For those who waited, the wait is over.
Cannondale once reigned over the golden age of aluminum road bikes. That era is being resurrected in the modern day — and six and a half years after its predecessor, the latest model ‘CAAD14‘ has finally arrived.
If anyone still tries to dress this bike up with the tired old “carbon killer” tagline, they understand nothing about the CAAD14. CAAD is CAAD. It isn’t a bike built to topple anything.
About the Author
 | Tats Shimizu (@tats_lovecyclist) Editor-in-chief and photographer. 12 years of riding sport bikes. Maintains a wide network with overseas brands and proposes various styles through media. At the same time, works as a photographer shooting for many domestic and international bike brands. Main bikes are Standert (road) and Factor (gravel). |
text / Tats (@tats_lovecyclist) [PR]
*This review is based on a bike loan from the domestic distributor Intertec and real-world testing conducted over an extended period.
The Full Picture of the CAAD14
CAAD14 1 (¥1,080,000)
The CAAD14 splits into two grades.
The ‘CAAD14 1‘, a global limited run of 300 units, combines a carbon SystemBar R-One cockpit, Reserve wheels, and SRAM Force XPLR 1x13s.
CAAD14 3 (¥345,000)
The other is the more classical ‘CAAD14 3‘, built around a 105 groupset.
CAAD14 Frameset (¥210,000)
A frameset is also offered, in colors not available on the complete builds — meaning you can assemble your ideal aluminum road bike from the ground up.
| Model | Color | Frame Weight | Sizes | Price (incl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAAD14 1 | Raw (RAW) | 1280g | 48/51/54 | ¥1,080,000 |
| CAAD14 3 | Matte Black (BBQ) Chalk (CHK) | 1410g | 48/51/54/56 | ¥345,000 |
| Frameset | Rally Red (RRD) Black (BLK) | 1410g | 48/51/54/56/58 | ¥210,000 |
The Heart of the New CAAD
Horizontal Supremacy
What stands out most is that Cannondale has abandoned the dropped seat stays of the previous CAAD13 and returned to the classic double-diamond silhouette of the CAAD12 and earlier.
This horizontal top tube shape is, simply put, where a bicycle looks most beautiful.
The tubing is meaty throughout, giving the bike a powerful proportion. The subtle taper of the top tube as it narrows toward the rear is another detail that pulls you in.
It Doesn’t Mimic Carbon
Rather than copying the shapes of carbon frames, the CAAD14’s cross-sections are purpose-built around what aluminum does best.
Combining tall side profiles with near-boxy cross-sections, Cannondale claims to achieve both high stiffness and reduced weight.
Aluminum, Fully Internal
A full-carbon fork with a newly designed delta steerer means the cables are fully internal. Aluminum, but fully integrated — that gap alone is enough to make this feel like a “modern road bike.”
The ‘CAAD14 1’ comes with the MOMO Design-collaboration cockpit originally seen on the previous-generation SuperSix EVO. It didn’t carry over to the SuperSix EVO Gen5, but its refined design still commands attention. This cockpit is still sold separately.
Versatility and Maintainability
On the standards side, the CAAD14 runs a threaded BSA BB, a 27.2mm seatpost, and UDH — guaranteeing both upgrade flexibility and ease of maintenance.
27.2mm seatpost
UDH-compatible — the ‘CAAD14 1’ is built around SRAM’s full-mount derailleur.
Geometry
Compared even to the latest SuperSix EVO, the CAAD14’s geometry tells you immediately: this is a racing bike, full stop. The axis is “long & low-profile.”
For most sizes, the stack sits 5mm lower than the EVO — and on the 51cm in particular, it drops a full 12mm, forcing the rider into an even more aggressive position than the EVO. Minimized frontal area, loaded front wheel — this is a no-compromise racing proportion as an aluminum racer.
A love letter to the “if it’s not low, I’m not riding” crowd who once worshipped the CAAD12 and the EVO Gen2.
Look toward the rear, and the seat angle is slightly slacker than the EVO’s, securing a more stable weight balance.
The chainstays measure 41.5cm across all sizes — 5mm longer than the EVO. That brings improved straight-line stability, and clearance for tires up to 32mm.
