Review: Cannondale SuperSix

[dilbert]

Cannondale SuperSix ? for better or worse?<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

When news broke that Cannondale was bringing a new full carbon frame to top their range, their fans all over were jumping up and down with excitement. The aluminium & carbon SystemSix is an excellent bike, and if they could go one better, the new frame would be a real world beater. Crux, being a huge fan (I?m sure biggest fan. actually) got some of the first batch to arrive in SA. I got to ride one for a couple of weeks

The bike was kitted out wit a Record gruppo (still my #1 favorite, but I still have to try Red), Hollowgram Si cranks, ITM K-Sword bar, stem and seatpost. It also had a Powertap SL 2.4 wireless.

 

The frame:

Compared to the System6, the first impression is less extreme than the look of the System6, with a smaller top tube and trimmed down head tube. The seat stays are tiny, like those on a Cervelo R3. The down tube is traditional Cannondale size - very big, and it ends in a massively reinforced bb. As far as looks go, the frame falls much easier on the eye than the System6.

Two things bothered me about this frame?s looks: The first was the lugs at the top and bottom of the seat tube. It spoils the clean lines of the frame a bit. All the joints on the frame are smooth, so it seems as if the developers did not have time to design better joints to the seat tube. The lugs have been taken out on the 2009 Super6?

The second small gripe I have is with the colour of the frame: black. The Super6 launched in 3 colours, black, black and black -  not very exciting. There are also some white frames around, but they are still fairly rare. Looks like some more colour will be added in 2009 ? perhaps the designers also did not have enough time to design some nice paint schemes in time for 2008.

 

The Equipment:

The components are almost exactly the same as the System6 I tested before. I loved the gruppo and the cranks, and did not like the handlebar. I liked the adjustability of the ITM seatpost, the separate tilt and fore/aft adjustment made finding the perfect saddle position a walk in the park. The wireless Powertap deserves special mention ? I found it extremely hassle free to set up, reliable and easy to use. As far as power meters go, for basically the same performance, you can buy 2 or 3 powertaps for the price of an SRM. Until the Quark power meter arrives, the wireless Powertap would be my choice for a power meter.

 

The Ride:

The frame was a size too small for me, it was a 52, compared to the 54 I prefer. Even fitted with a 135mm stem, I could not find a perfect setup, so things did not start out that well. I also expected the full carbon frame to be a lot better than the carbon/aluminium System6, but I could not notice much of a difference. I suppose it must be there, it is just not that obvious. The frame felt stiff, but it was not quite as snappy as the System6 ? stiff enough, just not the raging adrenaline rush of the System6. The full carbon frame did take the edge off the road buzz, and the ride & handling was good. It was not as comfortable through the saddle as a Colnago C40, for example. All in all, a very nice ride, but after the System6, I was a bit under whelmed by the Super6.

 

So, the question on Dilbert?s mind at this point was: ?If this frame was woman, what would she look like??

A nice frame, up to date with the latest bike fashion, but not as muscular as the System6?

 

Super6 vs. System6:

 

A German cycling magazine, Tour, tested both frames in a size 56. The data is hard engineering facts, measured in a lab, not opinions (Dilbert loves Tour magazine). It makes for an interesting comparison:

 

	Super6	System6
Weight (frame+fork+headset)	1598 grams	1673 grams	Super6 4.7% lighter
BB lateral stiffness	65 N/mm	79 N/mm	System6 21.5% stiffer
Frame comfort (vertical stiffness of rear dropout)	269 N/mm	283 N/mm	Super6 5.2% more comfortable
Torsional stiffness	69 Nm/?	103 Nm/?	System6 49% stiffer
Fork lateral stiffness	54 N/mm	42 N/mm	Super6 28.6% stiffer
Fork comfort (vertical stiffness of dropout)	102 N/mm	79 N/mm	System6 29.1% more comfortable

 

 

For a small reduction in mass, the Super6 gives up some BB stiffness, and a lot of torsional stiffness, but gains a small bit of extra comfort. At the front end, the System6 fork has a better comfort rating, but less stiffness sideways than the Super6 fork.

 

Conclusion:

 

The Super6 is a nice frame. It has enough stiffness to keep 90% of all riders happy, has more or less the same excellent ride & handling as a System6. I do think they should rather have named it the Six, because it is not that super compared to other top end 2008 bikes, especially as far as weight is concerned.

dilbert2008-12-22 04:17:50