteration of their chainset, the SiSL2. It's lighter with a claimed weight of just 483g, and achieves this with a 100% CNC-machined design. The arms are made by CNC machining the two sides, then bonding them together, creating a hollow crank arm that can be incredibly light. They've managed to find even more material to remove on the SiSL2 without impairing the stiffness and strength. They've also managed to shave away more material from the axle spindle.

The two chainrings and spider, inspired by the wheels on high performance race cars, are one-piece, being first 3D forged then machined from the same billet of aluminium. Cannondale claim high levels of stiffness with this design which resulted in some impressive shifting results, when they tested it against other chainsets.

Double and compact will be available and there's 10 and 11-speed specific versions. They're interchangeable so you could easily swap from a double to a compact, say if you're heading to the Alps for the week.

We'll have more from the rest of the Cannondale 2013 range soon...

www.cannondale.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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16 comments

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David Arthur @d... | 9 years ago
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The figures in the article are correct, they are straight from Cannondale.

Of course, as with most components, the manufacturer claimed weights and actual weights can vary quite a bit, as you've found out with your own frame.

And with carbon frames handbuilt there is going to be a small percentage of weight, it's highly unlikely that every Evo frame coming out of the factory is exactly the same weight

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darth | 9 years ago
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I know this review is from a while ago now, but I have this bike and wanted to correct a major mistake...

When I say major, it's not the end of the world but most people looking at buying one of these, will be very attracted to it's weight!

The reviewer is correct on occasion, but gets the figures mixed up along the way. Easily done!

This frame (and forks) does use the 'nano' glue to make it 40 grammes lighter... This reduction in weight doesn't bring the weight down FROM 695g, it brings the weight down TO 695g!

Trawling through t'internet, and the Cannondale site, you'll find it's the Black version that is the one with the weight down to 'sub 700 grammes'! And just to verify this to myself, I had every single part of my bike laid out in bits! (This was because I had a new frame under warranty - due to a crap BB.) (And because I am that 'anal'!!!)

My 56cm frame (on calibrated scales) weighs: 694.6 grammes! This is minus the derailleur hanger, but included the little plastic cable guide (behind the seat-post - where the rear inner brake cable exits the frame). I even removed the cable guide that sits under the BB! Which in case you're wondering, weighs 4.1g!

Hope this is of interest - to someone!

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Stumps | 11 years ago
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Slightly different note - but about bike paint jobs - i love the paint job on Wiggo's Pinarello - black with the yellow lines, much better than the all yellow machines some tour leaders come out with.

Mind you the Cannondale paint job will fit in really well with the inner city charvas who steal the bikes and spray them black  13

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gazpacho | 11 years ago
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Stealth paint job... I like.

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Goodtwist | 11 years ago
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I agree that the SuperSix is great. I own a 2012-er SuperSix 4 (Rival) and it's a bike that begs for speed.

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David Arthur @d... | 11 years ago
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Weight and stiffness are the biggest differences between the SuperSix and SuperSix Evo. Yes, they share the same name, but that aside they're very different, the Evo comprises Cannondale's latest carbon technology to achieve a weight that is well below a kilo.

The SuperSix is still available and is still a very good bike (our review of it http://road.cc/content/review/29511-cannondale-supersix-105)

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Goodtwist | 11 years ago
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Eh, yeah. Thank you, David.

It would be interesting to know what is the difference between the EVO Carbon and the 2012-er SuperSix frames.

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David Arthur @d... | 11 years ago
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The Evo Hi-Mod launched last year. It was the first Evo frame, and used hi-mod carbon.

For 2013, they will now offer three Evo frames, which use a slightly different carbon layup. The Carbon, the more affordable of the three, doesn't use hi-mod carbon (because it's more expensive), and the new Black Edition uses nano carbon resin, which saves a little weight.

The Liquigas team are riding the Evo Hi-Mod, rather than the newer and lighter Evo Black. Does that clear things up Goodtwist?

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Goodtwist | 11 years ago
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Before EVO in 2011, the SuperSixes were available as the plain/vanilla SuperSix and the considerably more expensive Hi-Mod.

Since Cannondale replaced the Hi-Mod with the said EVO you can chose between the latter and, again, the SuperSix-only.

As of 2013, as it seems, they want to squeeze in a third tier, the "EVO-cheaper". What I don't grasp is what do you mean by "Liquigas is riding the EVO-HiMod"?

I wasn't aware there were, up till now, different EVO models - apart from the various configurations, obviously.

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andrew streit1 | 11 years ago
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give me one NOW!!

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malcolmclayton | 11 years ago
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How much does a kidney go for these days...?

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Super Domestique | 11 years ago
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Looks cool. Any tourminator head tube logo available?

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dave atkinson | 11 years ago
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we'll see if we can make one out of socks

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seanieh66 replied to dave atkinson | 11 years ago
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dave_atkinson wrote:

we'll see if we can make one out of socks

Road.cc the site where everyday is new Christmas

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antonio | 11 years ago
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Wow, can't wait for one of these on schwag grab.

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iammarcmason replied to antonio | 11 years ago
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antonio wrote:

Wow, can't wait for one of these on schwag grab.

Hehe It's comments like that, that make me keep coming back here. For the laughs.

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