Long enough has Canyon the E-MTB community, but the time has finally come: The Koblenz-based Vesender is presenting its First e-mountainbike with Shimano Steps motor. The Spectral On not only aims to impress with its outstanding price-performance ratio, but also with well thought-out details.
At first glance, the Spectral On doesn't look particularly different from its competitors, on the contrary: the non-integrated battery might surprise some people. But Canyon clearly states that function is more important than looks. The semi-integrated battery should not only save weight, but also shift the centre of gravity further down. It also makes it easier to replace the energy source with a full battery on tour.
The key data places the new Canyon Spectral On in the trail category: 150-millimetre suspension and solid components should ensure fun on the descents. Canyon is taking a relatively new approach to wheel size: at the front, a large 29er front wheel should ensure good rollover behaviour and precise steering. At the rear, the Koblenz-based company relies on a 27.5-inch wheel, which should provide more grip with wider tyres.
Another highlight: the semi-integrated battery in combination with the slim suspension design creates space for a bottle cage that can hold half-litre bottles. The other details also show that Canyon has spent a long time developing its first e-mountainbike: A skid plate on the motor is designed to protect the Shimano motor and chainring in the event of impacts. The engineers in Koblenz have also developed a special E-MTB saddle that is designed to prevent the bike from slipping backwards and causing pressure points on the steepest climbs. The geometry can also be adjusted: The shock mount can be used to lower the bottom bracket and flatten the steering angle - this should particularly please the downhill faction among e-MTB riders.
In the "normal" setup, the geometry is similar to that of a modern mountain bike: the chainstays are very short at 438 millimetres. This promises pure riding fun - but inhibits climbing abilities. The steering angle is moderate at 67.6 and 66.8 degrees respectively. The reach (the horizontal distance between the bottom bracket and head tube) is modernly long at 465 millimetres in size L. In general, buyers have an unusually wide choice of frame sizes: Only a few other manufacturers offer E-MTBs from XS to XL. The XS bikes are fitted with 27.5-inch wheels at the front and rear.
Canyon Spectral On: the models
Canyon also offers a wide range of models for the Spectral On: customers can choose between two women's and four men's models. All bikes have high-quality DT Swiss wheels that are specially designed for E-MTB use. All bikes also have the Vario seatpost and powerful four-piston brakes with 200 mm discs in common.
Prices start at 3800 euros for the entry-level models (Spectral On 6.0 for men and women) with Rock Shox Yari suspension fork and Deluxe shock. The Spectral On 7.0 with Lyrik fork and higher-quality wheels is available for 4300 euros. The Spectral On 7.0 WMN with Fox suspension is available for 4400 euros. The 8.0 (5000 euros) and 9.0 (6000 euros) models are only available in a men's version and both have Fox suspension.
Availability & Service
The complete E-MTB fleet will go online on the Canyon website on 8 March. From then on, you will be able to find more details about the bikes and order them. To get ahead of direct sales opponents, Canyon is setting up a mobile service team. A logistics company is currently providing assistance and service workshops can be visited in the event of problems. The bike is delivered in a special e-mountainbike box.
The detailed lab and practical test of the Canyon Spectral On can be found in EMTB 1/18 - on newsstands from 13 March.
