Canyon utterly revamps their common 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 using the brand new bike for a few weeks, and it strikes an fascinating steadiness between the perfect traits of the earlier era Spectral 29er, Spectral Mullet, Spectral 125 & Spectral Okay.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 rather a lot just like the previous bike. Even the geometry desk is nearly 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 trip soar traces. The 125 was the playful, poppy mini-enduro bike for riders trying to push onerous on much less technical trails. And the Okay.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 pace on the unfastened descents. I discovered one thing to love in every of these bikes. However for riders simply on the lookout for a succesful mountain bike to, you recognize, go mountain biking… it was too many choices and too difficult of a selection. So Canyon got down to make one Spectral that did all the pieces 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 correct enduro race Try.
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 meaning extra help within the mid-travel for higher pedaling effectivity, nonetheless with progressive help as you push to the top of the bike’s journey. Apparently, placing the brand new 140mm 29er bike curve towards the previous 150mm 29er, the distinction isn’t tremendous pronounced per mm of journey. However how the leverage adjustments as a ratio of its complete journey, it’s clearly extra progressive for the 29er, after which truly 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 simple to miss. Bear in mind, Anti-Squat is actually how a lot pedaling enter stiffens up the suspension to effectively put the ability 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 if you find yourself 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 pace, even if you find yourself stomping on the pedals. Canyon says their inner testing was unanimously in favor of the advantages of much less anti-squat as much as a sure level and not using a perceived loss in effectivity. In order that’s the place they put it to get a extra plush trip.
Anti-rise (or braking affect on suspension) stays largely the identical, with the brand new Spectral flanking the outgoing bike relying in your selection 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 offer extra measurement selections primarily based on most well-liked Attain.
29er or Mullet in each bike
Importantly, the brand new spectral is a 29er OR MX, each with the identical body. Due to a flip-chip behind 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 allows 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 below the bottle cage opens up with sufficient room to stuff a small bag with all of your common trailside restore package. There’s additionally sufficient house 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 interior 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, nevertheless it labored.
Canyon provides the door a multi-material development for a watertight seal. Correct metallic 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, nevertheless it shortly turned simple and safe to function.
Along with inner storage, the brand new Spectral additionally will get 3 braze-on bolt mounts below the highest tube, above the shock. The thought is you possibly can simply safe a mini-tool service with one bolt. Then nonetheless have the opposite pair for a mini bolt-on bag. Typically 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 personal multi-tool holder for the stem when you’ve got entry to a 3D printer! “Additionally piloted as a part of this launch can be an modern ‘print at house’ stem-mounted Minitool holder. Canyon’s engineers have been operating the design on their very own bikes for some months they usually’re making it out there so that you can strive too, if 3D printing is your factor. The 3D printer file can be out there to obtain right here.“
Preserve It Secure (and Straight)
I first rode the built-in Okay.I.S. steering stabilizer system again in autumn 2022 on the restricted version Spectral KIS. It has an fascinating impact of balancing your turns equally with the entrance & rear wheels, and easily serving to maintain the bars straight when pinballing down via a rock backyard. It genuinely is a system it’s important to get used to. However by and huge, it looks like it has the potential to enhance the trip of newbie and professional mountain bikers alike.
Now Canyon goes totally onboard with the KIS idea. Each new Spectral will get it built-in inside the highest tube – at no extra price.
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 prone 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 totally prepared to trip with KIS to see the way it adjustments the texture of my native trails. However when you resolve you don’t need it, it’s simple sufficient for a reliable house 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
Possibly the most important improve for the brand new Canyon Spectral in my very own using 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 dust, 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 smooth rubber materials.
Past that, the modified suspension structure 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 era. There nonetheless is the HI-LO flip chip on the rear shock mount, so you possibly can steepen the angles by 0.5° and lift the underside bracket 8mm for riders preferring extra maneuverability via slower, rougher terrain. Depend me as a HI place fan.
You continue to get sturdy sealed bearings in any respect pivots. A BSA threaded backside bracket is used with an non-compulsory ISCG mount. Cable routing remains to be conventionally inner via ports within the facet of the headtube, simply with up to date locking guides to scale back noise.
First Driving Impressions on the all-new 2024 Canyon Spectral CF 9
I’ve simply began using 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 adjustments 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 gained’t be any journeys to the bikeparks for one more 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 an extended trip on our large steep & rocky enduro trails. That’s a constructive signal.
One factor although, it’s not exceptionally mild.
My earlier Spectral CF 8 weighed slightly 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 suggestions 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 improve, nevertheless it’s at all times robust to abdomen additional weight paired with diminished suspension journey. I would like extra trip 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 obtainable in 4 fashions. All can be found as both 29er or in a Mullet setup with a 27.5″ rear wheel.
Notice: US clients solely get 2 mannequin specs and may solely choose 29″ wheels. Plus, sadly, the XS will NOT be out there stateside in the meanwhile!
7000€ Canyon Spectral CF LTD
“The highest-of-the-line Spectral with a dream construct of FOX and SRAM elements. The elite degree Fox 36 Manufacturing facility fork and Fox Float X Manufacturing facility care for taming descents and supporting on climbs. The SRAM XX Eagle Transmission (w/GX cassette) and SRAM XX cranks are immediately aware of the rider’s pedal strokes. Whereas the SRAM Code RSC brakes give riders full management. Protecting 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 prime 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 maintain all the pieces feeling supple and candy with a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain answerable for 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. Out there 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 totally 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 gained’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.”
