Canyon fully revamps their widespread all-mountain bike platform, reimagining the Spectral as a extra versatile path bike with a bit of bit much less journey. You’ll additionally discover a refined suspension design, the addition of 29er or mullet wheel choices for each bike, in-frame storage, and built-in KIS steering stabilizers, making the brand new Spectral path bike simply as succesful as ever.
We’ve been driving the brand new bike for a few weeks, and it strikes an attention-grabbing stability between the most effective traits of the earlier technology Spectral 29er, Spectral Mullet, Spectral 125 & Spectral Ok.I.S with a few new bits thrown in too. So is it a greater path bike than any of these 4 completely different fashions, or one thing of a cheerful medium?
2024 Canyon Spectral CF do-it-all carbon path mountain bike
At a look, the brand new Canyon Spectral CF seems to be lots just like the outdated bike. Even the geometry desk is sort of precisely the identical. However beneath there are a number of important updates that readapted the Spectral platform to be a extra concise all-rounder path bike.
The earlier 150/160mm Spectral was extra of an all-mountain or almost-enduro bike. The MX (blended wheel) bike was extra of a handy guide a rough, burly bike that needed to journey soar strains. The 125 was the playful, poppy mini-enduro bike for riders trying to push laborious on much less technical trails. And the Ok.I.S. was a motorbike for the tech-savvy rider attempting to eke a bit additional management out of their climbs and a tad extra velocity on the unfastened descents. I discovered one thing to love in every of these bikes. However for riders simply in search of a succesful mountain bike to, you already know, go mountain biking… it was too many choices and too sophisticated of a alternative. So Canyon got down to make one Spectral that did every thing that 4 completely different Spectrals did earlier than.
Enter the brand new 2024 Canyon Spectral CF.
What’s new with shorter 140mm of suspension journey?
This new Canyon Spectral CF is now a 140mm journey bike, paired with 150mm forks. That quantities to 10mm much less journey entrance & rear than the unique Spectrals (clearly nonetheless greater than the 125), however what Canyon thinks is a greater candy spot for a contemporary path bike. And it makes for clearer differentiation between this path Spectral and the right enduro race Attempt.
Replace Suspension Kinematics
However to make a bit much less journey really feel simply as succesful, Canyon revamped the brand new Spectral CF’s suspension. The bike now will get a extra linear, flatter shock leverage curve which means extra help within the mid-travel for higher pedaling effectivity, nonetheless with progressive help as you push to the tip of the bike’s journey. Apparently, placing the brand new 140mm 29er bike curve towards the outdated 150mm 29er, the distinction isn’t tremendous pronounced per mm of journey. However how the leverage modifications as a ratio of its entire journey, it’s clearly extra progressive for the 29er, after which really a bit much less linear however the next leverage ratio for the 27.5/29″ mullet construct.
Canyon additionally made a key suspension kinematics tweak to Anti-Squat that’s straightforward to miss. Bear in mind, Anti-Squat is actually how a lot pedaling enter stiffens up the suspension to effectively put the facility down. By barely elevating the again of the Horst-link pivot on the chainstay and decreasing the rocker hyperlink, the brand new bike has about 5% much less anti-squat when you’re within the best hill-climbing gear, however a full 25-30% much less anti-squat within the go-fast downhill gears. Meaning you don’t noticeably lose pedaling effectivity whereas climbing steep terrain. However the suspension is noticeably extra supple/lively whereas descending at excessive velocity, even when you’re stomping on the pedals. Canyon says their inside testing was unanimously in favor of the advantages of much less anti-squat as much as a sure level with out a perceived loss in effectivity. In order that’s the place they put it to get a extra plush journey.
Anti-rise (or braking affect on suspension) stays largely the identical, with the brand new Spectral flanking the outgoing bike relying in your alternative of rear wheel measurement.
Tweaked geometry and Additional Small measurement
Geometry is successfully the identical because the earlier mannequin with a 64° head angle. However it will get half a level steeper 76.5° efficient seat angle within the slacker Low place. But Stack & Attain figures have been extra evenly distributed AND there’s now a smaller new fifth XS measurement to accommodate extra riders. Plus, elevated standover to provide extra measurement selections based mostly on most popular Attain.
