The Cannondale Topstone Carbon 4 CUES 1x pairs a carbon frame and Kingpin suspension with Shimano CUES 1x11 gearing and 45mm tyres. Wide-range gearing, tubeless-ready wheels and plenty of mounting options make it ready for gravel exploring and longer adventures.

Key Features:

• Carbon frame with Kingpin suspension, size-specific construction and 45mm clearance
• Full carbon Topstone fork with OutFront geometry and multiple gear mounts
• Shimano CUES U6000 1x11-speed drivetrain with wide-range 11-50T cassette
• Shimano CUES RS405 hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors
• WTB ST i25 TCS tubeless-ready wheels with 25mm internal-width rims
• WTB Riddler 45mm TCS tyres with fast centre tread and grippy outer knobs
• StashPort storage and multiple mounting points add adventure-ready practicality
• Available with 0% APR finance

The Cannondale Topstone Carbon 4 CUES 1x is designed for riders who want to explore beyond smooth roads without giving up the efficiency and familiar riding position of a drop-bar bike. Its carbon frame, Kingpin suspension and high-volume tyres add comfort and control across gravel, broken roads and rougher tracks.

At the heart of the Topstone is Cannondale's Kingpin suspension system. Rather than using a conventional shock, Kingpin allows controlled flex through the frame around a pivot at the seat tube. This provides compliance at the saddle and rear wheel, helping absorb vibration and impacts while keeping the system simple and lightweight.

For this generation, Cannondale uses low-friction bushings around the Kingpin thru-axle rather than the cartridge bearings used previously. Cannondale claims this saves more than 100g while providing smooth movement and reducing maintenance requirements.

The frame uses Cannondale's Proportional Response construction, which adapts the carbon layup and ride characteristics across different frame sizes. This is designed to give riders a more consistent balance of stiffness and Kingpin compliance regardless of their chosen size.

OutFront steering geometry combines a relatively slack head angle with a longer 55mm fork offset. The aim is to balance stability when riding quickly across rough surfaces with light, responsive steering at lower speeds and through tighter sections.

A full carbon Topstone fork complements the frame and features a tapered 1-1/8in to 1.5in steerer. A 12x100mm thru-axle provides a secure wheel connection, while internal cable routing keeps the front end tidy.

The fork also adds plenty of carrying capacity for longer adventures. Triple bottle and gear mounts provide options for attaching cages, bags or other equipment, while dedicated mudguard mounts add practicality for wet-weather and year-round riding.

Tyre clearance is a key part of the Topstone's versatility. The dropped chainstay design provides clearance for tyres up to 700x45mm or 27.5x2.1in, with Cannondale quoting 6mm of mud clearance on either side. It also uses a standard-dish rear wheel, making replacement and wheel changes more straightforward.

Shimano CUES provides a simple and durable 1x11-speed drivetrain. CUES U6030 shifters are paired with a U6000 Shadow RD+ rear derailleur, 40T CUES chainset and wide-range 11-50T LG400 cassette.

The 11-50T cassette gives you a broad spread of gears from a single chainring, providing useful low gearing for steep gravel climbs and loaded riding without the additional controls and components of a front derailleur. Shimano's Shadow RD+ clutch also helps control chain movement when riding over rough surfaces.

Shimano's LINKGLIDE chain and cassette are designed with durability and smooth shifting in mind, making the drivetrain particularly suitable for riders covering plenty of miles in mixed conditions.

Shimano CUES RS405 hydraulic disc brakes use 160mm RT30 rotors front and rear. Hydraulic operation provides consistent, easily controlled braking, useful when managing speed on loose gravel, wet roads and longer descents.

WTB ST i25 TCS rims have a 25mm internal width and are tubeless ready, providing a supportive platform for the high-volume gravel tyres. Thru-axles are used at both ends, with 12x100mm spacing at the front and 12x142mm at the rear.

WTB Riddler TCS Light tyres come fitted in a generous 700x45c size. Their tread combines a closely packed centre section for efficient rolling with more pronounced outer knobs for cornering traction on loose surfaces.

Both the rims and tyres are tubeless ready. Converting to a compatible tubeless setup can allow lower tyre pressures for additional grip and comfort while sealant can deal with many smaller punctures encountered on gravel rides.

Cannondale's StashPort adds integrated storage within the downtube, giving you somewhere to carry tools and other small ride essentials without relying entirely on bags or jersey pockets.

The frame is also ready for a 27.2mm dropper post, giving riders who regularly tackle steeper or more technical gravel the option of adding one later. A removable mudguard bridge and additional mounting options further increase the bike's versatility for commuting, touring and wet-weather riding.

A Cannondale 3 flared aluminium handlebar provides 16 degrees of flare, giving the drops a wider stance for additional control on rougher terrain. Bar width and stem length vary across the size range to better match the rider's proportions.

Crank length is similarly size-specific, ranging from 165mm on the smallest frame through to 175mm on the largest sizes. A threaded BSA 68mm bottom bracket keeps maintenance straightforward, while a UDH hanger makes replacement hangers easier to source.

Overall, the Topstone Carbon 4 CUES 1x combines the comfort of Kingpin suspension with simple wide-range gearing, large-volume tyres and plenty of carrying options. It's well suited to riders looking for one gravel bike to cover local tracks, long mixed-surface days, bikepacking trips and rougher backroad adventures.

Occasionally, without notice, manufacturers change product design and/or specifications.