NEW: 2023 Cannondale Synapse AL | Is It Still The Endurance Bike To Have?

Cannondale have released the update to the aluminum Synapse. After the carbon fiber Synapse was released last year, we've seen some of the same design cues come over and trickle down to the alloy version. Does the bike still represent good value though or are you very much paying for the name? Is the Synapse AL good? Well, Sam Gupta sat down to take a look at the specification of the new bike and compare it against it's closest rivals. Which would you choose?

00:00 - Intro
00:47 - Synapse AL Specs
01:46 - Available models
02:32 - Is the Synapse AL good value?
05:57 - Is it SmartSense compatible?
06:50 - Verdict

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#cycling #bikes #bicycles

[SydneySlowRider]

Sam is the best thing to happen to Cycling Weekly. Excellent presenter.

[jakepage]

Just picked up a 2017 Synapse Carbon disc with 105 for £600, a much nicer bike IMO for a fraction of the price

[jarhead]

I had previous versions of the Synapse and the newer carbon version would be high on my list except for smart sense. I didn’t ask for or want to pay for smart sense and it makes the bike cost a lot more which is probably the actual goal of adding it. I bought a Giant Defy instead with 105 and a great carbon frame.

[daryltill]

Who’d have thought that we’d have to pay nearly £2000 for an aluminium bottom tier bike 😢

[stevek]

Bikes are over priced. So if the prices don’t drop, I’ll keep riding the two I have. Like they say the best bike is the one you’re already riding. Lol

[emze]

£1100 and all I get is sora? pisstake. ill stick to second-hand. £380 got me an 8.5kg aluminium frame, carbon forks and 105 (except crankset)

[johnmaheu]

Rear wheel is still qr! The competitors have all moved on to the standard thru-axle front and rear.

[Z-u-m-a]

What about Ribble? I had a max £2k budget last year and ended with one (R872), and it's been superb. For the same price as the more established brands (these) you could add a higher end group set and/or carbon frame. Or save more money with their Endurance AL range.

[CristiancBucur]

Presenting a bike is fine, but I believe others, like me, are interested in how it rides. Is there any chance you will test it(Synapse AL), preferably against the carbon version? That would make an excellent video that doesn’t exist on YouTube(testing how Synapse AL rides).

[muschebubu]

the price is fair & good investment good quality Thank You.

[jonburnell]

So the entry level Synapse doesn't have Smart Sense included, but the higher level ones (who's riders usually have lights etc) are forced to have it. Ridiculous!

[cidhighwind]

Canyon often pulls a bait and switch on you with their components, so watch out if you order from there.

[jacekratajczyk]

Hi.What size frame would you suggest for rider of 169cm high and 81cm inseam?

[jonathanzappala]

The only difference between 105 and tiagra is one cog and the crankset. Since cannondale is already selling you 10y with a tiagra crankset painted black, they are already selling 11 speed tiagara. There is nothing new to trickle down to mechanical shifting, when we see 11 speed tiagra is just going to be rebranded r7000 with a heavier crankset.

[flaccus]

Cannondale are supplying dealers in Europe out of their CSG distribution centre in the UK. The extra import vat and duty as a result of Brexit is the reason their prices are higher than competitors and the reason why my LBS in Ireland and others around Europe are not stocking Cannondale this year. They simply refuse to supply from mainland Europe. Scott are much better value now.

Incidentally, I bought a Synapse GRX di2 spec with smart sense last year. I liked the frame and how it rode, and no other choice to buy one with smart sense as that is all the LBS could get at the time. Cannondale are only supplying the bike (even in the UK) with StVZO lights front and back which means solid mode only and so a 1.5 hour battery if lucky. And the battery doesn't hold it's charge in standby either. Ripped the whole lot out last week as was just sick of it. It's a 20 minute job. Luckily there is an official plate to cover the hole left from removing the battery, which I was able to order online. I wish they had sold this model without Smart Sense. No one wants it, the lights and battery are terrible, and it's over priced.

[LOZUPONEJ]

The rivals are a better value probably. Cheaper alternatives with better tire clearance plus better components

[miamisportsman]

didnt mention they changed to external BB which is a huge upgrade from cannondale known for BB creaking from pressfit BB.

[osterlitz]

I ride and have ridden Cannondale for years. That said if I was buying today I would be looking at Giant first and foremost. Just my opinion for my money spent.

[cauldron]

I have been reading about the Integrated Lights to this and yet I haven't seen one.

[mavenmavenpest]

Could not focus…fretting about that glass being knocked over 😬