Carbon Comfort. Proper Gravel Gearing. Ready for Long Days Out.
The Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 2x is a versatile carbon gravel bike for riders who want to cover plenty of ground without being beaten up by rough roads and gravel tracks.
Kingpin rear suspension helps take the sharp edge off broken surfaces, while the Shimano GRX 2x12 drivetrain provides close gear steps for riding at pace and a useful low gear for steeper climbs. With plenty of mounting points and StashPort downtube storage, it is equally at home on a quick gravel ride, an all-day back-country loop or a lightly loaded bikepacking trip.
Kingpin Comfort Without a Rear Shock
Kingpin uses a pivot through the seat tube and controlled flex through the frame and seatpost to provide up to 30mm of rear-wheel movement. There is no rear shock or suspension adjustment to worry about.
It will not make the Topstone feel like a mountain bike, but it does help reduce the repeated knocks and vibration you feel through the saddle on corrugations, rough gravel and broken seal. That can make a real difference to comfort and traction over a long ride.
Shimano GRX 2x12 Gearing
The drivetrain combines Shimano GRX 610 shifters, brakes and crankset with GRX 820 front and rear derailleurs. The 46/30T crankset and 11–36T cassette provide a broad range without the larger jumps found on many 1x gravel drivetrains.
This 2x setup makes good sense for riders who spend time on both sealed roads and gravel. You get smaller changes between gears when riding at a steady pace, along with a low enough climbing gear for hills and longer days carrying extra equipment.
A 1x drivetrain is simpler and gives more room for wider rear tyres, but the 2x system is the better choice if smooth gear progression and mixed road-and-gravel riding are higher priorities.
Stable Without Feeling Slow
Cannondale’s OutFront steering geometry combines a relatively relaxed head angle with a 55mm-offset fork. The result is a bike that feels settled on loose gravel and faster descents without becoming heavy or reluctant to change direction.
Proportional Response construction adjusts the carbon layup and frame details across the size range rather than expecting every rider to use the same frame characteristics. This helps preserve the intended balance of comfort, stiffness and handling from size 47 through to 61.
Room for Gear
StashPort provides storage inside the downtube, accessed beneath the bottle cage. A large StashBag is included for carrying compact essentials such as a tube, tyre levers, inflator and small multi-tool.
The frame and fork also include multiple bottle and equipment mounts, along with mudguard compatibility. This gives the Topstone more carrying flexibility than a stripped-back gravel race bike.
Tubeless-Ready Gravel Wheels
WTB ST i25 rims provide a sensible internal width for modern gravel tyres and come fitted with WTB Resolute TCS Light 700 x 42c tubeless-ready tyres.
The 42c tyres strike a useful balance between speed, cushioning and grip for mixed New Zealand gravel. Tubeless valves are included, but sealant and final tubeless setup may still be required.
The 2x frame configuration allows up to a 45mm measured rear tyre, while the fork provides clearance for up to a 56mm measured tyre. Actual clearance depends on the rim, tyre casing and tread shape.
Key Features
- Lightweight Topstone carbon frame
- Kingpin rear suspension with up to 30mm of movement
- Proportional Response size-specific construction
- Shimano GRX 2x12 mechanical drivetrain
- GRX 610 46/30T crankset
- Shimano HG710 11–36T cassette
- Shimano GRX 610 hydraulic disc brakes
- WTB ST i25 tubeless-ready rims
- WTB Resolute TCS Light 700 x 42c tyres
- StashPort downtube storage
- Large StashBag included
- Multiple bottle and equipment mounts
- Carbon fork with triple gear mounts
- Mudguard compatible
- 27.2mm dropper-post compatible
- Cannondale Wheel Sensor
- Tubeless valves included
- Pedals not included
Why Riders Like the Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 2x
The strength of this Topstone is not one headline component. It is how well the complete bike suits real mixed-surface riding.
The 2x gearing works well when a ride includes sealed-road connections, rolling gravel and steeper climbs. Kingpin adds comfort without turning the bike into a heavy suspension platform, while the storage and mounting points leave plenty of options for longer rides.
