Canyon Torque AL 2026: Freeride bargain reissued

Conclusion on the new Canyon Torque AL

The Torque has always been the most honest bike in the Canyon portfolio: rough, uncompromising, without airs and graces. The new AL goes one better. 180 mm travel everywhere, mullet, modular dropouts for two chainstay lengths - and all for under € 4,000 with Fox Factory suspension. Canyon proves once again that you don't have to play the carbon card for uncompromising gravity performance. - Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor

The frame: Aluminium, but really!

Canyon builds it according to Category 5 standards - the toughest test category in the EU, reserved for bikes that have to survive DH races, bike park laps and Rampage-worthy drops.

The new top tube is lower than its predecessor and offers more legroom. The down tube is reinforced, with a less pronounced belly. The frame triangle offers enough space for air and coil shocks. There is also space for a water bottle. Rubberised protectors protect the down tube, chain stays and seat stays. The cable routing runs internally through bolted ports with foam-coated cables - no rattling, no exposed cables. Frame weight according to Canyon: 3.5 kg for size M without shock.

Four-bar linkage with brains

The rear triangle relies on a proven 4-bar system with sealed cartridge bearings on oversized pivot bolts. The leverage ratio progression is moderately designed and adapted to modern high-volume air shocks: smooth response in the first third of the travel, significant ramping up at the end for hard landings. Compared to the previous models, Canyon has increased the anti-squat value - the rear suspension remains more lively when pedalling and offers more support without blocking on hits. Pedal kickback has been reduced: The rear triangle cycles freely even under load.

Suspension travel: 180 mm rear and front. The exception is size XS with 170 mm rear suspension travel and a slightly smaller 250 × 70 mm shock; all other sizes run on the 250 × 72.5 mm standard.

Freeride-typical: Mullet wheels

Canyon has clearly positioned itself: pure mullet setup, 29 inch front, 27.5 inch rear. Only size XS is an exception and rolls on 27.5 inches because the larger front wheel does not fit into the smallest chassis. The logic behind Mullet: maximum agility at the rear wheel combined with the better rollover behaviour of the 29er at the front. This is how Canyon claims to have hit the sweet spot between smoothness and manoeuvrability.

Geometry fine-tuning: modular dropouts and flip chips

The Torque AL offers two adjustment screws for geometry customisation. The flip chip in the seat stay shifts the head and seat tube angles by 0.5 degrees each and changes the bottom bracket height by 7.5 mm - the familiar solution. The modular T-Type-compatible dropouts are a special feature: They change the chainstay length between 430 mm (short, playful) and 440 mm (longer, more high-speed stable). Both variants are included with the bike in the box. The change takes just a few minutes.

The geometry key data: Head angle 63.5 or 64 degrees, effective seat tube angle 78.5 or 79 degrees, reach in size M 470 mm. The stack has been increased compared to its predecessor - for more confidence on steep sections. Five frame sizes from XS to XL cover all body sizes. The DH model with double bridge fork comes in four sizes from S to XL.

Four models, one claim

Canyon consistently dispenses with bells and whistles. No carbon, no complicated rear triangle construction, no electronic shifting. Instead: robust components, as few moving parts as possible and carefree technology. The models at a glance:

All Torque models have their own telescopic seatposts, scaled according to frame size: 150 mm (XS), 170 mm (S), 200 mm (M), 230 mm (L and XL). Seat post diameter: 34.9 mm. Handlebars and stem are from Canyon's own G5 series. At launch, the Torque AL is only available on European markets.

Outlook

The Torque AL 2026 provides a clear counterpoint to the increasing complexity in the gravity segment. No high-pivot bike, no over-engineering, no dizzying price - instead, well thought-out technology with sensible adjustment options. The test will show whether the revised Torque delivers what Canyon promises in the bike park. We'll keep you up to date. - Max Fuchs, BIKE editor