September 2016, a downpour floods the market square in Sandharlanden. In the middle of the field of 25 amateur racers, I'm eagerly awaiting the starting signal in my home town of Lower Bavaria. Bang, start, right turn, left turn, bang. I look down, see my chain dangling limply over the sprocket and the pack dashes off. That's it for a front place in my home race. Give up? No, after the repair I set off on the deep, muddy forest course, which is perfect for the Canyon hardtail. The torture for man and machine lasts just 1:15 hours. Even after washing the mud off the bike at the finish, the sandy ground still crunches and creaks with every turn of the cranks. Material wear in fast motion.
The next day, at the workshop check, I get the receipt: brake pads down to the backing plate, discs sanded down, chain and cassette gone and the shifter cable is a bitch. Only the 991 gram lightweight carbon frame and the bearings show no signs of wear. Even the two-piece leaf spring seat post, which provides seating comfort as standard on this model, was unimpressed by the mud treatment. The VCLS seat post didn't cause me any problems over the two years, although a connecting bar on the post base delaminated. The mail-order bike didn't grumble much in other respects either. Whether on holiday in Tuscany and Elba, a heavy fall in icy conditions on the banks of the Isar or the trail laps in the Altmühltal. The upside-down fork soon had to give way to the lightweight DT Swiss OPM Race (BIKE Tip 7/15), which still responds perfectly and filters impacts, including the handlebar remote control.
I'm only a little unhappy with my second tuning measure: The MT Trail stoppers from Magura kept on bitching even after a retread. In addition to the squealing, the pressure point became increasingly spongy and the braking performance fluctuated.
Test summary: Powerful, comfortable and surprisingly undemanding: the Canyon Exceed CF SLX is not an over-bred race bike for World Cup pros, but a first-class hardtail with harmonious geometry for pedalling enthusiasts.
DETAILS
TUNING / DEFECTS
- 560 km - DT Swiss OPM RACE Mounted: The torsionally stiff DT Swiss fork with carbon steerer tube responds almost as sensitively after 3400 km as on the first day.
- 1200 km - Drive & brakes renewed: Mud and sand acted like lubricating gel paper: chain, cassette, brake pads and brake discs renewed.
- 1200/2900 km - Imprecise shifting: derailleur hanger aligned, derailleur cable replaced: the change is quick thanks to the large opening under the bottom bracket.
RELATIONSHIP HIGHLIGHT
WHAT THE READERS SAY
"Unfortunately had two frame breakages within a year. With 70 kilos and a rather defensive riding style downhill in the low mountain range, not so great. Was replaced without any problems. Nonetheless, the bike is incredible fun, downhill and uphill. " (Alex Grieser on Facebook)
"Unfortunately only have the SL, but absolutely satisfied! No problems so far - great car." (Beba Baumi on Facebook)
THE TESTER: Stefan Loibl, bike test editor
31 years / 1.80 m / 75 kg
Driver profile Fast cross-country laps and long marathons
Favourite areas Home trails in the Altmühltal, Stellenbosch and Trailcenter Rabenberg
THE BIKE: Canyon Exceed CF SLX 9.9 (model year 2017)
Mileage 3943 km | 25,200 hm
Material Carbon
Price / weight 4899 Euro / 9.19 kg
Spring travel 100 mm
Wheel size 29 inch
Fork Rock Shox RS-1
Impellers DT Swiss XRC 1200 Spline 29
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