Who Is This Bike For?
Perfect For
- Long gravel rides and back-country roads
- Mixed sealed-road and gravel routes
- Riders who prefer smaller steps between gears
- Rough roads, corrugations and broken seal
- Gravel events and endurance riding
- Light bikepacking and overnight trips
- Riders wanting more comfort than a pure gravel race bike
The Topstone Carbon 3 is capable of being ridden quickly, but it is not as sharp or stripped-back as a dedicated gravel race bike such as the SuperX. Riders prioritising outright race speed may prefer the SuperX, while riders wanting maximum simplicity or significantly wider rear tyres may be better suited to a 1x Topstone.
Our Thoughts
This is the version of the Topstone that will make the most sense for plenty of South Island riders. The 46/30T crankset and 11–36T cassette give it useful climbing range without giving up the close gear changes that feel good on sealed roads and faster gravel.
Kingpin is subtle rather than dramatic. You are unlikely to notice it moving beneath you, but after several hours on corrugated gravel, the reduction in vibration and repeated impacts becomes much easier to appreciate.
The alloy wheels and finishing components leave room for future upgrades, but they are dependable choices for regular riding. As supplied, the bike has the gearing, tyre volume, carrying capacity and comfort needed for anything from a quick local gravel loop to a long day exploring Canterbury back roads.
Why Buy from Chain Reaction?
- Official Cannondale Dealer
- Professionally assembled and safety checked before collection or dispatch
- Brakes professionally pre-bedded
- Expert bike sizing and setup advice
- Premium handover and initial bike setup
- Lifetime workshop support
- Finance and WorkRide options available
- Nationwide New Zealand delivery
Specifications
Specifications subject to change without notice.
Frameset
- Frame: Topstone Carbon with Kingpin suspension, Proportional Response construction, StashPort downtube storage, internal cable routing, 12 x 142mm thru-axle, UDH, BSA 68mm threaded bottom bracket, flat-mount disc, removable mudguard bridge, multiple bottle and equipment mounts and 27.2mm dropper-post compatibility
- Fork: Topstone Carbon, 1-1/8 to 1.5-inch steerer, 55mm OutFront offset, internal routing, flat-mount disc, 12 x 100mm thru-axle, triple bottle or equipment mounts and mudguard mounts
- Headset: Acros IS52/40 ICR
Drivetrain
- Shifters: Shimano GRX 610, 2x12-speed
- Front derailleur: Shimano GRX 820
- Rear derailleur: Shimano GRX 820 Shadow RD+
- Crankset: Shimano GRX 610, 46/30T
- Cassette: Shimano HG710, 11–36T, 12-speed
- Chain: Shimano M7100, 12-speed
- Bottom bracket: Shimano BSA 68mm threaded
- Pedals: Not included
Brakes
- Brakes: Shimano GRX 610 hydraulic disc
- Rotors: Shimano RT70, 160mm front and rear
- Brake levers: Shimano GRX 610 hydraulic
Wheels and Tyres
- Rims: WTB ST i25 TCS, 28H, tubeless ready
- Hubs: Shimano TC500 Center Lock, 12 x 100mm front and 12 x 142mm rear
- Spokes: Stainless steel, 14g
- Tyres: WTB Resolute TCS Light, 700 x 42c, tubeless ready
- Included: Tubeless valve stems
Cockpit and Contact Points
- Handlebar: Cannondale 3 butted 6061 alloy, 16-degree flare
- Stem: Cannondale C1 Conceal alloy, 31.8mm, -6 degrees
- Bar tape: Cannondale KnurlCork, 2.7mm
- Saddle: Selle Royal SRX Open
- Seatpost: Cannondale 3, 6061 alloy, 27.2 x 350mm
Additional Details
- Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
- Sizes: 47, 51, 54, 56, 58 and 61
- Colours: Chalk with Meteor Grey or Smoke Black with Jet Black
- Included: Large StashBag
Specifications are based on current Cannondale information and may change without notice. Components may vary according to production availability.