Max tire clearance is 32mm. Standard by today’s measure, but a clear expansion of tire options compared to its predecessor.
Raw, Bare, Exposed.
“This! This is what I wanted!” Beyond the looks, the moment you start rolling, an almost visceral, raw aluminum directness is waiting for you. There’s no lag between push and acceleration — the bike moves the instant you input. The pure pleasure of propelling yourself under your own power — the very origin of sport cycling — comes rushing through.
My daily ride right now is a scandium Standert (UDH-equipped). Metal frame, fully internal cables, Red XPLR 1×13, tubeless tires — built around the current trends in technology. Few riders may actually run this combo, but I built it that way because I believed it was the single best configuration imaginable for a bike that fits into your lifestyle (and that judgment turned out to be right).
Frame size 54. For testing, I swapped the CAAD14’s wheels with the ZIPP 303 Firecrest I usually run — to sharpen the contrast against the Standert.
What surprised me was that the top-tier ‘CAAD14 1’ has the manufacturer itself proposing exactly this — “metal frame × full internal cabling × front single.” The exact build I’d personally come to believe was perfect for a “non-racy but seriously fun road bike” turned out to actually be the orthodox approach, and Cannondale just proved it (am I allowed to think that?).
For someone who, as a beginner, rode the entry-level CAAD8, seeing the CAAD14 embrace the latest trends hits straight to the heart.
It’s decisively different from the carbon sensation of loading energy for a split second before springing forward. Pedal force converts to propulsion without a beat in between, and that reaction speed is exactly why “raw” is the right word for CAAD. Even among metal bikes, the Standert balances refined suppleness with responsiveness — but the CAAD14 has a bare, exposed dynamism all its own.
Maybe thanks to the relatively long wheelbase, straight-line stability is rock solid. The sensation of the bike tracking exactly with your low, forward-driving intent feels just right.
Aluminum’s tendency to pick up road buzz is practically the material’s identity. But the modern CAAD, run with 32c tubeless tires at lower pressures, smartly filters out the harsh impacts without killing the material’s character. With added grip and comfort, this sharp-edged frame can now be unleashed across every kind of riding in everyday life.
We’re all used to the sight of that big cassette by now.
The 50T front with a 10–46T 13-speed rear on the stock build is, honestly, the best. High-speed cruising, brutal gradients — it covers every gear ratio road riding asks for. Sure, compared to closer-ratio setups, some of the gaps on the top end are bigger, but given this bike’s raw, visceral acceleration, even that becomes part of the rhythm. Once you experience the stress-free feel of being freed from chain drops and operating only the rear, you can’t go back.
And the solid “kann!” of every shift ringing through the frame — that’s a sensuality only a metal frame delivers.
The CAAD14 shares the same head angle as the SuperSix EVO, and the handling is equally honest and approachable. It might lean slightly quick, but it never feels extreme. The 380mm SystemBar R-One bar, co-developed with MOMO Design, has no quirks and translates the front end’s stiffness directly into your palms.
There’s no need to talk about how it compares to carbon. There’s no need to break down its performance category by needless category. Just get on this bike, and ask yourself if you feel the vibes. As Cannondale themselves put it — “NOT CARBON. NOT SORRY.” — the CAAD14 pulls aluminum’s strengths out into the open and puts a smile on the rider’s face whether they asked for it or not.
CAAD Is CAAD.
The “front single × full internal × metal” answer I built into my Standert has now become orthodoxy via the mass-produced CAAD14. It’s true that, even though the CAAD14 is designed for racing, asking it to fight serious races is cruel. But that racy pedal feel — once you taste it, it’s addictive. If you spend your weekends emptying the tank with your friends, the CAAD will only amplify that joy.
The CAAD14 is not a substitute for carbon — it’s CAAD. It’s a fierce act of defiance against today’s bike scene, obsessed as it is with marginal gains. For me personally, the CAAD14’s ride feel sent my vibes soaring higher than even the new EVO.
As a road bike for thrashing through life alongside your own lifestyle, there’s nothing better.
See more about the CAAD14 (official site)
text / Tats (@tats_lovecyclist)
[PR] Provided by / Intertec Inc.
