faisal82

I've been riding a CAAD8 for a year now. I live in Karachi, Pakistan. The roads here not exactly the best with plenty of potholes here and there. Anyhoo, I am a hardcore Cannondale lover. And after reading raving reviews about Synapse carbon I have decided to purchase the Ultegra version of 2015. But after carefully combing through the specs I have become extremely upset. Seems like Cannondale is trying to defraud the customers. Some sneaky changes have been made into the Synapse carbon Ultegra version vis a vis the 2014 version. They are as follows.

The 2014 version had C2 stem/handlebar while the 2015 version will have a C3 stem/handlebar
The 2014 version had a UD carbon seatpost while the 2015 version will have a C3 seatpost
The 2014 version had a Fizik saddle while the 2015 version will have a Prologo saddle
The 2014 version had the Ultegra 11 casette and chain while the 2015 version will have a 105 11 casette and chain

I love Dales but this seems like I am being defrauded. After all it is the same price for the model then why this sneak attack. This just seems like I am getting a little less bike for the same amount of money.

seymour1910

I will give my opinion. I don't think it's defrauding the customer. I think they are doing small things to keep the cost down. If they came stock with outstanding stem/seatpost/bars and came with a full Ultegra group vice a partial one then the price would be higher and people would still complain.


IMO the C2 stuff is really no better than C3. If you want superior parts in those areas you will have to pay for it. Again all this is just my opinion, not saying you are wrong for feeling the way you feel.

faisal82

True indeed but if you were to go through specs of CAAD10 and Supersix EVO Ultegra they both used to have the SL-K carbon crankset. None of the specs of these two bikes have changed but infact have been improved with the crankset being upped to the Si Hollowgram one. Why this discrimination with Synapse? They have no exactly decreased the price as far as I can tell.

TrojanHorse

defraud : illegally obtain money from (someone) by deception.

I don't think they are deceiving your or illegally stealing your money.

The spec change probably has as much to do with what parts they can get for what prices when they're specing out the next model year and less to do with trying to rip people off. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Or buy a 2014 model.

rpenmanparker 

Another way to look at it is "price pointing." Perhaps Cannondale wants to sell Synapse cheaper than another model and make it LESS DESIRABLE on purpose. That is so the higher priced model will appear to be more desirable. The customer won't be able to get as good a bike without paying out the extra dough. They know they have to offer every decent frame with every popular group like Ultegra, but that doesn't mean they have to dress up the entire bike. Also downgrading certain less significant drivetrain parts like chain, cassette, and even crank has been the accepted practice for cost control for years.

Team Sarcasm

This isn't a sneak attack since everything is labeled and they tell you. I bet your caad8 isnt all one component group either. same amount of money for discs, a more common seat post size, and 5800 parts? not a bad deal.

Team Sarcasm

the caad10 and evo have been out for a little bit of time. throwing something fresh on them to boost sales is an easy thing to do. but both had an increase in their prices.

Jaeger99

This is fraud, how??? We must have VERY different understandings of the term.

faisal82

Perhaps fraud is a strong term. They do mention everything on their brochure. BTW, the C3 seatpost is 25.4mm just like the UD carbon one I mentioned. And all these shuffling in components have added about 200 grams in total on the bike. On top of that I will have to fly down to Dubai from Karachi which will cost about $400 and the Synapse 2015 Ultegra is retailing for $3550. Obviously you can understand my frustration with this whole thing. My cousin is flying to the US in January and I will try to source the 2014 model but I doubt there would be anything left in the US by then. The 2014 model, that is.

gsa103

It's very common for the cassette/chain to be down-specced, I'm surprised the 2014 version used Ultegra. Chains are consumable, the cassette is semi-consumable, and the only difference is probably 50-100g of weight between the cassette and chain. Many people swap the cassette immediately to get different gearing.

Saddles are a very personal item, and Prologo is a quality brand. Its different, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a downgrade.

Team Sarcasm

the transition to discs are probably where the majority of the weight gain is.....

you can always call a shop and put a cc on a year end 2014 then pick it up in person.

rangerdavid

I usually upgrade my saddle, seatpost, bars and stem on bikes anyway to the ones I know I like. To each his own though. Just enjoy the bike you get, that's the main point.

raisinberry777

Well 105 5800 has only just come out, so the option to downspec chain and cassette wasn't available for Cannondale last year.

daihard 

Just makes me wonder how much money Cannondale can save by using the 105 5800 cassette rather than the Ultegra 6800? Apparently the difference isn't significant (a few grams?), but the price difference may be?

dtrain

Didn't the '14 carbon synapse more or less sell out. One could argue that they underpriced it...or overspec'ed it...and are now making a correction based on the market demand.

daihard 

The 2014 Synapse Carbon 3 Ultegra received some very good reviews as far as I can tell. One of the road cycling sites chose it as the runner-up for their 2013-14 Bike of the Year award... if it means anything.

dtrain

The 105 (5) version was bike of the year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLRSqvcz-1M

daihard 

DOH! So it was a one-two finish for the Synapse family. Thanks for the info!

A little off, but I've noticed that the 2015 Synapse models are equipped with 70x28 tires rather than the 70x25s that came with the 2014 models. Can you think of any reason why?

dtrain

Not exactly. The link I shared was for 'Cycling Plus' from the UK and their review was for all mid-level bikes (1500-2000 pounds). The other two finalists were a Giant Defy and BMC (both with 105). The Ultegra version would have been a different test group, higher price range, separate reviewers/award.

No idea, other than there is plenty of room and that's kind of where this segment is headed.

daihard 

Ah, okay. That makes sense. It may in fact have been two different organizations.

Yeah, I know that the 2014 Synapse can take 70x28s as well. I'm just curious what advantages the 28 tires have over the 25s in road cycling. I'm fairly new to road cycling and may be missing something fundamental.

K100Fran 

Since the 11 speed 105 and cassette wasn't available last year, have you compared any other brands 2014 full Ultegra models to what is offered on their 2015 versions? I think it's a safe bet that more than just the Synapse is being specc'd with 105 chains and cassettes.

jaxgtr

I recently got a 2015 and mine came with 25's, I put the Michelin Pro4's on with my Boyd Altamont's and they size out to a 28 and have plenty of room. I can run lower pressure and get a much more comfy ride. I did change out the rear derailleur though for a short cage and moved to an 11-28 Ultegra cassette and DA chain. I thought it was odd that it came with 105 as well.

TrojanHorse

Just lower air pressure - more comfy ride, which is usually what people are looking for when they buy a synapse. Maybe it makes the test rides go better too, who knows.

daihard 

I actually found an article that says wider tires are faster. In this case, they are comparing 23mm and 25mm tires.

25 vs. 23 | Is Wider Really Faster? | Competitive Cyclist

I wonder if the 28mm tires can be just as fast as, if not faster than, the 25mm. As you say, the 28mm tires are definitely more comfortable, so if that's the case, that explains why 28mm tires are becoming more popular for road bikes.

BigJeff

For the praise it got this year, it isn't shocking to hear there are 4 variations with Ultegra for 2015. You are right in assuming that you are being tempted for a higher spec bike.

like a Mitsubishi Lancer, you can find many variations on at all price points.