Cannondale Mavaro Neo SL 1 review: a solid, dependable commuter e-bike that won't get pulses racing but will get the job done

A reliable choice for the urban commute, the Mavaro Neo SL 1 is built to serve

Cannondale Mavaro Neo SL 1 e-bike side on
(Image credit: Future/Stephen Shrubsall)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

The Mavaro Neo SL 1 serves its purpose as a keenly priced and well-spaced city commuter. With a good range of gears and up to 70-odd miles’ worth of battery life there’s even an argument it could also be used as a touring bike. It’s hard, however, to accept a bike billed as SL (lightweight) that’s so unwieldy in transit.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Fairly priced

  • +

    Comfortable

  • +

    Lots of features

  • +

    Well-built

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Heavy and unwieldy

  • -

    Slow to very slow

  • -

    45Nm isn't a lot of torque on tap

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Much like the speed of the steeds in question, commuter-style e-bikes are infiltrating our city centres at a slow and steady pace, very gradually earning precedence over cars. Therefore, a considerable niche in the modern bike market has been carved out for casual cyclists looking to save money on fuel or congestion charges while getting fit in the process. The Cannondale Mavaro Neo SL 1 is one such bike, and its competitive price point doesn’t detract from a dizzying array of features and a surprisingly solid spec sheet.

Construction

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Steve has been writing (mainly fitness features) for Cycling Weekly for 11 years. His current riding inclination is to go long on gravel bikes... which melds nicely with a love of carbs