Cannondale Synapse RLE: Good idea, poor execution

The RLE - radar, lights, electronic drivetrain - on the Cannondale Synapse RLE is nearly cool, but not all-the-way cool. Why? It straddles the line of integration and incompatibility. What do you think? Are you happy to have lights and a radar permanently affixed to your bike?

The Synapse itself is an excellent endurance road bike with a plush ride, room for up to 35mm tires, and the kind of stretched-out top tube geometry that other companies are calling progressive.

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[martinfrance]

Got mine with a 20% price cut and on its first ride was amazing. Fixed the saddle bag complaint with two zip ties. Everything wotked flawlessly. I love this bike!

[roundabout]

YES! You can power your Garmin head unit from the front light (there are 2 back ports) with the right cabling and mount. See DC Rainmaker's review to see how it's done. If you need a more powerful and longer-lasting front light, you should run a separately-powered light anyway. And yes, you can mount a smaller-sized saddle bag behind the radar (at an angle). I do that with a large-size Bontrager bag with enough room for my repair essentials (tube, 2 co2 cartridges, tools). It's not like I need easy access to open it most times.

My main gripe is the app and the lack of customizability with the SmartSense settings. I would like to be able to rename the light settings and have the initial light setting be OFF if I want it to(radar is mostly what I care about). It would also be nice to track service by miles so I can tell when to rewax my chain.

[davidf]

Valid points as always Ben. Enjoying your bike reviews and coverage of gravel events. Keep pedaling!

[JMI]

never had a bike review make me laugh - enjoy your delivery and your assessment of this ride

[galenkehler]

This is still a great idea, but needs work:
1. Integration of the components into the frame. Front lights into the fork crown, rear lights into the seatstays or behind the seat tube.
2. Wiring and battery all inside the downtube, with a little port to charge it somewhere.
3. Extra connections for other devices (additional lights on the bars, di2, garmin, phone, dynamo charging. This wiring loom could be in the downtube hidden but ready to connect if desired.

[Jdem]

I just got this bike and I love the way it rides. I will see what add one I'll put into it with cannondales pricey integrated system

[jkrejci.]

The integration looks like a great idea, I love it. As argued at the beginning of the video, full integration is not feasible, so let´s use it as an argument against partial integration. I personally thing that integrating Di2 and Garmin would not make sense. Also, if the battery is dead (because you forgot to recharge, ) just pop a spare light and you are good to go. Way to go, looks cool!

[Peteflay]

As I have already commented in another review of this bike in another channel, a few months ago I bought version 3 of this bike (lights only), and I agree with everything Ben says. Just to say that the SmartSense can be completely disassembled (lights, battery and base), covering the hole for the base with a screw-on plastic cover that Cannondale provides to its dealers.

The bike rides very well, it's very comfortable for long distances and on climbs it feels great, and once it picks up speed it's easy to maintain. On the other hand, it is a heavy bike (around 9kg depending on version and assembly), not very reactive and hard to pick up speed. As for the SmartSense system, I also agree with Ben, it's a good idea but with improvable execution. In my case, I disassembled the SmartSense and I have the hole covered with the cover that I talked about before.

[ariffau]

Now this is a legit bike review! Thank you for creating content this awesome 😁

[rudyelizondo]

Haha good review Ben, love the honesty!! Weight of the bike with the set up? Thank God I bought my Diverge in 2014 with tiagra gears which was very cheap like about $700!!! I don’t race like you guys cause I’m an old fart but I really enjoy getting out there in the gravel with my panaracer sk gravel kings 38s. Simple n cheap was my deal for my fun. Reminds me of my first bike which was a huffy and I rode the hell out of that bike and loved every minute of it man. Couldn’t get any better than that in my lifetime!!!!

[JB-mors]

I don’t want this bike due to the $300 battery pack replacement. Who knows when those batteries are obsolete?

[iecrime]

At first, I thought the downsides to the integration might be an issue. But having ridden over 1k miles on my synapse, I'm going to have to say that my "riding life" is easier and greatly improved over my previous road bikes.

You aren't wrong, Ben, in your critique, but some of the limitations aren't as bad as it might seem at first blush.

