What should your ebike be praised for? Its quiet drive? Its user-friendly display? Its great look? How about its mudguards? It sounds strange, but it could happen in the future. At least if you’re zipping through the city on the new Cannondale FlyingV. As it happens, its mudguards are made of carbon.
1. Cannondale FlyingV with carbon fenders – why?
2. Not the lightest urban ebike ever
3. A successful concept – even beyond the question of weight
4. Cannondale FlyingV relies on Bosch Performance Line SX
5. Lighting and rear rack more than adequate
6. Electronic shifting on the top model
1. Cannondale FlyingV with carbon mudguards – why?
Carbon. The holy grail of all weight fetishists. Super stable. Depending on the quality and with the help of a combination of different fibre types, it can now even be surprisingly flexible. And, of course, super light. Countless manufacturers now use this composite material for their ebikes. It makes it much easier to bring the total weight of an ebike closer to that of its non-motorised counterpart. That’s why it’s used in a number of components. Many of you are probably familiar with carbon frames, forks, seat posts and rims. Some of you may even be familiar with carbon stem-handlebar units on e-road bikes such as the Scott Fastlane Premium or e-mountain bikes such as the Giant Reign Advanced E+ 0.
But have you ever seen carbon mudguards on an ebike? Nobody is likely to raise their hand right now. After all, Cannondale refers to the FlyingV as the world’s first urban ebike to use this material for its mudguards. The much more exciting question is: Why is Cannondale doing this? What are the advantages of carbon mudguards? The manufacturer points to the annoying rattling of mudguards, which this move eliminates. In addition, this of course makes the ebike even lighter and therefore more responsive, especially when starting off.
2. Not the lightest urban ebike ever
Hmm, mudguard mountings do tend to rattle. But they are also found on the FlyingV models. So Cannondale must have done a thorough job in this respect. However, we would venture to say that carefully mounted mudguards from SKS and Co. also don’t make a sound. In terms of weight savings, the scales could well tip in favour of Cannondale’s argument. A set of SKS Bluemels Style mudguards in 28-inch size and 56-millimetre width, as required by the city ebike just presented, weighs approximately 800 grams. They are made of aluminium and plastic, which are relatively lightweight materials. Nevertheless, the carbon version is likely to be lighter. By how much? Perhaps 200 grams? 300 grams? Cannondale states the total weight of the FlyingV as just over 18 kilograms. Other urban carbon speedsters such as the Scott Silence eRide are significantly lighter.
In any case, the pedals are rigidly mounted accessories on the ebike. This means that there is no advantage in terms of rotating mass when pedalling, which makes every gram less twice or even three times as valuable. Presumably, the manufacturer does not intend to break any weight records with this feature. The signal that carbon fenders send to the outside world is likely to play a much greater role. Look, this is innovative, tuning par excellence, only available from us. And the company has certainly attracted attention with this detail.
3. Successful concept – even beyond the question of weight
The best compliment we can give the ebike is that, even aside from its mudguards, it makes a really good impression. One reason for this is the fresh design of the frame. Although ‘fresh’ is relative. It’s actually more than 30 years old. The FlyingV echoes the silhouette of the famous Cannondale Delta V model series from the early 1990s. At that time, Cannondale designed mountain bikes with an unusual arrangement of tubes in the main frame. This design is in turn inextricably linked to the suspension rear triangle and its pivot point, which was revolutionary for its time. The quasi-split top tube with its low-positioned contact point on the seat tube and the equally low-set seat stays carry the Delta V’s design language into the present. This has the useful side effect of making the Cannondale FlyingV easier to get on and off than other ebikes with a continuous top tube. And, as we know, bicycles are not the only things in our everyday lives where something that was popular in a similar form several decades ago now looks modern.
Incidentally, you should sit in a rather relaxed position on the ebike. This is indicated by both the published geometry data and the handlebars with their pronounced rise. In initial tests, riders report a balanced position centred in the frame. From this position, you could accelerate very well when out of the saddle and sit comfortably on longer distances.