29er or Mullet in each bike
Importantly, the brand new spectral is a 29er OR MX, each with the identical body. Because of a flip-chip in the back of the chainstay, each bike can run a 27.5 or 29″ rear wheel. With an 8mm change to chainstay size and the suitable shift within the BB top. Earlier than, the MXs and 29ers shared the identical entrance triangle however required completely different rear triangles to adapt to completely different wheel sizes. Now, once you go to purchase any spec of the brand new 2024 Spectral, Canyon permits you to choose which rear wheel measurement you like. (Solely the brand new XS measurement is MX solely, for the reason that 29er wheel would rub the seat tube at full compression.)
Inner (and exterior) body storage
Sure, it will get in-frame Load System storage too. A glovebox door underneath the bottle cage opens up with sufficient room to stuff a small bag with all of your common trailside restore equipment. There’s additionally sufficient area to stuff a packable shell jacket in there as properly. I used to be in a position to push the Canyon bag with a spare butyl inside tube, tire levers, a CO2 cartridge & inflator far sufficient up the downtube that I additionally match a full-size hooded wind shell. It was a decent match, but it surely labored.
Canyon provides the door a multi-material building for a watertight seal. Correct steel threads additionally help a full water bottle within the cage. Then a snap-close locking “knee-lever” latch holds all of it in place. It’s a tiny bit fiddly to shut the primary time, but it surely rapidly turned straightforward and safe to function.
Along with inside storage, the brand new Spectral additionally will get 3 braze-on bolt mounts underneath the highest tube, above the shock. The thought is you’ll be able to simply safe a mini-tool provider with one bolt. Then nonetheless have the opposite pair for a mini bolt-on bag. Generally you simply don’t wish to dig into a motorbike’s glovebox to regulate a brake lever or seatpost.
There’s additionally the choice to print your individual multi-tool holder for the stem you probably have entry to a 3D printer! “Additionally piloted as a part of this launch will probably be an revolutionary ‘print at residence’ stem-mounted Minitool holder. Canyon’s engineers have been operating the design on their very own bikes for some months and so they’re making it obtainable so that you can strive too, if 3D printing is your factor. The 3D printer file will probably be obtainable to obtain right here.“
Hold It Secure (and Straight)
I first rode the built-in Ok.I.S. steering stabilizer system again in autumn 2022 on the restricted version Spectral KIS. It has an attention-grabbing impact of balancing your turns equally with the entrance & rear wheels, and easily serving to hold the bars straight when pinballing down by way of a rock backyard. It genuinely is a system it’s a must to get used to. However by and enormous, it looks like it has the potential to enhance the journey of newbie and skilled mountain bikers alike.
Now Canyon goes absolutely onboard with the KIS idea. Each new Spectral will get it built-in inside the highest tube – at no further value.
This model is tuned down a bit with a softer spring that the majority path riders will discover much less obtrusive, whereas nonetheless apparent. Set it at its lowest stress (which is the way it arrives out of the field) and you’re more likely to overlook that it’s there. Or dial it as much as max energy and it feels extra like I skilled on that first KIS-equipped bike.
I’m absolutely prepared to journey with KIS to see the way it modifications the texture of my native trails. However if you happen to resolve you don’t need it, it’s straightforward sufficient for a reliable residence mechanic to take away it. Canyon features a clean cowl plate with the bike in case you select to ditch it.
Different small enhancements to the brand new Canyon Spectral
Perhaps the largest improve for the brand new Canyon Spectral in my very own driving is that this 2-part rubber flap fender. It bridges over the purpose the place the swingarm connects with the mainframe. The mud flap retains grime, mud, rocks, pine needles, and different path particles from getting caught in between the entrance & rear halves of the body the place they might wreak havoc. It additionally will get improved chainstay and downtube protector protection with a brand new stick-on damped gentle rubber materials.
Past that, the modified suspension format additionally comes with a one-piece rocker hyperlink that improves suspension torsional stiffness. On the identical time, thinner seat stays provide a little bit of compliance that works along with a stiffer entrance finish.
The bike additionally shifts to the UDH normal for contemporary drivetrain or Transmission compatibility. It strikes to a bigger diameter 34.9mm seatpost which permits for longer journey, better-performing dropper seatposts. And it will get a revised Canyon G5 home model stem with out rear-facing bolts to hit your knee on.
Tech Particulars
A lot of the rest of the tech on the brand new Spectral carries over from the earlier technology. There nonetheless is the HI-LO flip chip on the rear shock mount, so you’ll be able to steepen the angles by 0.5° and lift the underside bracket 8mm for riders preferring extra maneuverability by way of slower, rougher terrain. Rely me as a HI place fan.
