Raw is what the American says about the brushed aluminium frame finish of the Nerve AM. We say: finally an alternative to the mass-compatible but boring black anodised finish. We put the AM 8.0 X to the test, the X in the model name stands for the version with a double crankset. It's up to you to decide whether this makes sense. In any case, the jump from the 38 mm to the 24 mm chainring is large and must be countered with rear derailleur shifters to normalise the cadence. A plus point is the increased ground clearance and the bashguard protection ring. Together with the Rock Shox dropper post, the fat tyres and the well-designed cockpit, which is tidy thanks to the Matchmaker, this fits in perfectly with the All-Mountain Plus concept. The bike is well thought out and equipped to a high standard, no question about it. At three kilos, the chassis is in the green zone, but the heavy wheels fall out of the frame. And you can feel them on the climbs. Steep ramps require the fork to be lowered. On the other hand, the fork can be pushed to the limit downhill, giving the rider full control of the bike. Stable and stiff.
PLUS High-quality equipment, sensible details, suitable choice of tyres
MINUS No rear thru axle
Conclusion: You don't need more all-mountain. With the Nerve AM 8.0 X, Canyon has put together a very good package, exactly for the target group. Tuning unnecessary.
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