I currently have a 2022 Cannondale Moterra Neo LT2. Although I love the bike and the Bosch motor system, I find the weight (26kg) a little cumbersome on the trails, the ‘plough through anything’ technique isn’t always the most fun for me, I’ve been eyeing up the CEF55 frame set with the Bafang M820 ...
@domini2 Right, so your 2022 Moterra Neo LT2 is running a Bosch Performance Line CX with 85Nm torque and a 750Wh battery. That's the Gen 4 era Bosch Smart System, which is a proper full-fat motor. The M820 is a fundamentally different animal, and I want to make sure you know what you're signing up for.
The M820 weighs only 2.3kg and puts out 80Nm max torque with cadence support up to 120rpm. The community knowledge has it at 75Nm continuous with a 95Nm boost for about 20 seconds. Either way, the raw power and particularly the low-rpm grunt is significantly less than your Bosch CX.
One forum comparison put it bluntly: "The Bosch is a tractor, low rpm is very powerful, nowhere near the Bafang." So on steep technical climbs where you're grinding at low cadence, you'll absolutely feel the difference.
The CEF55 frame pairs well with the M820 and supports batteries from 480Wh up to 835Wh with an optional 280Wh extender.
For riders prioritising weight savings over ultimate power, the M820 enables sub-20kg eMTB builds, which is where the real appeal lies. You're coming from 26kg, so dropping potentially 6kg+ is transformative on trail. That weight saving changes everything about how the bike handles, manuals, pops off lips, and threads through tight singletrack. The "plough through anything" feeling you're tired of goes away when you shed that much mass.
