Cannondale Trail SE 4 review

Can the Cannondale Trail SE 4’s ride feel match its killer looks on the trail?

This competition is now closed

By Sarah Bedford

Published: May 31, 2023 at 4:00 pm

Claimed to be a mountain bike that will “raise your game and ignite passion for the trail”, the Trail SE 4 shares attributes of Cannondale’s more expensive carbon hardtail models for a fraction of the price.

The Trail SE 4 model sits bang in the middle of the Trail SE range and comes with some decent kit for the money.

The spec list includes Shimano Deore 10-speed 1x transmission, WTB tyres and a coil-sprung Suntour fork, complete with a stiff thru-axle to clamp the front wheel in place.

While some of the Trail SE 4’s geometry angles are very contemporary, however, other measurements aren’t as up-to-date.

Like the carbon Scalpel models, the Trail SE 4 features dropped seatstays that are intended to give the frame compliance for a smoother, less fatiguing ride, along with a distinctive aesthetic.

The frame is built using SmartForm C2 alloy and Cannondale has thought ahead by giving the Trail SE 4 a tapered head tube, spare internal port for a dropper post and boost thru-axles (15x115mm at the front and 12x148mm at the rear). All of this means the Trail SE 4 is ready for upgrades when you are.

Cables are routed internally with neat ports at the head tube and exit through the ‘StraightShot’ window at the bottom bracket.

There’s plenty of grip at your disposal thanks to the 29in WTB tyres (a 2.3in Breakout at the front and a 2.25in Trail Boss on the rear). These wrap tubeless-ready WTB STX i25 TCS rims.

The front derailleur mount on the seat tube detracts from the otherwise sleek, clean-lined design.

It is an arguably unnecessary addition for many riders, considering the wide-range 11-46t, 10-speed cassette, paired with a 32T chainring, should provide enough options to get you up most climbs.

A coil-sprung Suntour XCR fork pumps out 120mm of travel at the front.

The smaller-size frames only get one set of bottle mount bosses (on the down tube), while larger sizes have a second set on the seat tube.

The Cannondale is one of the heavier hardtail mountain bikes in our 2023 Bike of the Year test at 14.3kg (size small on my scales). However, you soon forget the weight when you hit the trail and start climbing.

I found the Trail SE 4 one of the more comfortable hardtails to climb on.

The 74-degree seat angle with the saddle pushed forwards on the rails made for a reasonably efficient seated pedalling position.

There’s just about enough space left on the fork steerer (and enough spacers) to ensure you can set the bars at a good height for a comfortable position when in the saddle.

It still feels lower than some, though, and may be something not everyone adapts to.

The Cannondale doesn’t feel particularly stretched out, however, due largely to the short effective top tube (566mm).

The longer 60mm stem helps offset this cramped feeling, but makes steering feel less reactive and a little sluggish at times. This is especially noticeable when tackling climbs with tight turns.

Standing up out of the saddle, the reach (the horizontal distance measured from the centre of the bottom bracket axle to the centre of the top of the head tube) continues this theme. At 385mm, it’s more than 20mm shorter than the Scott Aspect 920.

This knocks stability at speed when descending, limits space to move around the bike without upsetting things too much and means a delicate touch is required when manoeuvring the Trail SE 4 in more technical terrain.

It doesn’t help that you can’t drop the seatpost fully in the frame, which stifles overall confidence somewhat (in the case of the smaller frame sizes, this is due to the front derailleur mount).

The lack of chainstay protector meant that despite the internal cables remaining rattle-free, there was still quite a bit of chain slap, though this can be silenced quickly for a small cost.

Get onto some mellower flowy singletrack, though, and the smooth-rolling 29in wheels help to maintain speed with plenty of grip at your disposal, thanks to the WTB rubber.

This is where the Trail SE 4 really comes to life and puts a grin on your face.

Rolling hills and even punchier climbs are catered for thanks to the 1x Shimano transmission, which offers a decent enough range to see you clear just about every hill, as well as a high enough gear for fast road or fire-road sections.

The Suntour fork’s coil spring felt too firm for me, but steering was precise and there was more than enough support when pushing on.

Cannondale has done a good job with the frame feel, though, and it felt suitably forgiving just about everywhere.

As an entry-level hardtail for trail riding, the Trail SE 4 will certainly give you a better start than many at this price point.

While the spec is decent on the whole, I felt I needed a lighter spring to make the most of the Suntour fork and its 120mm of travel.

That said, the Shimano drivetrain, and WTB wheel and tyre combo are highlights that do their intended jobs well.

Despite the relatively relaxed head angle, the short reach impacts confidence on the downhills, while the compact top tube makes for a slightly cramped seated position. Extending these would only benefit the Trail SE 4 in every aspect.

On smoother, less technical trails, where the Trail SE 4 was designed to thrive, it’s a lot of fun to ride and ensures you’ll just about always have a smile plastered on your face.

More affordable mountain bikes are the best they’ve ever been.

These wallet-friendly machines give an insight into all the thrills and spills that mountain biking has to offer, along with being versatile enough to handle the commute or a quick pedal to the shops.

The best budget mountain bikes should combine up-to-date frame features, geometry and componentry that will feel confident and capable everywhere from the towpath to the trail centre.

In an ideal world, the frames will enable you to upgrade to even more capable parts when you inevitably get hooked on the sport.

All eight bikes in this test challenge the preconception that ‘budget’ is a code-word for ‘not very good’. The overall standard and quality on offer mean you’re in for a good time no matter which of these you select. But there could only be one winner.

With that in mind, we selected a wide variety of trails in Scotland’s Glentress Forest, where we could put the bikes through their paces, before reporting back to you on the wisest purchase when it comes to quality, performance and value for money.

After weeks of back-to-back testing on increasingly technical tracks, we were able to whittle down which bikes were most capable of taking on ever gnarlier trails where, despite what the price tag might suggest, they felt more than at home.

Thanks to our sponsors Crankbrothers, FACOM Tools, MET helmets, Bluegrass Protection, Supernatural Dolceacqua, Le Shuttle and BikePark Wales for their support in making Bike of the Year happen.

Contributor

Sarah’s been riding MTBs for 20 years, across the UK and abroad. She has honed her skills on the varied terrain of Scotland’s Tweed Valley, host to the UK’s round of the Enduro World Series and 2023 MTB World Championships. Although Sarah’s passion lies at the more extreme end of the mountain biking spectrum, where she prefers to ride enduro, with the number of miles she puts in she’s got the fitness of an XC racer. Being out on the trails more often than not makes her the perfect person to put any product or bike through its paces.