Topstone

gravel1375–7999 USD

Origin

Cannondale launched the Topstone in August 2018 as an aluminum gravel bike — late to the gravel boom, but with a clean approach: real tire clearance, road-bike fit modified for the dirt, and a price that started in the entry-level segment. The bike's real moment came in June 2019, when the Topstone Carbon arrived after a reportedly four-year development cycle and introduced Kingpin — a thru-axle pivot at the seat-stay/seat-tube junction combined with carbon flex zones, delivering up to 30 mm of compliant rear travel without a shock, pivots or bearings. It was one of the first attempts to build genuine suspension into a gravel frame without making it heavy, ugly or weird. The 2025 redesign cleaned everything up: more conservative aesthetics, more tire clearance (up to 45 mm), Cannondale's Lefty Oliver fork available on the flagship, and a smarter cable routing. Today the Topstone runs from a $1,600 Claris alloy all the way to a $7,300 LTD Di2 — one of the broadest gravel ladders any major brand offers.

Specifications

Frame: BallisTec full carbon (Topstone Carbon) with Kingpin rear flex/pivot; alloy variants use SmartForm C2 6061 aluminium (no Kingpin). Claimed painted 56cm carbon frame ~1100g.
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: Varies by build: SRAM Rival AXS XPLR 1x13 wireless (Carbon 1 AXS), SRAM GX Eagle AXS T-Type (Lefty AXS), Shimano GRX RX825 Di2 2x12 (LTD Di2), Shimano GRX mechanical or microSHIFT Advent X 1x10 (alloy).
Brakes: Hydraulic disc, flat-mount. Carbon 1 AXS: SRAM Rival hydraulic, 160/160mm Paceline centerlock rotors. Other builds use SRAM or Shimano GRX hydraulic discs.
Wheels: 700c (650b compatible). Carbon 1 AXS: Reserve 40|44 GR carbon, Turbulent Aero, 24h, tubeless-ready. Lower builds use alloy WTB/Cannondale rims. 12x142mm rear / 12x100mm front thru-axles.

The verdict

+Strengths

BikeRadar: 'Smooth comfort of the back end — never gave a suggestion of uneven movement even when powering along seated'
BikeRadar: 'Steering feels swift, like that of an endurance bike, with the relaxed head angle adding stability when going gets rougher'
BikeRadar Lab71: 'Comfort via rear end subtle but superb. Great job of maintaining characteristics while cutting weight'
Reserve 40|44 carbon wheels on Carbon 1 AXS — premium wheels at accessible price tier
52mm frame tyre clearance Gen 3 — 12mm wider than Gen 2. Near MTB capability.
UDH dropout — SRAM T-Type Transmission compatible for future electronic groupsets
StashPort in-frame storage — practical upgrade over SmartSense
6 sizes (Gen 3) from 47–61cm — broadest fit range in class
BSA 68mm threaded BB — clean standard, no creak
Multiple mounts: fork cage mounts, fender bridge, rack mounts, bottle mounts

−Weaknesses

BikeRadar Carbon 1 Lefty AXS: 'I'd like to see this most rowdy iteration come with a dropper post as standard — the icing on the cake'
BikeRadar: 'Evolution rather than revolution' — Gen 3 refinement, not radical redesign
Kingpin only 30mm travel — smaller buffer than full MTB rear suspension
Topstone Alloy has no Kingpin — confusing family naming, different product
Lefty Oliver service proprietary (dealer-only) — Baltic service concern
SmartSense discontinued — buyers of 2022-2024 models invested in dead-end ecosystem

Did you know

01Topstone was among the first gravel bikes with active rear suspension — launched before the gravel suspension trend of 2022-2024
02Kingpin leaf spring width is proportional to frame size — 16mm on small, 28mm on XL. Not just same-design scaled, genuinely tuned per size.
03BikeRadar Gravel Bike of the Year 2021 (with Lefty Oliver) — major recognition
04Lefty Oliver Gen 2 (2025): travel increased 30mm → 40mm AND new chamber damper. Significant upgrade.
0555mm fork offset (OutFront): unusually long for a drop-bar bike — most run 45mm. Creates lighter, more agile steering with larger tyres.
06Reserve 40|44 carbon wheels standard on Topstone Carbon 1 AXS at $5,499 — exceptional spec.
07StashPort (Gen 3): in-frame storage replaces SmartSense. Practical win — SmartSense was niche, storage is universal.
08UDH (Gen 3): SRAM T-Type Transmission compatible — future-proofing for electronic gravel.
0952mm frame clearance in Gen 3 — nearly MTB territory for a drop-bar bike.
10Topstone Alloy has NO Kingpin — completely different bike despite same family name. Common source of buyer confusion.

Who it’s for

Adventure gravel ridersBikepackers (multiple mounts, in-frame storage)Mixed-surface cyclists (road to singletrack)Riders wanting comfort on rough Baltic gravel roadsWinter road riders (fender mounts, wide tyre clearance)