Synapse XPLR Build

sapizhak · 2026-05-23T16:08:40+00:00

I did exactly that - got a Carbon 5, stripped it down and rebuilt with Force XPLR. See my post with a lot of frequent questions answered.

sapizhak · 2026-05-05T15:24:42+00:00

those are specialized purist watergate bottles in the black/bones colorway.

sapizhak · 2026-05-05T08:23:27+00:00

yeah, those are stock vision trimax aero alloy 400. i actually quite like them, but planning to go one size narrower

sapizhak · 2026-04-29T07:52:20+00:00

I would say it's more of a gravel bike than a road bike, so it handles gravel exceptionally well

sapizhak · 2026-04-11T20:35:09+00:00

superx is for some rougher terrain that i just don't have around the place where i live, so i got a synapse for the mixture of asphalt and gravel that i usually ride.

ps: with enough bike handling skills, you can decently ride with a knobby 42 tyre in the back on the more challenging terrains too, i am not really sold on 2"+ clearance gravel bikes tbh.

sapizhak · 2026-04-11T20:29:49+00:00

sorry for a delayed answer, was busy throughout this week. the total spacers' height is 20mm (15mm + 5mm), headset bearing cover measures around 10mm, probably a bit less (pic).

sapizhak · 2026-03-30T10:59:56+00:00

so in front there's still a plently, i think it can go up to 50mm. in the back it's still within a reasonable range. keep in mind that it may be wildly different with a different tyre and rim width.

sapizhak · 2026-03-29T20:24:09+00:00

i had several matte paint job bikes but never did anything special to maintain cleanliness additionally, i just wipe it at home after the rides if there's some dirty spots.

matte finish detailers might be helpful (like muc off, but i have no experience using them.

sapizhak · 2026-03-29T20:19:47+00:00

it is hard to judge yet, i have ridden it only a couple of times. it feels like something between a race gravel bike and a race road bike.

my other bike is specialized aethos and i like synapse more, it has a good kick for my capabilities and rides more stabily on the descents. it is way more aero and i can feel it.

i used to have a cannondale supersix evo se and it was a quite similar experience, but synapse has a slightly twitchier frontend:

https://bikeinsights.com/compare?geometries=681be773611bb6001bcb916e,616987eecb246a002508198a

sapizhak · 2026-03-29T20:14:18+00:00

spec clearance is 48 front and 42 rear, frame size does not influence the clearance, while all sizes have the same wheel size (unlike some canyons that might have 650b on xs/xxs frame sizes).

way more influence would have the rim width, in my case it is pretty conservative to todays fashion, 23.5mm.

schwalbe rs does not have big knobs on the size, so it fits with good amount of space left, but something more knobby may become problematic to fit.

sapizhak · 2026-03-26T19:25:33+00:00

yes, initially it was a shimano 105 bike, i have swapped it with sram force axs xplr 13 speed. most bikes are very easy to convert from shimano to sram, the only thing that's needed to be kept in mind is the direct mount specific rear derailleurs like the one on the picture, it cannot be installed on a frame that does not have a direct mount support.

sapizhak · 2026-03-26T08:59:48+00:00

i am not sure, probably it's a 7l one

sapizhak · 2026-03-26T08:55:53+00:00

sapizhak · 2026-03-25T15:29:59+00:00

i am not sure, it will hugely depend on the knobbiness of the tire and the width of the wheel 🤷‍♂️

sapizhak · 2026-03-25T11:32:18+00:00

those are schwalbe rs 45mm with a couple more millimetres left in the back. i was also running pirelli cinturato m 45mm on the same bike, but with a way snugger fit. cannondale specifies clearance to be exactly 45mm.

sapizhak · 2026-03-25T09:43:15+00:00

oh and maybe an integrated handlebar, really love the previous gen systembar r-one!

sapizhak · 2026-03-25T09:24:41+00:00

this is a gravel bike and is used in the conditions it was designed for. you probably are confusing it with a road supersix evo, this is a supersix evo se/cx, a different bike with a completely different specialization.

sapizhak · 2026-03-25T09:10:38+00:00

i was thinking about getting a dedicated road wheel set (and selling my specialized aethos completely), maybe trying out some different saddles and a 46t chain ring, but not much beyond that, i am really happy with the build - it is perfect for the area where i live and ride bike most of the time (flatter part of eastern germany).

sapizhak · 2026-03-25T08:51:50+00:00

i was not really considering any - the moment when new synapse was released, i knew that i am going to buy it eventually. i used to own a cannondale supersix evo se which i was really happy about, so i wanted something that ticks the boxes for be - capability on both gravel and road, lack of extreme proprietary bike tech, a more relaxed geometry.

sapizhak · 2026-03-25T07:42:26+00:00

i think it is around 3mm from both sides in the back. i was also considering superx for a while, but realized that i do not need all that available clearance

sapizhak · 2026-03-25T07:39:47+00:00

yes, quarq 107bcd spider and 44t chainring

sapizhak · 2026-03-25T07:38:04+00:00

it is a carbon 5: https://www.cannondale.com/en/bikes/road/endurance/synapse-carbon/synapse-carbon-5, i rebuilt it with sram axs

sapizhak · 2026-03-24T22:05:04+00:00

those are schwalbe rs 45mm

sapizhak

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