You continue to get strong sealed bearings in any respect pivots. A BSA threaded backside bracket is used with an elective ISCG mount. Cable routing remains to be conventionally inside by way of ports within the aspect of the headtube, simply with up to date locking guides to cut back noise.
First Using Impressions on the all-new 2024 Canyon Spectral CF 9
I’ve simply began driving the brand new 2024 Spectral CF 9 on my moist native trails which are abruptly popping out of winter forward of schedule. However I’ve began to get a way for the myriad of modifications that set it aside from the earlier Spectral, which had been my go-to all-mountain bike platform.
My first rides appear to suit comparatively intently with Canyon’s claims. I’ve loved the plush mid-stroke really feel of the brand new bike, and I’ve not but felt just like the bike was missing for its barely diminished journey. I’ve despatched it off some first rate drops and ridden loads of steeps and technical descents. However there received’t be any journeys to the bikeparks for an additional few months but.
My first impressions do appear to align with it feeling a bit extra playful just like the 125, however I didn’t really feel fairly as overwhelmed up after a protracted journey on our huge steep & rocky enduro trails. That’s a constructive signal.
One factor although, it’s not exceptionally mild.
My earlier Spectral CF 8 weighed just below 15kg with pedals. My Spectral 125 7 tester is simply 14.5kg. And, the Spectral Mullet CLLCTV is just 14.25kg. This huge 2024 Spectral CF 9 ideas the scales at 15.45kg / 34.06lb with crankbrothers Mallet Path pedals. And it’s 520g extra with the built-in gear ( tube & inflator within the downtube, the mini-tool & an empty water bottle.) That’s not an enormous weight enhance, but it surely’s all the time robust to abdomen additional weight paired with diminished suspension journey. I would like extra journey time to see if the added efficiency enhancements warrant the additional grams.
2024 Canyon Spectral CF – Pricing, choices & availability
The brand new Spectral CF is offered in 4 fashions. All can be found as both 29er or in a Mullet setup with a 27.5″ rear wheel.
Word: US prospects solely get 2 mannequin specs and might solely choose 29″ wheels. Plus, sadly, the XS will NOT be obtainable stateside in the interim!
7000€ Canyon Spectral CF LTD
“The highest-of-the-line Spectral with a dream construct of FOX and SRAM elements. The elite stage Fox 36 Manufacturing unit fork and Fox Float X Manufacturing unit care for taming descents and supporting on climbs. The SRAM XX Eagle Transmission (w/GX cassette) and SRAM XX cranks are immediately attentive to the rider’s pedal strokes. Whereas the SRAM Code RSC brakes give riders full management. Conserving issues rolling is a set of DT Swiss XMC1200 wheels. Coming in an Anti-Matter colorway, the Spectral CF LTD prices €6,999 and weighs 14.56 kg in a measurement Medium 29er.“
5000€ Canyon Spectral CF 9
“For riders wanting high efficiency with a RockShox and SRAM setup, the CF 9 is the best way to go. A RockShox Lyrik Final fork and RockShox Tremendous Deluxe Final shock hold every thing feeling supple and candy with a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain in control of shifting. A light-weight set of DT Swiss XM1700 wheels paired with SRAM Code RSC lets riders rip when they need and put the anchors on when they should. Accessible in Stealth or No Neon colorways. The Spectral CF 9 prices €4,999 and weighs 14.94 kg in a measurement Medium 29er.”
$4200 / 4000€ Canyon Spectral CF 8 CLLCTV
“Nailing the candy spot of hard-hitting reliability and on-trail efficiency is the Spectral CF 8 CLLCTV which comes absolutely loaded with a Fox 36 Efficiency Elite fork and Fox DHX Efficiency coil shock. Shimano Deore XT brakes and drivetrain are all about functionality and confidence on any path. On sale within the Stadtwald Sundown colorway, the Spectral CF 8 prices €3,999 and weighs 15.84 kg in a measurement Medium 29er.“
$3700 / 3400€ Canyon Spectral CF 7
“A high quality carbon path bike that received’t empty the pockets, the Spectral CF 7 sports activities a Fox 36 Rhythm fork and Fox Float X Efficiency fork. Shimano SLX elements care for the transmission, cranks, and brakes for a top quality bang on your buck expertise. Rounding off this construct is a set of DT Swiss M1900 wheels. Completed in a Stealth or Barely Olive colorway, the Spectral CF 7 prices €3,399 and weighs 15.36 kg in a measurement Medium 29er.”
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