For instance, sure, you can't charge your head unit or hook in your di2 to the smartsense battery, but you can't do that on other bikes either...for obvious reasons Limitation, maybe, but not more than other bikes. Think of it as aspirational for future developments.

As for being unable to adjust the position of the lights or put a different headlight or tail light in place, not really a big deal, at least not for me after six months. Easy enough to carry back up lights that affix to the bars or seat tube.

That said, the hard mounting of the lights and radar makes for some annoyance. Just clunkier to work around, so to speak.

Last, saddle bags: Cannondale claims you can use a go pro type extension arm to fit clip types of saddle bags. Haven't tried it, but I use saddlebag w/velcro straps. Works fine, fits perfectly, though I have to undo the straps that affix to the saddle to be able to unzip the bag. But not a big deal since it's easy enough.

Upsides:

I'm a bit forgetful like you are, but have become more mindful about keeping my battery charged bc I'm notified on the app. Also, I bought a back up battery w/usb charger in my seat tube bag. Haven't needed it as even on my longest rides (5-6 hrs), there was some battery life remaining at the end.

Radar: Been a game changer for me. Obviously, you can buy the non smartsense garmin varia radar for other bikes (which I did!), but this my first bike with radar, and I was hooked immediately. My flexibility isn't the greatest and I'd rather not be constantly straining to look behind me while riding. Other than at intersections etc, the radar has become my rear vision. My riding and safety have greatly benefited.

Last Last: The Ride...Quality is superb. Bike is lights out comfortable, not to mention faster (and holds speed better) than I thought it would. And for folks north of 200lbs like me, running good, cushy 35mm tires makes it a dream.

By the way, to those who say integration takes away choice...maybe but there's always a but....

You have a choice to purchase a synapse without smartsense or not purchase a synapse at all. Or you can get one and remove the lights and put your own on. Truth is, though, our choices for any particular bike and associated components are limited to what the manufacturer offers for each model...unless you buy custom.

[JasonScottCarter]

I have a 2019 Synapse (before the dropped seat-stays). Was eyeing a road bike upgrade but Cannondale ruined the Synapse line by making this system mandatory. Disappointed they went all in on this. They should have made one model with this just to test the waters. I don't think it has a lot of fans from people, and dealers I have talked to.

[nelsonglover]

I'm really surprised that the Di2 isn't powered off the main battery. Especially as there seems to be a lot of integration between ebike main batteries and electronic derailleurs. A 5V USB C outlet or two would certainly be a plus too. Also would be nice to add downtube storage with the lack of room for a seat pack, a la Domane where you can't use a seat pack with the integrated light mount

[Xhadp]

Have the Synpase RLE, got it at a closeout discount (4K for the 5.5K model)

Have about 100 miles on it so far. I love the system, Given how long a di2 battery and head unit battery lasts vs radar+lights makes it a plus that it powers just lights+radar. You still have to charge a battery regardless of how its implemented. I'm sure we'd all love infinite lights but that isn't happening unless you've got it hooked up to a dynamo.

You can still go with a lower tier option and get add-on radar detector+unit. Or even just get a combo mount and use your own head unit and the included light. The system also isn't integrated, you can still remove all of it afaik. The bike is still a Synpase so I think people are just looking at the RLE and dismissing it as if that's the only thing it offers.

The customization options leaves a bit to be desired. The system is great as its core, not too heavy on features nor too light on features (no pun intended). I just get on and ride, no need to fiddle with checking all the systems beforehand.

Conclusion: The system is fantastic. The bike is fantastic. I'm sure people would want it to not be bundled with the bike which is questionable from Cannondale's perspective. Given the closeout price I got the bike for, it was a deal for me and makes me disagree with all the negatively surrounding Smartsense.

Going to have to do some research about that Speedx leopard bike now, that thing looks wicked.

[emmawang]

Researching bikes for purchase. If getting smallest frame size, could it fit a rear water bottle?

[andarenbici]

I think they missed the opportunity to just add electronic routing channels, similar to how some frames have cable guides.

[JoseRodriguez-oonf]

hi, can i use the knot bar system on any of these bikes? thank you

[omarmyers]

Will it run with the igsport 630 computer?

[sloveloguy]

Anybody do a wheel upgrade? If so, what did you choose? I see that light bicycle has a 45 deep wheel and 34 wide. That seems like a good fit for this bike.