The crisp, modern colours are even applied to the fork and wheels. It makes many other bikes look like a grey mouse. And that's how the new "DHX" looks and rides. The bike has not just been given a facelift, it has been completely overhauled. An ageing double-bridge freerider has been transformed into a
modern big bike. The suspension harmonises - we immediately felt comfortable and safe on the Canyon and enjoyed its playfulness. You literally want to take off on every rocky edge.
The short chainstay makes it easy to pull the "DHX" onto the rear wheel, while the slack steering angle and low centre of gravity ensure that the bike runs smoothly enough to roll through rock gardens in a controlled manner. We first rode the long suspension travel (210 millimetres). However, we liked the more direct ride feel in the shorter position. Clever: The steering angle and bottom bracket height can also be changed by quickly swapping metal chips in the rocker. Weak: The "Elixir 7" brakes showed slight weaknesses, just like on the YT. It's amazing how close Canyon and YT are. If we could ride downhill blindfolded, it would be difficult to pick the right bike.
Conclusion: All in, all on - the Canyon is a great all-round package for all gravity fans. A fun machine with a wide range of uses and a sexy look. Any questions?
Johannes Fischbach (26):
" The Canyon has a well-balanced chassis. It corners well and accelerates cleanly out of corners. Only at high speed does the rear end start to jump because the shock doesn't quite keep up. I like the paintwork with the bright colours."
This test was published in FREERIDE issue 2/2014.
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