4. Cannondale FlyingV relies on Bosch Performance Line SX
In keeping with the model’s weight-optimised approach, Cannondale relies on the Bosch Performance Line SX for its e-drive. With the motor weighing two kilograms and another two kilograms for the accompanying Bosch CompactTube 400 battery, it is the lightest complete system in the industry leader’s range. When it comes to performance for an urban ebike, the Bosch Performance Line SX leaves no questions unanswered. Since the update in autumn 2025, its potential has increased slightly once again. The motor achieves a maximum torque of 60 Newton metres and a peak power output of 600 watts. Together with the 400 watt-hour battery capacity, this results in a package that offers more than enough power and range for city riding.
A minor disadvantage for some of you may be the fact that you cannot remove the battery from the down tube for charging. This decision reportedly allowed Cannondale to save one kilogramme in total weight. So there it is again – the argument for keeping the total weight as low as possible. At least the manufacturer has approved the FlyingV for combination with a range extender. This means that, if you wish, you can add a Bosch PowerMore 250 to significantly increase the range.
You can access the ebike system on the Cannondale FlyingV 1 via the Bosch Mini Remote on the handlebars together with the Bosch System Controller integrated into the top tube. On the more affordable Cannondale FlyingV 2, only the Bosch LED Remote is used for this purpose. Consequently, the frame of the second model does not need a recess in the top tube for the control unit. To save costs, Cannondale understandably does not produce two different frames. However, this would have given the manufacturer the opportunity to make practical use of the unused space in the top tube. For example, as a small storage space where you could use a sleeve to store items such as a repair kit, tools, a thin jacket or snacks. Unfortunately, Cannondale has left this option unused and closed the hole with a relatively plain dark plastic cover.
5. Lighting and rear rack more than adequate
On the other hand, the manufacturer has struck a good balance between a trendy look and the necessary requirements for a city ebike. For example, you can load the built-in rear rack with a maximum payload of 18 kilograms. This is only possible with the help of side panniers, as the slim rack does not have a central cargo platform. But these panniers can hold quite a lot, from a laptop to groceries to sportswear. That’s something we can work with.
The same applies to the permanently installed lighting. Both the tail light integrated into the mudguard and the small front headlight blend in well with the appearance of the ebike. Both are from Supernova. This means that they will also perform their respective tasks nicely. Even a side stand and a chain guard are included in the equipment.
6. Electronic shifting on the top model
Cannondale could perhaps have done even without the chain guard. After all, there is no greasy bike chain with dirt that you need to be protected from. Instead, both FlyingV models use the virtually maintenance-free Gates carbon belt. This transmits your pedalling motion to a five-speed Shimano hub gear. On the top-of-the-range Cannondale FlyingV 1, this can be shifted electronically. During the shifting process, the system automatically reduces the motor power for a few fractions of a second to ensure that the gear change is as smooth as possible. In addition, you can select an individual gear in the Bosch eBike Flow app, which you can use to start from a standstill. And if you want, you can leave the shifting completely to the ebike with the automatic function. However, this luxury comes at a price of 5,899 euros.
For 4,999 euros, the Cannondale FlyingV 2 offers the same five gears with the same range of 263 percent. However, you shift gears mechanically using the buttons on the shift unit.
Cannondale FlyingV for the 2026 season at a glance
- Models: Cannondale FlyingV 1, Cannondale FlyingV 2
- Frame: carbon
- Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line SX
- Battery: Bosch CompactTube 400
- Control units: Bosch Mini Remote + Bosch System Controller, Bosch LED Remote
- Drivetrain: Shimano Nexus Inter-5E Di2, Shimano Nexus Inter-5E
- Brakes: Shimano BR-MT 201
- Weight: approx. 18.5 kg
- Maximum permitted total weight: n/a
- Colours: Silver, Tiger Eye, Tungsten Blue
- Prices: from 4,999 euros
