The product managers at Canyon know their job. Of course, they are also forced to save money when it comes to creating an affordable e-hardtail. And of course, we can't hide the fact that the Koblenz-based company is pushing our price limit of 3800 euros to the limit, but also to the maximum. Likewise, the fact that the mail order companies save the dealer margin on the way to the customer. Nevertheless, the Canyon PMs make skilful use of their leeway and know exactly where savings can be made and where you can afford a luxury. Among the new E-hardtails that we have already tested in 2023, Canyon's Grand Canyon:On 8.0 offers one of the most coherent overall concepts: a powerful drivetrain, a sporty but not too extreme geometry and a spec that makes it clear: everyday use and forest trail tours alone are too boring for the Canyon.
The facts about the Canyon Grand Canyon:On 8
- Motor: Bosch CX, 85 Nm max. torque
- Battery: 750 Wh (permanently installed)
- Frame material: Aluminium
- Suspension travel: 120 millimetres
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Frame sizes: S, M, L (test size), XL
- Price: 3799 Euro
- Weight: 24.04 kilos
The e-drive: Bosch CX with permanently installed battery
When it comes to the motor and drive, Canyon relies on tried and tested components, but still takes a small risk. This is because the 750 watt-hour Powertube battery from Bosch is permanently installed. This generally has advantages in terms of weight and gives the engineers more room for manoeuvre when designing the frame, but it also has disadvantages. In everyday life, this means above all that you cannot charge the battery alone, but only the entire bike. Not the ideal choice if you can only do this at home.
When touring, the limits are only theoretical: For long trips, a charger makes more sense than a spare battery anyway - very few people want to carry a battery weighing almost four and a half kilos in their rucksack. What's more, the combination of Bosch CX and a 750 Powertube battery, experience has shown that you can cover around 2000 metres in altitude. Before the energy reserves run out, it will be pretty uncomfortable on a hardtail.
There are only positive things to say about the performance of the Bosch motor: app connectivity, a whopping 85 Newton metres of thrust, great modulation off-road, dynamic power development and special E-MTB features such as extended coasting in E-MTB mode with special modulation. This helps to master key off-road sections. If you want to restrict the usage recommendation in any way, then only for very lazy contemporaries: Because for the Bosch to deliver its maximum performance, you also have to pedal a little harder yourself.
Canyon has dispensed with a display on the Grand Canyon:On 8: the LED remote only shows the selected support level and the battery status in 10% increments via coloured LEDs. Very nice: instead of an external speed sensor, Canyon relies on the modern rim magnet.
The geometry of the Canyon Grand Canyon:On 8
Wide cockpit, long reach: the geometry of the Canyon is modern. As the stack is also quite high at 466 millimetres, the Canyon hardtail is not too stretched out and sporty, but quite comfortable. Overall, the bike is quite large and is more stable than extremely manoeuvrable.
EMTB measurements at a glance (frame size L)
- Seat tube length: 469 mm
- Top tube length: 664 mm
- Wheelbase: 1242 mm
- Reach: 466 mm
- Stack: 676 mm
- Steering angle: 67.7°
- Seat angle: 74.0°
- Chainstay length: 461
The equipment of the Canyon Grand Canyon:On 8
Canyon have obviously thought carefully about which components are worth investing in. This starts with the drive unit, where the powerful Bosch motor is combined with the large battery, but the cost of an additional display is saved. That's worth getting over. It also makes a lot of sense to invest in a dropper post. One push on the lever on the handlebars and the saddle can be adjusted to suit the riding situation. The 150 millimetre stroke of the Iridium dropper post is sufficient to give you enough freedom of movement even on steep descents.
Canyon also made a good choice when it came to the suspension fork: The Fox 34 AWL air suspension fork is one of the few forks in the competitive field with adjustable rebound and compression damping. Compared to the "normal" Fox 34, the casting of the fork has been adapted and now offers mounts for lights and mudguards.
What should please everyday users even more: Canyon installs the Bosch Connect module ex works. This is a small GPS tracker with a SIM card in the bike, which transmits the bike's position to the owner at any time if required. Effective theft protection that provides peace of mind and should make life very difficult for thieves. Although the service costs 40 euros per year from the second year onwards, it is still a clear added value. The first year is free with Canyon.
The four-piston Deore brakes with short single-finger levers, the high-quality Deore XT rear derailleur with a wide 12-speed range and Schwalbe's Nobby Nic with its stable performance casing also match the sporty aspirations of the Canyon hardtail.
A lot of attention has also been paid to the details on the Canyon: the cable routing through the headset is stylish, the rim magnet of the speed sensor is puncture-proof, and on top of that there are two bottle cage positions and a high-quality Fizik saddle. For 3799 euros, you can hardly expect more.
Practical test: How the Canyon Grand Canyon:On 8 rides
The Canyon is an e-bike that takes very little time to get used to. The bike is rather long, but thanks to the fairly high stack, you don't sit too stretched out. Only very comfort-orientated riders who ride exclusively on roads, cycle paths or forest tracks would want an even more upright riding position.
But the Koblenz e-hardtail definitely wants to be ridden off-road too, and it has nothing against a sporty pace. The riding safety is high: telescopic seat post, wide cockpit, long wheelbase, grippy tyres, a good fork and brakes that pack a punch - so you can let it rip on moderate trails.
The Bosch CX responds sensitively and pushes powerfully, the 2.6 tyres (Schwalbe Nobby Nic) provide sufficient traction on the 29-inch wheels, and thanks to the moderately long chainstays, the front only rears up late.
Conclusion Josh Welz, Editor-in-Chief EMTB
With the Grand Canyon:On 8, Canyon delivers an absolutely harmonious e-hardtail. At 3799 euros, the Koblenz-based company is pushing the limits of our price range. In return, you get a sensibly equipped bike with well thought-out details. On trails, the Canyon offers a lot of riding safety, but it is not a lively cornering predator. Nor is it a lightweight. - Josh Welz, EMTB Editor-in-Chief
Advantages and disadvantages of the Canyon Grand Canyon:On 8
Pro
- Powerful drive
- High range
- Good equipment
- Lots of driving safety
- Theft protection via GPS
- Suitable for everyday and trail use
Contra
- Permanently installed battery
- No lightweight
- Not very manoeuvrable
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
